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Biomedical subjects

G Maerker-Alzer

Publications and source records attributed to G Maerker-Alzer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Humoral immunodeficiency syndrome in patients with severe head injury?

Twenty patients with severe head injury were analysed as to whether they developed a humoral immunodeficiency syndrome. In spite of the fact that 75% developed pyogenic complications all patients showed a polyclonal humoral activation of their immune system with an increase in IgG, IgA, IgM and the complement factors. Four patients died from cerebral complications partly associated with infections. Because our patients did not develop a humoral immune defect and because there is no proof so far of a cellular defect, we think that the cause of respiratory infections is a pulmonary disturbance primarily caused by hypothalamic factors, whose release is stimulated by traumatically induced cerebral lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Neopterin production in inflamed knee joints: high levels in synovial fluids.

Neopterin levels of serum and fluid were determined in 30 patients with inflammatory synovial fluids and in 30 controls with joint effusions induced by trauma or osteoarthritis. Neopterin was significantly elevated in inflammatory fluids. There was no correlation with the acute phase reactants. Neopterin levels were significantly higher in inflammatory fluids than in serum, and vice versa in non-inflammatory conditions. Our results indicate that in arthritis neopterin is produced locally in the joint by monocytes induced by T-cell activation.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Passive prophylactic immunisation against post-transfusion hepatitis by immunoglobulin preparations: a prospective clinical study].

In the course of a randomised prospective study involving 98 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery, 51 patients were given 20 g human immunoglobulin i.v. over four months, 47 received merely blood transfusions, like all other patients, averaging 4.4 units per patient. Antibodies against HBs antigen or Hbc antigen were present in 20% of patients before operation. After operation (plus blood transfusions) antibodies against hepatitis-B virus were demonstrated in 43% of the control group but 94% of those treated with immunoglobulins. These antibodies persisted in the course of further immunoglobulin administrations, while they fell in the control group. Hepatitis-B infections occurred in ten patients of the control group, after 30-90 days; three of them developed acute hepatitis. In the group treated with immunoglobulins there were only two patients with an infection, one of whom developed hepatitis. Antibodies against cytomegalic virus increased in the control group but not in the treatment group. In both groups there was the same incidence of non-A-non-B hepatitis.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1979

[Transfer factor (TF) treatment of patients with HBs-Ag-positive chronic active hepatitis. A prospective, controlled study (author's transl)].

It is a clinically and experimentally well supported working hypothesis that infection with hepatitis B virus may result in chronic active hepatitis in patients with suspected immune deficiencies. On this basis, a pilot study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of "specific" transfer factor (TF) in the treatment of HBS-Ag-positive chronic active hepatitis. From the leukocytes of 500 ml venous blood each of 40 volunteers that had completely recovered from acute virus hepatitis B within the last 6 months, a unique TF pool (40 units of TF) was prepared according to the method of Lawrence. Preexaminations indicated that this preparation was able to enhance cellular immune reactions in vitro. Thirteen patients with HBS-antigenemia and chronic active hepatitis (i.e., two liver biopsies within the last 6 or more months with the histological criteria of chronic aggressive hepatitis according to de Groote, elevated serum levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, transaminase activities, and/or gamma-globulines) were randomized: Seven received s.c. injections of two units of TF each on days 1 and 15, the other six saline. Conversion of skin reactions to some ubiquitous antigens occurred in the TF group, but no significant and constant drop of HBS-Ag serum titers was observed. Although some of the biochemical parameters seemed to ameliorate in the TF group, the differences versus the control group did not prove to be significant within the limited number of patients under observation. The in vitro reactivity of patients' lymphocytes to HBS-Ag, tested by means of the 3H-thymidine uptake, was never found enhanced after TF application. In the used doses, "specific" TF was not effective in the treatment of HBS-Ag-positive chronic active hepatitis; unfavorable side-effects were not observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[On the question of drug-induced pseudo-LE syndrome: preliminary results in 58 cases (author's transl)].

Drug intake had been checked in 58 patients with pseudo-LE-syndrome. In view of the findings of the Zürich group a connection between the intake of Venopyronum¿ coated tablets and a pseudo-LE syndrome was strongly suspected in 45. In a further seven patients who also had taken the drug no definite connection could be shown because there was no temporal relationship between drug and disease. Three patients had taken Venopyronum-triplex capsules. Only three patients categorically denied ever having taken the drug in any form.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1975

Influence of D-penicillamine on the immune response of mice.

Studies on the influence of D-ss, ss-dimethylcystein (D-penicillamine, Metalcaptase-R) on the primary immune response of mice after immunization with sheep red blood cells show, that D-penicillamine up to doses of 20 mg/kg has no effect on the synthesis of hemagglutinating antibodies. Plaque forming cells in the spleen were not significantly reduced after administration of 80 mg/kg. A striking inhibition of the formation of immune rosettes is demonstrated. 80 mg/kg led to a significant reduction of rosette forming B-lymphocytes in the spleen.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effect of D-penicillamine on lymphocyte function.

Lymphocyte stimulation by different stimulating agents was dose dependently inhibited by D-penicillamine (Metalcaptase-R). The influence of D-penicillamine on the lymphocyte metabolism after the stimulation was established, was time dependently reduced. After preincubation of lymphocytes with D-penicillamine the lymphocyte metabolism was dose dependently reduced. The inhibition of the mixed lymphocyte cultures was by far less extensive after preincubation of the stimulator cells than of the responder cells. HeLa-cells were dose dependently inhibited by D-penicillamine, too. From these results there is much to be said for the assumption that D-penicillamine acts at the level of the cell membrane. D-Penicillamine seems to affect "membrane dependent" metabolic processes rather than block antigenic or other immunologically relevant structures.

Adult↗