ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The transfusion of platelets is an important therapeutic strategy in bleeding patients with thrombocytopenia. However, some chronically transfused patients fail to achieve the appropriate platelet count increment following transfusion due to the presence of platelet alloantibodies. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this research were to study the prevalence of platelet alloimmunisation and to characterise the platelet-reactive (PR) antibodies in haematology patients refractory to platelet transfusions in an Indian setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients with a prior history of multiple transfusions (minimum of five cellular transfusions) were included in the study if they did not achieve an adequate corrected count increment within 24 h of the platelet transfusion. Patients with non-immunological causes of platelet refractoriness were excluded from the study. The test was performed on a blood sample of 4 mL of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood sample in which plasma was separated and stored at -80 °C and underwent batch testing in PAK-2LE. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of platelet alloimmunisation in our study was 60%. Of the 48 patients who were detected to have platelet antibodies, the combination of anti-human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and platelet-specific (PS) antibodies together constituted the majority of 54·2%. The overall prevalence of anti-HLA antibodies was 51·25% and of PS antibodies was 41·25% in the total study population of 80. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of PS antibodies in our study was greater than that reported by other groups in India and other countries. This needs to be considered, particularly in the management of patients refractory to platelet transfusions, where HLA-matched platelets constitute current best practice.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Human Platelet , Hemorrhage , Isoantibodies/blood , Platelet Transfusion/adverse effects , Thrombocytopenia , Transfusion Reaction/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Hemorrhage/blood , Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Hemorrhage/therapy , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Thrombocytopenia/blood , Thrombocytopenia/epidemiology , Thrombocytopenia/therapy , Transfusion Reaction/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Valvular abnormalities develop in 36% and 35% of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) respectively, and in 48% of patients with SLE and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Valvulopathy includes leaflet thickening, vegetations, regurgitation, and stenosis. A literature survey shows that significant morbidity from valvular dysfunction, mostly mitral regurgitation leading to congestive heart failure, occurs in 4% and 6% of SLE and PAPS patients, respectively. The pathogenesis of valvulopathy may involve interaction of aPL with antigens on the valve surface, resulting in valvulitis. Current therapy includes symptomatic measures and valve replacement. A novel approach for symptomatic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) related valvulopathy involves treatment with systemic corticosteroid. We describe four such patients and their dramatic clinical and hemodynamic response to treatment with prednisone when symptomatic measures failed.
Subject(s)
Antiphospholipid Syndrome/complications , Heart Valve Diseases/etiology , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Adult , Antiphospholipid Syndrome/epidemiology , Female , Heart Valve Diseases/drug therapy , Heart Valve Diseases/epidemiology , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Drug abuse has been controversially linked to polyarteritis nodosa. A 28-year-old man with a history of drug abuse with inhaled heroin presented with an enigmatic illness consisting of refractory fever, bilateral pleural effusions, migratory polyarthritis, and a leukaemoid reaction. An abdominal angiography confirmed the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa, and treatment with both prednisone and cyclophosphamide resulted in significant clinical and laboratory improvement.
Subject(s)
Heroin , Polyarteritis Nodosa/chemically induced , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Humans , Male , Polyarteritis Nodosa/drug therapy , Prednisone/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Salmonella mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta are exceedingly rare. We describe what we believe is only the third reported case involving the aortic arch. The patient was treated with surgical intervention and a prolonged course of antibiotics, which resulted in long-term survival. We review 13 previously reported cases of salmonella mycotic aneurysms of the thoracic aorta. The overall outcome was abysmal, with 10 of 13 patients dying within 1 month after the diagnosis was made. We discuss the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and management (including surgical intervention and duration of antibiotic therapy) of this condition on the basis of the findings in these cases.
Subject(s)
Aneurysm, Infected/etiology , Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/etiology , Salmonella Infections/etiology , Adult , Aged , Aneurysm, Infected/diagnosis , Aneurysm, Infected/therapy , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/diagnosis , Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Endocarditis, Bacterial/complications , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Salmonella Infections/diagnosis , Salmonella Infections/therapy , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A total of 266 patients entered into a study comparing the effect of intravenous magnesium and propranolol following acute myocardial infarction. Of these, 97 were able to receive either drug and were therefore randomized into the magnesium (n = 51) or propranolol group (n = 46). 88 patients were unable to receive propranolol and formed a third group (NR) while a further 81 patients could not receive either drug and formed a fourth group (N). The study showed that intravenous magnesium was as effective in preventing potentially lethal arrhythmias as propranolol and could be given to some 70 per cent of such patients whereas propranolol could only be given to 36 per cent.
