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Biomedical subjects

F M Parsons

Publications and source records attributed to F M Parsons.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The evolution of acute renal failure, 1956-1988.

A total of 1347 patients with severe acute renal failure, treated at a single centre between 1956 and 1988, are reviewed. Only patients with an acute uraemic episode requiring dialysis and/or with serum creatinine levels above 600 mumols/l were included. The age of patients increased from median 41.25 years in the 1950s to 60.5 years in the period 1980 to 1988. The case-mix also altered with a decline in obstetric and traumatic disease, both of which carried an excellent prognosis, and an increase in the number of elderly patients with complicated medical and surgical conditions. Survival significantly decreased with increasing age and in the presence of complicating factors such as sepsis or malignancy. Despite these changes, there has been a progressive improvement in survival from 48.8 per cent in 1956-1959 to 57.9 per cent in 1985-1988. Survival for medical and surgical cases has improved from 38.5 per cent in 1956-1959 to 57.9 per cent in 1985-1988 (overall survival for non-obstetric cases was 44.2 per cent), due to improved prognosis for acute renal failure in general and acute renal failure due to intrinsic renal disease in particular.

Acute Kidney Injury

Obstetric acute renal failure 1956-1987.

A total of 142 women with severe acute renal failure (ARF) resulting from obstetric causes was treated by dialysis at a single centre from 1956 to 1987. One-year survival was 78.6%, which compares favourably with other causes of ARF. Abortion, haemorrhage and preclampsia comprised 95% of cases, with survival being best (82.9%) with abortion. Survival was adversely affected by increasing age. Acute cortical necrosis (12.7% of patients) carried 100% mortality after 6 years. Follow-up of survivors showed normal renal function up to 31 years following ARF; 25-year patient survival was 71.6%. Improvements in obstetric care and the disappearance of illegal abortions have resulted in a dramatic decline in the incidence of obstetric ARF.

Actuarial Analysis

Protein losses in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Total protein and 12 specific proteins were measured in dialysates from 8 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis during training. Mean daily loss of total protein was 10.5 g and this included 5.2 g albumin, 805 mg of the immunoglobulins G, A and M, 323 mg transferrin and 530 mg of the remaining 7 proteins measured. The plasma to dialysate ratio of protein concentrations correlated with the natural logarithm of molecular weight, suggesting that proteins in dialysate are an ultrafiltrate of plasma. A greater loss of proteins overnight was due to longer dwell time as the mean rate of loss was similar for all exchanges. Losses were similar with 1.36% and 3.86% dextrose fluids, suggesting that the initial effects of hypertonicity are diminished or reversed by dilution and absorption of dextrose. Daily outflow volumes for 4 patients correlated inversely with the quantities of several proteins removed, probably due to effects of osmolality. It is concluded that protein losses are related to plasma concentration, molecular weight and osmolality of the dialysis solution and to the physiology of the patient.

Adult

Nutrition and delayed hypersensitivity during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in relation to peritonitis.

Anthropometric measurements, sixteen specific plasma proteins, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine were measured at 4-monthly intervals for 1 year in 15 patients on CAPD. Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests were performed on 11 patients at the start and after 4 and 12 months. Body weight increased due mainly to a mean increase in 'calculated' body fat of 2.0 kg with increases in cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B. Gain in fat correlated with the daily supply of dextrose in the dialysis fluid. Albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and retinol-binding protein decreased in 8 patients who intermittently ate less than 1.3 g protein/kg/day. A high concentration of dextrose in the dialysis fluid probably caused loss of appetite. Peritonitis resulted in increases in acute phase proteins although other plasma proteins decreased. Skin test responses indicated improvement in cell-mediated immunity during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The incidence of peritonitis and length of stay in hospital were greater in the patients who were hypoalbuminaemic probably due to impairment of the humoral mechanism. Dextrose in dialysis fluid may contribute to hyperlipidaemia and malnutrition with impairment of immunocompetence.

Adolescent

Failure of renal dopamine response to salt loading in chronic renal disease.

Eight patients with chronic glomerulonephritis and five age-matched normal volunteers were given additional sodium chloride by mouth under conditions of metabolic balance. Whereas in the normal volunteers plasma renin activity was suppressed and urinary excretion of free dopamine increased, in the patients dopamine was not mobilised and plasma renin activity was not completely suppressed. Abnormal retention of sodium and water in glomerulonephritis may be due partly to a failure to mobilise dopamine in the kidney. Specific renal dopamine agonists may be natriuretic and hypotensive in chronic glomerulonephritis.

Adult

Anthropometry and plasma valine, amino acids, and proteins in the nutritional assessment of hemodialysis patients.

Non-fasting plasma amino acids, proteins, anthropometric measurements, urea, and creatinine for 17 hemodialysis patients were compared with values in normal patients of similar age and sex. Values were characteristic for renal failure but with similarities to protein-energy malnutrition. Partial correlation coefficients, correcting for age and height, identified nutritional and non-nutritional factors. Plasma valine was the most correlated variable and was used to rank and group the patients. The group with valine less than 150 micrometers/liter had low values for 17 variables. Valine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, asparagine, weight, and arm muscle circumference were interrelated and reflected malnutrition whereas fat correlated with calorie intake, and histidine and serine with protein intake. Taurine, aspartic acid, cystine, citrulline, urea, creatinine, prealbumin and retinol-binding protein were decreased in malnutrition but were higher than normal due to a loss of renal function. Fourteen variables, less affected by malnutrition, were changed by specific non-nutritional factors. Hemodialysis patients of long standing (1 to 11 years) apart from two patients with recurrent sepsis, were adequately nourished, but those on hemodialysis for less than 15 months, most of whom had previously received peritoneal dialysis, were malnourished. Malnutrition in dialysis patients was due to protein and energy deficiency enhanced by metabolic abnormalities of amino acids. Our study shows that plasma valine is interrelated with other nutritional variables and may be used to assess protein-energy malnutrition.

Adolescent

Dialysis and renal transplantation of children in Europe, 1974.

About a third of all children with end-stage renal failure in Europe were accepted for treatment by regular dialysis or transplantation during 1974. The number of specialised paediatric dialysis centres increased. The number of renal transplants also increased, but fewer living donor grafts and retransplants were performed in 1974. The best survival was again observed on home dialysis. Patient survival after a cadaver graft improved. Children more than ten years old appeared to have a better survival on dialysis and a somewhat better graft function than younger patients. Rehabilitation was similar on home dialysis and after transplantation, but full school activity in ordinary school was reported in only 40% of all children on hospital dialysis. Children on haemodialysis tended to dialyse more frequently in 1974, than before, but for fewer hours per week. Hepatitis was still a problem and only a small reduction in the incidence was noted during 1974. Children on dialysis required more blood transfusions than adults. Body growth on haemodialysis was retarded to a similar degree on boys and in girls; 70% of the haemodialysed and 63% of the transplanted children had a growth velocity below the third percentile. Growth rate was noted to fall after the first year on dialysis.

Adolescent