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Biomedical subjects

A Achkar

Publications and source records attributed to A Achkar.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Value of the determination of D-dimers in the diagnostic approach of venous thrombo-embolic disorders].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of plasma measurements of D-dimer using ELISA method and latex agglutination test in the diagnostic approach of venous thromboembolism. Among 126 patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (80 pat.) or deep venous thrombosis of the legs (46 pat.), the diagnosis of acute venous thromboembolism has been confirmed using gold standard invasive techniques (pulmonary angiography and/or contrast venography) in 49% of them. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of a D-dimer plasma concentration above 500 ng/ml, on admission day, for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism are 98%, 66%, 97%, 74% respectively when using the ELISA method, and 87%, 70%, 85%, 74% respectively when using the latex assay. In the 51 patients with a lung scan showing an indeterminate probability of pulmonary embolism, the sensitivity of the ELISA method is very high (94%) but that of the latex assay is low (67%). The repetition of D-dimer measurement on days 2 and 4 following admission has no significant effect on the sensitivity of the ELISA and latex assays. Our results demonstrate that the measurement of plasma D-dimer concentration using latex assay should not be used in the diagnostic approach of venous thromboembolism because the sensitivity of this test is insufficient for ruling out the presence of the disease. On the opposite, a low concentration of plasma D-dimer measured by the ELISA method might be used to rule out acute venous thromboembolism, and avoid invasive radiological techniques, especially in patients with an indeterminate probability lung scan.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1994

[Treatment of organ graft rejection by extracorporeal photochemotherapy].

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy is a recently developed immunomodulator treatment against heart and lung graft rejection. The recipient's mononuclear cells are screened and irradiated with UV-A in the presence of 8-methoxy-psoralene (8-MOP), then reinjected. We treated 4 patients who had begun to reject their heart and/or lung grafts, with this technique, using one session per week for 4 weeks, followed by one session every 2 weeks for 2 months, then one session per month. In all cases, extracorporeal photochemotherapy appeared to improve the clinical and biological status of these patients. Episodes of rejection which could not be reversed with immunosuppressor treatment alone were controlled.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Severe methotrexate poisoning].

Methotrexate toxicity is rare but extremely severe. When complete, it consists of ulcerations of the gastrointestinal mucosae responsible for necrotizing enteritis, erythroderma, bone marrow aplasia, interstitial pneumonia, hepatitis and organic renal failure with diuresis. Toxicity is facilitated by pre-existing renal impairment, third sector and abstention or underdosage of foliculinic acid prescribed as antagonist. The diagnosis rests on serum assays, the results of which must be interpreted taking into account the assay method and the time elapsed between the injection of methotrexate and its assay in serum. The multivisceral pathology observed may totally regress, as in the case reported here. Treatment is based on symptomatic measures, starting with maintenance of an abundant and alkaline diuresis, and on the parenteral administration of folinic acid in doses that vary with the authors.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Swyer-James syndrome documented by spiral CT angiography and high resolution inspiratory and expiratory CT: an accurate single modality exploration.

Spiral CT angiography was performed in a patient suspected of having pulmonary embolism. The right pulmonary system was normal. The left arterial system was small but patent. The left upper lobe was small and hyperlucent. The left lower lobe was collapsed and contained bronchiectasis. The bronchi were patent. High resolution CT in inspiration and expiration confirmed air trapping in the left upper lobe. A diagnosis of Swyer-James syndrome of the left upper lobe was made.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy treatment for acute lung rejection episode.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We investigated extracorporeal photochemotherapy--which consists of the collection of blood mononuclear cells by means of a cell separator, their exposure to ultraviolet A light in the presence of a photoactivatable molecule such as 8-methoxypsoralen, and their intravenous reinjection into the patient--for the treatment of an acute lung rejection episode in a severely infected patient, assuming that its mechanism of action is an immunomodulation rather than an actual immunosuppression. RESULTS: Three weeks after the simultaneous beginning of antiinfectious and extracorporeal photochemotherapy treatments, the patient improved clinically. Acute lung rejection was no longer detectable histologically 4 weeks after the beginning of extracorporeal photochemotherapy. Twenty-two months after the beginning of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (47 months after transplantation), the patient was living a normal life. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this treatment may be considered for further studies not only in acute lung rejection therapy when intensive immunosuppression is contraindicated but also as a means of rejection prevention.

Cell Separation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pulmonary embolism. The role of computed tomography angiography].

NONINVASIVE PROCEDURE: Helical CT angiography is a noninvasive procedure whose only relative contraindications are renal insufficiency and iodine allergy. MASSIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM: If a massive pulmonary embolism is suspected, helical CT angiography is the examination of choice because of its high accuracy in detecting proximal thrombi and its safety profile. NON-MASSIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM: If a non massive pulmonary embolism is suspected, helical CT angiography, because of its high specificity, can be the first examination instead of scintigraphy. If a thrombus is depicted by CT, the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is confirmed and treatment is started. If no thrombus is visualized by CT, pulmonary embolism can be ruled out in most cases. In case of doubt, another noninvasive procedure should be performed. Angiography should be the exception and seldom is needed.

Angiography↗