ABSTRACT
Myeloid leukaemoid reactions were observed in 18 Black adults and 20 Black children at Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, during a 10-month period. This represented an incidence of 1,3/1 000 adult medical admissions and 3,7/1 000 paediatric medical admissions. During the same period the incidence of myeloid leukaemoid reactions in White children in Johannesburg and in Black and White children in Buffalo, NY, was less than 1/1 000 admissions. The reactions were associated with bacterial infections, neoplasms, hepatorenal failure, acute metabolic disorders and non-malignant blood dyscrasias. The mortality in adults was 55,6% and in children 35%. Sixty-five per cent of all deaths occurred within 24--48 hours of admission. Residual morbidity in survivors was common. The pattern of acute leukaemia in the same hospital population is predominantly myelocytic in both adults and children.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Leukemoid Reaction/epidemiology , Adult , Black People , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Leukemoid Reaction/etiology , Leukemoid Reaction/mortality , Male , South AfricaABSTRACT
Serum levels of phenytoin and phenobarbitone were studied in a group of Black adult epileptics. Therapeutically satisfactory levels of phenytoin were observed in only 11,3% of patients, and of phenobarbitone, in 63,9%. An overall non-compliance rate of about 50% was noted. The possible reasons for this are discussed. Folate deficiency was not a major problem in this group of patients.
Subject(s)
Epilepsy/blood , Phenobarbital/blood , Phenytoin/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Black People , Child , Child, Preschool , Drug Combinations , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Female , Folic Acid/blood , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance , Phenobarbital/adverse effects , Phenytoin/adverse effects , Primidone/bloodABSTRACT
The presence of free bilirubin the serum of 59 Black neonates was studied at the time of exchange transfusion with an electrophoretic technique. It was observed that 32 infants had detectable free bilirubin in their serum and that these infants had a significantly greater bilirubin/albumin ratio that infants without free serum bilirubin.
Subject(s)
Bilirubin/blood , Jaundice, Neonatal/blood , Serum Albumin/analysis , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Protein BindingABSTRACT
INH pharmcokinetics was studied in 2 groups of patients in chronic renal failure. In the group on conservative treatment, INH half life was prolonged, but was not related to the degree on renal impairement. In the hemodialysis group 73% of the INH given was removed by dialysis within 5 hours. If INH is to be used in the presence of renal failure, individual half life estimations should be performed in order to determine dosage frequency. In patients on hemodialysis, therapy should be given post dialysis. Alternatively, drugs not dependent on renal failure, e.g. rifampicin, may be preferable.
Subject(s)
Isoniazid/metabolism , Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood , Adult , Creatinine/blood , Female , Half-Life , Humans , Isoniazid/blood , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Male , Renal DialysisABSTRACT
Digoxin binding to normal and kwashiorkor serum was studied and found to be inferior in the latter. Digoxin should be used with care in hypoalbuminemic patients.
Subject(s)
Digoxin/blood , Kwashiorkor/blood , Blood Proteins/metabolism , Dialysis , Humans , Protein BindingABSTRACT
A 27% incidence of slow INH inactivator (acetylator) status was observed in a group of 100 Black tuberculotic patients. It is suggested that the incidence of INH toxicity may be high in this group of patients and that clinical cognisance of this problem is desirable.
