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Biomedical subjects

H G Owen

Publications and source records attributed to H G Owen.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Partial colloid starch replacement for therapeutic plasma exchange.

Traditionally protein solutions have been used as the replacement solution of choice during therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Treatment protocols vary, but neurology patients, who exhibit autonomic instability, are typically replaced entirely with 5% protein solution. Due to sporadic product shortages and the increasing cost of protein solutions, we evaluated the use of 6% and 3% hetastarch (HES) as partial replacement during TPE. All adult neurology patients with normal liver, heart, and kidney function were evaluated for HES replacement. The first seven patients (33 procedures) received 1000 ml of 6% hetastarch as part of their replacement fluid and the next 42 patients (289 procedures) received 1000 ml of 3% HES as part of their replacement fluid. Three patients crossed over into both groups. Patients were evaluated for signs of peripheral edema, evidence of bleeding, skin rash, and any subjective changes. Total protein albumin, osmolality, PT, and aPTT were measured prior to each procedure in the first five patients in each group. In both groups there was a drop in total protein, but all other lab values returned to normal limits within 48 hours of treatment. One patient reported slight peripheral edema after two procedures. In the 3% HES group the BP and P remained stable in 97.3% (280) procedures. Two patients receiving 6% HES and 1 patient receiving 3% HES complained of severe transient back and head pain during HES infusion. There was no evidence of bleeding or subjective changes. Three percent HES is a safe and cost-effective partial replacement for albumin during TPE.

Adult↗

Alternatives to albumin: starch replacement for plasma exchange.

Today, albumin, or a combination of saline and albumin, is used and widely accepted as a replacement for routine plasma exchange. However, decreased availability (due to market recalls secondary to Creutzfeld-Jacob or bacterial contamination risk) rising costs, recognition of drug interactions with albumin (i.e., ACE inhibitors) and a fear of disease transmission have led several groups to reconsider the use of colloid starches as partial or full replacement for plasma during plasma exchange. There are two hydroxyethyl starches: hetastarch (Hespan and Pentaspan) currently licensed for human use in the United States. While both are approved for granulocyte collection only Hespan is approved as a plasma volume expander. Anecdotal experience and limited reports in the literature with the use of starches as a replacement for plasma exchange suggest that such starch products are a reasonable replacement for albumin as an initial wash-out fluid or in combination with either albumin or saline. Kinetic modeling of the wash-out of starch used as a replacement fluid demonstrate that relatively little residual starch remains compared to the total amount infused. Hydroxyethyl starches are biochemically similar to glycogen, which likely explains the lack of immunogenicity and lack of adverse reactions. Substantial cost savings are associated with the substitution of starch for albumin. It is concluded that HES is well-tolerated and cost-effective as full or partial volume replacement with plasma exchange. It is anticipated that the use of HES will emerge as a standard of care in apheresis.

Albumins↗

Washout kinetics of colloidal starch as a partial or full replacement for plasma exchange.

Colloidal starch has been used safely as a plasma expander and an erythrocyte sedimenting agent for over 25 years. However, there remains some concern in regard to the long term sequelae of the administration of large volumes of colloid starch such as would be administered if colloidal starch were used as a plasma replacement during serial plasma exchanges. We identified mathematical relations that allowed for the calculations of the theoretical circulating residual starch in a patient undergoing serial plasma exchanges and used it to model a variety of possible clinical scenarios. Following six one plasma volume exchanges, one would expect only 11, 13, 14, or 17% of the total infused starch to be remaining in the circulation. For example, in the case of a 4L exchange with full replacement, only the starch in 4.1 liters (4L x 6 exchanges x 17% = 4.1L) would be expected to remain in the circulation despite an infusion of 24 L (4L x 6 exchanges = 24L) of starch. The results suggest that relatively small amounts of starch would be expected to remain circulating relative to the large amounts infused following a series of plasma exchanges with partial or full starch replacement.

Colloids↗

Apheresis. New opportunities.

Recent advances in apheresis have emerged in a variety of clinical settings. Improvements in granulocyte and peripheral blood stem cell collection and mobilization, the changing role of intravenous gamma globulin, the importance of patient assessment and selection of replacement fluids, and the progress in both affinity apheresis and photopheresis are presented. These current trends, their limitation, and their promise in treating a diversity of diseases inspire the future of this technology.

