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Biomedical subjects

C M Kjellstrand

Publications and source records attributed to C M Kjellstrand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Adult hemolytic-uremic syndrome. A review of 37 cases.

BACKGROUND: Adult hemolytic-uremic syndrome is a serious, poorly understood disease with a high and variable mortality. We studied several demographic, clinical, and treatment variables, related them to outcome, and developed a new classification. METHODS: We analyzed data from 37 patients admitted from 1981 to 1991 who fulfilled four criteria (age > 16 years, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, creatinine level > 150 mumol/L [> 1.7 mg/dL], and no artificial heart valve). Three outcome variables were studied (survival vs death, recurrence vs no recurrence, and chronic renal failure vs no chronic renal failure). RESULTS: Eleven (30%) of the patients died, 10 (27%) needed dialysis, five (14%) developed chronic renal failure, and nine (24%) had recurrent episodes. Patients who presented with colitis did not die or have recurrences, but they developed chronic renal failure as often as other patients. Patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome secondary to other diseases had the worst survival and the most recurrences. Those without any triggering factor (primary cases) were in between. In multivariate analysis, hemolytic-uremic syndrome secondary to colitis, a higher white blood cell count at admission, and a high maximum mean arterial pressure were associated with good survival prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of the trigger of adult hemolytic-uremic syndrome sets the stage for outcome. If the trigger is transient (such as Escherichia coli colitis), the disease will not recur and is rarely lethal. If no trigger is apparent (primary hemolytic-uremic syndrome) or the trigger persists (systemic lupus erythematosus and cancer), the syndrome has a high mortality and often recurs. We suggest a new classification: (1) extrinsic hemolytic-uremic syndrome: (a) toxic, (b) infectious; (2) intrinsic hemolytic-uremic syndrome: (a) primary, (b) secondary. The use of this classification, combined with simple data obtained at presentation and a further division of the cause as transient or persistent and irreversible, may improve the selection of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Dialysis discontinuation. A 'good' death?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of the deaths of patients receiving long-term dialysis for end-stage renal disease are preceded by discontinuation of dialysis. We prospectively studied the decision to discontinue dialysis and whether, as is often stated, these patients have a prompt, predictable, and comfortable death. METHODS: All patients receiving hemodialysis in a hospital-based and a freestanding unit whose long-term dialysis was discontinued in 1990 were included in the study. Patients, providers, and families of prospectively enrolled cases were interviewed to determine the reasons for discontinuation; the patients' terminal courses were reviewed daily to collect information describing their quality of death. Retrospectively enrolled cases were studied by chart review and interviews of providers. The reasons for discontinuation of dialysis and a rating of the quality of their deaths (for prospectively studied patients only) were determined by interdisciplinary team consensus. Quality of death was rated on scales of 1 (worst) to 5 (best) according to duration of dying, discomfort, and psychosocial circumstances. RESULTS: Eighteen patients discontinued dialysis after a mean duration of 43.6 months of hemodialysis, and they lived a mean of 9.6 days after termination. The quality of death of the 11 patients who were enrolled prospectively was subjectively assessed as "good" (> 10 of a possible 15 points) for seven patients and "poor" for four patients. A good quality of death was more likely if dialysis was discontinued because of medical deterioration from progressive chronic disease (P = .009); none of the three patients whose dialysis was discontinued for other reasons had a good death (P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of the prospective cohort of patients who discontinued dialysis experienced a good death by our largely subjective criteria. Improved palliative therapy for some of these dying patients, however, could have ameliorated prolonged suffering, delirium, and inadequately treated pain that led to a poor quality of death.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

On complement net generation in fast hemodialysis: are high blood flow rates bioincompatible?

Arterial and venous concentrations of complement (C3a) and leukocyte count were determined in 17 patients during 201 hemodialysis sessions by 12 different treatment modes executed in random order using cuprophan, hemophan, or polyamide membranes with small or large membrane areas and high blood flow (Qb) (400 mL/min) for 2 hours or low Qb (200 mL/min) for 4 hours. With all membrane types, the number of leukocytes was significantly higher after 120 minutes of dialysis and by the end of treatment at high Qb compared with low Qb. C3a concentrations (microgram/mL) in the arterial and venous blood lines were significantly higher during cuprophan dialysis compared with hemophan and polyamide dialyses (P < 0.001). In addition, the net generation of C3a (microgram/min) was significantly higher during hemodialysis with cuprophan compared with hemophan and polyamide (P < 0.001). After 2 hours at high Qb for each of the three membranes, the net generation of C3a was significantly higher compared with low Qb (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Possible reasons for the increase in the net generation of C3a (microgram/min) at high Qb are less protein deposition on the membrane at high Qb or the fact that the protein coat is stripped off in the dialyzer, thereby recreating a less biocompatible surface. Hemodialysis at high Qb may thus be less biocompatible than dialysis at low Qb.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1994

Acute symptoms during and between hemodialysis: the relative role of speed, duration, and biocompatibility of dialysis.

