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E C Halperin

Publications and source records attributed to E C Halperin.

143 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

The use of local allograft irradiation following renal transplantation.

Over a 10 year period, 67 recipients of 71 renal allografts received graft irradiation following the diagnosis of rejection. The majority of kidneys were treated with a total dose of 600 rad, 150 rad per fraction, in 4 daily fractions. Fifty-three kidneys were irradiated following the failure of standard systemic immunosuppression and maximally tolerated antirejection measures (pulse high dose steroids, Actinomycin, ATG) to reverse an episode of acute rejection. Seven of these patients (13%) had greater than a 50% improvement in serum creatinine (Cr) 1 week following completion of the irradiation. Twenty-two (42%) of these allografts were noted to have stable (i.e. no deterioration) or improved function 1 month following the treatment with irradiation. Eleven (21%) of these allografts maintained function 1 year following transplantation. There were 10 patients whose allografts were irradiated because of renal dysfunction in a clinical setting which did not permit the administration of further immunosuppression, i.e., infection or hematologic dyscrasias. Three of these patients (30%) had greater than a 50% improvement in serum Cr 1 week following completion of the irradiation. Nine (90%) of these allografts had stable or improved function 1 month following the treatment with irradiation. Biopsies were obtained of 41 allografts. Of the 24 renal allografts with predominantly cellular rejection, 10 (42%) had the process reversed or stabilized at 1 month following irradiation. Five (21%) of these allografts were functioning at 1 year following irradiation. Rejection was reversed or stabilized in 6 of 17 (35%) allografts at 1 month when the histologic features of renal biopsy suggested predominantly vascular rejection. One (6%) of these allografts was functioning at 1 year following transplantation. Local graft irradiation has helped maintain a limited number of allografts in patients whose rejection has failed to respond to systemic immunosuppression. Irradiation may also benefit patients with ongoing rejection in whom further systemic immunosuppression is contra-indicated.

Adult↗

The role of radiation therapy in the management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

From 1965 to 1980, 35 patients were treated by radiation for palliation of symptoms related to metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The male:female ratio was 1.9:1. Eighty-six percent (30/35) of the patients were over 40 years of age at initial presentation. Sixty-three percent (22/35) of the patients showed symptoms of metastatic disease within three years of diagnosis of the primary malignancy. Sixty sites were irradiated in the 35 patients: 36 sites of metastatic bone pain, 14 obstructing and/or palpable masses, and ten sites treated for symptoms due to central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Efficacy of treatment was assessed at serial follow-up visits beginning one month after completion of radiotherapy. Bone pain responded at 77% of the treated sites. Mass effect responded in 64%. Disappointing results were obtained with CNS metastases. There was only a 30% response of brain and spinal cord lesions within the dose range that these patients were treated. No correlation between TDF equivalent dose of radiation administered and frequency of palliative response was found. In those sites where a response of bone pain to radiation was observed, 86% of the responses lasted the remainder of the patient's life. No correlation was found between TDF equivalent dose of radiation administered and duration of response. Radiation may be a useful palliative tool for bone pain and mass effect from metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Inordinately high doses need not be used to achieve the desired effect.

Adult↗

Adrenal insufficiency secondary to metastatic lung carcinoma: CT aided diagnosis.

A patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung associated with clinical and laboratory evidence of adrenal insufficiency is described. Bilateral adrenal masses were identified on computed tomography and percutaneous needle biopsy confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma. There was some clinical improvement after treatment with corticosteroids. Consideration of this entity with appropriate diagnostic testing should result in more frequent recognition as well as palliation of attendant symptomatology.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Radiotherapy of polymorphic reticulosis.

The term "lethal mid-line granuloma" does not properly reflect current knowledge that several different diseases can produce non-infectious mid-facial destruction. The disorders producing erosion of the upper aerodigestive passages are more accurately classified by clinical and histological criteria as either Wegener's or non-Wegener's causes. The non-Wegener's causes of mid-facial erosion include extranodal lymphoma, idiopathic mid-line granuloma and polymorphic reticulosis. Polymorphic reticulosis (PR) is a rare disease which is histologically identical to lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG). The term PR has been used to describe LG localized to the upper airways. PR-LG is characterized by a remarkably polymorphic angiocentric mixed cellular infiltrate. The disease is locally invasive, has the potential for distant spread, and can cause fever, sweats and weight loss. When it is localized to the upper airways, PR-LG is potentially controllable by radiation therapy. Local symptoms at other body sites can be successfully palliated by radiation. The clinical presentation of two recent patients with PR-LG is summarized, as well as the radiotherapy employed. The pertinent literature is reviewed.

Adult↗

FDG-PET in pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors.

