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Biomedical subjects

U Vester

Publications and source records attributed to U Vester.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

End-stage renal failure in children younger than 6 years: renal transplantation is the therapy of choice.

UNLABELLED: Between 1975 and 1994, 46 children under 6 years of age received a total of 52 renal transplants. Obstructive uropathy and dysplasia accounted for most causes of terminal renal failure (17 and 12 cases respectively). Four patients required a second, 1 patient a third transplantation. Cadaveric organs were used on 33 occasions; 19 patients received a living-related donor kidney. Immunosuppression was performed with azathioprine in 5, with cyclosporine A in 21 and combined azathioprine/cyclosporine therapy in 20 cases. After 1 year, graft survival was 81%, and after 5 years 78%. Creatinine clearance declined slightly between 1 and 5 years from 69 to 56 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Main causes of graft failure were thrombotic complications in 6 cases and death with functioning graft in 5 cases. Graft thrombosis occurred only in grafts from young donors under the age of 7 years and after vascular anastomosis to the iliac vessels. Only two transplants were lost in rejection episodes. Patient survival was 94% after 1 and 90% after 5 years. Two patients died due to septiacemia, 1 died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm, 1 of cerebral ischaemia and 1 suddenly of unknown cause. Patient and graft survival was not different compared with 204 patients aged 6-16 years who received a renal transplantation during the same time period at our institution. After transplantation the patients receiving cyclosporine A showed a marked catch-up growth in the 1st year. The median standard deviation score (SDS) of body length improved from -2.63 to -1.39 standard deviations. CONCLUSION: Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice in end-stage renal failure in children under 6 years.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Non-compliance following renal transplantation in children and adolescents.

Reported frequencies of non-compliance in children with end-stage renal disease range from 8% to 70% with a mean around 40%. Sequelae amount to momentous emotional and financial burdens, including the loss of 7% of transplanted organs. Reasons for non-compliance have too often been attributed selectively to the patients (e.g., emotional, mental, social, or communication problems). Compared with general compliance research, this selective attribution appears to be too simplistic. Selective attribution neglects the patients' experiences within the context of disease and treatment and prevents open communication about non-compliance. Research on personal reasons for non-compliance is scarce. In psychological interviews, a third of our 85 patients with end-stage renal disease (34 boys, 51 girls, mean age 12.7 years, range 7.4-19.3 years) communicated psychologically meaningful reasons for non-compliance, frequently related to interrelational and systemic treatment conditions. Patients indirectly asked for more communication about their subjective reasons for non-compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The public health significance of urinary schistosomiasis as a cause of morbidity in two districts in Mali.

Schistosoma haematobium-related morbidity was studied in the perennial irrigation area of Office du Niger and the small reservoirs area of Plateau Dogon in Mali. Questionnaire, clinical, parasitologic, and ultrasound examination data were collected from 1,041 individuals at the baseline survey in 1991; 705 were re-examined one year after treatment. At baseline, the overall prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 55.2%; half of those infected had no clinical symptoms and 30% had pathologic lesions. Both infection and morbidity were more frequent in children than in adults, with a peak prevalence at 7-14 years of age. The rates of lesions were more than twice as high in those heavily infected as in lightly infected individuals. Reagent strip testing for microhematuria was more sensitive in detecting individuals with pathologic lesions than in detecting individuals with infection. One year after treatment with praziquantel, more than 80% of the urinary tract lesions had cleared. It is concluded that S. haematobium-related morbidity is frequent in Mali, but passive case detection for treatment would not cover a great deal of early stages of the disease; active intervention using reagent strip testing for microhematuria at the most peripheral levels would be an efficient system for morbidity control and monitoring of control operations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Urinary tract morbidity due to Schistosoma haematobium infection in Mali.

A total of 824 Malian villagers in a region endemic for Schistosoma (S.) haematobium were examined clinically, parasitologically and by abdominal ultrasound. Systematic schistosomicidal treatment had never been applied to this population. Prevalence of S. haematobium infection ranged from 77% in adolescents to 51% in adults older than 40 years. Intensity of infection was generally mild, 91% of all patients excreting less than 100 ova/10 ml urine. Bladder wall enlargement and irregularities, bladder masses, pseudopolyps and dilation of the upper urinary tract were found ultrasonographically in about one third of infected individuals. Bladder lesions were more frequent in children than in adults and correlated with the intensity of infection in younger age groups only. Hydronephrosis was rare (7 of 824) and never seen in uninfected individuals. Prevalence of urinary tract pathology dropped significantly with age (P < 0.001) and was lowest in patients older than 40 years. Logistical regression identified age and infection as independent parameters affecting the prevalence of urinary tract pathology (P < 0.001). We conclude that Schistosoma haematobium infection causes substantial morbidity in children and younger adults. The reduction of urinary tract morbidity with age despite a considerable prevalence of infection in older age groups suggests spontaneous resolution during adulthood in most cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Improved absorption of cyclosporin A from a new microemulsion formulation: implications for dosage and monitoring.