The relationship between hemodialysis (HD) symptoms and dialyzer membrane composition and area, blood-flow, treatment duration, urea removal, ultrafiltration volume, leukocyte activation, and complement generation (C3a) was studied in 20 patients undergoing 234 HD treatments by 12 different modes in random order using Cuprophan, hemophane, or polyamide membranes with small or large membrane areas with high Qb (400 ml/min) and short duration (2 h) or low Qb (200 ml/min) and long duration (4 h). Fewer symptoms occurred during the 2-h HD at high Qb than during the 4-h HD with low Qb (19% vs. 32%, p = 0.0351). No differences were observed between different dialyzer membranes or areas. More intradialytic symptoms occurred when urea elimination was high than it was low (p = 0.0044). Leukocyte activation (leukocyte drop) after 15 min of dialysis and complement generation did not influence symptom incidence. Blood pressure changes were mainly influenced by ultrafiltration volume (p < 0.001). Symptoms between dialyses were determined by urea removal and ultrafiltration. Membrane, area, or Qb were of no importance. Thus, duration of dialysis, urea removal, and demand for ultrafiltration, but not membrane composition, area, or biocompatability, are important for the development of HD-related symptoms.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Individual differences in biocompatibility responses to hemodialysis.

There are very few reports in the literature on individual differences in the response to dialysis treatment. We studied the influence of the individual patient, dialysis membrane quality, blood-flow (Qb) and surface area on leukocyte activation and complement generation (C3a) during 234 hemodialysis treatments using Cuprophan (CU), hemophane (HE) and polyamide (PA) dialyzers. The most common reaction was a decrease in leukocyte count and an increase in C3a after 15-minutes of treatment. Leukocyte overshoot by the end of dialysis was observed at high Qb for all three membranes but at low Qb only during CU treatments. The reaction patterns were influenced by the quality of the membrane, area and Qb. Analysis of each individual patient showed for a large number of treatments reaction patterns corresponding to those described in the literature. However, some patients reacted differently. In four patients (20%), the nadir in leukocyte count and maximum in C3a concentration was reached considerably later during CU-dialysis. Three patients were devoid of pronounced early leukocyte response but presented with the late overshoot during CU-dialysis. Three other patients reacted with an early drop in leukocyte count and a rapid increase in C3a generation during PA treatments but not during HE treatments. Three other patients reacted vice versa. A particular mode of dialysis treatment may thus be biocompatible for some patients but not necessarily for all. In the case biocompatibility is desired the individual response to the particular dialysis mode needs to be identified. The underlying mechanisms warrant further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Glomerular endothelial cell detachment in paired cadaver kidney transplants: evidence that some cadaver donors have pre-existing endothelial injury.

Poor initial function is common in cadaveric renal transplantation, and is usually attributed to acute tubular necrosis (ATN) brought about by ischemia during harvesting/implantation. However, this is often an assumption rather than a specific diagnosis. Recently, in 4 kidneys from 2 cadaver donors, we found evidence of severe endothelial injury, prior to exposure to cyclosporine or other known endothelial toxins. The biopsies at the time of completion of the transplant revealed apparent loss of glomerular endothelial cells on light microscopy, corresponding on electron microscopy to shrinkage of the endothelial cells away from the basement membranes of the capillary loops. Extensive microvascular thrombi were present. All 4 grafts displayed impaired initial function, which partially recovered with time. The finding of these unusual lesions in both kidneys from each of 2 donors suggested donor factors, although the only factor common to both donors was massive brain disruption. Thus, in the differential diagnosis of poor initial function in kidneys transplanted from cadaver donors, one should consider renal endothelial injury, which could lead to microthrombus formation, abnormal vasomotion, and functional impairment in the transplant.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide in fluid overload.

To investigate the hypothesis that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilator, is an important physiological defence against fluid overload, plasma CGRP concentrations were measured in various degrees of fluid overload in 26 haemodialysis patients, for whom diuresis, mediated by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), is not a possible defence mechanism. Plasma CGRP concentrations were positively correlated with the degree of fluid excess (r = 0.815, p = 0.0001) and were significantly higher in 5 patients with severe fluid overload than in those less severely affected (143 [SE 14] vs 52 [11] pmol/l; p less than 0.001). CGRP may be an effective defence against complications of fluid overload since it can increase capitance by vasodilatation.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
PubMed1991

Should intravenous immunoglobulin G be first-line treatment for acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura? Case report and review of the literature.

Acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and serious disease. Treatment with prednisone, anticoagulation, antiplatelet drugs, splenectomy, exchange transfusions, vincristine, and plasmapheresis may be effective in some patients, but the response to these therapies is inconsistent and all carry the potential for serious side effects. We, and others, have recently seen dramatic responses to intravenous (IV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) when other treatments have failed. Although IV IgG is expensive, its costs are low compared with those extended plasmapheresis regimens. Since the response to treatment can usually be evaluated within a few days and the side effects appear less than with other treatments, we believe a strong case can be made for the use of IV IgG as first-line therapy for acute TTP. Continued multicenter studies are necessary to finally solve the problem of competing and confusing treatment attempts and synergism of treatment in acute TTP.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Changing patient characteristics in chronic hemodialysis.

