PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J C Biggs

Publications and source records attributed to J C Biggs.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

A fatal case of cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

A fatal case of acute low-titer wide-thermal-range cold agglutinin disease is reported. High-dose corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis failed to control hemolysis. This uncommon syndrome is discussed, and current approaches to treatment are reviewed.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗
PubMed1979

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation across the ABO barrier.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in severe aplastic anaemia has been shown to be a worth-while procedure. A case in which a group O patient received a successful marrow transplant from a group B donor is reported. Major ABO incompatibility is not a contraindication to bone marrow transplantation.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1978

Lymphoproliferative disease with IgM lambda monoclonal protein and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. A report of four cases and a review of the literature.

Four patients with lymphoproliferative disease with immunoglobulin M lambda (IgMlambda) monoclonal proteins and severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia are described. These patients had many features in common that may warrant their recognition as a specific entity within the lymphoproliferative spectrum. In each case, a wide thermal range low titer cold agglutinin was present. The association of cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia with IgMlambda monoclonal protein and lymphoproliferative disease is unusual. The literature on IgM monoclonal proteins associated with lymphoproliferative disease is reviewed with emphasis on the presence of direct antiglobulin test positive autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The effects of plasma exchange on cholesterol metabolism.

Four patients heterozygous for familial hypercholesterolaemia were treated by repeated plasma exchange with or without lipid-lowering drugs. Repeated plasma exchange without drug therapy in 3 patients was associated with a significant 18--28% decrement in plasma cholesterol level, comparing control with plateau values observed 3 weeks after exchange. Further decrements in plateau values followed the addition of lipid-lowering drugs used in combination, clofibrate--nicotinic acid or clofibrate--nicotinic acid--cholestyramine (range of total decrement 39--50%). Plasma exchange was associated with an increased excretion of endogenous faecal steroids, but this increase was completely abolished by the subsequent administration of clofibrate--nicotinic acid. This therapy prevented any increase in bile acid excretion with concomitant use of cholestyramine resin. Plasma exchange with drug therapy was associated with a sustained rise in plasma cholesterol specific radioactivity. In a fourth patient, clofibrate--nicotinic acid was administered prior to plasma exchange and led to a 24% fall in plasma cholesterol. Subsequent plasma exchange in this patient produced no sustained change in plasma cholesterol plateau level. In two patients, withdrawal of drugs allowed plasma cholesterol to return to pre-exchange control levels. These observations suggest that plasma exchange probably produced an increase in endogenous cholesterol synthesis and a mobilisation of tissue cholesterol. In relation to plateau cholesterol values 3 weeks after an exchange, the data suggested that the reduction in plasma cholesterol level with plasma exchange and drug therapy could have been achieved by intensive drug therapy alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Experience with large volume plasmapheresis in malignant paraproteinaemia and immune disorders.

Clinical experience with large volume plasmapheresis in a wide range of malignant and immune disorders is described. An average of 4 litres of plasma was exchanged for various colloid and electrolyte solutions. Patient tolerance was good but close medical and nursing supervision in monitoring fluid balance and adverse reactions to replacement fluids is necessary. Plasmapheresis has been established to be of benefit in immunoproliferative diseases when complicated by hyperviscosity, and may also have a place in other cases with haemostatic or renal impairment. Autoantibodies, alloantibodies and immune complexes can be removed by plasmapheresis, but the effect is usually transient and the procedure should be combined with immunosuppressive therapy in most cases. The removal of blocking factors in disseminated malignant melanoma is an experimental procedure at present, but initial results have been encouraging.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Granulocyte transfusion therapy.

This paper summarizes the present state of knowledge in the field of granulocyte transfusion therapy and reviews the past literature. The various centrifugation and filtration methods for separation and collection of granulocytes are described and comparisons of their effectiveness are made. Clinical applications of granulocyte transfusions and the possible complications which may result are discussed. It is indicated that the role of granulocyte transfusion therapy will assume increasing importance in the future.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Tranexamic acid and upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage--a double-blind trial.

The efficacy of antifibrinolytic therapy in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage has been investigated in a double-blind clinical trial. Two-hundred patients were studied using tranexamic acid, a potent antifibrinolytic agent. Of these, 103 were in the treatment group and 97 in the control group. Patients were analysed to determine severity of initial blood loss, transfusion requirements, together with the incidence of recurrent bleeding, surgical intervention, and death. Final diagnosis as to the site of bleeding was arrived at using endoscopy, barium studies, and the findings at operation and necropsy. The groups were well matched as regards severity of initial haemorrhage, age, sex, aetiological diagnosis, and precipitating factors. A significant difference was observed in the requirement for surgical intervention to control continuing or recurrent haemorrhage. Twenty-three of 97 in the control group and seven of 103 in the treatment group required surgery. There appeared to be a reduction in the transfusion rate after the first three days of hospitalization in the treatment group. There were no significant differences in mortality or in side-effects between the two groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Reactions to rapid infusion of stable plasma protein solution during large volume plasma exchange.

Five per cent heat treated stable plasma protein solution (SPPS) has been rapidly infused into 25 patients, as fluid replacement during large volume plasmapheresis. Reactions were produced in 20 patients. Subjective symptoms of flushing, nasal stuffiness, fullness and throbbing in the head, colicky abdominal pain, metallic taste or apprehension were observed in 16 patients, and 11 patients became hypotensive with an average systolic pressure of 70 mm Hg. These observations support earlier reports of hypotension due to rapid SPPS infusion, and document the occurrence of subjective symptoms which may be the harbingers of a hypotensive reaction. In view of the known presence of a bradykinin-like substance in some heat treated plasma protein solutions, hypotension during SPPS infusion should be interpreted with caution in the light of these findings.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1975

T and B cell populations in blood and lymph node in lymphoproliferative disease.

Lymph node and peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied simultaneously for surface markers of T and B cells in 22 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and 8 patients with non-neoplastic lymphadenopathy. This resulted in the classification of the malignancy from involved lymph nodes into 4 groups. Six patients had B cell lymphomata with normal or strong immunofluorescent staining for surface membrane immunoglobulin; 8 patients had B cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with pale staining for surface membrane immunoglobulin; 5 patients had T cell lymphomata and 3 patients were not definitely classifiable. In 6 out of 8 patients with B cell CLL, histopathology of lymph nodes showed infiltration with well differentiated lymphocytes and in all T cell lymphomata, the infiltrating cells were poorly differentiated. By the use of these markers, malignant lymphocytes were identified in the circulation in only 3 out of 6 patients with B cell lymphoma, in all patients with B cell CLL but in none of those with T cell lymphoma or unclassifiable lymphoma. Therefore a more conclusive characterization of the malignant lymphocyte in lymphoproliferative diseases must include an examination of involved lymph nodes.

B-Lymphocytes↗