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Biomedical subjects

D Ferro

Publications and source records attributed to D Ferro.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Lupus anticoagulant and the fibrinolytic system in young patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our purpose was to assess the presence of lupus anticoagulant and fibrinolytic system abnormalities in young patients with stroke. METHODS: We studied 33 consecutive ischemic patients aged < 50 years. Lupus anticoagulant was screened by four different coagulation tests, and the fibrinolytic system was studied by analyzing tissue plasminogen activator antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity. RESULTS: Six patients (18%), two of whom were affected by systemic lupus erythematosus, had lupus anticoagulant. Plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was significantly higher in those positive for lupus anticoagulant than in those negative for lupus anticoagulant and control subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with stroke, lupus anticoagulant is associated with an imbalance of the fibrinolytic system as a result of higher levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hyperfibrinolysis resulting from clotting activation in patients with different degrees of cirrhosis. The CALC Group. Coagulation Abnormalities in Liver Cirrhosis.

This study explored the relationship between clotting activation and tissue plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in cirrhotic patients with different degrees of liver failure. Sixty-seven patients (40 men, 27 women; age = 31-77 yr) with cirrhosis diagnosed by liver biopsy were divided into three subgroups (A, B and C) on the basis of Child-Pugh classification. Tissue plasminogen activator antigen and activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen and activity, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, and D-dimer were measured in each patient. Forty-two patients with normal levels of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products and D-dimer showed significant progressive decreases of plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen levels (p < 0.01) and activity (p < 0.0001) from class A to class C. This decrease was significantly related to prothrombin time (p < 0.003). Tissue plasminogen activator values were not different in the three Child classes. Twenty-five patients (7 class B and 18 class C) with high circulating values of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products and D-dimer had higher values of tissue plasminogen activator antigen (20.0 +/- 10.1 ng/ml vs. 5.9 +/- 3.0 ng/ml; p < 0.0001) and activity (6.9 +/- 2.2 U/ml vs. 2.1 +/- 1.3 U/ml; p < 0.0001) and lower values of plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen (6.9 +/- 4.1 ng/ml vs. 14.8 +/- 5.6 ng/ml; p < 0.0001) and activity (4.1 +/- 2.8 U/ml vs. 9.8 +/- 3.7 U/ml; p < 0.0001) than did patients with normal values of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products and D-dimer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hyperfibrinolysis increases the risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Sixty-one patients with different degrees of liver failure, 23 with Child-Pugh class B and 38 with Child-Pugh class C, were studied and observed for 3 yr. Coagulation index analysis showed significantly lower values of prothrombin activity, more prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, higher bilirubin and fibrinogen degradation products values in class C patients. Among all patients, 28 had fibrinogen degradation products values greater than 10 micrograms/ml, and in these patients a hyperfibrinolytic state was confirmed by higher values of circulating plasminogen activator antigen (17.3 +/- 8.7 ng/ml vs. 5.41 +/- 1.9 ng/ml; p less than 0.0001) and activity (6.6 +/- 2.1 IU/ml vs. 1.92 +/- 1.12 IU/ml; p less than 0.0001) and significantly lower plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen (6.4 +/- 3.5 ng/ml vs. 15.8 +/- 5.6 ng/ml; p less than 0.0001) and activity (3.6 +/- 2.2 IU/ml vs. 8.5 +/- 3.9 IU/ml; p less than 0.0001). Patients with positive fibrinogen degradation products had higher serum bilirubin (6 +/- 4 mg/dl vs. 2 +/- 2 mg/dl; p less than 0.0001) and lower fibrinogen (156 +/- 52 mg/dl vs. 194 +/- 62 mg/dl; p less than 0.02) than patients without hyperfibrinolysis. During the follow-up period, 41 patients died, 22 from fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage and 19 from liver failure. Thirty patients experienced fatal (22 patients) and nonfatal (8 patients) gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Patients with positive fibrinogen degradation products or class C had a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding than patients with negative fibrinogen degradation products (odds ratio = 8) or class B (odds ratio = 3.5), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of oral defibrotide on tissue-plasminogen activator and tissue-plasminogen activator inhibitor balance.

