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Biomedical subjects

P E Gower

Publications and source records attributed to P E Gower.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Dialysis arthropathy, beta 2-microglobulin and the effect of dialyser membrane.

Patients with dialysis arthropathy had the greatest mean serum beta 2-microglobulin (59.5 mg/l) but there was no threshold concentration of beta 2-microglobulin above which all patients developed dialysis arthropathy. Haemodialysis patients without dialysis arthropathy and patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) also had grossly elevated values of beta 2-microglobulin (47.9 mg/l and 30.7 mg/l respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between duration of treatment and serum beta 2-microglobulin for the patients treated by haemodialysis, but this was not the case for patients on CAPD. There was a significant negative correlation between residual urinary volume and serum beta 2-microglobulin for the patients on haemodialysis without dialysis arthropathy, and also for the patients on CAPD. This was not true for the patients with dialysis arthropathy. Both duration of treatment and residual urine volume correlated with serum beta 2-microglobulin, and therefore an analysis of covariance was used to take account of this in comparing the groups. This showed that there was no difference between serum beta 2-microglobulin in haemodialysis patients with and without dialysis arthropathy. However, CAPD patients had a significantly lower corrected mean serum beta 2-microglobulin. Haemodialysis with cuprophane membranes was associated with an increase in beta 2-microglobulin of 11.5%, whereas haemodialysis with polycarbonate was associated with a decrease of 6.8% at 6 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arthritis↗
PubMed1986

Dialysis arthropathy: amyloid or iron?

The clinical, biochemical, radiological, and pathological features in five cases of dialysis arthropathy were analysed. All patients were receiving long term haemodialysis and had had multiple blood transfusions. The arthropathy affected both large and small joints, was predominantly bilateral, and in all cases was associated with the carpal tunnel syndrome. In some instances joint pain was exacerbated during dialysis. In four cases the serum ferritin concentration was raised. Radiological examination showed a few juxta-articular cysts and erosions but most affected joints looked normal. All synovial tissue examined showed amyloid, which stained immunohistochemically for beta 2 microglobulin. Large amounts of iron were present in synovial tissue from affected joints. It is suggested that the deposits of iron, rather than amyloid, in synovial tissue may be the cause of the arthropathy. Iron may be derived locally as a result of haemarthrosis or it may be a manifestation of systemic iron overload.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dialysis arthropathy: complication of long term treatment with haemodialysis.

Twenty eight patients who had received haemodialysis for more than 10 years were reviewed to establish the incidence of joint problems. Only six patients had no joint symptoms, one had avascular necrosis, one had had recent septic arthritis, and four had hyperparathyroidism. The remaining 16 patients had no evidence of hyperparathyroidism yet had an arthropathy causing pain and stiffness in many joints, particularly the shoulders. Ten of these 16 patients had a recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome requiring repeated surgical decompressions, which resulted in only partial improvement. Of the eight patients who had received dialysis for more than 15 years, seven had this "dialysis arthropathy" and six had recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. Dialysis arthropathy is a common and often severe and disabling complication of long term treatment with haemodialysis. The cause is not known, but amyloid was found in a synovial biopsy specimen from one patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in chronic alcoholics with myopathy, unrelated to acute alcohol ingestion.

Rhabdomyolysis leading to acute renal failure necessitating hemodialysis is described in three chronic alcoholics. In each case an acute medical or surgical event, but not alcoholic intoxication, was implicated. Renal biopsies demonstrated acute tubular necrosis with intraluminal deposits consisting of Tamm-Horsfall protein and myoglobin. After recovery all three patients were demonstrated to have proximal muscle weakness with similar electromyographic abnormalities but nerve-conduction was impaired in only two. Muscle biopsies showed mixed, but predominantly type II fiber atrophy and reduced muscle phosphorylase levels. In the one patient tested the lactate response to forearm muscle ischemia was abnormal. It is postulated that chronic alcoholics may be predisposed to rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following acute medical and surgical stress as well as acute alcohol abuse. The muscle damage in these patients may be due to impaired intra cellular glycogen metabolism.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1983

Experience in the computer handling of clinical data for dialysis and transplantation units.

