Hearing loss but not bone-regulating hormones predicts fractures in older women-a 17-year follow-up of the Gothenburg BEDA study.

High-frequency hearing loss and S-Ca, but not hormones related to bone structure and strength, or lifestyle factors, predicted incident fractures during 17 years of follow-up in women up to 97 years of age. INTRODUCTION: The fracture risk increases and inner ear function deteriorates with increasing age. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hearing loss was of greater importance than bone-regulating hormones for the risk of fracture in elderly women. METHODS: In 1997, a random population sample of 63-82-year-old women, n = 552, underwent a physical examination, audiometry and blood sampling for analyses of serum albumin-adjusted calcium (S-Ca), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Data on medication, lifestyle, previous fractures, hearing, vision and dizziness were obtained using questionnaires. Data on subsequent fractures were retrieved, and censored at death, through December 2013. RESULTS: In 1997, 228 women (41%) reported a previous fracture, most commonly of the wrist (18%). During the following 17 years, 323 fractures occurred in 207 women (38%). Hip fractures were the most frequent, in 96 women (17%). In a Cox regression analysis adjusted for age and previous fractures, hearing loss, reflected by a high pure tone average ≥ 59 dB, almost doubled the risk of a subsequent fracture (hazard ratio (HR) 1.81, 95% CI 1.25; 2.61, p = 0.002). S-Ca (HR 1.21 (1.02; 1.44) p = 0.028) also predicted future fractures, whereas PTH, IGF-1, 25(OH) vitamin D, hormone replacement therapy, smoking, degree of physical activity, impaired vision and dizziness did not. CONCLUSION: Hearing loss and higher S-Ca, but not bone-regulating hormones, medication or lifestyle factors predicted incident fractures, mainly caused by falling, during 17 years of follow-up in women up to 97 years of age.

Diabetes mellitus: clinical presentation and outcome in men and women with acute coronary syndromes. Data from the Euro Heart Survey ACS.

AIMS: To study clinical presentation, in-hospital course and short-term prognosis in men and women with diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: Men (n = 6488, 21.2% with diabetes) and 2809 women (28.7% with diabetes) < or = 80 years old, with a discharge diagnosis of ACS were prospectively enrolled in the Euro Heart Survey of ACS. RESULTS: Women with diabetes were more likely to present with ST elevation than non-diabetic women, a difference that became more marked after adjustment for differences in smoking, hypertension, obesity, medication and prior disease [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.46 (1.20, 1.78)], whereas there was little difference between diabetic and non-diabetic men [adjusted OR 0.99 (0.86, 1.14)]. In addition, women with diabetes were more likely to develop Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) than non-diabetic women [adjusted OR 1.61 (1.30, 1.99)], while there was no difference between men with and without diabetes [adjusted OR 0.99 (0.85, 1.15)]. There were significant interactions between sex, diabetes and presenting with ST-elevation ACS (P < 0.001), and Q-wave MI (P < 0.001), respectively. Of the women with diabetes, 7.4% died in hospital, compared with 3.6% of non-diabetic women [adjusted OR 2.13 (1.39, 3.26)], whereas corresponding mortality rates in men with and without diabetes were 4.1% and 3.3%, respectively [OR 1.13 (0.76, 1.67)] (P for diabetes-sex interaction 0.021). CONCLUSION: In women with ACS, diabetes is associated with higher risk of presenting with ST-elevation ACS, developing Q-wave MI, and of in-hospital mortality, whereas in men with ACS diabetes is not significantly associated with increased risk of either. These findings suggest a differential effect of diabetes on the pathophysiology of ACS based on the patient's sex.

Increased levels of triglycerides, BMI and blood pressure and low physical activity increase the risk of diabetes in Swedish women. A prospective 18-year follow-up of the BEDA study.

