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Biomedical subjects

B Wikström

Publications and source records attributed to B Wikström.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Complement activation during tryptophan immunoadsorption treatment.

Antibodies against human lymphocyte antigens (HLA) are frequently seen among patients undergoing repeated renal transplantations. Graft survival can be improved by eliminating these antibodies by plasmapheresis before transplantation. In this study, we have tried a new extracorporeal procedure to remove the anti-HLA antibodies. An immunoadsorption column (IM-TR) with a matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel conjugated with a hydrophobic amino acid tryptophan was utilized. Previous results have shown that repeated IM-TR treatments are at least equally effective as plasmapheresis in reducing levels of specific immunoglobulins in treated patients. In this study, 7 HLA-immunized patients were treated before renal transplantation. Each patient was subjected to a total of 12 treatment sessions divided into 3 sessions per week. After each treatment session, the reduction of the immunoglobulins was less than what has been reported for plasmapheresis. This suggests that mechanisms other than immunoglobulin depletion are involved in the reduction of the total immunoglobulin levels. The IM-TR treatment resulted in a strong complement activation triggered by the alternative pathway. Since the adsorbed plasma was returned to the patient, exceedingly high levels of the activation fragment C3d (C3dg) were found in plasma during and after the treatment. We conclude that the extensive generation of C3dg may be one of the factors that plays a role in the reduction of the antibody levels since the C3dg fragment has been shown to down-regulate the immune response.

Adult↗

Continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis: outcome in intensive care acute renal failure patients.

The clinical outcome of continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis (CAVHD), an alternative to continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) in our intensive care units (ICU) in Uppsala, was evaluated for 2 years. Forty-three patients were included. Pretreatment serum urea and creatinine levels (mean +/- SD) were 36 +/- 13 mmol/l and 420 +/- 147 mumol/l, and during treatment, steady-state levels were 25 +/- 10 mmol/l and 333 +/- 120 mumol/l, respectively (p < 0.0001). On top of acute renal failure (ARF), some patients had multiple organ failure that made it necessary to use mechanical respiration (63%), vasopressor drugs (74%) and aortic balloon pump therapy (5%). The outcome of this treatment was 60% when overall survival was considered. Higher dialysate flow rates (i.e., 25 ml/min) were applied in some patients in whom serum urea levels were persistently rising. The result of this was a notable decrease in the urea and creatinine serum levels. From the results of this 2-year experience, we have found CAVHD a promising alternative to CAVH that can be used as a treatment of choice for ARF in critically ill ICU patients.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Plasmapheresis in the treatment of primary septic shock in humans.

14 patients (mean age 25.5 yrs) with life-threatening primary septic shock were eligible for treatment with acute plasmapheresis in a prospective study. They had a short history of sepsis and had no severe underlying disease. 10/14 patients had systemic meningococcal disease. All patients were severely ill with a mean APACHE II score of 25.0. 12/14 patients were treated with plasmapheresis exchanging 1 plasma volume within hours of admission. 11/14 patients survived without major sequelae and 3 (21%) died of irreversible septic shock. This mortality is lower than that predicted from the APACHE II scores (55.2%). A subgroup of plasmapheresis-treated patients with septic shock and extensive petechiae were compared to a historical control group. The mortality in the treatment group was 1/7 (14%) versus 8/21 (38%) in the control group. We conclude that acute plasmapheresis may be a therapeutic option in the early stages of severe primary non-surgical septic shock.

Adolescent↗

Rejection associated with early appearance of donor-reactive antibodies after kidney transplantation treated with plasmapheresis and administration of 15-deoxyspergualin. A report of two cases.

In two kidney transplant patients, one of whom had panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) before transplantation, a pretransplant negative donor-recipient crossmatch became positive within the 1st week after transplantation. Simultaneously, good graft function deteriorated to a state of anuria. One patient graft biopsy showed a vascular rejection, whilst the other patient biopsy was unrevealing. Both patients were treated with plasmapheresis and a new immunosuppressive drug, 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG). Plasmapheresis was performed for 6 and 9 days, respectively, and DSG was given for 5 days in a dosage of 6 mg/kg body weight per day. One of the patients received methylprednisolone i.v. in addition. During treatment the cross-match became negative and has since remained that way. In both patients the graft function was restored. No adverse effects were seen from the treatment, except for a slight leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Adult↗

Continuous arteriovenous haemodialysis and haemofiltration in intensive care acute renal failure patients.

