Evaluation of serum iron kinetics in pre-eclampsia

When patients with toxaemia and pregnant women with chronic hypertension were compared, a serum iron value > 100 ug/dl or an increase > 70% above baseline was sensitive and specific indicator of toxaemia. the predictive value was high and exceeds that of other commonly available tests. The present series comprised a total of 86 pregnant patients 46 of them had a pre-eclampsia: 27 as mild and 19 as severe pre-eclampsia, while 40 constituted the control groups [20 chronic hypertensives and 20 normotensives]. Medical history, full medical and obstetric examinations were done. Every patient was examined twice one at 28th week gestation and 2nd examination at 38th week gestation and the following investigations were done with each examination: complete urine analysis, fasting blood sugar, hematocrit value, Hb%, R.B.Cs count, prothrombin time, platelets count, blood urea, serum uric acid and serum iron estimation. It was found that there were a statistically significant increase in serum iron and serum uric acid in pre-eclamptic cases over control groups and there was statistically significant increase in serum iron from mild to severe toxaemia of pregnancy

Effect of growth hormone suppression on glycemic control and other hormonal changes in diabetic retinopathy

The study was carried out on ten insulin dependent diabetics suffering from different types of diabetic retinopathy to evaluate the effect of growth hormone suppression on glycemic control and other hormonal changes in diabetic retinopathy. Blood levels of HGH, prolactin, C-peptide, glucagon and A.C.T.H. were determined by RIA. Tests of glycemic control including glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA[1c]], fasting and postprandial blood sugar and total blood lipids were also estimated. Retinal changes were studied by fluorescein angiography. Bromocriptine was given to all cases for 12 weeks, in addition to standard therapy [insulin+ diet]. Pretreatment investigations were repeated at the end of the study. Pretreatment investigations showed significant elevation of glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting and postprandial blood sugar. Serum growth hormone, plasma glucagon and A.C.T.H. were significantly high. C-peptide was measurable in 30% of patients. After three months treatment, tests of glycemic control were significantly decreased. Serum GH and prolactin decreased significantly, while C-peptide was increased. Glucagon and A.C.T.H. showed no change. After treatment, retinal changes deteriorated in 60% of patients and this was attributed to a hypoglycemic effect

Hormonal and biochemical studies in diabetic retinopathy

Twenty type I [insulin-dependent] diabetic patients suffering from different grades of diabetic retinopathy were included in the study. The study aimed at investigating glycemic control and different hormones suspected to be sharing in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Bad glycemic control was found in almost all patients with diabetic retinopathy. Significant elevation of serum growth hormone, glucagon and A.C.T.H. was found in diabetic retinopathy, while serum prolactin level was within normal. Residual beta cell function was found in 64% of patients with BDR [background diabetic retinopathy], while patients with PPDR [preproliferative diabetic retinopathy] and PDR [proliferative diabetic retinopathy] had no residual beta cell function. Higher grades of diabetic retinopathy were associated with bad glycemic control, higher levels of serum growth hormone and glucagon and absent residual beta cell function

Study of fibrinopeptide A, fibrin monomer and fibrin degradation products in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

The study was carried out on 20 non-insulin dependent diabetics and 10 healthy adult control subjects. The work aimed at estimation of fibrinopeptide A [FPA], fibrin monomer [FM] and fibrin degradation products [FDP] in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with and without vascular complications, in addition to euglobulin clot lysis time [EGCLT], blood sugar, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Serum fibrinopeptide-A [FPA] level was elevated in diabetics with vascular complications, reflecting augmented thrombin activity. EGCLT showed significant prolongation in diabetics with vascular complications. Pathological levels of FDP were detected in three diabetic patients [30%] with vascular complications. The significance of these findings were then analyzed and discussed

Effects of propranolol and verapamil on portal pressure and blood coagulation in patients with bleeding oesophageal varices secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

The study included 20 patients with history of hematemesis secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed for all the patients to confirm the presence of esophageal varices. Blood coagulation studies and measurement of the portal venous pressure by the trans-splenic route were performed for all patients before and after intravenous administration of propranolol and verapamil, in order to evaluate the effect of these two drugs on portal pressure and blood coagulation in patients suffering from hematemesis secondary to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis. The study should a statistically significant decrease of portal pressure after intravenous administration of propranolol and verapamil. The decrease of portal pressure after propranolol was significantly more than the decrease after verapamil. As regards the effect on blood coagulation, both drugs showed no significant effect on the studied blood coagulation parameters. These results were analyzed and discussed

Significance of serum ferritin estimation in various clinical disorders

The present study aimed at estimation of serum ferritin concentration, as an index of iron stores, in normal subjects and in patients with iron deficiency anemia, chronic renal failure, chronic rheumatoid arthritis and Hodgkin's disease and to evaluate the clinical significance of its estimation in these various clinical disorders. Higher serum ferritin level was detected in normal healthy males than females and was attributed to the higher storage iron present in males. A significantly low level of both serum iron and serum ferritin was found in patients with iron deficiency anemia. Patients with chronic renal failure and chronic rheumatoid arthritis showed a significantly low level of serum iron, while serum ferritin level was within the normal range. In patients with Hodgkin's disease, the serum iron level was significantly lower than that of the normal control subjects while the serum ferritin level was higher than that of the control subjects, although it did not reach a statistically significant level. The clinical significance of these findings was discussed