AIM: To investigate risk factors for the development of diabetes in middle-aged women. METHODS: A random population sample of 1351 women without prior diabetes or cardiovascular disease, aged 39-65 years, took part in a screening study in 1979-1981 with questionnaires, physical examination and blood sampling. Development of diabetes up to 1998 was identified at a second examination in 1997-1998. RESULTS: Seventy-three women (5.4%) were diagnosed with diabetes during follow-up. As expected, obesity resulted in a rising age-adjusted risk with hazards ratio 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 8.1] at body mass index (BMI) 24-27 kg/m(2), and 8.3 (3.5, 19.7), at BMI > or = 27, compared with BMI < 22 kg/m(2). S-triglycerides (TG) carried a steeply increasing age-adjusted risk with hazards ratio 4.0 (95% CI 2.1, 7.6) already at s-TG 1.0-1.4 mmol/l, 7.1 (3.6, 14.0) at s-TG 1.5-1.9 mmol/l and 9.3 (4.3, 20.2) at s-TG > or = 2.0 mmol/l compared with s-TG < 1.0 mmol/l. Increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) to 130-144, 145-159 and > or = 160 mmHg escalated the hazards ratio of diabetes to 1.6 (0.8, 3.3), 3.6 (1.7, 7.4) and 5.6 (2.7, 11.4), respectively, compared with SBP < 130 mmHg. Also, low physical activity predicted diabetes, with hazards ratio 2.1 (1.3, 3.3) for sedentary compared with non-sedentary activity. Smoking was not associated with increased risk of diabetes. After adjustment for BMI, SBP and physical activity, increasing TG level remained a strong and significant risk factor for diabetes [hazards ratio 3.0 (1.6, 5.7), 3.7 (1.8, 7.7) and 4.5 (2.0, 10.0), P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Among middle-aged Swedish women even very slightly elevated s-TG resulted in a considerably enhanced risk of developing diabetes, which was independent of age, BMI, blood pressure and physical activity.

Coffee and incidence of diabetes in Swedish women: a prospective 18-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the long-term incidence of diabetes in relation to coffee consumption in Swedish women. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: City of Göteborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: A random population sample of 1361 women, aged 39-65 years, without prior diabetes or cardiovascular disease took part in a screening study in 1979-1981 with questionnaires, physical examination and blood sampling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The development of diabetes until 1999 was identified by questionnaires in a second screening and the Swedish hospital discharge register. RESULTS: Altogether, there were 74 new cases of diabetes. The risk of developing diabetes was 475 per 100 000 person-years in women who consumed two cups of coffee or less per day, 271 in women who consumed three to four cups per day, 202 with a consumption of five to six cups per day, and 267 in drinkers of seven cups or more per day. Associated hazard ratios, after adjustment for age, smoking, low physical activity, education and body mass index were 0.55 (0.32-0.95), 0.39 (0.20-0.77) and 0.48 (0.22-1.06) for daily consumption of three to four, five to six and seven cups or more, respectively, with a consumption of less than two per day as reference. Additional adjustment for serum cholesterol and triglycerides attenuated the relation between coffee and diabetes slightly, indicating a possible mediating effect on the effect of coffee by serum lipids. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study support the hypothesis that coffee consumption protects from the development of diabetes in women.

Autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein and C-reactive protein are associated with diabetes and myocardial infarction in women.

Women with diabetes mellitus are at high risk of myocardial infarction (MI), and it is well recognized that smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and the diabetic state itself do not fully explain this increased risk. During the last decade, growing evidence has accumulated that the immune system, with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as a key antigen, plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between the immune response, as measured by antibody titres to malondialdehyde-treated LDL (MDA-LDL) and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP; a marker of inflammation), and diabetes mellitus and MI in women. Women (35-64 years) with diabetes (n=18) and non-diabetic women (n=46) who had been treated in hospital for MI were compared with diabetic women without MI (n=35) and healthy controls (n=70). Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast. CRP was determined with a highly sensitive immuno-enzymometric assay. IgM and IgG antibodies against MDA-LDL were analysed with a solid-phase ELISA technique. Women with diabetes but without previous MI were more similar to women with previous MI (both with and without diabetes) than to the healthy controls. Compared with healthy women, the women with diabetes and/or MI had higher IgG (P<0.05) and lower IgM (P=0.006) antibody titres against oxidized LDL and higher CRP levels (P<0.001), associations that were independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. These findings might indicate a differentiated immune response against modified LDL, more pronounced inflammation and a more aggressive atherosclerotic process in women with diabetes.

