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A Luger

Publications and source records attributed to A Luger.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Nephrotic proteinuria with pre-eclampsia.

During a retrospective study of 100 patients who underwent renal biopsy because of pregnancy complicated by hypertension, we found 19 patients whom proteinuria exceeded 5.0 Gm. per 24 hours and an additional eight patients in whom excretion ranged between 3.5 and 5 Gm. per day. Of these 27 patients, 23 had the kidney lesion of pre-eclampsia, and three of them had superimposed hypertensive changes in the vasculature. The remaining four had other renal diseases. We located and re-examined 10 of the 23 pre-eclamptic women, 12 to 104 (mean, 36) months after delivery. Serum creatinine levels were normal in all but one, who was discovered to have polycystic kidney disease. During the same time period, we located the records of six women who had heavy proteinuria during gestation but were normotensive. Thus, at our institution, pre-eclampsia is the most common cause of the nephrotic syndrome in pregnancy. The frequency of nephrotic proteinuria in pre-eclampsia appears higher than previously suspected, but, despite this fact, recovery was complete in most instances.

Creatinine

Quantitative evaluation of the FTA-ABS-IgM and VDRL test in treated and untreated syphilis.

Observations made on fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) immunoglobulin M (IgM) titres in patients with untreated early syphilis showed non-reactive or weakly reactive results in patients with primary (one of five cases) and secondary (two of 16 cases) lesions. In patients with primary (19.5%) and secondary (15%) syphilis sera remained reactive with increased titres for more than one year after treatment. The respective figures in the results of the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test were zero in primary and 20% in secondary syphilis. The non-reactive FTA-ABS IgM results may possibly be explained by competitive inhibition of IgM by immunoglobulin G (IgG). The persistence of reactivity in a comparable percentage has been observed by other investigators (Grin et al., 1974; Wilkinson and Rodin, 1976). The current results therefore suggest that FTA-ABS IgM titres are less reliable for assessing the effect of treatment than the course of the VDRL titres. The phenomenon of a decrease in FTA-ABS IgM titres soon after treatment with a later rise before final non-reactivity is a matter for further investigation.

Adult

[Depoteffect of benzathine-penicillin (author's transl)].

15 test persons received an injection of 2,400,000 units of benzathine penicillin. Serum levels were subsequently assayed, as well as the excretion of the antibiotic in the urine. The samples were stored in liquid-nitrogen between collection and examination. Each of the speciemens was tested 5 to 10 times and the results were ascertained by empirical evaluation of every single analysis. This assay showed the existence of mean levels above 0.036 I.U./ml in the serum and above 19.75 I.U./ml in the urine for the duration of 26 days. The evaluation of serum levels after the administration of antibiotics is difficult due to several sources of error. Reliable results can, therefore, be obtained only by examination at special institutes which possess experienced technical personnel. The establishment of reference laboratories for this purpose is suggested. The results of the study confirm the efficacy of one-shot treatment of the syphilis by administration of 2,400,000 to units of benzathine penicillin.

Delayed-Action Preparations

Venereal disease among immigrant workers in Vienna.

Official physical examinations of migrant workers upon immigration are required before work permits are issued. The screening of 74,983 applicants during 1972 to 1974 revealed sera reactive to serological tests for syphilis in 0-8 per cent. (range 0-5 to 1-1 per cent.) of all persons concerned and fifteen cases of early syphilis. The incidence of recent infections among immigrants is lower than that reported among the inhabitants of Vienna. General statistics on the spread of venereal diseases among immigrant workers are not available after they start work. Some evidence is provided by those who had to be traced for compulsory examination because they had defaulted from treatment or follow-up, because they were suspected of clandestine prostitution, or because they were reported to be sources of infection. 257 (60-6 per cent.) of 414 individuals who were wanted for reasons of syphilis control could be located and eighteen (7 per cent.) of those who were examined had early infectious lesions.

Austria