Patients accepted to chronic hemodialysis have changed. We analyzed these changes and survival, cause of death and other factors during 23 years at the Karolinska Hospital. Between 1965 and 1987, 274 patients were accepted: 60 are alive on dialysis, 75 died, 113 were transplanted, 25 sent to other units and one recovered renal function. The mean age increased from 44 to 55 years (p=0.001), the creatinine level at acceptance decreased from 1191 to 965 mumol/l (p = 0.001), the hemoglobin level rose from 70 to 85 g/l (p = 0.001) and the diastolic blood pressure decreased from 96 to 90 mmHg (p = 0.007). The number of co-morbid conditions increased from 1.2 to 1.4 (p less than 0.005). The diagnoses changed from over 90% primary renal disease to 20% systemic diseases such as nephrosclerosis and diabetes (p = 0.04). The chance of receiving a renal transplant decreased from 46 to 39% (p = 0.28). The transplanted patients were younger than the dialyzed patients 42 vs 47 years (p = 0.03) before 1980 and 49 vs. 56 years (p = 0.0001) after 1980. The cause of death changed. Withdrawal from dialysis increased from 5% of deaths before to 24% after 1980 (p = 0.047), cardiovascular deaths decreased from 85% to 55% (p = 0.01). Although the patients accepted for dialysis after 1980 had more serious renal disease and other degenerative diseases than those before, the mortality rate was reduced to only 1/4 to that before, in all age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hypertension profiling by total body water (TBW) determinations in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Hypertension is an important risk factor in hemodialysis patients. Fluid overload and increased peripheral resistance are considered the two main causes. We studied the relation between volume state and blood pressure in 18 hemodialysis patients. Actual total body water (aTBW) was measured as tritium space and "ideal" total body water (iTBW) by an anthropometric method. The difference between aTBW and iTBW was considered a measure of fluid excess or deficit. Twelve patients were overhydrated, 5%-23%. Their predialysis blood pressure was significantly correlated to their degree of fluid excess; systolic BP:r = 0.71, p = 0.03, diastolic BP:r = 0.73, p = 0.02, mean arterial BP:r = 0.76, p = 0.03. Five of these patients had multiple antihypertensive drugs instead of adequate ultrafiltration. Five patients had a fluid deficit of -3 to -13% and hypertension due to vasoconstriction. Four of these were adequately treated with antihypertensive drugs but had exaggerated ultrafiltration. TBW determination with tritium is simple to perform and gives information on the volume state and thereby on the cause of hypertension in hemodialysis patients. Based on this, appropriate treatment can be chosen.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1990

Mortality on dialysis--on the influence of early start, patient characteristics, and transplantation and acceptance rates.

We compared changes from 1965 to 1987 in patients accepted to chronic dialysis, in a Swedish and a US dialysis center, by medical and clinical parameters at the start of dialysis and by duration of the dialysis. We also studied cause of death, outcome, and cumulative survival and tried to relate them to changes in patients and procedures. Finally, we studied how cumulative survival of dialysis patients was dependent on acceptance rates and transplant rates in five European regions and the United States. At both centers, the number of patients accepted grew, but since 1980, the only patient group that has increased has been older patients with many other diseases; these comorbid conditions have increased from approximately 1.2 to 1.4. In both centers, the number of patients with systemic disease, diabetes, and nephrosclerosis doubled. Cause of death showed a decrease in cardiovascular deaths and an increase in deaths due to stopping dialysis. The hemoglobin level increased from 70 to 90 g/L (7.0 to 9.0 g/dL) and the diastolic blood pressure decreased from 100 to 90 mmHg. The creatinine level decreased 30%, with an unchanged urea. Cumulative 3-year survival for patients without complications increased from 60% to approximately 90% and in patients with complications, it improved from 20% to 60% in Sweden and remained at approximately 60% in the US center. In the United States, many more patients were accepted to dialysis and the transplant rate was high. Cumulative survival on dialysis was inversely correlated both to the acceptance rates to dialysis and to the percent of patients transplanted. These factors explained over 90% of the differences in dialysis survival.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide increase during haemodialysis: relation to blood pressure.

The authors measured the plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), the most potent vasodilatator known, during sequential ultrafiltration and haemodialysis in 12 patients using a radio-immunoassay method. Mean plasma levels of CGRP were 70.3 +/- 16.5 (mean +/- SE) pmol l-1 at the start of treatment, it increased to 85.3 +/- 17.6 pmol l-1 during ultrafiltration and to 114.5 +/- 25.3 pmol l-1 during dialysis. Systolic blood pressure decreased during haemodialysis. Plasma levels of CGRP were negatively correlated to systolic blood pressure before and at the end of dialysis, and changes in plasma levels of CGRP were strongly correlated to changes in systolic blood pressure. The increase in CGRP levels was not correlated to the fluid removal, toxin removal or changes in osmolality. The increase in plasma levels of CGRP observed during dialysis may be an important cause of dialysis induced vasodilatation and fall in blood pressure.

Adult↗