Optimal risk factors in the population: prognosis, prevalence, and secular trends; data from Göteborg population studies.

AIMS: To assess the prognosis and prevalence of optimal risk factors in the population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from several Göteborg population studies were used. Optimal risk factors were defined as serum cholesterol <5 mmol x l(-1), blood pressure <140/90 without treatment and being a non-smoker. In a 20-year follow-up of 7130 men aged 47 to 55 at baseline a group of 117 men who were optimal with respect to cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking were identified. In this group there was only one death from coronary disease, corresponding to 0.4 deaths per 1000 years, whereas the overall risk of coronary death in the study was 4.8 per 1000 years. Among men and women aged 25 to 34 in the Göteborg MONICA study 1995, less than half were optimal on all three scores, and in men and women aged 55 to 64, only 7% and 6%, respectively, were optimal. If body mass index below 25 was included only 34% and 37%, respectively, of men and women aged 25 to 34 were optimal, and 11% and 22% among men and women aged 35 to 44. In an analysis of secular trends over 30 years in four successive cohorts of men aged 50 the prevalence of optimal risk factors with respect to cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking increased from 1963 to 1993 but was still only 11% in 1993. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, optimal risk factors with respect to serum cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking confers a very low risk of coronary death. However, the prevalence of optimal risk factor status in the Swedish population is still low.

Preserved tissue-type plasminogen activator release and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in postmenopausal women with NIDDM.

We have recently shown that the net release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen can be rapidly enhanced by the muscarinic receptor stimulation in healthy males. Since diabetes mellitus has been associated with endothelial dysfunction, the aim of the present study was to compare the endothelium-derived local net release of t-PA with vasodilation in response to muscarinic receptor stimulation by metacholine (Mch) and fluid shear stress in a group of postmenopausal women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and to elucidate the influence of estrogen on this process. Six postmenopausal women with NIDDM were in randomized order exposed to step-wise intra-arterial infusions of Mch (0.1-0. 8-4.0 microg/min) and nitroprusside (SNP; 0.5-2.5-10.0 microg/min). Forearm blood flow (FBF) was assessed by plethysmography. The infusions with Mch and SNP were repeated during simultaneous intra-arterial infusion of 17-beta estradiol (E; 20 ng/min). During placebo infusion, FBF increased significantly in response to Mch and SNP (p<0.001), but no differences between Mch and SNP were found. In parallel to the blood flow increase in response to Mch stimulation, the t-PA net release was increased over 30 times (p<0.001). Estrogen did not produce any change in blood flow or net release of t-PA at baseline or in response to either drug (Mch or SNP). The present study demonstrates a preserved endothelium-dependent vasodilation and stimulated tissue-type plasminogen activator release in NIDDM postmenopausal women in response to Mch stimulation. Acute intra-arterial infusion of 17-beta estradiol did not affect the vasodilation or the t-PA net release.

Does immigration contribute to decreasing CHD incidence? Coronary risk factors among immigrants in Göteborg, Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if an increasing proportion of immigrants may have contributed to the decreasing trend in coronary heart disease (CHD) in Sweden during the last few decades and to analyse the cardiovascular risk factor pattern in immigrants compared to Swedish-born subjects. POPULATION AND METHODS: CVD risk factors were investigated within the framework of the WHO MONICA project. A random sample of 1618 men and women aged 25-64 years responded to the invitation to a screening procedure including questionnaires and physical and laboratory examination. Data on myocardial infarctions (MI) were collected from the Göteborg Myocardial Infarction Register. Data from the City Council secretariat were used to estimate the number of immigrants in the total population. RESULTS: In 1995, immigrants constituted 22.4% of the population between 25 and 64 years of age in Göteborg. The incidence of MI in immigrants, 21.7%, was similar to that in Swedish-born subjects. Non-Finnish immigrants reported more unemployment, low physical activity during leisure time and psychological stress than Swedish subjects. Immigrant men also smoked more. BMI and WHR were significantly higher in immigrant women and Finnish immigrants had higher blood pressure than Swedes. Total- and LDL-cholesterol were higher in Finnish men. HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower and s-triglycerides significantly higher in non-Finnish immigrants of both genders. CONCLUSION: The decreasing trend in CHD in Sweden during the last few decades is not due to an increasing number of immigrants from 'low-risk countries'. On the contrary, the immigrants in the present study seem to have a worse CVD risk factor profile than Swedes.

