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Biomedical subjects

S N Mehta

Publications and source records attributed to S N Mehta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Neoral monitoring by limited sampling area under the concentration time curve in stable indian renal transplant recipients.

The optimization of cyclosporine (CsA) immunosuppression remains a challenge because of the narrow therapeutic window and highly variable pharmacokinetics (PK). The highly variable PK were improved by the introduction of the current microemulsion preparation Neoral. However, the best clinical benefit of this CsA microemulsion can only be obtained by regular PK monitoring. During the past decade, various PK strategies have been proposed, such as C(0), C(2), level monitoring, abbreviated or limited sampling approach, and various prediction algorithms to replace the conventional area under the curve (AUC). In this study we evaluated the Neoral PK in stable Indian renal transplant recipients using a limited sampling approach. The C(0) (mean +/- SE) was 175 +/- 15 ng. mL(-1); C(max) 970 +/- 101 ng. mL(-1), and the AUC (0-4) 2734 +/- 258 ng. h. mL(-1). The C(0) showed a poor relationship to AUC (0-4) (r =.65) but high correlations were obtained with C(2) (r = 0.93) and C(3) (r =.96). Our finding suggest that stable Indian renal transplant recipients should either be monitored using C(2) or C(3).

Area Under Curve↗
PubMed2002

Results of renal transplantation on conventional immunosuppression in second decade in India: a single centre experience.

BACKGROUND: In-spite of many renal transplant (RT) centres in the country, there is paucity of data on the survival results in India. Furthermore, there is hardly any data of results in second decade. In this study we present the results of RT in second decade at our centre. METHODS: RT at our hospital is being done since 1972. First eight years saw occasional RT and complete data is not available in these patients. So, we have excluded these patients from the study. We have included rest all 144 patients who had RT between Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1989, so as to have at least 10 years of follow-up or more. All these patients were on conventional immunosuppression. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients, 126 (87.5%) were males and the mean age was 29.5 +/- 8.5 years (range 14-54). Basic disease was presumed chronic glomenulonephritis (CGN) in 79.9%, vesicouretenic reflux (VUR) in 8% and diabetic nephropathy in 1.4% patients. Mean number of haemodialysis (HD) and blood transfusion before RT were 44 +/- 24.7 and 8.9 +/- 4.7 (range 0-25), respectively. Mean donor age was 40.9 +/- 10.1 year (range 18-62). HLA matching was haploidentical in 74.5% cases, HLA identical in 3% cases and 11.5% were less than two-antigen match. Of the 63% patients, who had at least one acute rejection (AR) during their follow-up, 78.8% cases had this AR within first three months after the renal transplant. During 10 years of follow up, 65 patients died (23 with normal graft function and 42 with chronic rejection) and 17 lost to follow-up. Eight patients lost their graft but were surviving at 10 years and 54 had functioning graft till the time of analysis. With mean follow-up of 83.9 +/- 61.2 (range 1-216) months, 10-year actuarial patients and graft survival was 53% and 47%, respectively. Graft half-life in these patients is 92 months. In multivariate analysis of the donor age, number of blood transfusion (BT), degree of HLA matching and AR, only AR was found to be statistically correlated with the graft outcome (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that in our set-up during eighties, on conventional immunosuppression, actuarial patient and graft survival at 10 year is 53% and 47%, respectively with graft half-life being 92 months. Only acute rejection has been found to affect the graft outcome in these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: role of high resolution computed tomography.

Pneumocystis carinii (PC) is a common opportunistic infection in renal transplant recipients and requires an early diagnosis for its successful treatment. For its definitive diagnosis PC needs to be demonstrated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. At times BAL may not be possible or get delayed. In such conditions typical appearances seen on high resolution CT of the chest help in early diagnosis of PC pneumonia (PCP). This easily performed procedure helped in early diagnosis of PCP in two patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Influence of HLA compatibility on renal graft survival using live unrelated & cadaver donors in India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Living unrelated donor (LURD) renal transplantation has shown a rising trend over the last 5 yr at our center following the passing of The Transplantation of Human Organs Act by the Government of India in 1994. In this paper, the results of LURD and cadaver (CAD) donor renal transplantation are compared. We have also looked into factors that have a bearing on graft survival such as the extent of HLA mismatch (MM), infections, acute rejections (AR), donor age and sex. METHODS: A total of 42 LURD and 25 CAD renal transplants performed between March 1994 and February 1999 has been included in the study. HLA typing, panel reactive antibody (PRA) screening and T and B cell cross match assay were performed by the complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) method for all patients. RESULTS: The graft survival rates were generally higher in the LURD category as compared to the CAD group and were significant at 6 month period (90 vs 56%, P = 0.002). A follow up of the patients up to 60 months revealed a matching effect since the 3, 4 allele MM group had better survival rates as compared to the 5, 6 MM group. Twenty six of the 67 recipients (39%) experienced episodes of acute rejection (AR). Patients with 3, 4 MM had fewer such episodes than those with 5, 6 allele MM (P < 0.05). Of the 32 deaths, 20 were those with a functional kidney, of which 15 were caused by severe infections. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Better HLA matching ensures fewer episodes of rejection and better long term graft survival in comparison to the poorly matched grafts. The graft survival for LURD recipients was appreciably higher than that of CAD recipients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Patient satisfaction after MRCP and ERCP.

OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an accurate diagnostic test for detecting abnormalities of the pancreaticobiliary system. Because it is noninvasive, MRCP appears to be more tolerable than ERCP, although this has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to compare patient satisfaction after MRCP and ERCP performed sequentially. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 34 patients undergoing ERCP, for whom an MRCP was able to be performed before ERCP. Patient satisfaction was assessed by validated questionnaires using seven-point Likhert scales (individual ratings and direct comparisons). The following dimensions were explored: anxiety, pain, discomfort, tolerability (relative to expectations), willingness to repeat the procedure, and overall preference. Chi2 and Student's t tests (paired and unpaired) were performed, and 95% CIs were provided. RESULTS: Two patients (5.9%) were unable to undergo MRCP because of claustrophobia. The remaining 32 completed both tests (94% same day) and all questionnaires. Average age was 56+/-18 yr, and 66% were women. In 23 patients, some degree of biliary obstruction was suspected; nine patients had pancreatitis. Patients reported a lower degree of pain (p < 0.001) and discomfort (p = 0.047) with MRCP, but MRCP was more difficult than they expected (p = 0.0 12). Patients were marginally more willing to repeat MRCP (ns, p = 0.09). On direct comparisons, patients were more satisfied with MRCP regarding anxiety (p = 0.04) and pain (p = 0.001). Patients displayed a higher overall preference for MRCP compared with ERCP (p = 0.01); however, only 59% clearly preferred MRCP over ERCP. The most common problem with MRCP was claustrophobia or noise (n = 15), and the differences were more striking in the subgroup without this problem. The subgroup undergoing purely diagnostic ERCPs showed clear preferences for MRCP. CONCLUSIONS: In many respects, MRCP is well tolerated, and certain subgroups, especially those undergoing diagnostic ERCPs, prefer MRCP over ERCP. As an endoscopist, one needs to be aware of the limitations of MRCP and relay these to the patient, as it seems that patients find MRCP more difficult than anticipated, and a significant number still prefer ERCP over MRCP. Patient satisfaction may be further improved by reducing noise and claustrophobia with selective premedication, earplugs, and the use of the new quieter fenestrated magnetic resonance imaging scanners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Phrenic nerve palsy: a rare complication of indwelling subclavian vein catheter.

The use of central venous catheters as access for hemodialysis has become common in children with end-stage renal disease. Phrenic nerve palsy is an unusual complication of this procedure. We report a case of delayed right diaphragmatic palsy due to phrenic nerve damage resulting from an indwelling right subclavian catheter in a 3-year-old child.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMed2000

Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on renal transplant outcome in India--a single centre study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is currently the main cause of hepatotropic viral infection in renal transplant (RT) recipient throughout the world. Contrary reports are available as regard graft and patient survival and liver disease outcome in these patients. From India, outcome of HCV positive patients following RT has not been documented. Herewith, we present results of RT in HCV positive patients at our centre. METHODS: Study design was prospective case control with primary end point being graft and patient survival and the exposure being HCV infection. Between June 1995 till February 1998, 128 patients had RT at our hospital, of which, 37 (28.9%) were anti-HCV positive at the time of RT. All the patients were on triple immunosuppressive therapy. As a policy of unit, none of the donor had HBV and/or HCV infection. Anti-HCV positive patients formed the subjects (Gr. I), while anti-HCV negative patients severed as control (Gr. II). Anti HCV was done using 3rd generation ELISA tests kit. HCV-RNA could not be done due to non-availability. None of the positive patient was treated with anti-viral therapy. Acute rejection, serious infections, patient and graft survival and outcome of liver disease was compared in these patients. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients, number of males, number of pre-RT haemodialysis and blood transfusion, donor age and HLA-mismatch were comparable in both the groups. Mean follow-up in Gr. I was 28 +/- 9.4 months and in Gr. II 31.4 +/- 7.6 months. At the end of this follow-up, acute rejection was seen in 43% and 33.3% patient in Gr. I and II respectively. In Gr. I, serious infections were seen in 30% while the same in Gr. II was 11.8% (p < 0.01). There was no difference in graft survival in Gr. I and II (72% and 66%) and the patient survival were also similar (72% and 66%). Of the deaths in Gr. I, 80% died of sepsis and 20% died of liver cell failure related to one each of hepatitis B and hepatitis E. Of the deaths in Gr. II, 65% died of sepsis and 17% died of hepatic cell failure. But, there was no difference in causes of deaths in these two groups. In both the groups, none of liver related death was due to isolated HCV infection. There was no effect of donor age, HLA mismatch, number of haemodialysis and pre-RT blood transfusion on the survival of graft as well as patient. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, HCV infection is major problem in RT with us. In a short follow-up of nearly 30 months, graft and patient survival is same in HCV positive and negative patients. However, serious infections are significantly more common in HCV positive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Selective cannulation of the common bile duct: a prospective randomized trial comparing standard catheters with sphincterotomes.

BACKGROUND: Current recommendations for the use of standard catheters or sphincterotomes for the initial attempt at selective common bile duct cannulation have been made in the absence of prospective comparative data. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in which patients were randomized to undergo cannulation with a standard catheter or a sphincterotome (standard or wire-guided). Multivariate models were constructed to determine significant independent predictors of the success rates of initial and selective cannulation and the number of attempts and time needed to achieve selective cannulation. RESULTS: Eighty-three successive patients were evaluated; 36 were excluded because they had undergone previous therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or a Billroth II operation. Of the 47 patients (28 women, mean age 60.6 +/- 14.5 years), indications for ERCP included suspected bile duct stones in 41 patients, pancreatico-biliary malignancies in 4, and biliary leaks in 2. Eighteen patients were randomized to undergo selective common bile duct cannulation with standard catheter and 29 to standard/wire-guided sphincterotome. Initial common bile duct cannulation for the standard catheter and standard/wire-guided sphincterotome groups was successful in 12 (67% [95% CI: 41%, 87%]) and 28 (97% [95% CI: 82%, 100%]) patients, respectively (95% CI for the difference: -0.57 to -0.03, p = 0.009). Using intention to treat analysis, selective common bile duct cannulation was successful for standard catheter and standard/wire-guided sphincterotome patients in 17 (94% [95% CI: 73%, 99%]) and 28 (97% [95% CI: 82%, 100%]) cases, respectively (95% CI for the difference: -0.15 to +0.10, p > 0.05). The mean number of attempts required to achieve selective common bile duct cannulation were 12.4 +/- 6.0 and 2.8 +/- 3.1 (p = 0.0001). The mean time taken to achieve selective common bile duct cannulation was 13.5 +/- 6.14 and 3.1 +/- 5.1 minutes (p = 0.0001). Multivariate modeling revealed that the initial choice of catheter was the only significant independent predictor of the time taken and the number of attempts performed to achieve selective common bile duct cannulation (p = 0. 0001 for each model). CONCLUSION: The use of standard/wire-guided sphincterotome was superior to that of standard catheter for the initial attempt at cannulation of the common bile duct. The number of attempts required may bear clinical significance with regard to the development of post-ERCP pancreatitis and warrants further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Predictors of post-ERCP complications in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Determinants of complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have not yet been completely characterized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected from an endoscopic database. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to generate the best model of independent predictors of post-ERCP pancreatitis. RESULTS: The database included 1239 ERCP examinations carried out to investigate suspected choledocholithiasis over a five-year period. From these, 45 patients who developed post-ERCP complications were compared to a random sample of 486 patients who had undergone an uncomplicated ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis. Univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences between the two patient groups for the following factors: age, using a cut-off point of 59 years (27% vs. 51%, P = 0.002), pancreatic channel opacification (73% vs. 58%, P = 0.05), and absence of common bile duct stones (41% vs. 24%, P = 0.03). Using multivariate logistic regression, the best model for predicting post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients undergoing sphincterotomy included age under 59 years (P = 0.04), and absence of a common bile duct stone (P = 0.004). The model yielded probabilities of developing post-sphincterotomy pancreatitis that ranged from 2.8% if no predictor was present, to 27% when both predictors were present. Among patients in whom a sphincterotomy was not performed, the only significant independent predictor found was pancreatic channel opacification (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Age under 59 years, pancreatic channel opacification, and an absence of common bile duct stones at ERCP are all independent predictors of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Choledocholithiasis: evaluation of MR cholangiography for diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the test performance of magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography for help in diagnosing choledocholithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fast spin-echo MR cholangiography was performed by using a torso multicoil array in 110 patients suspected of having bile duct obstruction. Axial and coronal images were reviewed by two observers who were blinded to results of direct cholangiography and final diagnoses. The final diagnosis was established by using direct cholangiographic (n = 103) or surgical (n = 7) findings. RESULTS: Of the 110 patients, 30 (27%) had choledocholithiasis, and 80 (73%) did not. Reviewer 1 used MR cholangiograms to achieve a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 96%, and overall accuracy of 97%. Reviewer 2 achieved a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 82%, negative predictive value of 96%, and overall accuracy of 92%. Interobserver agreement for MR cholangiograms was 93% (kappa = 0.82). CONCLUSION: MR cholangiography exhibited excellent test performance and resulted in excellent interobserver agreement for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis.