This paper describes a computer data handling system which includes a powerful interactive program for the presentation and rapid modification of graphs. The system was developed in a dialysis and transplantation center in its early phases and is now in use in 20 renal centers in Europe and North America. Recent developments are a response to the varying demands of different centers. Our work describes some of the wide range of functions for which the system is used and the favorable response of staff working with a system that is easy to use and flexible, and which is also responsive to the requirements of the clinical user without the intervention of a computer programmer. The versatility of the system has made it possible to transfer it to other clinical specialties. As well as retaining its primary functions of improving the day-to-day care of patients and increasing the understanding that doctors have about their patients, the computer is used for research and administrative functions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Heparin inactivation, acidosis and copper poisoning due to presumed acid contamination of water in a hemodialysis unit.

An accident in a hemodialysis unit involving 13 patients is reported. Circumstantial evidence suggests that acid contamination of the water supply to the unit resulted in inactivation of heparin with widespread extracorporeal clotting and secondary copper intoxication which proved fatal in one patient. Serum copper concentrations were raised in 6 of the 11 patients and whole blood copper concentrations were raised in 4 patients. Results of serum ceruloplasmin, whole blood lead and zinc analyses are reported together with tissue analyses for copper in the fatal case. The majority of the patients showed evidence of a metabolic acidosis.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1983

Chronic liver disease in haemodialysis patients.

Elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for more than one year was found in 36 (28.8%) of 125 patients on maintenance haemodialysis. In 10 the ALT returned to normal spontaneously but in 26 it remained high. Liver tissue from 21 patients with high ALT and seven with normal ALT was examined. Statistically significant correlations were found between the mean ALT during the year prior to the biopsy and assessments of the lymphocytic infiltration (p less than 0.001), fibrosis (p less than 0.001) and amount of silicone particles in the liver (p less than 0.001). Epithelioid cell granulomata, lobular and portal macrophages and perivenular fibrosis were related to silicone particles. Lymphocytes were not spacially related to the particles; nevertheless, there was a significant correlation between amounts of silicone and lymphocytic infiltration (p less than 0.01). No associations were found between high ALT, hepatitis B serology, serum ferritin, parenchymal siderosis, propensity to fluid overload, alcohol abuse and HLA-B8.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The role of parathyroidectomy in the management of hyperparathyroidism in patients on maintenance haemodialysis and after renal transplantation.

Between March 1964 and March 1980, 36 (34 dialysis, 2 transplant) of 327 patients accepted for the maintenance dialysis/transplantation programme at Charing Cross Hospital were submitted to parathyroidectomy. There were four main indications: persistent hypercalcaemia, progressive phalangeal erosions, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head and height loss with abnormal bone biopsy despite normal hand radiographs. At parathyroidectomy, 4 glands were removed in 1 patient, 3 1/2 glands in 24, 3 glands in 7, 2 glands in 3 and a single large gland in 1 patient. The operation was followed by improvement in 28 patients, no change in 5, and progression of hyperparathyroidism in 3.2 of the 28 patients who improved later relapsed and were treated with 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3. 4 patients were submitted to a further parathyroidectomy and improved considerably. We would conclude that, although parathyroidectomy is an effective and safe procedure, it is to be hoped that careful monitoring of bone state and early administration of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 may reduce the need for parathyroidectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Joint problems in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

A questionnaire about joint symptoms was sent to 130 maintenance hemodialysis patients. All patients had a skeletal survey to assess the degree of hyperparathyroidism. 40 patients had no joint symptoms, 31 had mild joint symptoms, and 59 had severe joint symptoms. A higher proportion of these patients had radiological evidence of hyperparathyroidism, vascular or soft tissue calcification. Several different patterns of joint symptoms evolved including calcification problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, avascular necrosis, ruptured tendon and infection. We also describe a new syndrome of recurrent hemarthroses progressing to chronic capsulitis occurring in patients who have been on dialysis for more than 10 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Double-blind trial of oral 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 versus placebo in asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism in patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis.

Fifty-seven patients who had been receiving maintenance haemodialysis for a mean of 4.6 years were given 0.25-0.5 microgram oral 1,25-dihydroxy (1,25-(OH)2) vitamin D3 or a placebo in a double-blind manner for one to two years. In patients with normal radiographs (mean plasma parathyroid hormone concentration 205 microliterEq/ml) 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 prevented the development of the radiological appearances of hyperparathyroidism. In patients with abnormal radiographs (mean plasma parathyroid concentration 709 microliterEq/ml) 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 arrested or reversed the radiological changes of hyperparathyroidism. Nevertheless, the response was slow and the concentration of the hormone remained considerably raised (mean 445 microliterEq/ml). It is concluded from these results that giving 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 to patients receiving maintenance haemodialysis who have normal hand radiographs or minimal erosions is beneficial. In patients with more advanced hyperparathyroidism parathyroidectomy should be considered unless there is a rapid response.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Disseminated infection with mycobacterium chelonei in a haemodialysis patient.

