PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Dekeyser

Publications and source records attributed to L Dekeyser.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Serum vitamin D metabolites and their binding protein in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Serum parameters of calcium metabolism were measured in 32 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis due to either hepatitis (n = 13), alcohol abuse (n = 11), Wilson's disease (n = 3), or primary or secondary biliary cirrhosis (n = 5). All measurements were normal in the small group of patients with Wilson's disease. The serum concentrations of albumin, vitamin D-binding protein, total calcium, phosphorus, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH2)D3) were decreased in the other patients with cirrhosis, but their mean serum concentrations of ionized calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) and free 1,25-(OH2)D3 index were normal. A slight but significant increase in the serum PTH measured using a carboxyl-terminal antiserum was found. A significant correlation was found between the serum concentration of either albumin or vitamin D-binding protein and the serum concentrations of total calcium, 25-OHD3, 1,25-(OH2)D3, and PTH but not with ionized calcium or free 1,25-(OH2)D3 index. The observed abnormalities of calcium metabolism in unselected patients with cirrhosis were mainly due to decreased protein synthesis. Only the patients with severe cirrhosis had decreased concentrations of 25-OHD3 but they were nevertheless able to maintain a normal ionized serum calcium and free 1,25-(OH2)D3 level, possibly by means of compensatory hyperparathyroidism.

Adolescent↗

Is the outcome of coronary artery bypass graft surgery predictable in patients with severe ventricular function impairment?

Sixty consecutive patients, with a mean ejection fraction of 31.8% underwent coronary revascularization at the K. U. Leuven (Belgium). The operative mortality was 6%. At twelve months after surgery, the total actuarial survival was 90.0%, at twenty four months the total survival was down to 77.9%. All the preoperative data were entered into a mathematical model and using the stepwise logistic regression method, the predictability of death at 18 months postoperatively was analyzed. Using only the ejection fraction the accuracy of the prediction was 83.3%, the sensitivity 36.4% and the specificity 93.9%. Combining ejection fraction and NYHA functional classification before surgery the accuracy increased to 91.7%, the sensitivity to 72.7% and the specificity to 95.9%. Ejection fraction alone is a poor predictor of late death with only 36.4% sensitivity, but combining it with other parameters it is possible to construct a formula predicting death at 18 months with an accuracy of 91.7%.

Actuarial Analysis↗