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Biomedical subjects

G E Digenis

Publications and source records attributed to G E Digenis.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Recent developments in peritoneal dialysis.

Significant developments over the past 10 years have established continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis as a successful kidney-replacement treatment. Peritonitis rates have fallen, and investigators are attempting to establish objective criteria for adequacy of dialysis. Malnutrition is a serious concern, but short-term experience with intraperitoneal amino acids promises success in the management of this complication. A significant improvement in the well-being of patients with end-stage renal disease was produced by recombinant human erythropoietin, and use of recombinant human growth hormone promises catch-up growth for children receiving long-term peritoneal dialysis treatment. As increasing numbers of patients are maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis over longer periods, we will begin to encounter beta 2-microglobulin-related amyloidosis possibly at the same rate in these patients as in those receiving long-term hemodialysis treatment.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Tumor markers in patients undergoing hemodialysis or kidney transplantation.

The following tumor markers, AFP, CEA, CA 19-9, CA-125 and CA 15-3 were studied in 50 healthy volunteers (group A), in 23 patients on chronic hemodialysis (group B) and in 30 successfully transplanted individuals (group C) who did not present any clinical symptoms or signs of neoplasia. The levels of AFP, CEA and CA 15-3 were significantly higher in group B when compared to groups A and C. The levels of CA 19-9 and CA-125 did not differ significantly among the three groups. Transplanted individuals (group C) presented significantly lower levels of CEA and AFP and higher levels of CA 15-3 when compared to group B patients. The levels of all markers were not influenced by sex or time on dialysis. It is concluded that: (1) CA 19-9 and CA-125 can be considered as reliable tumor markers in patients undergoing hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. (2) The elevation of CEA and AFP levels in hemodialysis and their decline to normal levels found in the group of successfully transplanted individuals, suggest a possible active role of functioning renal tissue in their clearance. (3) The etiology of CA 15.3 elevation following successful kidney transplantation remains obscure and requires further evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Peritonitis-related deaths in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

A total of 636 episodes of peritonitis occurred in 440 patients who entered our continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) program from September 1977 to February 1988. Sixteen patients (8 male and 8 female, aged 37-77 years) died during an episode of peritonitis (fatality rate 2.5%). They had been on CAPD for 3 to 105 (average 39) months. Six of them were diabetics. The peritonitis rate among these 16 patients were 1 episode per 12 patient months, while the corresponding figure for the whole (440) CAPD population was 14 patient months. Risk factors present in the 16 patients were: cardiovascular disease (12), cerebrovascular accident (2) peripheral artery disease (1) and pulmonary fibrosis (1). Fever and leukocytosis were present on admission in 11 patients, while total serum proteins and albumin were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the corresponding values before peritonitis (56 +/- 8 vs. 65 +/- 5). Staph. aureus was isolated in 8 patients (50%), multiple organisms in 6, Pseudomonas and Candida albicans in 1 each. An abdominal abscess was found in 4 (25%) patients. The peritoneal catheter was removed between the 5th and 10th day in 6 and after the 10th day in 7 patients. Peritonitis with sepsis was the cause of death in 13 patients. Contributing factors were cardiovascular accident in 9, uremic coma in 2, extensive GI bleeding in 2, GI perforation in 2, intestinal infarction in 1, and pneumonia in 2 patients. We conclude that the risk of peritonitis-related death in CAPD patients is increased with Staph. aureus or multibacterial peritonitis. Contributing factors are concomitant cardiovascular disease and delayed (greater than 5 days) catheter removal.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