CAVHD and CAVH were compared regarding uraemic control in 13 critically ill intensive care patients with acute renal failure (ARF). Patients' mean age was 60 years. Pretreatment blood urea range was 17-56 mmol/l (33-56 mmol/l in 70% of the patients). All patients received vasopressor drugs, and 92% were on artificial mechanical respiration. From the results of this study both modalities gave adequate uraemic control. There was a notable decrease in the urea and creatinine levels with CAVHD more than with CAVH. There was no statistically significant difference between the two modalities in the urea clearance. However, a significant difference (P < 0.05) in creatinine was obtained with CAVHD. Our results suggest that CAVHD is a useful alternative to CAVH in ARF especially when the blood urea level is > 30 mmol/l. However, a higher dialysate flow rate (e.g. 25 ml/min) should be used if the urea level is more than 40 mmol/l. CAVH should be reserved for ARF patients in whom fluid overload is a major problem.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Impaired erythrocyte fluidity during treatment of renal anaemia with erythropoietin.

Seventeen haemodialysis patients with renal anaemia were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and observed for 30 weeks. The viscosity of whole blood and plasma, the erythrocyte aggregation tendency, and the erythrocyte deformability, measured as fluidity, were analysed every second week. All patients responded with increasing haematocrit and whole-blood viscosity. The plasma viscosity and the erythrocyte aggregation tendency were already increased before the start of treatment, and remained unchanged during treatment. The basal erythrocyte fluidity tended to be impaired, although not significantly so. During treatment, significant impairment of fluidity was observed at the beginning of the treatment period. After 24 weeks the fluidity started to increase, and it later reached values observed before the start of treatment. Hence, the quality of the erythrocytes formed during the corrective phase of rhEPO treatment differs in some respects from that of cells formed at a normal production rate. The impaired fluidity might have important implications for the flow resistance in small vessels, and contribute to the development or aggravation of hypertension that is often seen during rhEPO treatment.

Anemia↗

Artificial renal and liver support in a severe hepatorenal syndrome of childhood.

This case report describes a special management approach in a child aged 4.5 years with a severe form of hepatorenal syndrome in which the final diagnosis was familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). The patient presented with grade IV hepatic coma and acute renal failure (ARF). While the diagnosis was difficult at the time of admission, as well as during acute treatment, artificial liver support was established for elimination of bilirubin and other metabolic by-products by using charcoal column plasma perfusion (CCPP) and bilirubin-adsorbing resin column plasma perfusion (BRCPP). Serum levels of bilirubin showed a notable decrease after each of the four treatment sessions. Additional artificial renal function replacement by continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration and hemodialysis (CAVH, CAVHD, respectively) had a marked lowering effect on urea and creatinine serum concentrations. Both artificial liver and renal support contributed to the general clinical improvement and survival of the patient. Further experience in these therapies will be needed to establish better prognosis in such fatal or acute similar conditions.

Child, Preschool↗

DNA content in primary tumours and lymph node metastases in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

In 18 consecutive patients operated on for colorectal carcinoma of Dukes' stage C, the DNA patterns were determined in multiple samples of the primary tumours and in all detected lymph node metastases. Single-cell microspectrophotometry on Feulgen-stained smears of fine-needle aspirates was used. When the most aggressive DNA pattern was considered representative, 12 primary tumours (67%) were designated as aneuploid. The frequency of aneuploidy among the metastases was almost the same (63%). In 15 cases (83%) the DNA patterns displayed by the metastatic lymph nodes were also found in the corresponding primary tumour, while in the remaining three cases (17%) the DNA pattern in the lymph node metastases was not seen in any of the multiple samples from the primary tumour. The observed tumour DNA heterogeneity may reflect either the multicellular origin of the tumour cells or the continuous evolution and progression of a neoplasm of unicellular origin, and may partly explain the dissimilarities between the DNA patterns of the primary tumour and the lymph node metastases. Biopsy samples from a number of metastatic lymph nodes are therefore required to ensure representativeness and to permit an adequate analysis of the prognostic role of the DNA ploidy status in lymph node metastases from colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Serum erythropoietin levels in the immediate kidney-posttransplant period.

