PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H G Heuft

Publications and source records attributed to H G Heuft.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Prognostic relevance of hepatitis C virus genotype for responsiveness to interferon-alpha].

The influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-genotypes on the responsiveness to interferon- (IFN-alpha) was studied in 116 patients with proven chronic hepatitis C. 88 of 116 (76%) patients were infected with HCV-genotype 1, 7 (6%) with HCV-genotype 2, and 21 patients (18%) with HCV-genotype 3. All patients received at least 3 MU recombinant IFN-alpha-2a, 2b or lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha tiw for at least 6 month (total IFN-alpha dose per patient 216-720 MU, mean 360; treatment duration 6-12 month, mean 8). The follow-up after cessation of therapy was 9-48 months (mean 25). Sustained normalization of the aminotransferase levels was observed in 20 (17%) of the 116 patients. 10 of the 88 (11%) patients with HCV-genotype 1, 7 of the 21 (33%) patients with HCV-genotype 3 (p < 0.02), and 3 out of the 7 patients with HCV-genotype-2- infection achieved a sustained remission. No response was observed in 58 (66%) and 3 (14%) patients with HCV-genotype 1 and 3 infections, respectively (p < 0.002). All but one of the sustained responders remained HCV-RNA negative during the entire follow-up. There were no significant differences between the sustained responders and the group of non-responders and responders with relapse in relation to age, pretreatment aminotransferase levels, histological activity index, or given IFN-alpha dosage. HCV-genotyping is helpful in evaluating the responsiveness to IFN-alpha and will be of importance considering the indication of therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The effect of methylene blue phototreatment on plasma proteins and in vitro coagulation capability of single-donor fresh-frozen plasma.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic virus inactivation of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) may result in its impaired coagulation capability. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Double-volume plasmapheresis samples from 11 donors were divided in pairs of 250 mL. One group underwent methylene blue (MB) phototreatment (MB-FFP). The other group was treated according to the standards of the American Association of Blood Banks for preparation and storage of FFP. Parameters of hemostasis and clinically important plasma proteins were tested in native plasma, thawed MB-FFP, thawed FFP, and twice-frozen and thawed FFP (FFP-II). RESULTS: Mean activities of factor V (73.4 vs. 94.5%; p < 0.01), factor VIII (58.1 vs. 86.7%; p < 0.001), and fibrinogen (1.8 vs. 2.8 g/L; p < 0.001) were reduced in MB-FFP as compared to those in FFP. The comparison of MB-FFP to FFP-II revealed reduced activities of factor VIII (58.1 vs. 85.2%; p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (1.8 vs. 2.8 g/L; p < 0.001) but no changes in factor V. Activated partial thromboplastin time in MB-FFP was prolonged beyond the upper normal range (+5.3 sec; p < 0.001) and prothrombin time increased in MB-FFP versus FFP (+0.96 sec; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MB phototreatment reduces the in vitro coagulation capacity of FFP, most likely as a result of the effects of an additional freezing and thawing procedure and photooxidation-induced protein damage.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1994

Microbiologic contamination of peripheral blood stem cell autografts.

We have determined the incidence and clinical significance of positive microbiologic cultures in a series of 290 peripheral blood stem cell concentrates in 95 patients undergoing multiple apheresis procedures for autologous stem cell rescue. Specimens for bacterial cultures were obtained after processing of the autografts just prior to freezing. The incidence of microbial contamination was 4.5% (n = 13). The predominant pathogenic microorganism cultured was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (n = 11). From 8 patients with contaminated leukapheresis products 6 underwent autologous stem cell transplantation. Five patients received 1-5 culture-positive stem cell concentrates without serious sequelae, whereas the sixth patient was autografted with noncontaminated leukapheresis products, 1 concentrate contaminated with Aspergillus fumigatus being not reinfused. No microorganism present in the stem cell autograft was recovered in vivo in the posttransplantation period, although fever as a sign of infection occurred in all but 1 patient. Peripheral blood stem cell collection and ex vivo processing for cryopreservation may result in microbiologic contamination. However, our data show that infusion of contaminated stem cell autografts does not play a significant role as a source for infections in the clinical setting of autologous stem cell rescue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Screening for markers of transfusion-associated infections in autologous blood donation].

