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Biomedical subjects

F Simmler

Publications and source records attributed to F Simmler.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

[PSA in prostatic fluid].

Correct forecasting of prostatic carcinoma by means of serum PSA is limited. Prostatic carcinoma is said to increase PSA 10 times as much as prostatic adenoma. Therefore we evaluated whether PSA in the prostatic fluid is more specific for prostatic carcinoma than the level in the serum. In 31 consecutive patients with prostatic disease blood was taken for serum PSA first and then prostatic fluid (10 microliters) was expressed. The PSA was determined by the Pros-Check test in both the serum and in the prostatic fluid. The collection of the prostatic fluid failed in 7 (22.6%) patients. Of the remaining 24 patients, 5 had documented bacterial prostatitis, 4 had prostatic carcinoma and 15 had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The serum PSA was 5.6 +/- 5.0 micrograms/l in prostatitis, 148 +/- 208 micrograms/l in prostatic carcinoma and 6.9 +/- 6.8 micrograms/l in BPH. The serum PSA was significantly higher in prostatic cancer (P < or = 0.01) than in prostatitis and BPH. The PSA levels in the prostatic fluid were 14.0 +/- 25.7 x 10(6) micrograms/l in prostatitis, 7.6 +/- 9.7 x 10(6) micrograms/l in carcinoma and 14.0 +/- 14.6 x 10(6) micrograms/l in BPH. There were no statistically significant differences. In the expressed prostatic fluid no significantly different PSA was found in carcinoma, bacterial prostatitis or BPH. In contrast to this, the serum PSA was significantly higher in cancer patients than in prostatitis or BPH. Therefore PSA in the expressed prostatic fluid is no more specific than that in the serum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Evaluation of the complement split product C3dg in synovial fluid as a possible diagnostic guide in inflammatory arthropathies.

Analyses of C3 split products with C3d specificity (C3dg) were performed in 157 synovial fluids (SF) of 129 patients with various known joint diseases. Considerable overlap between all inflammatory infectious, and crystal induced disease categories confines the value of such measurements as a diagnostic guide to only a few clinical situations. In seronegative as well as in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis no correlation between SF C3d levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate could be found.

Arthritis

[Lead intoxication due to taking snuff (author's transl)].

Clinically manifest lead poisoning was diagnosed in a 66-year-old patient, the cause of which remained unclear at first. In the search for the source of poison it was surprisingly discovered that the patient had been inhaling lead contaminated snuff for several years. Two years after elimination of the source the patient was symptom-free, pathological laboratory findings had be come normal except for a slight increase of erythrocyte protoporphyrins.

Aged

[Severe light dermatosis following photo therapy in a newborn infant with congenital erythropoietic urophyria].

A newborn infant with hemolytic anemia and hepatosplenomegaly was treated by phototherapy for early jaundice. After 18 h, a dark brown pigmentation of the skin was noticed, leading to the assumption of a bronze baby syndrome. Indeed, the child was suffering from a severe disturbance of liver function. 4 days later, a severe bullous dermatosis with blody imbibition developed, covering all exposed parts of the body surface and reoccurring in many bursts over several weeks despite protection against light. A severe hemolytic anemia was constantly present. The baby died on the 50th day. The diagnosis of erythropoietic porphyria was suggested immediately after the onset of the bullous exanthema and proved by laboratory data as follows: uro- and coproporphyrin in the urine were extremely high, uroporphyrin being mainly of type-I isomer. In red cells, increased amounts of uro-, copro- and protoporphyrins were detected. Massive red fluorescence of erythroblasts (so-called porphyroblasts) in the bone marrow and in the blood could be observed. At autopsy, the liver showed multiple blood-forming areas and severe diffuse hemosiderosis, which is to be explained by a long existing, i.e. fetal hemolysis. Erythropoietic porphyria is such a rare disease that there is no reason to consider it as a general contraindication for phototherapy.

Bone Marrow Diseases