Recently, a new oral microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin A (CsA)--Neoral (Sandoz, Basle, Switzerland)--with a higher bioavailability has become available. Ten stable paediatric renal transplant recipients with excessive variations in CsA trough levels with the original Sandimmun (Sandoz, Basle, Switzerland) preparation were switched to Neoral on a 1:1 basis. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed impaired absorption of Sandimmun in six patients. Compared with equal doses of Sandimmun, the 8-h area under the concentration-time curve increased from 1,422 to 2,657 ng x h/ml and the peak concentration rose from 319 to 824 ng/ml (P < 0.01). In six patients with Sandimmun malabsorption, conversion on a 1:1 basis led to a reduction in creatinine clearance which was reversible after dose reduction by 9%-25%. With trough levels at the lower end of the present target range, creatinine clearance stabilised around pre-conversion values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Ultrasonography of ureteric abnormalities induced by Schistosoma haematobium infection before and after praziquantel treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of ureteric lesions due to Schistosoma haematobium infection and to report prevalence rates of such lesions in endemic communities in Mali before and after praziquantel treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The total population (n = 961) of three S. haematobium-endemic villages in Mali was examined ultrasonographically to detect urinary tract morbidity. Urine was tested for S. haematobium ova and for haematuria. An identical follow-up study was performed 1 year after mass treatment with praziquantel. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of S. haematobium infection in the three villages were 53%, 72% and 73%. Ultrasonography revealed dilatation of the ureters in 143 subjects (15%). In 20 of these, mainly children and adolescents, thickening and irregularities of the ureteric wall with distal ureter obstruction were directly visualized on ultrasonography. Within the bladder of two others, an intraluminal structure of ureterocele-like appearance was seen. None of these alterations has been previously described as an ultrasonographic feature of schistosomal uropathy. Active S. haematobium infection and microhaematuria were found in 21 and 20 of these 22 subjects respectively. Significant renal obstruction was present in 10 of them. One year after treatment, an entirely normal urinary tract was found in 85% of 104 re-examined individuals who had had ureter dilatation. Ureteric wall thickening or ureterocele-like lesions had disappeared in 95% of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The role of ultrasound in the evaluation of schistosomal uropathy is confirmed. Ureteric wall abnormalities causing strictures and ureterocele-like lesions of the ostium must be regarded as further ultrasonographic features of this condition. The study documents the excellent reversibility of ureteric abnormalities after antischistosomal treatment in children and adolescents, thus emphasizing the need for early and efficient medical treatment of the infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Lack of ultrasonographic evidence for severe hepatosplenic morbidity in schistosomiasis mansoni in Mali.

The inhabitants of four villages endemic for Schistosoma mansoni in central Mali (n = 1,106 of both sexes, age range 2-80 years) and of two nonendemic villages in another part of the country were examined parasitologically and ultrasonographically to establish the prevalence of periportal liver fibrosis (PF) and other features of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection ranged from 36% to 93% in the endemic villages. A severe infection (> 400 eggs/g of stool) was found in 16% of the infected individuals. No case of grade III PF (echogenic bands usually > 10 mm in diameter around the central part and major branches of the portal vein and streak-like fibrous bands that extended into the periphery of the liver) and only eight cases of grade II PF (echogenic bands usually > 10 mm in diameter around the central part and major branches of the portal vein) were found; no other signs of severe hepatosplenic disease were encountered. However, grade I PF (echogenic bands usually > 4 mm in diameter that were best visible in the area of the portal vein bifurcation and gall bladder neck) was detected in 21% of all individuals, mainly in adults. In the nonendemic villages, the prevalence of grade I PF in adults was 9%. Generally, there was no significant correlation between the grade of PF and S. mansoni egg output. In one village with a high endemicity level, however, the prevalence of grade PF I increased with the intensity of infection. Morphometric data revealed no significant influence of S. mansoni infection on portal vein stem diameter and spleen size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Renal function and morphology in Sudanese patients with advanced hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and portal hypertension.

