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Biomedical subjects

D Feigl

Publications and source records attributed to D Feigl.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

[Elevated thyroid hormone levels in the absence of hyperactivity].

Elevated blood levels of thyroid hormones may be due to causes other than glandular hyperactivity. We have seen transient increases in total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine index (FTI), free thyroxine (FT4), and total triiodothyronine (TT3) in 12 women and 3 men with subacute thyroiditis and 2 women with painless (silent) postpartum thyroiditis. Elevated TT4, FTI, and FT4 were found in 11 of 85 patients treated with amiodarone. High TT4, but not FTI or FT4, was seen in 4 women using contraceptives, in 2 pregnant women and in 2 men with liver dysfunction. All hormones, except TSH, were elevated in a patient in whom thyrotoxicosis factitia was later proved. High FTI, TT4 or FT4 but not TT3 were detected in 11 of 20 patients treated with l-throxine after surgical thyroidectomy and in 10 of 68 treated for hypothyroidism. To avoid treating when thyroxicosis is not present and to avoid reducing or stopping vital drug treatment, familiarity with these states which alter blood hormone levels is important.

Contraceptive Agents

[Complications of low-dose amiodarone].

Complications of low-dose amiodarone in 83 patients, in whom the drug was effective and who were followed for 1-13 years, are presented. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 11 (in 8 by the finding of elevated TSH). In 2 of the 3 in whom clinical signs of hypothyroidism were evident, amiodarone was continued, but thyroxine was also given. In 5 others thyrotoxicosis ensued. Propylthiouracil (PTU) was given and amiodarone was discontinued. PTU was then stopped within 4-8 months, without recurrence of the hyperthyroidism. In 1 patient pneumonitis resolved spontaneously a few weeks after stopping amiodarone. Because of gastrointestinal distress amiodarone was stopped in 1 patient. In none were liver enzymes elevated, nor was the nervous system affected clinically. Photosensitivity in 6 patients and skin discoloration in 2 did not necessitate discontinuation of the drug. Blurred vision was reported by 4, but its connection with amiodarone was not proven. There was sinus bradycardia in 2. There was no arrhythmic effect of amiodarone seen on ECG nor on Holter monitoring, nor was there any mortality. We conclude that amiodarone in low doses causes many complications, most of them mild and transient. However, in only a few cases is discontinuation of the drug indicated.

Amiodarone

Phosphofructokinase deficiency (Tarui disease) associated with hepatic glucuronyltransferase deficiency (Gilbert's syndrome): a case and family study.

Tarui disease is a rare, genetically determined glycogen storage myopathy caused by the total lack of phosphofructokinase (PFK) enzymatic activity in the muscles and partially deficient enzymatic activity in the erythrocytes. We describe a patient with this disorder, who presented with exercise intolerance, painful cramps, elevation of muscle enzyme levels in the serum, compensated hemolysis with paradoxically elevated hemoglobin levels and gout with overproduction of uric acid. This patient had a partial hepatic uridine diphosphoglucuronate-glucuronyltransferase deficiency (Gilbert's syndrome). The coexistence of these two enzymatic deficiencies resulted in a complex clinical picture, especially during and after muscular effort. Screening of the patient's family revealed asymptomatic PFK deficiency in the erythrocytes of both parents and sister.

Adult

[Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

18 cases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma are described, of which 5 were papillary or mixed carcinomas and 3 were follicular. In 12 of 14 in whom radio-isotope scanning was performed, a cold or indeterminate nodule was found. Fine needle aspiration was positive and concordant with the operative histological findings in half the cases examined. In 4 hemithyroidectomy was performed, and in 14 total thyroidectomy. Thyroid remnants were found on scanning in all of the 14. These remnants were ablated with radioactive iodine (131I). An ablative dose of 30 millicurie was insufficient in almost all cases and a second dose was required. 3 cases with regional spread of the tumor were reoperated, and large ablative doses of 131I(150-170 mCi) were given. In 14 cases clinical remission was achieved. Followup included ultrasonography and total body 131I scans.

