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R G Webber

Publications and source records attributed to R G Webber.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

beta-thromboglobulin and deep vein thrombosis.

The measurement of plasma beta-thromboglobulin as a potential diagnostic test for venous thrombosis has been investigated in 16 normal volunteers, 24 patients presenting with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism and 46 patients screened by 125I fibrinogen test (IFT) for post-operative DVT. The normal mean was 33 ng/ml (range 15-117 ng/ml). Of the 24 patients with clinical thrombotic disease 22 presented with DVT confirmed by phlebogram or IFT and 2 presented with embolism confirmed by lung scan. At the time of first presentation 12 out of 24 had betaTG values greater than 70 ng/ml. All except 3 of this group of 24 patients had values of greater than 70 ng/ml at some stage during a subsequent week of daily sampling. DVT was detected in 13 out of 46 screened post-operative patients. There was a rise om betaTG observed within 24 hr of the IFT becoming positive but the mean rise did not reach significance at the 5% level. An association between DVT and high betaTG values has been confirmed. However, its clinical value cannot yet be fully elucidated until factors, probably related to blood sampling and clearance, are further investigated.

Beta-Globulins

Serum protein analysis and bone marrow cytology in patients with an extreme elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

One hundred patients in whom an Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) in excess of 100 mm. in the first hour was found on 2 consecutive occasions were investigated. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 96 of these patients and bone marrow examination on 55 patients. Acute infection was the commonest diagnosis though the majority of patients had 2 or more separate conditions each contributing to the elevation of the ESR. Quantitive serum protein electrophoresis was abnormal in all but one patient and was of limited diagnostic value. A definite band in the globulin region was detected in 11 patients, 7 of whom were found to have myelomatosis. Bone marrow examination was useful only in patients with a discrete band in the globulin fraction or with a specific haematological abnormality. It is suggested, therefore, that bone marrow examination be confined to patients with such abnormalities irrespective of an elevation of their ESR.

Adult

Plasma fibrinolysis and postoperative deep vein thrombosis.

In 23 high risk patients the change in plasminogen activator activity in response to surgical operation was studied by euglobulin lysis time (ELT) and fibrin plate lysis before, during and for up to 6 days following a major surgical procedure. Fibrin degradation products (FDP) were also measured. The aim was to relate any changes to postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as diagnosed by the 125I fibrinogen test. Peroperative increase and postoperative inhibition of fibrinolytic activity were seen in all the patients. Changes in fibrinolytic activity as measured by the ELT and during the first 24 hours by the fibrin plate technique were similar. This suggests that during this period the response was independent of plasma fibrinogen changes. There was no significant difference in these parameters between patients who developed DVT and those who did not. The relationship between venous thrombo-embolism and elevation of serum FDP was confirmed.

Female