Following successful kidney transplantation, renal anemia is gradually corrected during the first 3-4 months. Serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels are increased after the first postoperative day following grafting. In this study, the serum EPO levels in the early posttransplant phase were investigated in 8 living-donor and 7 cadaveric-kidney transplant recipients with special emphasis on the first 24 h. Despite a considerable difference in cold ischemic time of the graft in the two groups the increase in serum EPO levels was noticed at about the same time (8 h) in both groups and the first peak of serum EPO, which was observed after 24 h, reached the same level in both groups. After 9-11 days, serum EPO reached levels which usually are observed during the first months following transplantation. The EPO response seems to be blunted in relation to the degree of anemia in the early posttransplant phase.

Adult↗

Treatment of pruritus in cholestatic jaundice by bilirubin- and bile acid-adsorbing resin column plasma perfusion.

The efficacy of plasma perfusion through a new anionic resin, BR-350, for palliation of intractable pruritus secondary to intrahepatic cholestasis was studied in four patients. The treatment was given in a daily 2-h session on 3 consecutive days and was followed by repeated treatment periods each 3rd to 4th week. The patients experienced symptomatic improvement during the first treatment period, and the treatment was well tolerated. Adsorption of bile acids across the filter was efficient and resulted in a bile acid concentration gradient pre- to post-resin of 92%. Thus plasma perfusion through the ion resin BR-350 is an effective and safe treatment for symptomatic relief of intractable pruritus in cholestatic liver disease and may reduce hospitalization time and increase the quality of life.

Adult↗

Colorectal carcinoma. DNA ploidy pattern and prognosis with reference to tumor DNA heterogeneity.

Nuclear DNA content was measured in 72 colorectal carcinomas using single-cell microspectrophotometry on Feulgen-stained smears. Four samples were analyzed from each tumor. Patients were followed for 41-65 months (average, 53). DNA heterogeneity (both aneuploid and nonaneuploid patterns) was present in 44% of the cases. Sixty-eight percent of the tumors showed an aneuploid DNA pattern in at least one of the samples. Patients with nonaneuploid tumors tended to have a survival advantage over patients with homogeneously aneuploid tumors and demonstrated a significantly longer disease-free survival. The DNA ploidy pattern is of potential value in conjunction with histopathologic prognostic parameters in colorectal carcinoma. Since colorectal tumors exhibit pronounced DNA heterogeneity, multiple samples are required from each tumor to permit a proper evaluation of its DNA pattern. The DNA heterogeneity may represent tumor progression and can partly explain the conflicting results reported concerning DNA pattern and prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.

Adult↗

Prognostic importance of the DNA ploidy pattern in malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.

Malignant mesotheliomas often raise a difficult diagnostic problem: once the diagnosis is made, the possibilities of predicting the biologic activity and prognosis of the tumor are limited. DNA ploidy patterns have been used as a prognostic instrument for other tumors, and this pattern was therefore studied in 37 cases of verified mesothelioma. The measurements were made on Feulgen-stained smears from pleural effusions using a Leica Miamed computer microscope. When a highly aneuploid tumor was defined as a condition with greater than 5% of the cells within defined intervals outside the ranges of the stem-line and the peaks representing polyploidization thereof, a near-diploid/polyploid pattern was obtained in 41% of the cases, while the remaining 59% were classified as highly aneuploid. The prognosis was significantly better among the near-diploid/polyploid cases. This estimate of the outcome could not be improved by using alternative algorithms for high-grade aneuploidy.

Aneuploidy↗

Outcome of renal transplantation in patients treated with erythropoietin.

The introduction of treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has raised the possibility of deleterious effects on early kidney graft function. Due to renal anemia, the great majority of patients waiting for kidney transplantation until now have had a low hematocrit. It has been suggested that a low hematocrit is beneficial for early kidney graft function by protecting the transplanted kidney from so-called reperfusion damage, which results in delayed onset of renal function. We have retrospectively examined the early function of 26 kidney grafts transplanted to uremic patients with rhEPO corrected anemia. Compared with a randomized control group no significant differences were seen in the rate of immediate onset of graft function, graft survival or serum levels of creatinine one year after transplantation. We conclude that the reversing of anemia by rhEPO in recipients of cadaver kidneys does not impair early graft function.

