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Biomedical subjects

H Nordin

Publications and source records attributed to H Nordin.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

[Kidney function problems in rheumatoid arthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, disabling disease with significant excess mortality which is partly caused by renal disease, infection and renal insufficiency being the main contributors. The bulk of renal problems in reumatoid arthritis are related to complications such as vasculitis and amyloidosis, and complications to the medical treatment of the disease, the main offenders being gold salts, penicillamine and cyclosporine. Also, there is increasing evidence that reumatoid arthritis per se can cause subclinical renal dysfunction with microalbuminuria as well as clinical disease, caused by immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis and interstitial tubular fibrosis. In reumatoid arthritis serum creatinine can overestimate renal function by as much as 30% and it is suggested that more sensitive methods such as measuring urinary albumin excretion and glomerular filtration rate should be used for monitoring renal function.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

[Microalbuminuria in rheumatoid arthritis].

To assess the prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and drug treatment, we studied 65 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 51 sex and age matched control persons. Microalbuminuria was significantly increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (27.7%) as compared to 7.8% in the control group. Patients with microalbuminuria had a significantly greater median duration of disease (11.2 v 7.8 years; p < 0.001). We found a significant correlation to C-reactive protein as a marker for disease activity. Also, a significant association to treatment with gold and penicillamine was found. The measurement of microalbuminuria by immunochemical methods represents a simple and sensitive test to detect subclinical renal damage and may be a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest its use in the monitoring of patients with rheumatoid arthritis to detect early subclinical renal dysfunction and drug induced renal damage.

Adult

Microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess (a) the prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, (b) the association between urinary albumin excretion and disease activity as estimated by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein (CRP), and (c) the association between urinary albumin excretion and treatment with antirheumatic drugs. METHODS: Sixty five patients with rheumatoid arthritis attending two rheumatology clinics were compared with 51 control subjects matched by age and sex. The controls consisted of 20 healthy subjects, 16 patients with osteoarthritis and 15 with non-articular rheumatism. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or evidence of previous renal disease were not included. Urinary albumin was assayed by immunoturbidimetry in random urine samples on two occasions within seven months. The results were expressed as the ratio of urinary albumin to urinary creatinine ratio. Disease activity was assessed by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP. A drug history for the year before entry to the study was obtained for each patient. RESULTS: Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly greater than in controls (p < 0.01). Microalbuminuria (urinary albumin to creatinine ratio 3-30 mg/mmol in either or both urine samples) was present in 27.7% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 7.8% of the control subjects. A significant relation was noted between urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and CRP, and the duration of disease. The number of patients treated with either gold or penicillamine was significantly greater in patients with microalbuminuria than in patients with normoalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria is frequently present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with gold and penicillamine seems to increase the risk of developing microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin measured by immunochemical methods is a simple and sensitive test to detect early subclinical renal dysfunction and drug induced renal damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Urinary albumin excretion was found to be significantly correlated with CRP and may be a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Adult

[Needles for bone marrow examination].

Over the past decades, numerous new bone biopsy needles have been introduced. Pathological investigation requires sufficiently large and well-preserved specimens. This article reviews the literature concerning the quality of the instruments. Comparison of the various types of needles in controlled studies is not available. Bone-marrow biopsy is discussed in the context of obtaining optimal specimens and choice of biopsy needle.

Biopsy, Needle

The effects of propranolol and verapamil on hyperthyroid heart symptoms and function, assessed by systolic time intervals.

The effects of acute and chronic administration of propranolol and verapamil on heart rate and systolic time intervals were studied in 10 hyperthyroid patients and 10 normal subjects, both groups without signs of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. In normal subjects iv propranolol reduced heart rate significantly, and both drugs increased the total electromechanical systole significantly without difference between the drugs. This effect was insignificant when the drugs were given orally. In hyperthyroid patients both drugs reduced heart rate significantly in acute and chronic administration, and no difference between the two drugs was found. Neither drug altered cardiac contractility as assessed by systolic time intervals. These results indicate that the metabolic effects of thyroid hormone on contractility were unaltered and unblocked by the drugs. None of the participants developed signs of heart failure. Verapamil can thus be used as an alternative to propranolol in the treatment of tachycardia in hyperthyroidism.

Administration, Oral

Cardiac performance and thyroid function. The correlation between systolic time intervals, heart rate and thyroid hormone levels.

UNLABELLED: In the search for a clinical correlate to thyroid function, correlations were sought between the plasma level of thyroid hormones and the cardiac function, assessed by heart rate and the systolic time intervals. The present study is the first to 1) use a curvilinear correlation and 2) do so in the entire hormone range. A third degree Chebychew's regression equation was used to enable curvilinear correlation. In a population of 10 hypothyroid, 14 euthyroid, and 25 hyperthyroid patients a statistically significant curvilinear correlation was found between the thyroid hormone levels and the systolic time intervals. The correlation coefficients showed the heart rate equally correlated to the thyroid hormone levels as the best correlated of the systolic time intervals. The correlation between the heart rate and T3 was almost linear, with a heart rate increase of 4 beats/minute with each increase in plasma T3 of 1 nmol/l. CONCLUSION: The thyroid function reflects in the cardiac function in a curvilinear regression between T3 and systolic time intervals and in an almost linear regression between T3 and heart rate. The variation, however, is too great and the slope too low, to suggest the use of the heart rate as a clinical correlate to thyroid function.

Adult

Non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma in the nails in the course of a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

We describe a 70-year-old woman with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia without nodal involvement, who developed non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma in the toe-nails. Clinically, the affected nails looked like a typical mycotic infection, but later small tumours developed which affected the nails, and biopsy established the diagnosis. Treatment with chlorambucil (Leukeran) and prednisolone had a striking effect. Malignant infiltration of B lymphocytes in the nails is very rare, but should be considered in patients with malignant haematologic disease.

Aged

[Polycythemia vera in a Danish family].

The occurrence of polycythaemia vera in a Danish woman and her two sons is described. No environmental agent could be identified and it is suggested that the cases represent a genetic susceptibility to this myeloproliferative disease.

Adult

Familial occurrence of eccrine tumours in a family with ectodermal dysplasia.

In two brothers and their sister, ectodermal defects including hypodontia, onychodystrophia, trichodysplasia and palmoplantar keratosis were observed. In addition to the ectodermal dysplasia a diffuse palmoplantar eccrine hyperplasia was noted as well as tumours and cysts of eccrine origin. This seems to be the first report of familial occurrence of eccrine tumours.

Adenocarcinoma

Variations in blood viscosity in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema treated with frusemide.

In 10 patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, treatment with large doses of intravenous frusemide (mean dose 156 mg) induced no signs of haemoconcentration. On the contrary, during an observation period of 2 h after start of treatment we registered a significant reduction of mean blood viscosity and mean haematocrit, indicating haemodilution. All the patients also received a basic treatment of intravenous pethidine and nasal oxygen and the conclusion is therefore that large doses of intravenous frusemide in treatment of acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema can be given without risk of haemoconcentration when combined with intravenous pethidine and nasal oxygen.

Acute Disease