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Biomedical subjects

V Pengo

Publications and source records attributed to V Pengo.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The use of the dilute Russell viper venom time for the diagnosis of lupus anticoagulants.

We describe here a test for lupus anticoagulants based on a modified Russell viper venom time (RVVT), using limiting amounts of phospholipid and venom. We have studied 29 patients with a prolonged dilute RVVT. Five of the 29 had a normal activated partial thromboplastin time and three of 14 tested by the tissue thromboplastin inhibition test were normal. In 17 of 19 patients tested, the dilute RVVT was completely normal when ionophore-treated platelets were substituted for phospholipid; the remaining two patients, both with very long phospholipid-dependent dilute RVVT's, were nearly completely normalized. The dilute RVVT is not prolonged in the presence of antibodies to factors VIII, IX, or XI. Thus, the dilute RVVT appears to be a simple, reproducible, sensitive, and relatively specific method for the detection of lupus anticoagulants.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced "in vitro" release of platelet alpha-granules after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

In vivo platelet activity was studied in 58 patients with AMI on admittance to the Coronary Care Unit, in 48 of these patients after 1 week, in 30 after 1 month and in 24 patients after 6 months. Patients were carefully selected and excluded if they had associated diseases known to increase platelet activity. In vivo activation was studied by evaluating the plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) in the same blood sample. On admittance (x = 58.5) and on day 7 (x = 52.9) beta-TG values were significantly higher than those obtained in the control group (x = 29). beta-TG values were moderately elevated after 1 month (x = 37.7) and then returned to values similar to those of the control group after 6 months (x = 27.9). The simultaneous assessment of PF4 shows a beta-TG/PF4 ratio indicative for in vitro release (less than or equal to 2.5) in many patients on days 1 and 7. Moreover, the beta-TG/PF4 ratio in patients with AMI tends towards 2 when beta-TG values are high. These results may indicate a greater tendency to an in vitro platelet release in the acute phase of AMI.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Do malfunctioning bioprosthetic heart valves represent a potential thrombogenic focus?

In vivo platelet reactivity, expressed by plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), was determined in 57 patients with bioprosthetic heart valves: 35 had well-functioning bioprostheses (WFBP), while 22 had documented malfunctioning bioprostheses (MFBP). beta TG and PF4 values in patients with WFBP were not significantly different from controls, even when these determinations were repeated at monthly intervals, whereas beta TG and PF4 concentration was significantly higher in patients with MFBP compared to both groups. There was a strong positive correlation between beta TG and PF4 in all subjects studied. Serum lactic dehydrogenase, indirect bilirubin level and reticulocyte count were significantly higher in patients with MFBP than in those with WFBP, but no correlation was found between platelet reactivity and rate of intravascular hemolysis. Our results suggest that there is an increased platelet release in vivo of the platelet-specific proteins in patients with MFBP not related to mechanical damage, and that bioprostheses, at least in a degenerative state, may represent a potential thrombogenic focus.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The use of laser-nephelometry in evaluating fibrinogenaemia in patients with hepatocarcinoma and cirrhosis.

In the present study fibrinogen was assayed by the immunonephelometric method in 19 patients afflicted with hepatocarcinoma and 24 patients afflicted with cirrhosis. The two groups were similar in age, sex and presence of HbsAg. The incidence of values above the norm was significantly greater in patients with hepatocarcinoma (p less than 0.05). Then, the concentration of fibrinogen was measured in all using two other immunological methods (Laurell and Mancini) and two coagulative methods (Clauss and Ratnoff). A dysfibrinogenemia (an excess of fibrinogen assayed by immunological methods to be greater than 100 mg/dl with respect to biological methods). is more frequent using the Nephelometer-Clauss (p less than 0.01) and Mancini-Clauss (p less than 0.01) methods in patients with hepatocarcinoma with respect to those with cirrhosis. The study of the kinetics of antifibrinogen antigen-antibody reaction failed to show differences between patients with hepatocarcinoma or cirrhosis and normal subjects.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1985

Monitoring liver regeneration after right hepatectomy.

Factor VII coagulant, prothrombine time, fibrinogen, prealbumin and a fetoprotein have been evaluated in a patient operated on for right hepatectomy, in order to identify the best markers in prognosing liver regeneration. Factor VII and prothrombine time progressively increased, starting from the 5th-7th day, entering normal range by the 10th and demonstrated a good correlation with both liver scintiscan and ultrasonography. Prealbumin and fibrinogen did not provide any useful information and a fetoprotein levels progressively decreased, demonstrating the complete removal of the neoplastic tissue. Factor VII and prothrombine time seem therefore to be the most reliable markers, among those investigated in this study, of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1985

[Thrombolytic therapy with urokinase in 8 patients with massive pulmonary thromboembolism].

Eight patients with massive pulmonary thromboembolism documented by angiography were treated with Urokinase (UK) 4.400 IU/Kg/hr for 12 hours. UK i.v. infusion was started immediately after angiographic evaluation (Miller index) and was followed by anticoagulant therapy with heparin and sodium warfarin. All patients survived even though 4 pts. were in shock before treatment. Significant reduction of pulmonary obstruction (reduction of Miller index) was obtained in 7 patients with 48 hours from withdrawal of the drug. Mild superficial bleedings which did not influence the clinical course were the only complication recorded. Neither bleedings nor angiographic improvement showed a correlation with thrombin time prolongation. Indications for thrombolytic therapy of pulmonary embolism and particularly prevention of the major haemorrhagic complications are briefly discussed. It is concluded that the high doses of UK suggested by Food and Drug Administration may be used safely in patients affected by massive pulmonary thromboembolism with or without shock, if patients are adequately selected and prevention of major haemorrhagic complications is continued throughout treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Serum of normal subjects contains IgG with antibody-like specificity for phospholipids.

Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis, sera from normal subjects display precipitin activity against liposomes made by phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine and cardiolipin. No activity is detected by using liposomes made with phosphatidyl choline, sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl inositol. The same pattern of precipitation is obtained when pure IgG from normal subjects is tested against phospholipids. No precipitin activity is found by using pure IgM. The precipitin reaction is prevented by preincubating liposomes with Fab obtained from normal IgG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The importance of simple coagulation tests (fibrinogen assays and thrombin coagulase clotting time) in the diagnosis of liver cancer.

Dysfibrinogenemia in 36 patients with primary hepatocarcinoma and in 25 patients with cirrhosis of the liver was studied by means of reptilase time, thrombin coagulase time, fibrin polymerization and fibrinogen assays. Both groups of patients were similar in age, sex and incidence of HBs Ag. No electrolyte or fluid imbalances were present. Prolonged reptilase time and prolonged polymerization time were found in both groups; however, thrombin coagulase time was prolonged in 80% of the hepatocarcinoma group, but was normal in almost all patients with cirrhosis (p less than 0.001). In the hepatocarcinoma group, a difference of more than 100 mg per 100 ml was present between the immunologic and coagulative methods of fibrinogen determination in 36.1% of the cases, but in the cirrhotic group this difference was not present in any of the patients (p less than 0.01). We also found that by simply measuring fibrinogen levels by the Mancini method, we could distinguish hepatocarcinoma from cirrhosis in most cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The evaluation of fibrinogen behavior in Hodgkin's disease: correlation with clinical stage.

Forty-four patients (9 stage II, 15 sage III, 7 stage IV, and 13 in complete remission) with Hodgkin's disease without any clinical coagulation disorder were studied. Fibrinogen behavior was evaluated by measuring fibrinogen level and using 1251-fibrinogen, the half-life, survival and fibrinogen turnover. Platelet count and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) were also assayed. The fibrinogen half-life, survival and turnover were significantly longer and faster, than those found in 10 healthy subjects, in stage II, III and IV subjects (p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001, p less than 0.05 for stage II; p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001, p less than 0.001 for stage III; p less than 0.005, p less than 0.005, p less than 0.001 for stage IV, respectively). In most cases, FDP values were within the normal range, although they were significantly higher than those of control group in stages III and IV. Intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis were not found in the 13 patients with complete remission. In these patients, the behavior of fibrinogen was normal, suggesting that the parameters studied are related to the presence of the tumor, and can be useful in monitoring the state of remission.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Antithrombin III Padua: a "new" congenital antithrombin III abnormality with normal or near normal activity, normal antigen, abnormal migration and no thrombotic disease.

A "new" antithrombin III abnormality is described in four members of a family. The proposita is a 38 years old female who showed no thrombotic disease and the following laboratory pattern: normal routine clotting tests, normal or near normal AT III activity (chromogenic substrates S-2238 and Chromozym Th) both in plasma and in serum and in the presence or absence of heparin, slightly decreased antifactor Xa activity (chromogenic substrate S-2222), normal progressive antithrombin, normal AT III antigen but abnormal migration in the agarose-heparin bidimensional system. In the latter test, one major abnormal peak, less anodal than the normal counterpart, and a smaller, apparently normal peak, were seen. In agarose without heparin the pattern was similar to normal both in plasma and in serum. Heparin tolerance to heparin in vivo and in vitro was slightly increased but still within normal limits. The two sons and a paternal aunt showed the same pattern. The hereditary pattern seems therefore autosomal dominant. The abnormality described appears different from AT III Budapest. The toponym of antithrombin III Padua is proposed to define this peculiar abnormality.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Behavior of antithrombin III, determined as protein concentration and biologic activity, in subjects with neoplastic disease.

Antithrombin III (AT III), the primary inhibitor of plasma protease coagulation proteins, was evaluated in groups of patients with different neoplastic disease. When compared with that of 25 health subjects, the mean value of AT III biologic activity was elevated in all groups, significantly in gastrointestinal (p less than 0.02) and lung (p less than 0.001) tumors, lymphoma (p less than 0.02) and in the group with various primary cancers (p less than 0.05). No difference was found between 46 patients tested under chemoradiotherapy and 216 patients who had not undergone therapy for at least 1 month. Four patients with clinical thrombosis had normal ATIII biologic activity. Of the 262 patients studied, 14 had low AT III biologic activity without clinical thrombosis and normal protein concentration. In 71 patients (27%) an excess of immunoassayable protein of 20% or more over biologic activity was found. Double immunoelectrophoresis performed in 5 of these showed for 3 patients an enlarged second are of precipitation. Moreover, no correlation was observed between the activity and protein AT III concentration (r = 0.05). The likelihood of the presence of circulating AT III-protease complexes is discussed.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed1981

Fibrinogen degradation products (F.D.P.) in ascitic fluid of patients affected by ovarian cancer.

Ascitic fluid samples from 10 patients with ovarian carcinoma and 10 with cirrhosis of the liver were examined for their content of components of the fibrinolytic system. Large amounts of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (F.D.P.) were found in the ascitic fluid in all patients with malignant tumors, but not in the other group. Determination of F.D.P. may therefore make it possible to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant ascitic fluid.

Ascitic Fluid↗