ABSTRACT
49 couples where the female partner had formerly been suffering from carcinoma of the genitals, were examined with regard to the structure of their mutual relationship as partners and the extent of their subjective physical complaints and symptoms. Both the former cancer patients and their partners displayed very marked physical complaints. This can be interpreted as a sign of exaggerated attention being paid to the subject's own body. The highly developed sense of mutual empathy ceased when sexuality was involved; this can point to the existence of conflicts. Mutual relations within a couple were predominantly symmetrical. Unsatisfactory types of relationship were also identified. Results are interpreted with regard to possibilities of psychotherapeutic consultation by the treating physician.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Body Image , Genital Neoplasms, Female/psychology , Interpersonal Relations , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Genital Neoplasms, Female/surgery , Humans , Identification, Psychological , Male , Projection , Psychological Tests , Sexual Behavior , Sick Role , Somatoform Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
Ten children with transfusion dependent anemias (thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, congenital pure red cell aplasia) received either intravenous desferrioxamine (DF) in increasing doses up to 450 mg/kg at the time of transfusion or daily subcutaneous DF up to 110 mg/kg on an outpatient basis. No patient on intravenous DF reached a negative iron balance. All children with a subcutaneous DF dose of more than 60 mg/kg obtained a negative iron balance with a net iron excretion (transfusion iron already substracted) between 206 to 810 mg (mean 496 mg) monthly. The effectiveness of regular subcutaneous DF on liver storage iron could be confirmed in 4 patients by liver biopsy, showing a decrease between 40-60% iron after 12-14 months of chelation therapy. So far the daily iron excretion has remained constant with a given dose of DF over a period up to 15 months. Even if poor compliance in some patients is taken into account, it is possible with this method of treatment to prevent further accumulation of iron in chronically transfused children.