Antigens, CD34↗

Atypical reactions associated with use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and apheresis.

BACKGROUND: Anaphylactic or atypical reactions, characterized by flushing, hypotension, dyspnea, and bradycardia, have been reported in patients undergoing hemodialysis, low-density lipoprotein apheresis, IgG affinity column apheresis, therapeutic plasma exchange, and desensitization immunotherapy while receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Records were reviewed of 299 consecutive patients undergoing therapeutic plasma exchange with colloid replacement at the University of North Carolina Hospitals from September 1981 through December 1993. Charts were selected for further analysis if atypical reactions (flushing or hypotension defined as a mean decrease in blood pressure of 20 torr or greater) occurred during apheresis or if there was concurrent administration of an ACE inhibitor. RESULTS: Fourteen (4.7%) of 299 patients were receiving ACE inhibitor therapy at the time of apheresis; all 14 experienced an atypical reaction. In contrast, 20 (7%) of 285 patients not receiving ACE inhibitors developed atypical reactions (p < 0.001). The 14 ACE inhibitor patients accounted for 41 percent (14/34) of all patients having atypical reactions during apheresis. CONCLUSION: Patients receiving ACE inhibitor therapy who are undergoing therapeutic plasma exchange with albumin replacement solutions are at high risk (100%) for atypical reactions. It is recommended that ACE inhibitors be withheld for at least 24 hours before that procedure.

Anaphylaxis↗

Autologous blood storage in obstetrics.

Autologous transfusion, storage of one's own blood for subsequent infusion if needed, is safe and effective in a variety of scheduled operative procedures. Obstetric involvement in such programs is very limited, however. Thirty pregnant women with placenta previa or other potential complications underwent 55 phlebotomies in an autologous transfusion program. Phlebotomies were performed at an average gestational age of 32.4 weeks (range 13-40). Changes in mean diastolic blood pressure and pulse were minimal. Electronic fetal monitoring tracings were normal during the 34 procedures in which it was used. The frequency of mild donor reactions (4%) was consistent with that in nonpregnant donors. After entry into this program, 15 patients received a total of 29 U of packed red blood cells (23 autologous; six homologous). Homologous transfusion was avoided in 86.7% of patients receiving blood. Selected pregnant women can participate safely in autologous blood collection programs, minimizing the need, and therefore the risks, of homologous transfusion.

Blood Preservation↗

False-positive hepatitis B surface antigen screening test results in patients receiving granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used for the mobilization of progenitor cells and granulocytes. False-positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) (NML) from one manufacturer in individuals receiving G-CSF have been observed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty-six autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell donors from 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. Donors typically received 5 to 10 micrograms of G-CSF per kg subcutaneously for 5 days before collection. Additional ELISA dilutional studies (1-in-10, 1-in-100, 1-in-1000) with known HBsAg-negative serum were made with G-CSF. Testing was performed by the University of North Carolina, the American Red Cross in Charlotte, NC, or the National American Red Cross, Washington, DC. RESULTS: Of the 66 patients, none reacted for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, and 30 (45%) had a positive reaction in the ELISA. Surface antigen positivity was "confirmed" on 6 of the 30 patients by neutralizing ELISA reactivity with an antibody to HBsAg test from the same manufacturer. In all cases, the clinical presentation was not suggestive of hepatitis, and these individuals were not at high risk for hepatitis B. Twenty-seven of the 30 cases were tested with a monoclonal HBsAg ELISA (AUSZYME) from another manufacturer in the peridonation period and did not react. In 1994, 256 autologous whole-blood donors not receiving G-CSF were similarly tested and only 1 (0.4%) had a positive reaction with the second manufacturer's HBsAg ELISA (p < 0.001). Of this group, 41 patients with histories of malignancy were identified, which is comparable to the history of the peripheral blood progenitor cell donors in this study, and none of these blood donors tested positive for HBsAg (p < 0.001). Dilutional studies with G-CSF produced no reactions. CONCLUSION: The NML HBsAg ELISA studied has an unacceptably high false-positive rate in patients or donors receiving G-CSF. The false reactivity of this assay appears to be an indirect consequence of G-CSF administration, which can also lead to spurious confirmation by the HBsAg neutralization assay from the same manufacturer.

Adolescent↗