M. chelonei ssp. chelonei was isolated over a period of 5 months from abscesses on various sites of hands and feet of a patient on maintenance dialysis. The organism was resistant in vitro to a greater number of antimicrobials and treatment in turn with gentamicin, vancomycin, erythromycin, doxycycline and co-trimoxazole had to be supplemented by surgical drainage of abscesses. Examination of the dialysis circuit revealed repeatedly the presence of M. chelonei and M. fortuitum in the water softener resin and other sites. The significance of this finding is discussed.

Abscess↗
PubMed1978

Serum and plasma concentrations of clindamycin following a single intramuscular injection of clindamycin phosphate in maintenance haemodialysis patients and normal subjects.

Serum levels of clindamycin bioactivity and total clindamycin were studied after single intramuscular injections of 300 mg of clindamycin phosphate in a group of 6 normal subjects and a group of 6 maintenance haemodialysis patients. The patients were studied during a non-dialysis period and then again during haemodialysis. Peak levels tended to be higher and elimination half-lives shorter in the patients than in the normal subjects. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. There was no evidence that haemodialysis per se influenced the pharmacokinetics of clindamycin phosphate. The proportion of unhydrolysed clindamycin phosphate tended to be higher in the renal failure patients and the reason for this is not apparent. Little, if any, dosage modification is necessary in severe renal fialure although there is probably little point in exceeding a dose of 300 mg intramuscularly every 5 h even in severe infections in patients with severe renal failure. The higher peak levels in patients with advanced renal failure indicate the need for further studies with repeated doses.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime after intravenous injection.

Cefuroxime, a new cephalosporin antibiotic which is stable to most beta-lactamases produced by gram-negative bacteria, was given by bolus intravenous injection to six volunteers in doses of 500 mg and 750 mg. The concentrations of cefuroxime in serum and urine were measured at pre-determined times after injection and the data analysed by a two-compartment open system model. A serum concentration of 8 microgram/ml was exceeded for 100.3 min (+/- 18.3) after a 500 mg dose and for 144.5 min (+/- 19.8) after 750 mg. The ultimate serum half-life was 1.1 h. Excretion of cefuroxime in the urine was almost complete in 24 h, the clearance being 150 ml/min/1.73m2. About 45% was excreted through the renal tubules. The injections were well tolerated and no changes in haematological or biochemical values were seen. The resulting data are compared with those published for some other cephalosporins. It is concluded that the favourable pharmacokinetics, especially the high concentrations of unbound cefuroxime in the serum, are likely to aid effective therapy of human infection caused by sensitive bacteria.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Survival in 200 patients treated by haemodialysis and renal transplantation.

The survival rates in 200 patients with terminal renal failure treated by maintenance haemodialysis and renal transplantation were analysed. The overall survival rate (+/- SE) was 81-4 +/- 3% at two years, 68-4 +/- 4% at five years, and 60-8 +/- 4-8% at eight years. Survival was inversely related to age: in those aged 15-34 years overall survival was 89-7 +/- 3-7% at two years, 87-8 +/- 4-1% at five years, and 83-9 +/- 5-5% at eight years. Eighty per cent of the surviving patients were able to work full time. The survival rate in patients returned to dialysis after graft rejection was 87-5% +/- 8-3 at three years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Comparative double-blind study of cephalexin and co-trimoxazole in urinary tract infections.

Treatment with cephalexin 1 g twiec daily and cotrimoxazole 2 tablets twice daily was compared in a double-blind, randomised study of 100 women with urinary tract infections. CO-trimoxazole gave a significantly higher cure rate compared with cephalexin two and six weeks after the one-week course of treatment. The higher failure rate with cephalexin was not related to the age of the patient, presentation, pyelographic appearances, or type of organism in the initial infection. Among the failures all but one of the organisms were sensitive to cephalexin. With the dosage regimen and duration of treatment used in this study cotrimoxazole appears to be superior to cephalexin in the management of acute urinary infections.

Adult↗