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Biomedical subjects

André Sasse

Publications and source records attributed to André Sasse.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

PCDD/F levels in plasma of a belgian population before and after the 1999 belgian PCB/DIOXIN incident.

We evaluated the impact of the 1999 Belgian dioxin incident on the blood plasma polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) levels among 232 Belgian blood donors (74% men, mean age 47 years). The Red Cross made plasma samples from before the incident of these donors available. A second plasma sample was collected during the second half of 2000. The sum of the 17 PCDD/F congeners was significantly lower in 2000 compared to 1998 (417 pg/g fat versus 445 pg/g fat, respectively). This could be completely attributed to the significant decrease of OctaCDD (301 pg/g fat in 2000 versus 277 pg/g fat in 1998). Moreover a slight but significant decrease was observed for 2,3,7,8-TetraCDF and for 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HeptaCDF. 1,2,3,7,8-PentaCDF and 2,3,4,7,8-PentaCDF however showed a slight but significant increase (respective levels in 1998 were 0.004 and 14.5 pg/g fat compared to 0.006 and 17.9 pg/g fat in 2000). Given their significantly higher presence in incident related food samples this increase can be attributed to the food contamination episode. However, the total toxicity remained unchanged (22.9 in 1998 versus 23.1 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat, p>0.05). Moreover the observed congener profiles and the total PCDD/F levels were similar to those of other European non-occupationally exposed populations. In conclusion, the 1999 PCB/dioxin incident was traceable in the plasma profiles (rise of the two specific PCDF congeners), but comparison of the results for both years indicates that the changes were too small to cause an adverse public health effect.

Belgium↗
PubMed2004

An 8 year nationwide prospective registration of non-consented HIV testing in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the number of HIV tests that are carried out without the patient's consent. The aim of this study was to find out about the number of HIV tests for which the specific consent of the patient was not obtained and to describe the circumstances in which these tests were carried out. METHODS: Since 1993 a representative network of sentinel general practitioners (GPs) has recorded data about requests for HIV tests, risk behaviour and the patient's awareness about the test. RESULTS: In total 11,660 HIV tests were recorded and for 3628 tests the question about patient awareness was completed. Although non-consensual HIV testing (NHT) is against European guidelines on informed consent, 453 tests were performed without informed consent. Of the 292 participating GPs, 17.5 per cent never completed the question about the patient's awareness and 35.6 per cent performed at least one non-consensual HIV test. For 28.9 per cent of NHT, no risk behaviour for HIV infection was identified and for 43.4 per cent the risk behaviour was unknown. NHT was recurrent for patients with suggestive symptoms (22.7 per cent), patients consulting for a check-up (21.1 per cent) and women consulting for antenatal care (12.8 per cent). CONCLUSION: Never before have figures been available about NHT forthcoming from a prospective registration including such a large number of tested subjects. Physicians should be reminded once more about the unacceptability of NHT. Instead of performing a non-consensual HIV test, physicians should invest more time in pre-test counselling, especially in those patients with a higher risk or with suggestive symptoms for HIV.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed2002

How are patients informed about their HIV test results?

BACKGROUND: AIDS and HIV are hot topics in public health nowadays, but little information is available about the way in which HIV test results are communicated to patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to find out about the way in which patients are informed about their HIV test results and the delay they experience. METHOD: Since 1996, a representative network of sentinel GPs has recorded data about requests for HIV tests, risk factors and the way in which and the delay with which patients are informed about their HIV test results. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 1999, 4807 requests for an HIV test were recorded. Test results were given mostly by phone (41.9%). Patients at risk were informed more often during a planned follow-up. Anxious patients were informed more often about the results by phone, and in 61.2% test results were communicated during the first week following the test. Results were given earlier if patients were anxious or had themselves asked for the test. Although non-consensual HIV testing is against the European guidelines on informed consent, 102 tests (2.2%) were performed without informed consent. CONCLUSIONS: Even though notification by phone decreases the delay, physicians should be encouraged to make follow-up appointments to inform the patient about the test results. A face-to-face conversation is the only way in which physicians can offer valuable post-test counselling. Physicians should be informed about the unlawfulness of non-consensual HIV testing.

Belgium↗