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Biomedical subjects

Robert D Baker

Publications and source records attributed to Robert D Baker.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Response to pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin in children with chronic hepatitis C.

GOALS: The purpose of this communication is to report our observations on the treatment of a diverse group of adolescent patients who were chronically infected with hepatitis C and received pegylated interferon and ribavirin. BACKGROUND: The currently accepted optimal therapy for adults with chronic hepatitis C is weekly injections of pegylated interferon and twice daily oral ribavirin. Information on interferon alone or in combination with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in children is limited. There is no published information on pegylated interferon and ribavirin in pediatric patients who previously failed interferon therapy. REPORT: Ten patients 11 to 18 years old received weekly pegylated interferon and twice daily ribavirin for hepatitis C. Treatment continued for 48 weeks, except for 1 patient with hepatitis C virus type 3a who was treated for 24 weeks and 1 patient who did not complete the course of treatment. The period of observation continued from November 2002 to December 2004. Within this group were 3 pediatric patients who had previously failed interferon therapy for hepatitis C. RESULTS: All but 1 patient had a viral response (no detectable virus) at some time during or after the treatment. Three patients achieved sustained viral response (no detectable virus 6 mo after the therapy). One patient who previously failed interferon therapy was among the sustained responders. CONCLUSIONS: In response to treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C achieve results similar to those seen in adults. Previous antiviral therapy does not preclude positive response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Pancreatic exocrine function in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with more severe disease and requires replacement therapy. Outcome measures such as growth and number of stools, frequency of abdominal pain, and flatulence have often been used to identify pancreatic-insufficient patients and to adjust the dose of replacement enzymes. Unfortunately, some patients with CF are misclassified, and approximately 9% do not receive therapy appropriate for their pancreatic exocrine functional status. Growth, number of stools, frequency of abdominal pain, and flatulence cannot be used to adjust enzyme doses.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed2005

Pancreatic enzyme therapy and clinical outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between pancreatic enzyme therapy (PET) and the clinical outcomes of growth, abdominal pain, constipation, gassiness, and number of stools in cystic fibrosis (CF). STUDY DESIGN: Patients (n = 1215) >4 weeks of age from 33 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accredited sites who had a sweat chloride >60 mmol/L or two CF-causing mutations were enrolled using a proportionate sampling strategy in a nonblinded study. Patients submitted a stool sample and completed a questionnaire. The study coordinator also completed a questionnaire for each patient. Enzyme dosing and growth, abdominal pain, gassiness, constipation, and number of stools were compared. RESULTS: Of the 1215 enrolled patients, 1131 (93.1%) were prescribed PET. Only 14.9% had pancreatic function assessed before enrolling in this study. Stool elastase-1 analysis identified 1074 (89%) patients as pancreatic insufficient (PI). There was no association between PET and the outcomes: growth, abdominal pain, gassiness, constipation, and number of stools. CONCLUSION: PET dose is not correlated with growth or gastrointestinal symptoms. More sensitive outcome measures of the effectiveness of PET in patients with CF are needed to guide treatment of PI.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2004

Use of fecal elastase-1 to classify pancreatic status in patients with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that some patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are misclassified as pancreatic insufficient, using fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) to define pancreatic status. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects with CF at 33 CF centers filled out questionnaires and submitted a stool specimen that was analyzed for FE-1. Subjects taking pancreatic enzyme supplements (PES) were asked to discontinue them and perform a 3-day fecal fat balance study if their FE-1 was >200 microg/g stool and they had never had pancreatitis. RESULTS: The median value for FE-1 in 1215 subjects was 0 microg/g stool (range, 0-867). There was a significant difference between patients who had been prescribed PES (n=1131) and those who had FE-1 <200 microg/g stool (n=1074; P<.0001). Sixty-seven subjects met criteria for discontinuation of PES. The mean coefficient of fat absorption for these subjects was 96.1%. CONCLUSIONS: FE-1 is an accurate, easily obtained screening test to classify pancreatic status in patients with CF. This information is important for prognostication, treatment, and to avoid misclassification in clinical research. Measurement of FE-1 should become a standard of care for patients with CF.

Adolescent↗