PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

I Alberca

Publications and source records attributed to I Alberca.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Antibodies against hepatitis C virus in hemophiliacs: correlation with peripheral blood lymphocyte populations].

The presence of antibodies (Abs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) was analyzed in 26 haemophiliac patients; a prevalence of 38% was found in the total series and 56% in the treated patients. There were no cases with a positive serology among the three patients who had only received pasteurized factor. The frequency of detection of anti-HCV was higher in the patients who had a positive serology for HIV (67%) and hepatitis B virus (56%) than in the seronegative patients (24 and 29%, respectively). The patients with HCV Abs showed a decrease in the helper (CD4+) lymphocytic population, mainly due to the decrease in the helper inducer (CD4+/Leu8-) cells, such alterations being more evident in the patients who also were HIV+ who showed as well an increase in the T-cell activated lymphocytes (CD3+/la+) and a decrease in CD16+ natural killer cells. These results suggest that the lymphocytic alterations found in the patients with anti-HCV Abs are not specific and would rather be related to the presence or not of HIV infection.

Hemophilia A

Incidence and clinical characteristics of hereditary disorders associated with venous thrombosis.

At present, different congenital defects in several proteins--antithrombin III (AT III), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and plasminogen (PLG)--are known to be causes of hereditary predisposition to thrombosis (thrombophilia). The incidence of these hereditary disorders in our 204 patients (106 males and 98 females) with venous thromboembolism were 4% (three cases deficient in PC, three in PS, two in PLG, and one patient in AT III). Their families were studied. In all cases the disorders were inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The first thrombotic episodes occurred at a age of below 40 years. There was no relationship between protein levels and the occurrence of thrombosis, although a significant relationship was observed between a positive history of thromboembolic disease and a diagnosis of protein deficiencies. We evaluated the differences between primary thrombosis and secondary thrombosis. The most common thrombotic sites were the deep veins. There were no differences between males and females. Evaluation of PC, PS, AT III, and PLG in patients with thromboembolic disease should be considered.

Adolescent

Subcutaneous desmopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with liver cirrhosis.

The intravenous infusion of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with congenital or acquired bleeding disorders, including patients with uremia or liver cirrhosis. We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in ten patients with liver cirrhosis to evaluate whether or not their prolonged bleeding times could be shortened by subcutaneous injections of DDAVP (0.3 microgram/kg), a more practical route of administration than intravenous infusions. One hour after DDAVP injection the bleeding time was significantly shortened (p less than 0.05). After 4 h, however, the bleeding time shortening was no longer statistically significant. There was no bleeding time change after placebo. Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) did not significantly increase after DDAVP or placebo. The study shows that subcutaneous DDAVP is an alternative method for short-term shortening of the bleeding time in liver cirrhosis.

Adolescent

[Plasminogen deficiencies in 2 Spanish families. Response to the administration of DDAVP].

We describe two families with heterozygous plasminogen deficiency. In the first the patient was a 27 year-old female who suffered an acute episode of ischemic cerebrovascular disease affecting the left temporal lobe documented by arteriographic, gammagraphic and CAT studies. She had no family history of thrombotic conditions. In the other family the propositus was a 31 year-old man with spontaneous deep venous thrombosis in the left leg. His father was also symptomatic, with a history of recurrent thrombotic complications after predisposing factors, that included multiple venous thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism. Laboratory data showed normal hemostasis test results. Antigenic and functional levels of protein C, protein S and antithrombin III were within normal limits. The only abnormality found was decreased plasminogen activity in plasma; antigenic and functional levels were reduced to about half-normal levels. In both cases crossed immunoelectrophoresis revealed a normal migration pattern of plasminogen. Thus, we conclude that our patients were carriers of congenital hypoplasminogenemia or familial type I plasminogen deficiency, due to decreased synthesis. We also reported on fibrinolytic response to infusion of DDAVP, a synthetic analogue of the antidiuretic hormone. Fibrinolytic activity was normal in basal conditions as well as in response to DDAVP infusion.

Adult

Changes of contact phase proteins during haemodialysis.

Functional and immunological activities of factors XII and XI, Prekallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen and C-1-esterase inhibitor were studied in eight patients before, during and after haemodialysis. During and after dialysis sessions a significant decrease in the functional activities of Prekallikrein and high molecular weight kininogen (p less than 0.05) could be detected, whereas their immunological levels did not change. Furthermore C-1-esterase inhibitor increased after dialysis (p less than 0.05). These results indicate activation of the kinin system during haemodialysis.

Adult

Intravenous and subcutaneous administration of desmopressin (DDAVP) to hemophiliacs: pharmacokinetics and factor VIII responses.

When desmopressin (DDAVP) is given to mild and moderate hemophiliacs intravenously (i.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c.), there is a very large between-patient variability for peak levels of factor VIII coagulant activity (VIII:C). To evaluate whether or not between-patient variability is related to DDAVP levels achieved in plasma, we measured drug levels in 14 hemophilic volunteers (VIII:C 2 to 31 U/dL) who were randomly given 0.3 micrograms/Kg of i.v. or s.c. DDAVP and crossed-over to the other treatment after an interval of 15-30 days. Peak DDAVP levels (Cmax) were higher for i.v. DDAVP (p less than 0.02), times to peak levels (tmax) were shorter for i.v. DDAVP (p less than 0.001). There was no difference between the i.v. and s.c. routes for plasma DDAVP time curve (AUC) and half-life (t 1/2), but there was much larger variability for pharmacokinetic parameters with i.v. than with s.c. DDAVP. Post-DDAVP VIII:C increased 3.4 +/- 1.6 fold (i.v.) and 3.3 +/- 1.3 fold (s.c.) over baseline levels, with no significant correlation between peak VIII:C and DDAVP levels for either route of administration. These findings establish the s.c. route of DDAVP administration to be bioequivalent in effect to the i.v. route, albeit with less variability. At the DDAVP dosage used in this study and currently recommended for therapy, the VIII:C response is neither a function of the rate of absorption of the compound nor of the magnitude of its plasma concentration.

Deamino Arginine Vasopressin

Normal pregnancy in a patient with a postpartum factor VIII inhibitor.

A patient who had developed a VIII:C IgG-Kappa antibody after her first delivery became pregnant for a second time. At that time the titer of the inhibitor had increased fourfold, remaining at high levels throughout the rest of the pregnancy. The neonate exhibited an inhibitor with characteristics identical to that of the mother which could not be detected 3 months after birth. No hemorrhagic complications in either of the subjects were observed.

Adult

Effect of hemodialysis on protein C levels.

The immunological functions of antithrombin III and protein C were studied in 8 patients before, during and after hemodialysis. After dialysis a significant decrease in protein C and antithrombin III levels was seen. The changes observed in both proteins after hemodialysis should be considered as a component in the genesis of the hypercoagulation state in these patients.

Adult

Lupus anticoagulant and false positive serological tests for syphilis.

A 41-year old male who presented for blood donation for the first time was rejected on the grounds of a positive reaginic serological test (VDRL and RPR) and a specific antitrepomena test (FTA) for syphilis. Later studies revealed the existence of a lupus anticoagulant and this was made responsible for the positive serology. Our observation suggests the need to search for the existence of a lupus anticoagulant in blood donors with non-specific or specific positive antitrepenema test.

Adult