Calcaneal ultrasound measurements are determined by age and physical activity. Studies in two Swedish random population samples.

AIM: To present reference values and correlations with body composition, blood variables and lifestyle factors. SUBJECTS: Two random population samples from Göteborg, Sweden, one comprising 184 men and 455 women aged 25-64 years (MONICA) and the other 860 women aged 55-82 years (BEDA) were studied. METHODS: Calcaneal ultrasound measurement (LUNAR Achilles) and bioimpedance were measured. Smoking habits, coffee consumption, physical activity, psychological stress, education and marital status, as well as blood lipids, blood pressure, and fractures were studied. RESULTS: Broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were higher in men than in women (P < 0. 001), but speed of sound did not differ between sexes. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness decreased with age (P < 0.001). In both sexes speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness correlated positively to body size variables, and negatively with smoking in women after adjustment for age. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were positively related to physical activity in both sexes, and these relationships were the only ones that remained in multivariate analyses in addition to age (negative). Osteoporotic fractures increased with age. Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness were lower amongst women with osteoporotic fractures. CONCLUSION: Speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness decreased with age and increased with physical activity, but body weight and height were not correlated in multivariate analyses. Osteoporotic fractures increased with age and were associated with lower calcaneal ultrasound values.

Social gradients in cardiovascular risk factors and symptoms of Swedish men and women: the Göteborg MONICA Study 1995.

BACKGROUND: Even though coronary mortality in middle and old age is decreasing, social gradients may be increasing; but they need not necessarily be the same for men and women. In order to develop efficient preventive strategies more knowledge of the current distributions of risk factors both for men and for women is needed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate and to compare the socio-economic gradients for coronary risk factors of men and women. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We studied 686 men and 825 women aged 25-64 years from a random population sample. Socio-economic status (SES) was classified according to the occupation-based Swedish Socio-economic Index. RESULTS: For women, high SES was associated with lower levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower serum levels of triglycerides, higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower blood pressure. For men, no relation between occupational status and levels of lipids and blood pressure was found. Obesity was associated with low SES both for men and for women. Socioeconomic differences in smoking habits were more pronounced for women than they were for men. The proportion of post-menopausal women was higher among the unskilled workers, despite there being no differences in age. Optimal risk factor status (non-smoker, total cholesterol level < 5 mmol/l, blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg without treatment and body mass index < 25 kg/m2) was unusual both among men and among women, but 34% of the higher officials among the women had optimal risk factor status, compared with 10% of the unskilled workers. Corresponding values for the men were 16 and 9% (P for interaction 0.09). The relation between low SES and level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was independent of smoking, post-menopausal state, use of oestrogen and waist:hip ratio (P = 0.04) and so was the relation between systolic blood pressure and low SES (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, low SES exerts a stronger adverse influence on cardiovascular risk factors of women than it does on those of men.

Job control, job demands and social support at work in relation to cardiovascular risk factors in MONICA 1995, Göteborg.

BACKGROUND: Job control and work environment are related to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), but there is limited understanding of the independent risks associated with these factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between psychosocial work characteristics and biological risk factors for both sexes for a random population sample in Göteborg, Sweden. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We used an age-stratified random sample of men and women aged 25-64 years comprising 1200 men and 1412 women, from which 746 men and 872 women responded to the invitation for screening, which included questionnaires and physical/laboratory investigations in 1995. RESULTS: Women had lower job control than did men (P=0.00001); job demands were equal and social support at work slightly higher among women (P=0.04). Job control was positively related to education and social group. Smoking women had low job control and high job demands. Women with high grades of psychological stress had low job control and low social support at work (P=0.001 and P=0.01). For both sexes job demands were high (P=0.0001) among those who reported high psychological stress. Men with high job control and high social support at work were more physically active during leisure time. Subjects with job strain had low social support (P=0.01). Job-stress factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Women had lower job control than did men. Job control was positively related to education, social class and physical activity. Psychosocial factors were not related to biological coronary risk factors.