Subject(s)
Magnesium Sulfate/therapeutic use , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Propranolol/therapeutic use , Aged , Female , Heart Block/epidemiology , Heart Block/etiology , Humans , Incidence , Infusions, Intravenous , Injections, Intravenous , Magnesium Sulfate/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/complications , Myocardial Infarction/mortality , Propranolol/administration & dosage , Prospective Studies , Pulmonary Edema/epidemiology , Pulmonary Edema/etiology , Shock, Cardiogenic/epidemiology , Shock, Cardiogenic/etiology , Treatment Outcome , Ventricular Fibrillation/epidemiology , Ventricular Fibrillation/etiology , Ventricular Fibrillation/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Ninety-five patients with acute myocardial infarction were followed up for 6 months to 3 years (mean 25.4 months) in a preliminary study to compare the effects of intravenous magnesium (49 patients) with that of intravenous propranolol (44 patients) given immediately after admission to the intensive care unit. There were four cardiac deaths in the propranolol group and no deaths in the magnesium group (P < 0.046) and 27 per cent of patients who received propranolol subsequently developed cardiac failure as opposed to 12 per cent of those who had received magnesium (P < 0.04). Intravenous magnesium given in the early stages of myocardial infarction reduces the subsequent cardiac death rate possibly by reducing infarct size.
Subject(s)
Magnesium Sulfate/therapeutic use , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Propranolol/therapeutic use , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Heart Failure/epidemiology , Heart Failure/etiology , Humans , Infusions, Intravenous , Magnesium Sulfate/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/complications , Myocardial Infarction/mortality , Propranolol/administration & dosage , Recurrence , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The rate of progression of coronary artery stenoses (CAS) is not clear. Spontaneous regression may also occur. Seventy-one CAS in 25 patients who were enrolled in a study of the effects of chromium on CAS were analysed. Coronary angiography was performed in multiple views and patients randomised to chromium or placebo treatment. Videodensitometric quantitative analysis was performed using a Vanguard XR70 Analyzer. After 1 year all patients were recatheterised. Corresponding frames from identical views were analysed. CAS were assessed with the observers blinded to the initial study results. No differences were found between chromium or placebo and the results have been combined. There was no overall progression of CAS as assessed by % area stenosis (p = 0.65), % diameter stenosis (p = 0.19), stenotic area (p = 0.87), or stenotic diameter (p = 0.99). However, 20% of individual lesions progressed, while 10% regressed, and 70% remained the same. These changes must be taken into account in studies of interventions which may modify the course of coronary atherosclerosis, and if coronary by-pass surgery is to be performed with a 1 year delay after angiography.
Subject(s)
Angina Pectoris/drug therapy , Chromium/therapeutic use , Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Angina Pectoris/pathology , Angina Pectoris/physiopathology , Coronary Angiography , Coronary Artery Disease/pathology , Coronary Artery Disease/physiopathology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Remission, SpontaneousABSTRACT
We describe a patient with unusual features of Q fever endocarditis. The unusual features of this case were the presence of an abscess surrounding the involved aortic valve and the appearance of circulating anticoagulants in the patient's serum.
Subject(s)
Endocarditis, Bacterial/microbiology , Q Fever/diagnosis , Abscess/microbiology , Aortic Valve/microbiology , Blood Coagulation , Heart Valve Diseases/microbiology , Humans , Immunoglobulins/analysis , Male , Middle Aged , Q Fever/complications , Sinus of Valsalva/microbiologyABSTRACT
A patient with systemic brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis had severe renal involvement. Clinical features included hypertension, macroscopic haematuria, massive proteinuria of 10 g per 24 hours and azotaemia. Following treatment with antibiotics, the azotaemia resolved and proteinuria decreased to less than 0.5 g per 24 hours, but microscopic haematuria and hypertension persisted. Renal biopsy during recovery revealed IgA nephropathy with minimal mesangial changes, suggesting a causal relation between brucellosis and IgA nephropathy with a reversible nephrotic syndrome.
