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Biomedical subjects

T A Rakowski

Publications and source records attributed to T A Rakowski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Low-dose subcutaneous erythropoietin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We evaluated changes in hematocrit in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) before and after the administration of erythropoietin (EPO). Thirty-five patients were evaluated at the beginning of treatment with CAPD and after an average of 3.5 years on CAPD; mean hematocrit (Hct) rose from 25.4 +/- 5.4% to 28.1 +/- 6.7% (P less than 0.001). In the period before EPO administration 11 patients required a total of 44 transfusions (one patient needed 23 transfusions). Fifteen patients were started on subcutaneous erythropoietin 3,000 units 3 times a week and were followed for a mean period of 6.3 months. Hct rose from 23.8 +/- 1.8% to 25.2 +/- 2.4% (P less than 0.01) within the first 2 weeks and up to 27.5 +/- 3.7% (P less than 0.01) in the fourth week. By the eighth week the target Hct (30 to 35%) was reached. During the next 5 months the EPO doses were adjusted to each patient's needs ranging between 2,000 U per week to 4,000 U 3 times per week. Mild hypertension was the only side effect seen in some of the patients. In conclusion low dose subcutaneous EPO is effective in managing the anemia of patients on CAPD with only minor side effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Ten years' experience with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Up to January 1989, 171 patients were trained at our center on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 17 on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). Over 10 years, we have gained 5,068 patient-months experience. Patient survival was 60% and 31% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. In contrast, diabetics had a survival of 32% at 5 years. Major complications included 499 new episodes of peritonitis, 304 exit-site infections, 22 hernias, five bowel perforations, one hydrothorax, and three episodes of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis. Our technique survival has been 62% and 40% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. We believe that CAPD is a viable dialysis technique for long-term treatment of chronic renal failure and it should be offered as an option to intermittent hemodialysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Chronic dialysis in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

To our knowledge this is the first case reported in the literature of a patient with cystic fibrosis and end-stage renal disease, who was on dialysis for 2 years. We discuss here the possible mechanisms responsible for what has been called 'the cystic fibrosis nephropathy' and its consequences.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Immune stimulation. A new approach in the treatment of glomerulonephritis.

We discuss here a new approach to the treatment of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (IMGN). Steroids and cytotoxic drugs have been used during the last years for the treatment of this disease, but the results are controversial. We develop here the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of IMGN is a relative incompetence of the immune system in clearing foreign antigens. Therefore, most patients should benefit from immune stimulation in the direction of a greater and more avid immune response.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1988

Bilateral nephrectomy and dialysis as an option for patients with bilateral renal cancer.

Six patients who underwent bilateral nephrectomy for renal carcinoma were placed on maintenance dialysis; of these, 1 patient had a renal transplant. A 5-year 44% survival of these patients was observed. We feel that radical nephrectomy followed by chronic dialysis is a reasonable alternative and offers a fair prognosis to patients with bilateral renal cancer in which partial nephrectomy is not possible.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis in rats induced by long-term intraperitoneal administration of antiseptics.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is an effective long-term treatment for renal failure. Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare but devastating complication of CAPD and may be caused by long-term peritoneal antiseptic exposure. We examined the peritoneal injury resulting from daily inoculations of moderately high concentrations of the following antiseptics: povidone-iodine, Dakin's solution, Amuchina, and Ampercide. After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of daily intraperitoneal injections in rats, a 10% solution of povidone-iodine in dialysis fluid caused a condition that mirrors human SEP. Animals had poor early weight gain, and gross necropsy examination revealed intestinal adhesions and a mesothelium that was sclerotically thickened. From 4 to 8 weeks the 10% povidone-iodine-injected animals showed progressive conditions and the prevalence of multiple encapsulating adhesions increased from 0/6 to 4/4, p = 0.005. Marked visceral mesothelial thickening in the 10% povidone-iodine-injected animals was quantitated after 4, 8, and 12 weeks at 92.0 +/- 11.6, 151.5 +/- 28.8, and 206.0 +/- 36.2 micron, respectively. Rats injected with dialysis fluid (controls) had normal-appearing mesothelial surfaces measured at 1.8 +/- 0.2, 2.4 +/- 0.2, and 2.2 +/- 0.2 micron after 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. The marked thickening of the mesothelium in the 10% povidone-iodine group compared with the controls was highly significant, p less than 10(-8). We conclude that povidone-iodine, the most commonly used antiseptic in CAPD, caused severe tissue injury, whereas other antiseptic solutions, Dakin's, Amuchina, and Ampercide, at the similar dilution did not appear to cause mesothelial injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Hemodialysis in the eighth and ninth decades of life.

In a review of 45 patients who started receiving hemodialysis (HD) after the age of 70 years (mean, 75 years), compared with a control of 70 HD patients (mean age, 42 years), the two-year survival for elderly patients was 42% and 58% for controls. In the elderly group, age did not correlate with survival. Nine elderly patients were over 80 years old and had a two-year survival of 41%. The elderly patients had a significantly lower mean predialysis blood pressure (BP) (142/73 +/- 3/1 mm Hg) than the controls (158/88 +/- 2/1 mm Hg) (P less than .001). Only 13% of the elderly patients received antihypertensive medication, compared with 41% of controls (P less than .01). The BP showed a significant negative correlation with age in both elderly ( r - .41, P less than .01) and control (r = .35, P less than .001) patients. Glomerulonephritis was less common in the elderly (9%) than control (31%) groups, and pyelonephritis was more common (29% vs 16%).

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Myoglobinuria.

Myoglobinuria has a variety of causes, ranging from trauma to heavy exercise. Symptoms usually consist of myalgia and muscle weakness; dark, bloody-looking urine may be noted. Myoglobin can be identified by readily available laboratory techniques. Acute renal failure can be a dangerous consequence of myoglobinuria but, with rapid recognition and strict monitoring, the prognosis in most cases is good.

Crush Syndrome↗