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Biomedical subjects

F Marongiu

Publications and source records attributed to F Marongiu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Acute and chronic hepatitis delta virus infection: direct or indirect effect on hepatitis B virus replication?

In a large population of patients, chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was usually associated with absence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. However, acute HDV superinfection progressing to chronic HDV infection in two hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive HBV carriers and coinfection in two other patients who progressed to chronic HBV (HBeAg-positive) and HDV infection was associated with continuing high-level HBV replication for several years. Thus HDV infection does not always inhibit HBV replication. The hypothesis that the different effects of HDV coinfection and superinfection on HBV replication may stem from variability in the capacity of the host to produce and respond to interferon is discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity in hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid treatment.

Plasma concentration of fibrinogen and B beta 15-42, a specific product of fibrinogen metabolism induced by plasmin, were measured in a group of patients with untreated hyperthyroidism and in controls. Significantly increased plasma levels of both parameters were observed in hyperthyroid patients. The restoration of euthyroidism either by antithyroid drug or by radioiodine caused a significant decrease of fibrinogen and B beta 15-42. These data indicate that hyperthyroidism is another clinical condition associated with increased concentration of fibrinogen and B beta 15-42.

Adult↗

Fibrinopeptide A and B beta 15-42 in liver cirrhosis.

In order to detect even minimal fibrinolysis activation in liver cirrhosis, we measured fibrinopeptide B beta 15-42 (B beta 15-42), an indicator of plasmin activity in vivo and alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP) in a group of cirrhotic patients. The second goal of this study was to investigate whether an increased fibrinolytic activity is related to a chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. For this purpose we concomitantly measured fibrinopeptide A (FPA), marker of thrombin activity in vivo. Results show significantly higher levels of B beta 15-42 in cirrhotic patients than in control (p less than 0.01). In patients with high FPA levels we found significantly higher values than in patients with normal FPA (p less than 0.01). alpha 2-AP was lower in patients with high FPA levels than in patients with normal FPA (p less than 0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between FPA and alpha 2-AP only in patients with high FPA (p less than 0.05). There was no relationship between B beta 15-42 and FPA nor between B beta 15-42 and alpha 2-AP when all patients were considered. These findings confirm that in liver cirrhosis fibrinolysis activation may occur. The primary pathogenetic role of DIC may be important in this respect. However the lack of correlation between FPA and B beta 15-42 suggests that other pathogenetic factors may be involved in determining fibrinolysis activation.

Adult↗

Relationship between elevated fibrinopeptide A levels and alpha-2-antiplasmin.

In order to investigate whether alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP) levels may be related to thrombin activity, we measured alpha 2-AP and fibrinopeptide A (FPA) in 51 patients with clinical conditions frequently associated with increased thrombin activity. The diagnoses were: atherosclerotic disease, chronic inflammatory disease and hematological neoplastic disease. A significant negative correlation was found between alpha 2-AP and FPA (p less than 0.01). When patients were divided into three subgroups on the basis of their FPA levels, a significant reduction in alpha 2-AP was found in patients with the highest FPA concentration (greater than 9 ng/ml). Accordingly, a significant negative relationship between alpha 2-AP and FPA was found only in this subgroup (p less than 0.01). Our data suggest that the partial consumption of alpha 2-AP in patients with elevated FPA levels may reflect a subclinical fibrinolysis activation secondary to increased thrombin activity.

Adolescent↗

alpha 2 Antiplasmin and disseminated intravascular coagulation in liver cirrhosis.

Subnormal concentrations of alpha 2 Antiplasmin (alpha 2 AP) in liver cirrhosis may be due to an impaired hepatic synthesis and/or to a fibrinolysis activation in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In order to clarify this problem, in 26 cirrhotic patients (15 compensated and 11 decompensated) alpha 2 AP plasma activity and plasma Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) were measured. Serum albumin, p-Cholinesterase (p-CHE), Fibrinogen and Fibrinogen Degradation Products (FDP) were also carried out. Our data show that alpha 2 AP and FPA were equally abnormal in compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. The significant negative correlation obtained between alpha 2 AP and FPA as well as the lack of correlation between alpha 2 AP and albumin, alpha 2 AP and p-CHE in both groups suggests that, in our patients, alpha 2 AP decrease may be due to a fibrinolysis activation induced by a DIC which appears chronic since Fibrinogen and FDP were normal. These findings are in agreement with the results obtained in the four subgroups a posteriori selected on the basis of FPA levels: alpha 2 AP in subgroups with high FPA was significantly different from controls while it did not differ in subgroups with normal FPA.

Adult↗