Subject(s)
Brucellosis/complications , Glomerulonephritis, IGA/etiology , Nephrotic Syndrome/etiology , Adult , Brucellosis/drug therapy , Doxycycline/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Nephrotic Syndrome/drug therapy , Rifampin/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Thirty women in their third trimester of pregnancy (37-42 weeks), 40 women during and 72 h after labour and 18 non-pregnant controls were studied for changes in serum and mononuclear cell cation content, and their relationship to cervical effacement and intensity of pain as measured by plasma beta endorphin concentrations during labour. Serum magnesium fell from 0.95 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- SEM) to 0.84 +/- 0.02 mmol/litre at late pregnancy and further to 0.76 +/- 0.01 during labour (P < 0.001); serum potassium fell from 4.25 +/- 0.05 to 3.79 +/- 0.06 mmol/litre (P < 0.0001) during labour; and serum calcium fell from 2.40 +/- 0.02 to 2.28 +/- 0.01 mmol/litre at late pregnancy (P < 0.001) and further to 2.25 +/- 0.02 mmol/litre during labour (P < 0.001). Mononuclear cell magnesium content rose from 4.5 +/- 0.3 to 5.6 +/- 0.04 fmol/cell (P < 0.02); potassium content rose from 37.7 +/- 2.0 to 50.9 +/- 3.0 fmol/cell (P < 0.001); and calcium content rose from 4.4 +/- 0.4 to 7.6 +/- 1.1 fmol/cell (P < 0.105). On the other hand, mononuclear cell sodium content fell from 7.2 +/- 0.5 to 3.8 +/- 0.3 fmol/cell (P < 0.001). Plasma beta endorphin concentrations increased with increasing degrees of effacement, as did intracellular Na, whereas intracellular Mg and K showed an inverse trend. A significant correlation was found between intracellular cation and beta endorphin levels (r = -0.98, Mg; -0.99, K; 0.83, Na). These changes are probably due either to intercompartmental cation shifts or possibly to endometrial ischaemia and damage during labour.
Subject(s)
Calcium/blood , Labor, Obstetric/physiology , Magnesium/blood , Monocytes/metabolism , Potassium/blood , Sodium/blood , Uterine Contraction/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , beta-Endorphin/bloodABSTRACT
Seventy-six patients with established atherosclerotic disease were treated daily with either 250 micrograms of chromium orally as chromium chloride or a placebo for a period of 7 to 16 months (mean, 11.1 months). Serum chromium increased from 2.69 +/- 0.09 to 12.12 +/- 0.77 nmol/L (mean +/- SE, P less than .005). Serum triglycerides were lower (1.68 +/- 0.11 and 2.10 +/- 0.14 nmol/L, respectively; P less than .02) in the chromium-treated patients than in the patients who received placebo, and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (from 0.94 +/- 0.05 to 1.14 +/- 0.07 mmol/L, P less than .005) in the patients who received chromium. There was no change in serum cholesterol or blood glucose during the study.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/analysis , Chromium/pharmacology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Lipids/blood , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arteriosclerosis/drug therapy , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Chromium/blood , Chromium/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Sixteen patients (mean age 68 years) with mild to moderate hypertension were treated with either diltiazem or hydrochlorothiazide for 6 weeks, followed by enalapril for a further 6 weeks. A second group of 40 patients (mean age 71 years) was treated with either hydrochlorothiazide or enalapril for 12 weeks; nonresponders received both drugs for 8 weeks. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide or enalapril resulted in a lowering of systolic and diastolic blood pressures, but diastolic pressure was lower in patients treated with enalapril (89 +/- 2 and 82 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively; p less than 0.05). Treatment with diltiazem resulted in a decrease in diastolic pressure only. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide resulted in a 17% decrease in serum potassium (p less than 0.05), which returned to normal when enalapril was substituted. Hydrochlorothiazide also produced a 23% decrease in mononuclear cell sodium content at 4 weeks (p less than 0.01), with a further 15% decrease at 12 weeks (p less than 0.05). Mononuclear cell potassium and magnesium also decreased at 12 weeks by 18 and 16%, respectively (p less than 0.05). All these effects were reversed when enalapril was substituted. A similar pattern of events was seen with diltiazem, which was again reversed with enalapril. Finally, there was no relation between changes in mononuclear cell sodium or other cation content and changes in blood pressure.
Subject(s)
Diltiazem/therapeutic use , Enalapril/therapeutic use , Hydrochlorothiazide/therapeutic use , Hypertension/drug therapy , Magnesium/blood , Sodium/blood , Aged , Female , Humans , Hypertension/metabolism , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/chemistry , Male , Water-Electrolyte Balance/drug effectsABSTRACT
The effect of acute stress, with and without pain, on serum and mononuclear cell cation content was studied in 205 healthy women in their last trimester of pregnancy or during normal labour, in patients with acute medical conditions in which pain was or was not present, in acute surgical conditions, and immediately prior to elective surgery. In all subjects there was a fall in serum sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium concentrations during stress, with an apparent shift into the intracellular space. An inverse correlation was present between the severity of pain and the fall in serum cations.