Adenocarcinoma

Case 28-1988.

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Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular

Nesidioblastosis in adults.

A 75-year-old woman with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia who died of acute myocardial infarction with ventricular rupture is reported. The microscopic examination of the pancreas revealed that the cause of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia was nesidioblastosis characterized by the presence of enlarged, irregular islets of Langerhans and clusters of islet cells in close proximity to the ducts. To our knowledge, nesidioblastosis in adults has not been previously reported in Israel.

Aged

[In vitro and in vivo studies with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and various immunostimulants in a patient with AIDS].

We report on a lethal course of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a young female patient. She had spent her vacancies six years before diagnosis in Haiti, where a sexual intercourse with a Haitian man had occurred. Leading clinical symptoms consisted of recurrent Herpes simplex infections of the genital and perianal region as well as unexplained high temperatures. There were some typical laboratory and immunologic features of this disease with leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, cutaneous anergy, a reduction of peripheral T-lymphocytes (OKT 3) and an almost complete loss of OKT 4 (helper cells) positive lymphocytes. The mitogenic response upon stimulation with allogeneic cells (MLC) or with the mitogens PHA, Con A and PWM was significantly reduced. There was no measurable interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Several immunostimulators (thymopentin, inosiplex, bestatin) were tested in lymphocyte proliferation assays in vitro. The mitogenic response could not be enhanced by neither of these substances. A clinical trial with Delimmun (inosiplex) for 14 days did not show any clinical or immunologic improvement in this patient. The intravenous application of high dose immunoglobulin G was without any observable effect. The proliferation inducing capacity of a highly purified IL-2 preparation on the AIDS cells in vitro led us to a clinical trial with this substance. We applied 100 Bödeker units of IL-2 per kg body weight and day subcutaneously for 16 days. A therapeutical effect, however, could not be observed. Cell marker analyses did not show significant changes in lymphocyte subpopulation composition under IL-2 therapy. There was an increase in the spontaneous cell proliferation 14 days after start of IL-2 therapy. The PHA- and IL-2 response of the AIDS cells, however, was unchanged. It cannot be excluded that an administration of IL-2 in earlier stages of AIDS may have beneficial effects.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Electrocardiographic observations on the termination of supraventricular tachycardia by verapamil.

The effect of intravenous verapamil on the termination of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was studied by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring of 27 episodes of SVT. Progressive increase of the cycle length heralded conversion in eight episodes while cycle-length alternation preceded cessation of the arrhythmia in 13 episodes. In five patients the arrhythmia was either stopped or closely followed by a ventricular premature beat (VPB), followed by further VPBs in three. Runs of bizarre ventricular tachycardia followed initial sinus-beats in two patients. Sinus standstill, lasting 30 seconds, was observed in one patient. The first post SVT beats had an aberrant QRS configuration with a normal P-R interval in four cases and an aberrant QRS complex with a short P-R interval, resembling Wolff-Parkinson-White complexes, in a further seven patients. The possible mechanisms causing this variability of pre- and post-conversion period are discussed. It is suggested that some aspects of verapamil action may be explained by a parasympaticomimetic effect on the myocardium.

Adult

Regression of amyloidosis secondary to granulomatous ileitis following surgical resection and colchicine administration.

A patient with nephrotic syndrome was found to have amyloidosis secondary to an otherwise asymptomatic Crohn's disease. Resection of a major portion of the affected bowel and long-term colchicine therapy were followed by a complete clinical remission of the nephrotic syndrome, most probably due to a significant resolution of amyloidosis. The combination of resection of affected bowel segments, together with long-term colchicine therapy may offer a better prognosis than either method alone.

Adult

Congenital atrial flutter.

Two cases of congenital atrial flutter, one of which was documented electrocardiographically before birth, are reported. In both patients sinus rhythm was restored with digoxin treatment; in one patient the transition was preceded by various arrhythmias. No cardiac malformation was found in either case, and no materal disease occurred during pregnancy. Both mothers had received medication during pregnancy, but its role as a causative factor is questionable.

Atrial Flutter