Biomedical subjects

M Naesens

Publications and source records attributed to M Naesens.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1982

Thyroid function in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

An increased free thyroxine (T4) index was observed in 73% of 33 consecutive pregnancies complicated by severe hyperemesis gravidarum. The free triiodothyronine (T3) index was increased in only four of 11 hyperthyroxinemic patients. In five hyperthyroxinemic patients tested, no increase in serum thyrotropin was observed after the injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (THR). Goiter, exophthalmos, or previous history of hyperthyroidism was absent in all patients. The thyroxinemia returned to normal in one to several weeks, whether or not it was treated with antithyroid drugs. The thyroid function during the period of hyperemesis had no influence on the subsequent rate of abortion or duration of pregnancy. A lower birth weight, however, was observed in children born to hyperthyroxinemic mothers. Hyperemesis gravidarum should be included in the differential diagnosis of elevations in free T4 index during pregnancy and included in the differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1981

The effect of plasma exchange on synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Eight patients with a severe exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis were treated by twice weekly plasma-exchange for 3 weeks in order to evaluate the effect of plasma-exchange on synovitis. During the plasma-exchange period, patients remained on the drug regimen they were on at admission to the hospital. Plasma was replaced isovolemically with human, purified plasma protein fraction. Improvement in clinical parameters of synovitis and serological parameters of inflammation occurred in almost all patients. After 6 months the clinical remissions were sustained. Three patients experienced a rebound synovitis and one patient a rebound vasculitis at the end of or just after the plasma-exchange period. The rebound phenomena were moderate and of short duration. Plasma-exchange may exert its beneficial effects by depleting important mediators of injury such a complement fibrinogen and circulating immune complexes, by improving reticuloendothelial function, and by increasing the drug response of the inflammatory target tissue. The role of depletion of circulating immune complexes was not so clear in this study. It is concluded that limited plasma-exchange is an effective means to induce a symptomatic improvement in an acute exacerbation of polyarthritis, without changing the basic therapy and thus avoiding corticosteroid dependency.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Can sonography diagnose acute colonic diverticulitis in patients with acute intestinal inflammation? A prospective study.

In a prospective study of 123 patients with clinical signs of acute intestinal inflammation, the sensitivity of ultrasonography in diagnosing acute colonic diverticulitis was 84.6% and the specificity 80.3%. The predictive value of a positive and a negative sonogram was 76.0% and 87.7%, respectively. Of the 52 patients with subsequently proven acute colonic diverticulitis, 44 presented sonographically with a thickened (greater than 4 mm) hypoechoic bowel wall. In 15 patients, enlarged fluid-filled bowel loops were also present. Air-containing diverticula were demonstrated in 3 patients, abscesses in 8 patients, and colovesical fistulae in 2 patients. Eight large abscesses were successfully treated without emergency surgery by percutaneous sonographically guided evacuation. The described sonographic abnormalities strongly suggest acute colonic diverticulitis, particularly when localized in the left lower abdomen.

Acute Disease↗