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease during the period 1985-1995 in Göteborg, Sweden. The GOT-MONICA Project.

AIMS: To report levels of cardiovascular risk factors in 1985, 1990 and 1995 in three population samples in Göteborg, Sweden, and to compare with previous population risk factor levels. POPULATION: The study was performed within the framework of the WHO MONICA Project which compares risk factor levels as well as the incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke in 38 populations. METHODS: Three random samples of men and women aged 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 comprising 152-218 subjects in each age group who responded to the invitation for screening procedures which included questionnaires, physical and laboratory investigations in 1985, 1990 and 1995. RESULTS: More men than women had smoked, except for those aged 35-44 where there was no difference between men and women. The proportion of men who had smoked decreased strongly between the first and third investigations (P < 0.0001), particularly amongst the younger age-groups, with a similar tendency amongst women. In the 25-44-years age group there was a tendency towards more women than men to be smokers in 1995. Snuff was used by 27% and 19% of men aged 25-34 and 35-44 years, respectively, in 1995. Up to 5% of women used snuff; higher in the younger age groups. More young men than women reported regular physical activity during leisure time with a tendency towards an increase from 1985 to 1995. The proportion of men reporting psychological stress varied little over the study period, but women aged 25-34 reported increased stress from 1985 to 1995. Body weight increased whereas height remained stable and consequently body mass index increased in men and women (P = 0.0001). Similarly, waist:hip ratio (measured in 1990 and 1995 only) also increased (P = 0.0001). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased with age and there was also a small increase between 1985 and 1995. Systolic blood pressure increased by a mean of 1.24 mmHg per 5-year period independent of sex and age (P = 0.0001). Antihypertensive treatment increased with age, but was stable between 1985 and 1995. Serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations increased with age, and there was a nonsignificant tendency also to higher HDL cholesterol concentrations at older ages. Serum total cholesterol concentration declined between 1985 and 1995, and HDL cholesterol declined significantly between 1985 and 1995 in all age groups for men and women only when all age groups were analysed together. Similar to total cholesterol, levels of LDL cholesterol declined between 1985 and 1995 for all ages. Serum triglyceride levels increased for men and women between 1985 and 1995.

Association between fibrinogen and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men and women. Results from the Göteborg MONICA survey 1985.

Plasma fibrinogen and its association to other risk factors for cardiovascular disease was investigated in a random sample of 691 men and 739 women, aged 25 to 64 years, participating in the Göteborg MONICA survey. In both genders univariate analyses revealed significantly positive correlations between plasma fibrinogen and age, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triglycerides and a negative correlation to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; however, the degree of relationship varied between men and women. Smoking was significantly correlated to fibrinogen (P < 0.001) in men, whereas the association was weaker in women. Multivariate analysis showed that plasma fibrinogen in both genders was significantly correlated to age, smoking, and BMI. The influence of smoking was stronger in men and BMI was stronger in women. Furthermore, the association of fibrinogen to HDL cholesterol was significant only in men and to triglycerides only in women. Plasma fibrinogen was significantly related to gender; when all other significant variables were taken into account, women had higher fibrinogen levels than men.

Cigarette smoking increases thromboxane A2 formation without affecting platelet survival in young healthy females.

