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E Dosch

Publications and source records attributed to E Dosch.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Apolipoprotein(a) phenotype-associated decrease in lipoprotein(a) plasma concentrations after renal transplantation.

High lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] plasma concentrations are an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. In the general population, Lp(a) levels are primarily determined by allelic variation at the apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] gene locus. Apo(a) isoforms of various sizes are associated with different Lp(a) concentrations. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have elevated plasma concentrations of Lp(a), which are not explained by the size variation at the apo(a) gene locus. To further investigate the origin of the elevated Lp(a) plasma concentrations, we examined Lp(a) concentrations and apo(a) phenotypes in 154 ESRD patients undergoing renal transplantation. In a prospective longitudinal study we observed a rapid normalization of Lp(a) levels from an average concentration of 25.9 +/- 28.7 mg/dL before to 17.9 +/- 25.5 mg/dL 3 weeks after renal transplantation (P < .0001). Only patients with high-molecular-weight phenotypes had a significant decrease in Lp(a) plasma concentrations. This study demonstrates the nongenetic origin of elevated Lp(a) concentrations in ESRD patients, which is obviously caused by the disease. It further confirms a phenotype-associated elevation of Lp(a) concentrations in ESRD.

Adolescent

Sneddon's syndrome. A long-term follow-up of 21 patients.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Twenty-one patients with histologically proven Sneddon's syndrome were followed up in a retrospective study. We report on their detailed clinical courses and extensive follow-up examinations. RESULTS: Incidence is estimated at four cases per million population per year. Nonspecific prodromal symptoms (headache, dizziness) frequently (80%) precede livedo racemosa for 3.5 and (multi)focal neurological symptoms of fully developed disease for 9 years followed by progressive cognitive impairment (60%) 10 years later. Involvement of fundi, peripheral nerves, heart, and kidneys is frequent (50% to 70%) yet usually asymptomatic. Some symptoms prove irreversible (livedo racemosa, multifocal cerebral lesions on imaging, or creatinine clearance), whereas other symptoms tend to resolve after days to years (many focal neurological symptoms, some electrocardiographic changes, or hypertension). Mortality is calculated at 9.5% within an average observation time of 6.2 years. Laboratory findings, including antiphospholipid antibodies, are normal except for elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and complement consumption at times of disease progression and increased cholesterol levels parallel to disease extent. Skin biopsy specimens reveal inflammatory findings ("endothelitis") of small- to medium-sized arteries followed by subendothelial proliferation and fibrosis. Hypertension is the only risk factor significantly associated with a more severe course of the disease; no medication proved effective. CONCLUSIONS: Sneddon's syndrome is an often unrecognized, slowly progressive, systemic disease with evidence of vasculitic origin.

Adult