Subject(s)
Electrolytes/blood , Pain/blood , Stress, Physiological/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Calcium/blood , Cations , Female , Humans , Labor, Obstetric/blood , Magnesium/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Potassium/blood , Pregnancy , Sodium/blood , Surgical Procedures, OperativeABSTRACT
Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and creatine phosphokinase were measured in 32 women during the last 3 weeks of pregnancy and, in a further 39 women, during and after labor. The serum creatinine increased from 61.9 +/- 0.9 to 69.8 +/- 1.8 mumol/l (mean +/- SEM) (P less than 0.05) in the third stage of labor and returned to normal by 72 h after delivery. The muscle creatine phosphokinase increased from 54 +/- 7 to 77 +/- 9.9 units (P less than 0.05) during the third stage and remained high (87 +/- 13.3 units) 72 h later. We conclude that these changes are due to muscle contraction and injury during delivery.
Subject(s)
Creatinine/blood , Glomerular Filtration Rate/physiology , Labor, Obstetric/blood , Renal Circulation/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Blood Urea Nitrogen , Creatine Kinase/blood , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
Thirty-three rabbits on a cholesterol-enriched diet were randomized into 6 groups and treated with daily injections of either water, 20 micrograms of potassium chromate or 1, 5, 10 or 20 micrograms of chromium chloride, respectively, for 135 days with a 2- to 10-fold increase in serum chromium. There was a marked reduction in the percentage of aortic intimal surface covered by plaque, in aortic weight and cholesterol content in the treated animals. Rabbits treated with 20 micrograms of chromium chloride showed a better response than those treated with either 10 or 20 micrograms of potassium chromate.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/pathology , Chlorides , Chromium Compounds , Chromium/therapeutic use , Potassium Compounds , Animals , Aorta/pathology , Arteriosclerosis/etiology , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol/pharmacology , Chromates/pharmacology , Chromates/therapeutic use , Chromium/pharmacology , Diet, Atherogenic , Male , Rabbits , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Plasma beta-endorphin (BE) levels (8.6 +/- 0.8 pmol/l) (mean +/- SE) were lower in the third trimester than in non-pregnant controls (14.8 +/- 1.1 pmol/l) (P less than 0.001), increased during labor, to 29.3 +/- 4.4 pmol/l (P less than 0.005) and decreased, 72 h after delivery, to 3.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/l (P less than 0.001). BE levels were found to correlate significantly with uterine muscle contraction (r = 0.966, P less than 0.05) and with cervical effacement (r = 0.974, P less than 0.05) during labor.
Subject(s)
Labor, Obstetric/blood , Uterine Contraction/physiology , beta-Endorphin/blood , Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Third/blood , RadioimmunoassayABSTRACT
We describe a rapid, single-step procedure for the isolation of human lymphocytes from whole blood, suitable for a routine clinical laboratory. Lymphocyte content of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium were measured simultaneously in a group of controls and found to fall within expected ranges. Expression of results per mg protein produced less inter-individual variation than per unit cell. In order to examine another, physiologically different but normal population, women during pregnancy were also studied. The cation content of lymphocytes expressed per mg protein was significantly lower than for controls due to a 44% increase in protein content per cell.
Subject(s)
Electrolytes/blood , Lymphocytes/analysis , Adult , Cell Separation , Female , Humans , Lymphocytes/cytology , Male , PregnancyABSTRACT
Two hundred and fifty patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction were treated with a continuous infusion of magnesium sulfate for 24 h (a total of 46 mmol of elemental magnesium). Only 1 patient had ventricular fibrillation; no patient had sustained ventricular tachycardia requiring cardioversion. Twenty-five patients had short runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and did not need cardioversion. In 6 further patients, the infusion had to be discontinued because of a drop in blood pressure. The in-hospital mortality for the group was 3.4%.
Subject(s)
Magnesium Sulfate/therapeutic use , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/prevention & control , Female , Heart Ventricles , Humans , Magnesium Sulfate/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/complicationsABSTRACT
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) accounts for a large number of deaths annually. The major cause of early deaths is ventricular fibrillation. During the past few years, intravenous magnesium has been instituted as a therapy for AMI. This report reviews the latter literature and discusses the potential mechanisms whereby intravenous Mg is beneficial in AMI. Intravenous Mg is a safe and inexpensive drug whose use reduces the incidence of arrhythmias, infarct size and early mortality following AMI.