Smoking is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, in men as well as in women. An increased urinary excretion of the thromboxane metabolite 2,3-dinorthromboxane B2 (Tx-M) has been observed in smokers of both genders, suggesting that cigarette smoking may facilitate cardiovascular disease via an action on the platelets. The present study addressed the hypothesis that the increased Tx-M excretion in female smokers reflects a true facilitation of platelet reactivity in vivo, rather than an increased destruction of the platelets. In healthy female volunteers (aged 20-46 years, 18 smokers and 17 non-smokers) platelet life-span and indices of platelet activity were determined, together with plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), fibrinogen, peripheral blood cell counts and hematocrit. The urinary excretion of Tx-M was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (361 vs. 204 pg/mg creatinine, respectively, p < 0.05), while plasma and urinary beta-thromboglobulin, plasma platelet factor 4, platelet mean life-span and platelet production rate did not differ between the groups. PAI-1 activity, white blood cell count and hematocrit were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (p < 0.05). These data indicate that smoking facilitates platelet formation of thromboxane A2 without affecting platelet survival; i.e. it increases the activity of platelets without affecting their viability to a measurable extent. Such an increase in platelet activity, operating in parallel to a reduced fibrinolytic activity and a higher hematocrit and white blood cell count, may play an etiological role in smoking-induced cardiovascular disease in women.

Diltiazem in hypertensive patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Twenty-three patients with essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II were treated with the calcium antagonist diltiazem (120 to 180 mg twice daily). The mean dose was 307 mg/day. The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. All measurements were performed 12 to 14 hours after drug intake. Blood pressure, heart rate and forearm blood flow were measured noninvasively. Platelet function was studied by measuring adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation and the platelet specific proteins, beta thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4. Thromboxane B2 formation in serum and the plasma concentration of diltiazem and its metabolites N-demethyldiltiazem, deacetyldiltiazem and N-demethyldeacetyldiltiazem were measured both during placebo and diltiazem treatment. Diabetic control was evaluated by following HbA1C, fasting blood glucose and urinary glucose. Diltiazem reduced both systolic and diastolic (supine and standing) blood pressure significantly. Forearm blood flow was significantly increased by 32%, p less than 0.05. Supine heart rate decreased significantly, while no such change was seen in the standing position. No significant changes were observed in platelet function during diltiazem treatment. There was no relation between the observed blood pressure reduction and the plasma concentration of diltiazem or its metabolites. A positive correlation between the change in heart rate and the metabolite N-demethyldeacetyldiltiazem was observed (r = 0.647, p = 0.005). Three patients were excluded during diltiazem treatment (skin exanthema, headache and atrial fibrillation) and 1 during placebo treatment (angina pectoris). No negative effect on diabetes control was observed. Thus, diltiazem could be used for treatment of hypertension in diabetic patients.

Platelet reactivity, fibrinogen and smoking.

40 young healthy male volunteers (20 habitual smokers and 20 non-smokers) were investigated with respect to platelet reactivity, plasma fibrinogen and coagulation factor VIII. Smokers had significantly lower systolic blood pressures and higher venous platelet counts. The results for ADP-induced platelet aggregation, plasma concentrations for the 2 alpha-granule proteins, beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4, did not differ between the 2 study groups involved; nor was there any difference between serum thromboxane B2 formation or plasma factor VIII:C activity. However, as compared to non-smokers, plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher among the smokers.

A retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients splenectomized for various hematologic disorders.

At our hospital, 47 out of 184 consecutive splenectomies performed over 7 recent years were carried out on patients afflicted with various hematologic diseases. The results of these 47 splenectomies were the subject of a careful retrospective analysis. The majority of the splenectomies (81%) were therapeutic. Cytopenia, particularly thrombocytopenia, was the most common indication for surgery. As a whole, good therapeutic responses with rapid improvements in peripheral blood picture and/or diminished symptoms of pressure discomfort from an enlarged spleen were obtained. There was no peri- or postoperative mortality; 23% major and 26% minor postoperative complications were recorded. In patients with perioperative bleeding and various postoperative complications, the spleens were larger than in subjects who run an uneventful peri- and postoperative course. During the follow-up period, 4 septicemias occurred in 3 patients. In 2 of these patients, the septicemias coincided with a cholecystitis and a pneumonia, respectively. None of the infections was lethal. It is concluded that elective splenectomy for hematologic disease in well selected and carefully prepared patients is beneficial and can be performed without mortality or major hazards.