Defibrotide, a polydeoxyribonucleotide of mammalian origin, has been shown to reduce the blood level of the plasminogen activator inhibitor, and so to increase the activity of tissue plasminogen activator without any adverse effect. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study has been done in 22 patients, 14 with peripheral vascular disease, 6 with coronary heart disease and 2 with cerebrovascular disease. Patients were given defibrotide 400 mg b.d. or identical placebo for 30 days and the parameters of fibrinolysis were evaluated before and after the treatment. A significant increase in tissue plasminogen activator activity at rest and after venostasis was observed after defibrotide; tissue plasminogen activator antigen at rest and after venostasis was not affected by either treatment. Defibrotide significantly reduced plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and antigen at rest. Only one patient complained of gastric pain after placebo treatment. The study shows that defibrotide has profibrinolytic property and that it could be used to explore the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor in venous and arterial thrombosis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Methods for detecting lupus anticoagulants and their relation to thrombosis and miscarriage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIMS: To examine the sensitivity and specificity to past thrombotic events of four different coagulation tests, which screen for lupus anticoagulant (LA), and of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS: Fifty three consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied of whom three males and 21 females, aged 21-60 years, had a history of venous and arterial thrombosis, or miscarriage, or both. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), dilute Russell's viper venom time (dRVVT), kaolin clotting time (KCT), dilute aPTT and the circulating titre of anticardiolipin antibodies were investigated in the two groups of patients and in 20 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: The prolonged dilute aPTT was more sensitive to thromboses or miscarriages, or both than dRVVT (p less than 0.05), KCT (p less than 0.01), and aPTT (p less than 0.001). No significant differences in specificity were found among aPTT (100%), dRVVT (93%), KCT (93%) and dilute aPTT (86.2%); but aPTT and dRVVT were significantly more specific (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.05, respectively) than anticardiolipin antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a strong association between lupus anticoagulant and thrombosis when a very sensitive test such as the dilute aPTT is used. The combination of this assay with a very specific test such as dRVVT might enable patients with SLE at high risk of thrombosis to be identified.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1992

Clotting abnormalities in chronic liver disease.

In patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), several clotting changes can be observed. The most frequent abnormality is the reduced synthesis of many clotting factors, including vitamin-K-dependent and vitamin-K-independent ones. A low platelet count is another frequent feature of patients with CLD, which, however, is not always associated with the prolongation of bleeding time. Hyperfibrinolytic syndrome is usually seen in patients with decompensated state, and may further deteriorate the clotting abnormalities and favor bleeding complications. The assessment of the clotting system may be a useful approach to evaluate liver function and predict prognosis of patients with CLD.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1992

1-year survey of patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Prognostic value of clinical and laboratory indexes identified by the Cox regression model.

The relation between coagulation indexes and survival rate was studied and analyzed in 46 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (grade B and C Child-Pugh Classification), during a follow-up of 1 year. Twenty-four patients (52%) died of liver failure or fatal haemorrhage within 12 months of follow-up. Prothrombin activity, fibrinogen, fibrin(ogen) degradation products, prekallikrein and factor VII, serum bilirubin, and the degree of liver insufficiency, scored by Child-Pugh classification, proved to be significantly correlated with survival by univariate analysis. A multivariate survival analysis (Cox regression model) disclosed two variables, prekallikrein and factor VII, that predicted survival. The rate ratios of death increased to 2.8 and 7.6 with values of prekallikrein < 26% and factor VII < 39%, respectively. This study shows that some simple laboratory tests exploring the clotting system may identify patients with poor prognosis in severe liver failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Specificity and sensitivity of diluted aPTT and anticardiolipin antibodies towards thrombosis and miscarriages in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In 36 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus anticoagulant (LA), as assessed by aPTT and diluted aPTT, and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were studied. 14 patients, had a clinical history complicated by thrombosis and/or miscarriages. Among patients with thrombosis LA was positive in 42% and in 100% of patients when assessed by aPTT and diluted aPTT respectively; aCL were positive in 85.7% of patients. Among patients without a clinical history of thrombosis, 1 had prolonged aPTT, 3 had prolonged diluted aPTT and 5 had aCL positivity. Diluted aPTT was more sensitive than aPTT and aCL (p less than 0.01) to thrombosis and miscarriages; specificity to thrombosis and miscarriages ranged from 77.3% for aCL and 86.4% for diluted aPTT to 95.5% for aPTT but not significant differences were found. The study suggests that LA, as assessed by a sensitive test like diluted aPTT, is strongly associated to thrombosis and should therefore be considered an important risk factor.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1990

Tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relations among tissue plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor, the lupus anticoagulant, and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. DESIGN: Prospective study of blood samples (a) from selected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus whose disease was and was not complicated by a history of thrombosis or recurrent abortions, or both, and (b) from a series of healthy controls with a similar age and sex distribution. SETTING: University based medical clinic. SUBJECTS: 23 Patients with definite systemic lupus erythematosus (American Rheumatism Association criteria), of whom 11 (eight women) aged 26-51 had a history of thrombosis or recurrent abortions, or both, and 12 (10 women) aged 23-53 had no such history. 15 Healthy subjects (10 women) aged 25-58 served as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tissue plasminogen activator concentrations, plasminogen activator inhibitor activities, detection of the lupus anticoagulant, and values of anticardiolipin antibodies in the two groups of patients and in the patients with a history of thrombosis or abortions compared with controls. Other measurements included concentrations of proteins that are known to change during the acute phase of systemic lupus erythematosus--namely, fibrinogen, C3 and C4, and C reactive protein. RESULTS: Patients with a history of thrombosis or abortions, or both, had significantly higher values of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor than patients with no such history. A significant correlation between tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor (r = 0.80) was found only in the patients with a history of complications of their disease. The lupus anticoagulant was detected in six of the 11 patients with a history of thrombosis or abortions when tested by measuring the activated partial thromboplastin time but was found in all 11 patients when tested by measuring the diluted activated partial thromboplastin time. Nine of these 11 patients had raised values of anticardiolipin antibodies. The findings showed no relation to the activity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: A significant correlation between tissue plasminogen activator concentrations and plasminogen activator inhibitor activities was found only in patients whose systemic lupus erythematosus was complicated by a history of thrombosis or recurrent abortions. The findings show that these patients have raised plasminogen activator inhibitor activities, and the frequent association between these raised activities and the presence of the lupus anticoagulant suggests that the two may be linked.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1990

Dilute aPTT prolongation by antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The behaviour of aPTT, as assessed by standard or diluted phospholipid mixture, was investigated in 20 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis. Standard aPTT was prolonged in 13 but it was corrected by 1:1 mixture with normal plasma. Dilute aPTT performed in samples mixed 1:1 with normal plasma and calculated by the difference in time between 1:80 and 1:5 phospholipid mixture was prolonged in 9 patients, who had also significantly higher titre of anticardiolipin antibodies (p less than 0.005). Unlike patients' plasma with normal dilute aPTT, the addition of 0.05 M PC/PS liposomes to patient's plasma with prolonged dilute aPTT significantly shortened dilute aPTT (p less than 0.001). This study shows the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in some patients with liver cirrhosis; this seems to be responsible for the prolongation of dilute aPTT.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor by defibrotide in atherosclerotic patients.

Defibrotide, an antithrombotic drug, was previously shown to activate fibrinolysis. In order to elucidate the relationship between defibrotide treatment and fibrinolysis, ten atherosclerotic patients were given 1200 mg/day defibrotide intravenously for 7 days and then 400 mg/day intramuscularly for another 20 days. t-PA antigen assessed before and after venous occlusion was not affected by the treatment. Tissue PAI activity significantly decreased and t-PA activity, measured after venous occlusion, increased after 8 and 28 days of treatment; both these changes disappeared after defibrotide was discontinued. No particular side effects were detected throughout the investigation. The study suggests that defibrotide increases t-PA activity by reducing PAI activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Interrelation between factor VII, prekallikrein, and hyperfibrinolysis in advanced cirrhosis.

Factor VII and prekallikrein activities were studied in 37 patients with liver cirrhosis who were in a decompensated state. Sixteen of them died 30-70 days after admission; 21 survived and were discharged after 30-80 days. Seven who died and six survivors had signs of hyperfibrinolysis: factor VII activity differentiated the two groups independently of the presence of hyperfibrinolysis. The presence of hyperfibrinolysis significantly reduced prekallikrein activity, which did not differentiate clearly survivors from non-survivors. Long term follow up of survivors showed a good correlation between factor VII and prekallikrein activities with long term survival. Hyperfibrinolysis seemed to influence the clinical course of patients: 87% of patients with hyperfibrinolysis who died had fatal haemorrhagic episodes. Low factor VII activity may be a precursor of terminal liver insufficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Ventricular function in mitral valve prolapse: effects of beta adrenergic blockers with and without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity].

A corollary of the "cardiomyopathy therapy" implies that mitral valve prolapse may cause intrinsic myocardial depression. The impairment of ventricular function may not be detected in basal conditions, but could be unmasked by superimposing depressant factors. The use of beta-blockers constitutes the first choice treatment for the symptomatic management of patients with mitral valve prolapse. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that myocardial depression could be shown during beta-blockade in the uncomplicated primary form of mitral valve prolapse. The results of echocardiographic and radionuclide angiographic evaluation of left ventricular function during basal conditions, as well as under beta-blockade with propranolol and pindolol, do not lend support to the cardiomyopathy hypothesis of the pathogenesis of primary mitral valve prolapse. However, significant decreases of heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction and peak velocity of left ventricular systolic emptying were seen with propranolol, but not with pindolol. Beta-blockade with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity may be preferable therapeutic option for patients with mitral valve prolapse.

Adolescent↗