Enhanced fibrinolysis in ulcerative colitis

This study investigated the fibrinolytic system in 20 patients with proven UC and 10 control patients with noninflammatory bowel disease. All patients were not receiving either corticosteroids or sulphasalazine at the time of investigation. Both plasma plasminogen levels and plasma alpha 2 antiplasmin level in UC patients were not significantly different from those in controls. However, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products test was significantly positive in UC patients [90%] and negative in all control patients [P <0.05]. Euglobulin clot lysis time was significantly shortened in UC patients compared with control patients [P <0.05]. It was concluded that the combination of positive fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, shortened euglobulin clot lysis time, and normal plasminogen and alpha 2 antiplasmin levels in patients with UC could be an indication for low-grade reactive fibrinolysis

ACID-base status in predialysis patients

The aim of the present study was to characterize the nature of acid-base disturbance in predialysis patients and to study its possible relation to various clinical and biochemical data. Acid-base parameters including PH, serum bicarbonate and PCO[2] were studied in 50 predialysis patients [24 hours before dialysis], in addition to blood urea, serum creatinine and serum electrolytes; sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. Renal metabolic acidosis was detected in 74% of patients, with significant reduction of serum bicarbonate, blood PH and PCO[2]. PH concentration decreased a bicarbonate concentration fell and PCO[2] decreased in direct relation to the fall in bicarbonate. No constant relation was found between the severity of acid-base disturbance and other clinical and biochemical data, although advanced forms of CRF were associated with some degree of renal metabolic acidosis. Mild electrolyte changes were detected in predialysis patients

Assessment of serum T3 and T4 levels in patients with chronic renal failure on regular dialysis

This study was performed on 20 patients with chronic renal failure on regular dialysis [15 patients on regular hemodialysis and 5 patients on routine peritoneal dialysis] all patients were clinically euthyroid. The aim of this work was to study the changes in total serum T3 and T4 levels, either before or after the setting of regular dialysis in patients with chronic renal failure. The present study revealed that there is no alteration in both total serum T3 or T4 levels in patients with chronic renal failure on both modalities of dialysis either after single or repeated settings. The present study also revealed that there is no relationship between serum levels of blood urea, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance or serum cholesterol to the serum levels of thyroid hormones