Cholangiography↗
PubMed1997

Postcholecystectomy biliary leaks in the laparoscopic era: risk factors, presentation, and management. McGill Gallstone Treatment Group.

BACKGROUND: The management of bile leaks has evolved in the laparoscopic era. This study characterizes risk factors for their developmental and their clinical course and management. METHODS: Data on a cohort of patients who developed bile leaks after cholecystectomy in the laparoscopic era were gathered prospectively and retrospectively from an ongoing surgical database and following a review of hospital charts. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients (mean age 56 +/- 17.1 years, 72% women) were included over a 5-year study period. The incidence of leaks was 1.1% among patients entered in a laparoscopic cholecystectomy database. Intraoperative complications were encountered in 36%. Rates of intraoperative complication and conversion to open surgery were greater among patients who developed leaks (5.2% vs 0.6% and 33% vs 6.3%, respectively, p < 0.00001). Patients presented 5.3 +/- 4.2 days following surgery with abdominal pain (89%), fever (74%), and tenderness (81%). Ultrasound diagnosed a suspected leak in 73%, which ERCP showed as originating from the cystic duct stump in 77%. Biliary obstruction was noted in 20 (31%) patients (14 with stones). Treatments included percutaneous (13%), endoscopic (28%), primary or secondary operative procedures (14%), or a combination thereof (45%). CONCLUSION: A complication at laparoscopic cholecystectomy increases the likelihood of a subsequent bile leak. Most patients present early with a patent cystic duct stump in the absence of biliary obstruction. Endoscopic therapy is successful in the majority of cases, but otherwise percutaneous or operative procedures may be needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of acute rejection in live related renal allograft recipients: a comparison of three different protocols.

We present our experience on the comparison of three different modes of steroid therapy, oral prednisolone (OP), intravenous dexamethasone (IVDX) and intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in the treatment of acute rejection (AR) in renal allograft recipients. Between January 1980 and January 1992, 206 patients underwent live related renal transplantation. Before 1990, all received prednisolone (PRED) and azathioprine (AZA) only. After 1990, patients were given PRED, AZA and cyclosporine (CsA). After 1 year, CsA was stopped and patients were converted to a two-drug regimen only. Of the 206 patients, 180 (87.4%) were male and mean age was 30.3+/-8.7 years (range 14-63). During the mean follow-up of 43.5 months, 178 episodes of AR were seen in 121 patients. Each episode was considered as a separate entrant in the study. Conventional immunosuppression was given in 151 episodes and 27 episodes were on triple-drug therapy. Diagnosis of AR was made by clinical, sonography, nuclear scan with or without graft biopsy evidence. Of the 178 AR, 110 (61.8%) were within 3 months, 36 (20.2%) were between 3 months and 1 year and 32 (18%) were after 1 year. OP was given in 11 cases while IVDX and IVMP were given in 48 and 119 cases respectively. Overall, 154 (86%) showed either a complete or partial response to antirejection therapy. Response to therapy was 91, 90 and 85% in OP, IVDX and IVMP groups respectively. There was no statistical difference in response rate in different groups. There was also no difference in side effects in three different groups. Our data suggest that it is the high dose of steroid rather than mode of therapy which is responsible for therapeutic benefit in treatment of AR.

Acute Disease↗