Seventeen pediatric patients with posterior fossa brain tumors were studied with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET). The FDG uptake was ranked by two observers, and the results were correlated with tumor histology. Increased FDG uptake was associated with more malignant and aggressive tumor types. Heterogeneity of FDG uptake was associated with previous therapy, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy. 2-[18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET will likely be an important adjunct in the management of pediatric posterior fossa tumors, much as in adult patients with brain tumors.

Adolescent↗

Prolonged heart xenograft survival using combined total lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine.

Total lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine have profound immunosuppressive properties and permit successful heart allotransplantation. Cyclosporine used alone has not permitted consistently successful transplantation between species in all cases. Total lymphoid irradiation has not been applied to xenotransplantation. The efficacy of total lymphoid irradiation alone and in combination with cyclosporine was examined using an animal model of heart xenotransplantation. Heterotopic heart transplants were performed using inbred Syrian hamsters as donors and Lewis rats as recipients. Total lymphoid irradiation was administered preoperatively over 3 weeks for a total dose of 15 gray. Cyclosporine was started on the day of surgery and was given as a daily intramuscular injection of 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg/day until rejection was complete. Neither total lymphoid irradiation nor cyclosporine alone markedly prolonged graft survival. However, combined total lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine, 5 or 10 mg/kg/day, dramatically prolonged graft survival to greater than 100 days in most recipients. There were no treatment-related deaths. In conclusion, combined total lymphoid irradiation and cyclosporine permit successful long-term survival of heart xenotransplants in this hamster-to-rat model.

Animals↗

The effect of cyclosporine, total lymphoid irradiation, and cobra venom factor on hyperacute rejection.

Transplantation into sensitized recipients is contraindicated due to the potential for hyperacute rejection. In order to study the mechanism of hyperacute rejection and the role of immunosuppression in the face of presensitization, we evaluated the effect of total lymphoid irradiation, cyclosporine, and cobra venom factor, alone and in combination, on hyperacute rejection of heterotopic rat heart allografts. Lewis rats were sensitized to strongly RT-1-incompatible ACI rats by three successive skin grafts. Heart allografts were then performed, and survived for a mean period of 15.7 +/- 7.4 hours. Neither preoperative treatment of hypersensitized rats with total lymphoid irradiation alone nor with cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/day) resulted in a prolongation of survival (20.4 +/- 16.6 hours and 35.6 +/- 6.2 hours, respectively). However, complement depletion using cobra venom factor significantly prolonged mean graft survival time to 114.4 +/- 31.0 hours (p less than 0.05). Cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/day) also significantly prolonged survival to 149 +/- 29 hours (p less than 0.01), but did not lower the antibody or complement levels. The addition of total lymphoid irradiation or cyclosporine to treatment with cobra venom factor did not result in longer survival than cobra venom factor alone. In conclusion, cobra venom factor and cyclosporine delay but do not prevent hyperacute rejection, while total lymphoid irradiation has no observable effect on hyperacute rejection.

Animals↗

The use of D-penicillamine in cystinuria: efficacy and untoward reactions.

A retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of D-penicillamine in the management of cystinuria, as well as to define the frequency and nature of untoward reactions to this drug. Fifty-six individuals were identified who, by stone analysis and/or biochemical studies, met the accepted diagnostic criteria for phenotypic cystinuria. The majority of these patients presented in the second decade of life with evidence of stone formation: renal colic, hematuria, and/or stone passage. Thirty-five individuals were considered to have clinically advanced cystinuria because they had required at least one urinary tract lithotomy. In these advanced cases, frequency of subsequent lithotomies and episodes of renal colic per 100 patient-years of observation were used as indices to measure the efficacy of D-penicillamine treatment. By both measurements, D-penicillamine significantly improved the clinical course of patients. The incidence of acute drug sensitivity reactions (rash, fever, and/or arthropathy) was in excess of 40 percent. Delayed drug-induced proteinuria occurred in 34 percent of treated patients. We conclude that D-penicillamine is useful in the treatment of cystinuria. Because of the significant number of untoward drug reactions, however, we believe the drug should be instituted only in selected, high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗

Well differentiated astrocytoma occurring nine years after radiation therapy for medulloblastoma.

Conventional treatment for medulloblastoma includes surgical resection followed by craniospinal irradiation, with the potential risk of subsequent radiotherapy-induced secondary neoplasms. We report a 23-year-old woman previously irradiated nine years earlier for a cerebellar medulloblastoma who developed a new enhancing lesion in the primary radiation field four weeks following completion of high dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplantation for recurrent disease. Resection of this lesion revealed a low grade glioma with no evidence of recurrent medulloblastoma.

Adult↗