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Peter Klein-Weigel

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Klein-Weigel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Psychometric investigation of Tyrolean patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon].

Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) is provoked by digital vasospasm induced by cold and emotional strain. By use of established psychometric test instruments (Freiburger Aggressionsfragebogen (FAF), Fragebogen zur Abschätzung psychosomatischen Krankheitserlebens (FAPK), Stressverarbeitungsfragebogen (SVF 120)) we examined the patients' ways of dealing with aggression and distress as well as their experience of psychosomatic illness. In all psychometric tests performed there were no statistically significant differences between the patients and the controls, indicating that patients with PRP depict no specific ways of dealing with aggression and distress, and do not experience psychosomatic illness. The subgroup of patients with affective disorders and the subgroup of patients with impaired psychological well-being, displayed a 'depressive style' of dealing with life events. Patients with major physical complaints of symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon showed either an inability or a propensity to deny aggression. Patients with impaired psychological well-being tended to complain more often about severe physical symptoms associated with Raynaud's phenomenon. Psychometric testing in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon cannot be recommended without additional psychiatric diagnostic. In patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and psychiatric comorbidity psychometric testing can additionally provide useful clinical information.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

High prevalence of circulating CD4+CD28- T-cells in patients with small abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible role of proinflammatory CD28- T cells in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Animal studies and human tissue studies suggest a role for interferon (IFN)-gamma-producing T cells in the development and progression of AAAs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fluorescence-activated cells sorter analysis of peripheral blood samples and measurement of AAA size using sonography were performed in 101 AAA patients and 38 healthy controls. Peripheral percentages of CD28- T cells of the CD3+CD4+ and the CD3+CD8+ were enriched in AAA patients with 7.8+/-8.8% and 41.9+/-15.7% compared with healthy controls with 2.2+/-6.1% and 24.9+/-15.5%, respectively (P=0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). Both CD4+CD28- and CD8+CD28- T cells produced large amounts of IFN-[gamma] and perforin. Patients with small AAAs (<4 cm) showed higher peripheral levels of CD4+CD28- T cells than those with larger AAAs (P=0.025). Immunohistological examinations revealed 39.1+/-17.2% CD4+CD28- and 44.0+/-13.8% CD8+CD28- in AAA tissue specimens with inflammatory infiltratestes. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-gamma- and perforin-producing CD28- T cells are present in the periphery and the vessel wall of a majority of AAAs. This observation in humans favors the concept of a T cell-mediated pathophysiology of AAAs, especially during the early development of AAAs.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Psychiatric investigation of Tyrolean patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon].

Raynaud's phenomenon is provoked by digital vasospasm, mostly induced by cold and emotional strain. While studies dealing with other vasospastic disorders, e. g. migraine, described an increased comorbidity with affective and anxiety disorders, only little evidence has been reported for such an association in Raynaud's phenomenon. 70 Tyrolean patients (55 females and 15 males) with primary Raynaud's phenomenon presented more often with psychiatric morbidity on DSM-IV axis-I during their life-time than prevalence studies in the general population of North America and Europe would have led to expect. No psychotic (0%) and fewer somatoform disorders (2.9%) were found whereas anxiety disorders (77.1%), affective disorders (48.6%), and eating disorders (14.3%) were clearly overrepresented. We would therefore recommend a psychiatric evaluation in primary Raynaud's phenomenon along with the vascular diagnostic assessment to ensure that any psychiatric co-morbidity can be identified and treated.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Peripheral ischemia caused by paradoxical embolization: an underestimated problem?

Although a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is often found in younger patients with transient ischemic attacks or stroke, paradoxical embolization through PFO is rarely considered as a cause of acute limb ischemia. We report a single-center experience of 5 consecutive patients with limb-threatening ischemia due to paradoxical embolization within a one-year period. All patients were treated by catheter thrombectomy and long-term oral anticoagulation after surgery. The fact that the 5 embolectomies made up 10% of all embolectomies performed in our center during this time interval may indicate that the role of paradoxical embolization is still underestimated in peripheral embolic disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Continuous administration of heparin in patients with deep vein thrombosis can increase plasma levels of diamine oxidase.

Besides its anticoagulant activity, the sulfated polysaccharide heparin has numerous other biological effects. Especially the antiinflammatory and immunoregulatory properties of heparin may be associated with its ability to release the histamine-degrading enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) from tissue-bound sites into the circulation. Whereas DAO activity is at the limits of detection in normal human plasma, the application of heparin leads to a significant increase of plasma DAO activity. However, previously, only the effect of bolus injection of unfractionated heparin (UFH) had been studied. To investigate DAO release during continuous heparin infusion, 28 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) undergoing heparin therapy were analyzed. Whereas continuous heparin infusion did not lead to any increase of plasma DAO activity in 12 patients (43%), 6 patients (21%) showed a single elevated and 10 patients (36%) permanently elevated plasma DAO activity. The groups of patients exhibiting different DAO release responses did not differ in age, sex, body weight, concomitant diseases, heparin infusion rates, coagulation indices, location and extension of thrombosis, or clinical outcome. However, the rate of idiopathic DVT was significantly higher in the group of patients releasing DAO. This study shows, for the first time, that continuous heparin infusion can lead to DAO release and that individuals exhibit considerable differences in their release response. Although the significance of heparin-induced DAO release needs further clarification, our results indicate that postheparin plasma DAO activity could be an interesting parameter correlated with idiopathic DVT.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Microcirculatory assessment of vascular acrosyndrome in anorexia nervosa and analysis of manifestation factors.

OBJECTIVE: Acrocyanosis (AC) is a common manifestation of starving syndrome in anorexia nervosa. We characterized microvascular changes associated with AC and determined discriminating factors between acrally symptomatic and nonsymptomatic patients. METHODS: We examined 34 patients with anorexia nervosa (15 restrictive-anorectic type, 19 binge-eating/purging type, duration 1-25 years). Nineteen were symptomatic (SP) and 15 were nonsymptomatic (NSP). All underwent photo-pletysmography, sonography of the brachial artery, capillary microscopy and laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Disease characteristics and body mass index did not differ between SP and NSP. In SP more dilated efferent capillary loops and venoles were present (P<.001) and capillary flow velocities were reduced (0.21+/-0.12 ml/min vs. 0.34+/-0.15 ml/min; P=.015). Flow-mediated and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation showed no differences. Symptomatic patients had lower leukocyte counts (P=.008), lower eosinophils (P=.003) and lower LDL (P=.045) concentrations. A logistic regression model identified only leukocytes (P=.017) and eosinophils (P=.023) to be associated with AC. CONCLUSIONS: In acrally symptomatic patients the typical microvascular features of AC are present. AC is associated with lower leukocyte counts and lower eosinophils.

Anorexia Nervosa↗