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Biomedical subjects

M Pinzani

Publications and source records attributed to M Pinzani.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Acute effect of furosemide on renal kallikrein and prostaglandin systems in mild to moderate essential hypertension.

The activity of basal 24-hour urinary kallikrein activity (UKA), prostaglandin E2 (U. PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (U. TxB2) and their relationship to natriuresis (U. Sodium), urinary aldosterone (U. Aldosterone) and plasma renin activity (in supine position: PRA1; in standing position: PRA2) were evaluated in 20 patients with early-moderate hemodynamically defined (first pass and gate blood pool radionuclide angiocardiography) essential hypertension (H) and in 13 age-matched normotensive patients (N). In basal conditions, UKA and PRA2 were significantly reduced (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.05, respectively) in H compared with N. However, no differences between N and H were found for U. TxB2, U. PGE2, U. Aldosterone, U. Sodium, and PRA1. All parameters were also evaluated both in H and N before and after the administration of furosemide (40 mg i.v.). In H, but not in N, furosemide induced an increase of UKA (p less than 0.05), U. TxB2 (p less than 0.05) and U. Sodium (p less than 0.001). In both H and N furosemide caused a significant rise of PRA1 (p less than 0.001 in H and p less than 0.01 in N) and PRA2 (p less than 0.001 in H and p less than 0.05 in N). In H a significant correlation was found between percent increases of U. Sodium and U. Kallikrein (r = 0.54, p less than 0.01) and between percent differences of PGE2 and TxB2 (r = 0.59, p less than 0.01). It is proposed that reduction of basal UKA may be an early evidence of the first stages of hypertension, i.e., in absence of renal and cardiovascular alteration. The finding is not accompanied by significant changes in urinary excretion of arachidonic acid metabolites and aldosterone. Finally, any relation between UKA values and systemic hemodynamics is lacking.

Aldosterone↗
PubMed1986

Altered renal and platelet arachidonic acid metabolism in cirrhosis.

Urinary excretion rates of prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane (TX) B2 were evaluated in three groups of cirrhotic patients [without ascites (group 1, 13 cases), with ascites and normal renal function (group 2, 15 cases), and with ascites and renal failure (group 3, 5 cases)] and in 14 healthy controls. All urinary arachidonate metabolites were significantly increased in group 2 patients. Patients with renal failure showed lower PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and TXB2 values than those from group 2; PGF2 alpha values were also lower than controls. Platelet TXA2 production during whole blood clotting was significantly reduced in all groups of patients. Administration of low-dose aspirin and sulindac, two cyclooxygenase inhibitors selectively sparing renal cyclooxygenase activity, effectively inhibited platelet TXA2 production without affecting urinary TXB2 excretion, thus ruling out platelets as a possible source of urinary TXB2. We conclude that patients with ascites and normal renal function show an overall activation of the renal PG system. Renal production of vasodilating PGE2 and PGI2 may be involved in supporting renal function in these patients. A reduced platelet synthesis of proaggregatory TXA2 also occurs in cirrhotic patients. This may play a role in the bleeding tendency of cirrhosis.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1984

Vasoactive factors in decompensated cirrhosis. Effect of acute plasma expansion.

Plasma volume expansion was performed in 16 cirrhotic patients with ascites, 8 with avid sodium retention (sodium retainers) and 8 with normal sodium balance (sodium excretors). No natriuretic response was observed in sodium retainers (daily UNa = 7.1 +/- 1.5 mEq before expansion and 20.8 +/- 7.8 after expansion; p = not significant). After expansion plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone showed a fall in both groups, whereas urinary kallikrein excretion decreased significantly in sodium retainers (27.1 +/- 9.7 before expansion and 7.8 +/- 6.4 after expansion; p less than 0.05). Baseline PGE were higher than normal in sodium retainers (997.0 +/- 134.3; p less than 0.02 vs. controls) and increased after expansion. Plasma octopamine was always within normal range. These results suggest that: a) reduction of effective plasma volume is not the main factor involved in sodium retention; b) the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system has only a permissive role; c) prostaglandin system is activated and could have a protective role in maintaining renal function in cirrhotic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Systemic hemodynamics and renal function in cirrhotic patients during plasma volume expansion.