Anemia↗

Experience with vascular access for acute renal failure: using Buselmeier shunt and femoral vessel catheter.

Three types of vascular access were evaluated over a period of 2 years, January 1987-December 1989, in 76 critically ill acute renal failure (ARF) patients. The Buselmeier shunt comprised 75% of the acute vascular access which were utilized, the cannulation of the femoral vessel 23% and the Scribner shunt 2%. The Buselmeier shunt was successfully used alone (mainly in the forearm) in 58 patients for continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration, continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis and intermittent hemofiltration. Thrombosis was noted in 7% of the shunts, where the majority needed a new shunt either on the same or the contralateral arm. Blood leakage was noted in 2%, hematoma in 1%, and accidental bleeding in 1% of the shunts. This study showed that the Buselmeier shunt is more used in our center, most likely because it is easy to bypass the hemodialysis filter by the staff nurse in case of clotting. No major complications were noted even if kept in place for a longer period of time. It offers adequate blood flow for continuous renal replacement therapy and intermittent hemofiltration in ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Extraovarian Brenner tumor coexisting with serous cystadenoma. Case report.

Only rare cases of extraovarian Brenner tumors have been described. This report concerns one case of extraovarian Brenner tumor detected in close association with an extraovarian benign serous cystadenoma. Coexistence of these two tumors supports the theory of a common origin either from celomic epithelium or remnants of the embryonic mesonephric system.

Adult↗

Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (alpha ANF) during hemodialysis (HD) and hemofiltration (HF).

Plasma concentrations of immunoreactive alpha ANF were measured before, during, and after 3 hours of hemodialysis (HD) and hemofiltration (HF). In seven healthy subjects plasma alpha ANF concentrations were measured to serve as controls. Highly elevated pre-treatment alpha ANF levels were obtained in the HD group (286 +/- 52 pg/ml, mean +/- SE), and in the HF group (275 +/- 48 pg/ml) as compared with the controls (40 +/- 3 pg/ml). The effect of both HD and HF on the alpha ANF concentration was not significant after the first hour of treatment. However, a significant decrease was obtained after the second (HD = 244 +/- 49, HF = 140 +/- 17) and third hours (HD = 244 +/- 48, HF = 135 +/- 15) (p less than 0.05) in both treatments. A steeper decline in the alpha ANF concentration was notable during HF compared with HD. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.05) when both modalities were compared at the end of treatment. A correlation (r2 = 0.98, p less than 0.001) was noted between changes in the alpha ANF levels and the ultrafiltration (UF) volumes only during HF. Plasma alpha ANF concentrations at the filter outlet were lower than at the inlet in both groups. It is concluded that the plasma alpha ANF concentrations are highly elevated in chronic renal failure patients. Despite the decrease in these concentrations during HD and HF it did not reach the normal plasma level. Monitoring of plasma alpha ANF may be a useful indicator for the extracellular volume status during HD and HF treatments.

Adult↗

Calcium acetate used as phosphate binding treatment in uremic hyperphosphatemia.

Due to toxic side effects of aluminum-containing agents for treatment of uremic hypophosphatemia, much interest has been focused upon aluminum-free phosphate binder alternatives. From results of experimental studies with calcium acetate, this salt has been suggested as a possible effective and safe phosphate binder. In the present study, calcium acetate was used during a mean of 11 months for serum phosphate control in 30 uremic patients previously treated with aluminum and/or calcium carbonate. Satisfactory control of serum phosphate was achieved during the study (mean phosphate concentration +/- SE: 2.15 +/- 0.12 mmol/l compared to prestudy 2.23 +/- 0.19 mmol/l). Mean serum concentrations of calcium, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone did not change significantly during the study. Serum aluminum decreased significantly (p less than 0.01). Moderate hypercalcemia was observed in 6 patients. Calcium acetate treatment was withdrawn in 2 patients due to gastrointestinal discomfort. It is concluded that calcium acetate seems to be an effective phosphate binder alternative with relatively few side effects.

Acetates↗