The association between glomerular disease and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is well documented in reports from South America. During the present hospital investigation in Sudan, 58 patients admitted for intercurrent complications of advanced hepatosplenic schistosomiasis were studied. The patients, median age 35 years, had no concurrent Schistosoma haematobium infection. Diagnostic criteria included an enlarged spleen (n = 58), at least 1 episode of hematemesis (n = 55) and/or melena (n = 36), endoscopical demonstration of gastroesophageal varices (29/29 studied), ultrasonographical imaging of hepatic periportal fibrosis (18/18 studied), and intraoperative liver biopsy with characteristic histological findings (11/16 biopsied). Serum creatinine, urea, electrolytes, cholesterol, total protein, and electrophoresis were within normal limits. Median urinary protein/creatinine ratio was 0.06 and thereby not significantly different from European reference values. Only 1 patient had proteinuria of 1.7 g/l. Minimal hematuria was found in 5 patients. Ten kidney biopsies were taken intraoperatively during a portal decompression procedure (Hassab operation). Light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy produced no evidence of glomerulonephritis. These findings indicate that S. mansoni induced nephrotic syndrome may be less frequent in Sudan than in South America. Renal involvement due to S. mansoni infection may therefore encompass geographical variances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia in children with mixed urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis.

Quantitative parasitological assessment and quantitative analysis of proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia were carried out in 182 Sudanese schoolboys with mixed urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis. Pathological proteinuria was found in 73% of patients (median = 380, 95% confidence limits = 200 to 500 mg/liter). The median protein/creatinine ratio was 0.54. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed an excretion of albumin, transferrin, and IgG consistent with a postrenal pattern of proteinuria. Pathological erythrocyturia occurred in 84% of patients (median = 255, 95% CL = 95 to 629 cells/microliter) and leukocyturia in 77% of patients (median = 148, 95% CL = 93 to 246 cells/microliter). Phase contrast microscopy revealed intact erythrocytes, suggestive of postrenal hemorrhage. Proteinuria, erythrocyturia, and leukocyturia correlated significantly with the ova excretion in the urine, but not with egg excretion in the stool. Oxamniquine reduced ova excretion in the stool but did not influence pathological urine findings. In patients treated effectively with Praziquantel or Metrifonate, pathological PU, EU, and LU decreased markedly 1 month post treatment. PU in severely proteinuric patients reached physiological values 5 months post therapy. We suggest that the proteinuria, erythrocyturia, and leukocyturia in mixed schistosomiasis were of postrenal origin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Circadian variation of ova excretion, proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia in urinary schistosomiasis.

Urine samples from five boys (7 to 9 years) with urinary schistosomiasis were collected at 6 A.M. and thereafter at 3-hr intervals until 9 P.M. on 5 consecutive days. Ova excretion in the urine, proteinuria (PU), erythrocyturia (EU), and leucocyturia (LU) were assessed quantitatively. Egg excretion followed a circadian rhythm with a peak at 12 noon and was paralleled closely by pathological PU. Maximal erythrocyturia occurred at 6 P.M., whereas leucocyturia revealed two distinct peak times. Taking the congruent patterns of egg excretion and PU together with the results of qualitative urinary protein analysis into account, it was concluded that PU was linked causally to ova excretion and could be explained by bleeding and exudation of serum proteins during penetration of ova through the bladder mucosa. In contrast, EU and LU seemed to be caused by different pathological mechanisms. EU followed a time-delayed circadian rhythm, possibly induced by persistent bleeding, whereas LU may have indicated a concomitant inflammatory component of the bladder.

Child↗
PubMed1984

Intermittent chemotherapy with trichlorfon (metrifonate) reverses proteinuria, hematuria, and leukocyturia in urinary schistosomiasis: results of a three-year field study.

Trichlorfon (metrifonate) was given intermittently to 37 schoolboys with urinary schistosomiasis living in a hyperendemic area of the Sudan. Patients were followed up for three years. Initially, 10 mg of trichlorfon/kg of body weight was administered; this dosage was repeated 14 days and 16 months later. Patients still excreting eggs after 24 months received a fourth dose. At month 24, 61% and at month 36, 56% of the patients had no detectable egg excretion; the others showed severe reduction of egg output. The number of ova excreted was always paralleled by a combined scale of hematuria, leukocyturia , and proteinuria, as assessed by urine analysis reagent strips. Quantitative urine analysis at month 36 revealed pathological findings in only eight individuals. Thus, trichlorfon given three or four times in a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight spaced over a period of two years was highly effective in reducing parasite load and disease in children living under hyperendemic conditions.

Child↗