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Biomedical subjects

J M Dahl

Publications and source records attributed to J M Dahl.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

[Enuresis nocturna--practical advice for examination and treatment].

Children suffering from nocturnal enuresis have better self-esteem when they stay dry. A medical examination is necessary in order to exclude specific causes. The choice of treatment should be based on: motivation and age of the child, nocturnal polyuria versus bladder capacity, possibilities to borrow an alarm device, and follow-up. Informed choice treatment should be offered. Treatment with an alarm device and minimum standards are discussed. Desmopressin for short-term treatment or for three month periods are recommended for patient who respond to desmopressin. If organic causes are suspected, the child has diurnal incontinence symptoms, or does not stay dry in spite of the recommended treatment, referral to a paediatrician or a paediatric department is recommended. A better program for managing these patients at paediatric departments should be developed in collaboration with other specialists.

Child↗

Efficacy and tolerance of tocainide during long-term treatment of malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

A group of 51 patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias refractory to standard oral antiarrhythmic agents were treated with oral tocainide. Antiarrhythmic efficacy was defined as total abolition of occurrences of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) as assessed by hospital admissions for arrhythmias and the occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Of the 51 patients, 32 (63%) initially tolerated tocainide and were discharged from the hospital. Of the 19 patients not initially responding to tocainide, 6 (12%) had arrhythmia recurrence and 13 (25%) developed intolerable central nervous system or gastrointestinal side effects. Of these 19 short-term nonresponders, 8 (42%) patients suffered SCD over an average follow-up of 24 months (annual SCD rate of 21%). Two patients suffered SCD during the first week of tocainide therapy. Discounting the 2 patients with SCD on tocainide therapy, 6 of 17 (35%) patients initially withdrawn from tocainide suffered SCD (annual SCD rate of 18%). Twenty-four of the 32 short-term responders did not have arrhythmia recurrence over a mean follow-up of 38 months resulting in an overall long-term efficacy of 47% (24/51). Over an average follow-up of 38 months for these 24 short-term responders, 12 patients expired from nonarrhythmic causes, 3 patients were withdrawn for non-drug-related causes, and 9 patients remain on tocainide therapy. Of the 8 long-term nonresponders, 3 patients had arrhythmia recurrence and died suddenly while 5 patients developed intolerable side effects. The annual SCD rate in short-term responders was 3%. Eighteen of the 51 patients (35%) were withdrawn from the study because of adverse effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Death, Sudden↗

Cibenzoline-induced hypoglycemia.

Antiarrhythmic-induced hypoglycemia is an ill-defined phenomenon. Sporadic cases have been reported with disopyramide, a class IA antiarrhythmic agent. We report a case of cibenzoline-induced hypoglycemia in an elderly male with a history of ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cibenzoline is a class I antiarrhythmic agent currently undergoing clinical investigation in the U.S. The initial hypoglycemic episode occurred after two years of successful treatment with cibenzoline. Blood glucose during the first hypoglycemic episode was 40 mg/dL. The hypoglycemia was associated with central nervous system depression, hyperkalemia, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and respiratory distress. Rechallenge with cibenzoline resulted in recurrence of symptoms and a blood glucose level of 21 mg/dL. A second rechallenge resulted in symptoms suggestive of hypoglycemia, but cibenzoline was discontinued before frank hypoglycemia and hyperkalemia recurred. Hypoglycemia occurred during periods of fasting, which most likely ruled out reactive-type hypoglycemia. Insulinoma was ruled out by the presence of normal fasting blood glucose and plasma insulin levels. It was concluded that this patient's hypoglycemia was secondary to cibenzoline. Hypoglycemia is a rare and sporadic adverse effect associated with antiarrhythmic therapy. However, the severity of these reactions warrants increased awareness of their occurrence in patients presenting with symptoms of hypoglycemia who are receiving disopyramide or cibenzoline.

Aged↗