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J F Quaranta

Publications and source records attributed to J F Quaranta.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[The value of plasma exchange during flare-ups of benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis].

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) or Summerskill's disease is a rare affection characterized by recurrent episodes of cholestasis of no apparent cause, separated by totally asymptomatic remissions. No specific treatment exists for the disease, and plasma exchange (PE) was proposed for disabling episodes affecting the general condition of two patients: one by two sessions of 4 and 13 exchanges during two episodes respectively (mass exchanged 14 and 35.5 l) and the other by 3 exchanges (total exchanged 4.5 l) during one episode. Improvement in clinical symptomatology and shortening of duration of two cholestatic episodes was noted when PE was carried out at an early stage. Bile acids were purified satisfactorily (42 to 52%), 0.15 to 1.17 mmole being extracted at each acute attack. Although difficult to assess in a rare affection such as this, PE appears to contribute to the symptomatic treatment of BRIC acute episodes if performed early enough, shortening their duration by the probable purification of circulating factors that are cholestatogenic as in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Functional recovery in Guillain-Barre syndrome: benefits of plasma exchange].

A monocentric, retrospective, comparative long term study based essentially on functional criteria was performed on 27 patients presenting Guillain-Barré syndrome, 14 treated with plasma exchange (PE), 13 with conventional therapy during the same period. Severity of the disease was similar in both groups. Functional improvement of PE treated patients was significant and mean duration of hospital stay significantly shortened (mean 79 days). These findings confirm those in the literature and suggest that treatment with PE be applied to every case of severe recent Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Plasma exchange by cascade filtration. Clinical and biological study].

Nineteen double-filtration plasma exchanges were performed in 8 patients selected according to the presence or absence of disease-related and/or patient-related risk factors. The haemofiltration system consists of 2 filters with different pore sizes. The first filter, called plasma separator (Asahi plasmaflo HI-05), separates plasma from whole blood; the second filter, called plasma filter (Asahi XK-60; Kuraray Eval 2A or 4A), separates high molecular weight components from plasma. The filtrate from the second filter is returned to the patient mixed with blood cells and either a 4% albumin solution or Plasmion to replace the plasma discarded (about 0.5-0.8 I for a 1-1.5 plasma mass treated). The system (a) modulates venous pressure and transmembrane pressure in each of the two filters by means of pump velocity variations; (b) recirculates and concentrates the plasma extracted, and (c) provides information on the plasma mass extracted by the second filter. In our study, antihistaminics were always infused before each plasma exchange session, and blood pressure and electrocardiogram were monitored throughout the session. The selectivity of the second filter is relatively good for low and high molecular weight components (e.g. albumin and IgM respectively), but needs to be improved for those of intermediate molecular weight, such as IgG and immune complexes. The amounts of plasma substitute utilized are about 6 times less than with conventional methods; however, transmembrane pressure in the second filter is imperfectly controlled, and this too calls for improvement. A study is in progress to evaluate the ideal plasma mass to be extracted. Clinically, and taking into account the biological results obtained, diseases with high molecular weight mediators should benefit from the double-filtration technique, but this technique needs to be perfected for the treatment of IgG-mediated diseases.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1984

[The study of a population of drug addicts and/or homosexuals with chronic polyadenopathy].

A population including homosexual or heroinoman patients with lymphadenopathy is reported with special reference to Beta-2-microglobulin. This molecule seems to be more related to concomitant infection rather than to a high risk group. Thus, elevated Beta-2-microglobulin is useful to exclude infected donors but no high risk SIDA population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

[Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in malaria].

We applied the microlymphocytotoxicity method to the detection of lymphocytotoxic antibodies in case of 37 patients with acute malaria or 61 patients who sojourned in endemic malaria area and presented antibodies against plasmodial antigens (indirect immunofluorescence test greater than or equal to 1/20). Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in 16 patients of the first group and their occurrence may explain the lymphopenia and to a lesser extent the neutropenia and thrombopenia observed in some cases. In the second group lymphocytotoxic antibodies were present in 9 cases. In all samples no anti-HLA specificity was evidenced. Four patients were submitted to auto-cross-match test and 3 were found positive suggesting that among these antibodies some are auto-antibodies with anti-lymphocyte specificity.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗
PubMed1983

Technical and clinical aspects of cascade filtration plasma exchange (CFPE).

Cascade filtration plasma exchanges (CFPE) were realized using an hemofiltration system (HFS) coupled to 2 filters with different pore sizes. The first one (F1 = plasma-separator; Asahi plasmaflo HI-05) separates plasma from whole blood, the second one (F2 = plasma filter; Asahi XK-60, Kuraray EVAL 2A or 4A) filtrates high molecular weight (MW) components from the separated plasma. F2 filtrate returns to patient mixed with blood cells and 4% Albumin solution or Plasmion R replacing plasma discarded (about 0.5-0.8 I for 1-1.5 plasma mass (PM) treated). The HFS is able i) to modulate the different pressures (venous pressure, F1 and F2 transmembrane pressures (TMp] using pumps speed variators, ii) to recirculate and concentrate extracted plasma and iii) to know F2 treated PM. Blood pressure, pulse rate and electrocardiogram were monitored during each CFPE session. Nineteen CFPE were performed for 8 patients selected among our PE indications, this selection taking into account presence or not of risk factors linked to disease e and/or to patient. Anti-histamine drugs were always infused before CFPE session. On a biological point of view, the problem lies into F2 selectivity which is relatively good for low (as Albumin) and high (as IgM) MW molecules which are returned to patient or discarded, but should be improved for the intermediate ones (as IgG). On a technical point of view, the plasma substitute quantity is reduced about six times. But the control of F2 TMp is not perfectly and the PM to be treated has to be investigated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Immediate hypersensitivity in brucellosis. New data (author's transl)].

The presence of clinical manifestations of the "immediate hypersensitivity" process has been frequently described in veterinarians, bacteriological laboratory technicians and some patients with chronic brucellosis. We have looked for the presence of specific IgE in these conditions. Twenty-four patients, three months at least after the acute phase of their brucellosis, were given exploration of their humoral, cellular and specific immunity against brucellosis. For this purpose, beside usual classical tests: serodiagnosis, total and specific IgE assays, intradermoreaction and lymphoblastic transformation test with specific antigen (PI fraction) and an adaptation of human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) with PI fraction were performed on all 24 patients. Exploration of immediate hypersensitivity allows us to show neither an abnormal increase of hyper-IgE frequency nor an increase of anti-brucella specific IgE. HBDT is positive in 41 p. cent of the patients. It confirms that immediate hypersensitivity exists. HBDT gives justification for trying desensitization which has been proposed in the past. HBDT will possibly allow us to evaluate desensitization effectiveness.

Acute Disease↗