Autologous blood donation is increasingly used in preparing patients for elective surgical procedures. The aim is to diminish the transmission of transfusion-associated infections, to avoid transfusion-related immunosuppression and to relieve the general blood supply. However, autologous blood donation programs do not necessarily incorporate serologic donor screening. From June 1990 to January 1993 we examined 4,038 consecutive autologous donations from 1,708 patients. The median age was 61 years (range 10-88), the sex ratio was 1/1.5 male/female. We tested each unit for serum ALT, anti-HIV1 + 2, HBsAG, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, and Treponema pallidum antibodies (TPHA test). The overall rates of positive test results were: ALT > 45 U/l 0.64%, anti-HBc 15.9%, BHsAG 0.72% and TPHA test 0.32% of all units; anti-HCV (1st gen.) 4.26% of 1,948 and anti-HCV (2nd gen.) 2.34% of 2,090 donations. With respect to the sex-related normal range of the local laboratory, 332 (8.2%) of all components had an elevated serum ALT level. No donation was positive for anti-HIV1/2. The overall rate of components with pathological findings in tests for ALT, HCV antibodies, HBs antigen and/or Treponema antibodies was 11.7%. We conclude from these data that a substantial proportion of autologous blood is potentially harmful in cases of mistake solely with respect to serologic screening results. Procedures to minimize the risk of mistake of autologous blood should routinely include serologic screening and marking of units with pathological findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Sporadic occurrence of Diego A antigens and antibodies in Berlin.

BACKGROUND: The antigen Dia is common among Mongols (5-12%), but rare in Caucasians (< 1%). OBJECTIVE: The accidental discovery of Diego A (Dia) antibodies in a South American tourist and in an elderly German patient prompted us to investigate the frequency of Dia antigens in the German population. DESIGN: 1,352 German random blood donors, all living in Berlin or in the areas around, were tested for the presence of the Dia antigen on their red blood cells. All donors were Caucasians. RESULTS: Dia was found in 12 individuals (0.89%). CONCLUSIONS: We think that Dia is a low-frequency antigen in the European population. The admixture of Mongol genes following wars or migration is only of low or no importance.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Autologous blood donation and erythropoiesis].

Autologous blood donation before elective surgery has been widely endorsed as good transfusion practice. Although only 6% of patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery are unable to donate 3 autologous units, 40% cannot donate 4 units because they become anemic. According to the results of our study this must be due to different problems of bone marrow dynamics, which cannot be overcome by unselected use of human recombinant erythropoietin.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia after liver transplantation by "auto"-anti-A and "auto"-anti-P1].

A 47-year-old man (group A) received a cadaver liver from a group 0 donor. On day 8 after the transplant the recipient developed severe immune hemolysis and showed a positive direct antiglobulin test due to two antibodies (anti-A and anti-P1) of transplant donor origin. The possible mechanisms involved in "autoantibody" formation in the recipient are discussed.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1992

[Examination of a Berlin blood donation branch for antibodies to hepatitis C virus with the anti-HCV test and for circulating HCV-RNA using polymerase chain reaction].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for the majority of cases of transfusion-related hepatitis. We performed a first-generation anti-HCV EIA in 665 repeat and 168 first-time blood donors from Berlin. 4.7 and 4.2%, respectively, showed at least one indeterminate or positive result. We further looked for HCV genome in the plasma of 20 donors with reactive anti-HCV-EIA doing a polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR). The control group consisted of 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The PCR was negative in all examined blood donors, but was positive in 17 of 20 controls. These findings raise the question, if a positive anti-HCV test correlates with infectiosity.

Berlin↗
PubMed1992

[Anti-M after transfusion as an indication of a genetic variant of the MN locus].