Systemic hemodynamic impairment (hepatocirculatory failure) has been suggested as one of the possible factors which may explain the renal hemodynamic alterations found in the late stage of liver cirrhosis, typical of the hepatorenal syndrome. 20 patients, divided into two groups of 10 sodium retainers and 10 sodium excretors, affected by liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and ascites, were studied. Renal functional parameters (diuresis, urinary and plasma electrolytes, urine to plasma osmolality and creatinine ratios and creatinine clearance) were evaluated before and after acute volume expansion with 1,000 ml of 10% dextran in saline, infused through a catheter located in the right atrium. Hemodynamic tests (cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, right atrial pressure and capillary wedge pressure) were performed before, during and after expansion. Cardiac index decreased in 6 patients (sodium excretors) after a 500-ml infusion and rose again after 1,000 ml in 5 of them. The remaining 14 patients showed a progressive and significant increase of cardiac index. A strong inverse relationship between cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance was observed (r = -0.87; p less than 0.001). The mean left-ventricular function curve showed a slow response in most sodium excretors and a normal response in the sodium-retaining group, without significant difference between the two groups. Sodium excretion significantly improved after expansion in both groups of patients. No relationship was found between hemodynamic response and renal function. These data show that cardiocirculatory function is normal, even in sodium-retaining cirrhotics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Altered platelet function in cirrhosis of the liver: impairment of inositol lipid and arachidonic acid metabolism in response to agonists.

Hemorrhagic disorders are common in patients with liver cirrhosis and result from several factors including impaired platelet function. We evaluated platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism in response to standard agonists in platelet-rich plasma from 12 cirrhotic patients with mild impairment of liver function (Child A), 12 patients with severe liver dysfunction (Child B and C) and 12 healthy subjects. Platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 production were consistently reduced in patients with severe liver impairment. To determine whether the platelet dysfunction is due to an intrinsic platelet defect or a circulating inhibitor, we measured platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 synthesis on washed platelets in healthy subjects and in Child B and C patients. The aggregating response of washed platelets in response to thrombin, collagen and arachidonic acid was markedly reduced, suggesting an intrinsic platelet defect. The biochemical events underlying platelet aggregation were investigated by prelabeling platelets with [1-14C]arachidonic acid. Thrombin-induced activation of phospholipase C (measured as the release of [1-14C]phosphatidic acid) and phospholipase A2 (measured as the release of [1-14C]arachidonic acid and its metabolites) was greatly impaired in platelets from patients with severe liver impairment. We conclude that in advanced cirrhosis there is a severe reduction in platelet aggregatory response to physiologic agonists due to an intrinsic platelet defect which is related to an impairment of the platelet transmembrane signaling mechanism induced by receptor stimulation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Refractory ascites: definition, pathogenesis and treatment.

Refractory ascites, that is ascites which cannot be mobilized by low sodium diet and maximal doses of diuretics (up to 400 mg spironolactone or potassium canrenoate and 160 mg furosemide per day), occurs in 5% of cirrhotic patients with ascites. The development of refractory ascites is mainly related to the progression of arterial vasodilation-mediated vascular underfilling and to the imbalance between reduced synthesis of renal vasodilating factors (especially renal prostaglandins) and extreme activation of vasoconstricting systems. Further features include increased sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule and altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of diuretics. In patients with impaired renal function (as is the case for most patients with refractory ascites), the marked reduction of renal perfusion and glomerular filtration rate, with the consequent decrease of filtered sodium load, becomes the main pathogenetic factor. The principal therapeutic options for refractory ascites include repeated paracentesis and implantation of the LeVeen shunt. Paracentesis is a rapid and safe procedure to remove ascites, but it does not correct sodium retention. Ascites recurrence, therefore, may occur after a brief interval. The LeVeen shunt allows for better long-term control of ascites, but severe complications may supervene, and shunt occlusion is common. Neither therapeutic procedure improves survival. Different experimental therapeutic procedures have been proposed. Administration of ornipressin corrects hyperdynamic circulation and improves renal function. Thromboxane synthase inhibitors, by reducing renal synthesis of thromboxane A2, potentiate the diuretic and natriuretic response to furosemide. More invasive procedures, including portosystemic shunt and transjugular intrahepatic stent, are rarely used in the treatment of refractory ascites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ascites↗