Biomedical subjects

I Kopec

Publications and source records attributed to I Kopec.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Intermittent 2-hour intravenous infusions of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in the treatment of 110 patients with refractory or previously untreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of 2-CdA in 2-hour intravenous infusions in the treatment of B-CLL. One hundred and ten patients with B-CLL received 1 to 10 courses of 2-CdA (median 2.5) at a dosage of 0.12 mg/kg daily for 5 consecutive days. Eighteen of them were untreated and 92 relapsed or became refractory to previous therapeutic modalities. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 8 (7.3%) and partial remission (PR) in 35 patients (31.8%) giving an overall response rate of 39.1%. In 3 patients, cross-resistance to fludarabine was noticed. Toxic effects of 2-CdA were more frequently observed in previously treated patients. Hemorrhagic complications due to drug-induced thrombocytopenia were noticed in 25 (22.7%) and severe infections including sepsis in 14 (12.7%) patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Autoimmune thrombocytopenia in pregnant women: diagnosis, treatment and prevention of complications in children].

9 pregnancies (in 6 women) complicated by autoimmune thrombocytopenia were studied. Corticosteroids and/or azathioprine and/or intravenous immunoglobulins (IgG i.v.) were administered to 5 women during pregnancy. 1 complete remission (CR) was achieved after 3 mo. of treatment by corticosteroids and azathioprine. In peripartum period the treatment was administered in 7 cases (corticosteroids, IgG i.v., platelet transfusion). There were no haemorrhagic complications during peripartum period (8 vaginal delivery, 1 cesarean section). In 3 of 5 examined cases IgG antiplatelet antibody was detected. Study group was to small to define the correlation between level of antiplatelet antibodies and neonatal thrombocytopenia. 10 infants were born. 4 infants (including siblings) were found to have normal platelet counts immediately after delivery. They mothers were treated by IgG i.v. in 2 cases and 1 women in CR at the time of delivery. 4 infants were thrombocytopenic but required no treatment. Duration time of thrombocytopenia was 1 to 4 weeks. In these cases mothers were treated only by corticosteroids or had no therapy.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1991

Haemodynamic effects of recombinant interleukin-2 administered by constant infusion.

Adoptive immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) has been reported to induce tumour regression in some patients with refractory cancer. However, the cardiovascular toxicity of bolus therapy requires invasive monitoring of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In an effort to examine the haemodynamic alterations caused by a constant infusion of IL-2, as opposed to bolus therapy, we studied the haemodynamic variables of 10 patients, with no evidence of heart disease, receiving 3 x 10(6) IU/m2 per day of rhIL-2 as a continuous infusion for 5 days. Measured and derived haemodynamic variables were obtained immediately prior to, at 2, 24, and 48 h during, and upon termination of the infusion. There was no evidence of clinical haemodynamic instability in these patients. Except for development of fever and tachycardia, there were no clinically significant differences in any measured or derived haemodynamic parameter. Moreover, continuous electrocadiographic monitoring of these patients during the infusion did not reveal any abnormalities. Invasive haemodynamic monitoring in an ICU is not necessary in carefully selected patients receiving constant infusion rhIL-2, at the described dose and schedule.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Unusual gastrointestinal complications of interleukin-2 therapy.

Minor and reversible gastrointestinal side effects are common when patients receive interleukin-2 (IL-2) with or without lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. We treated 42 cancer patients with IL-2 therapy and 3 patients developed serious gastrointestinal problems during treatment. Complications included sigmoid colon perforation, ischemic necrosis of the small and large intestine, and diffuse bowel ulceration. These were not associated with tumor implants or hypotension. Two patients died as a direct result of these problems despite aggressive surgical and medical management. The incidence of major gastrointestinal complications with IL-2 therapy may be greater than previously reported and a heightened awareness of potential gastrointestinal problems may circumvent considerable morbidity and mortality.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1988

Capnography in mechanically ventilated patients.

Capnography, the science of CO2 waveforms analysis, can play a role in the management of mechanically ventilated patients. Mass spectrometers are the devices most commonly used to collect sequentially and examine CO2 waveforms from multiple patients in the ICU or operating rooms. We present here a review of some clinical and technical problems, which may be resolved efficiently and expeditiously through the use of mass spectrometry and capnography. Mechanical failures, especially those that lead to rebreathing of exhaled gases, can be readily detected. The patient's progress during weaning and the consequences of changes in mechanical assistance can be virtually and noninvasively determined. An expanded role of capnography in mechanically ventilated patients can increase the use of mass spectrometers in the ICU.

Carbon Dioxide↗