We report a case of an anti-M antibody (titer 128) and MN red blood cells (RBC) in a 76-year-old female German patient. In our case, however, RBC showed weak reactions to human anti-M compared with strong reactions using rabbit anti-M. Papain treatment destroyed the RBC reactivity to human anti-M whereas the strong reactivity to rabbit anti-M was unchanged. This pattern was also demonstrable in the patient's son and grandson. Our results indicate the existence of a rare allele at the MN locus in this family.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Erythropoiesis and iron metabolism in autologous blood donation].

Autologous blood donation before elective surgery has been widely endorsed as good transfusion practice. Although only 6 percent of patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery are unable to donate 3 autologous units, 40 percent cannot donate 4 units because they become anemic [1,2]. According to the results of our study this must be due to different problems in bone marrow dynamics, which cannot be overcome by unselected use of human recombinant erythropoietin alone [3].

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Stem cell separation with different cell separators].

For some years, there has been an increasing success in transplanting peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) instead of autologous bone marrow in patients suffering from different malignancies. While collecting PBSC for autologous transplantation, we compared four different separation techniques and three different cell separators (COBE Spectra, Fresenius AS 104, Haemonetics V50) routinely used for platelet production. Our results suggest that continuous flow separators seem to have some advantage over discontinuous flow machines in harvesting PBSC.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

[Clinical use of peripheral stem cells for autologous transplantation].

Peripheral blood derived hematopoietic stem cells (PBSC) have been transplanted successfully to eight patients suffering from different malignancies. The separations were started during chemotherapy-induced cytopenia and large volumes of peripheral blood were processed. Using this separation concept, it was possible in all cases to obtain the stem cell amount necessary for hematopoietic reconstitution.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

[Risks of autologous blood transfusion].

Underutilization of autologous blood for transfusion is widespread. Our results suggest that this problem could only gradually be corrected, as some patients show insufficient erythropoietic recovery after a predeposit autologous donation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[ABO blood groups and platelet transfusion].

Platelet transfusion without regard for AB0 compatibility is controversially discussed. Therefore, we studied the success of 136 AB0 compatible and 52 incompatible platelet applications in 37 patients. Our results suggest, that AB0 matching can improve the response of platelet transfusion.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1990

[Can thrombocyte crossmatching improve the efficiency of platelet transfusion?].

We did crossmatching in 220 transfusions of single donor platelet concentrates using the purchaseable solid phase immunoassay Capture-P (Immucor, Rödermark, FRG), checking posttransfusion response by calculating the corrected count increment (CCI). Our results show that posttransfusion response in transfusions of ABO major incompatible platelet concentrates is virtually reduced only in those transfusions accompanied by a positive crossmatch in Capture-P. As Capture-P can detect IgG antibodies only, positive test results could well be due to a reaction of recipient immune isoagglutinins with ABH antigens expressed on donor platelets, therefore.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1990

[Stem cell concentrates in autologous transplantation].

For some years, there has been an increasing success in transplanting PBSC instead of autologous bone marrow in patients suffering from leukemic diseases. In healthy cytapheresis donors, we achieved peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBM) recoveries of 74%, using a discontinuous flow separation technique (Haemonetics V50, Lymphosurge). At the moment, we have collected PBSC from 4 patients (3 AML, 1 ALL) in 28 cytapheresis procedures ranging from 12.9% to 80.1% (mean: 40.1%), whereas stem cell recoveries, defined by CFU-GM, were significantly better (mean: 66%). At present, one of these patients has been transplanted with PBSC alone, receiving 2.11 x 10(8) PBM/kg with 2.8 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg. His posttransplantation cytopenia was shorter compared to other patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation. The period of disease-free survival is now more than eight months while he is completely reintegrated into social and working life.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1990

[Techniques for bone marrow preparation--a comparison of various systems].

Marrow cell concentration is a fundamental requirement when it becomes necessary to remove red blood cells prior to freezing for autologous or ABH-incompatible allogenous marrow transplantation. We compared 5 different separation techniques and two different cell separators (a: Haemonetics V50 and b: IBM/COBE 2997) routinely used for platelet and granulocyte production.

ABO Blood-Group System↗