Biomedical subjects

Zofia Turowiecka

Publications and source records attributed to Zofia Turowiecka.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Antiphospholipid syndrome--interdisciplinary problem].

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder, where the essence of the matter is the existence of antiphospholipid antibodies. The typical symptoms of APS are: venous thrombo-embolic disease and artery thrombosis in a brain. The authors present 5 patients (2 females and 3 males) at the age of 36-54 with ischemic stroke and one 26-year-old women with thrombosis of central retinal vein caused by APS. In 4 cases in secondary prevention anticoagulant (acenocumarol) was used and in 2--antiplatelet drug (aspirin). In 2 cases congenital disturbances of coagulation were also discovered. We suggest that in ischemic stroke and visual disturbances of not-well-known origin it is useful to make examinations concerning APS, as well as congenital thrombophilias.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Cancer procoagulant in patients with adenocarcinomas.

Cancer procoagulant (CP) is a cysteine proteinase that may be produced by malignant and foetal tissue. The possible role of CP in the pathogenesis of cancer-related thrombosis has been suggested recently. The purpose of the study was to evaluate coagulation prothrombotic markers and their relation to CP concentration in the blood of patients with gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas (GIAC). The study group consisted of 45 patients with confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma (stomach, 18 patients; colon, 27 patients) and without evident metastatic disease. In 24 patients further observation showed metastases. The control group for CP was composed of 10 healthy subjects. Blood samples were drawn on the admission day, before any treatment. Among 45 patients with GIAC, deep venous thrombosis was observed in two (4.4%). In all patients the CP activity in the serum was found, and the mean CP activity shortened the coagulation time almost three times compared with the healthy control group. Also, the mean thrombin-antithrombin complex concentration was above the normal range. A significant elevation of the mean prothrombin fragment 1+2 plasma content in this group of patients was noticed. Despite these observations, CP remained within the normal range and did not correlate with thrombin-antithrombin complex or prothrombin fragment 1+2 plasma concentrations. A positive correlation was observed between serum CP and fibrinogen concentration, and a negative correlation between CP and free protein S plasma content (P = 0.04 and P = 0.025, respectively). A negative correlation between activated protein C resistance ratio and protein C activity in the plasma was confirmed. Protein C activity in the plasma showed a correlation with free protein S plasma content. Analysis of factors influencing the activated partial thromboplastin time revealed the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in seven persons from the study group (in three cases of IgG and in four cases of IgM class). Our data suggest that CP is a minor risk factor for deep venous thrombosis in GIAC patients. To confirm this, however, the number of patients and controls should be larger. After 3 years of observation, the follow-up in 10 living GIAC patients showed nobody with thromboembolic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2002

Plasma markers of hypercoagulability in patients with serious infections and risk of septic shock.

Hyperthrombinogenesis due to bacterial septicemia may aggravate the risk of irreversible septic shock. In 22 patients with septicemia complicating urinary or alimentary infections, daily assessment of hemostasis was performed throughout 1 week. Standard screening of hemostasis revealed significantly increased mean values of prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) concentration. However, platelet counts, activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT), thrombin times, ethanol gelation tests, and antithrombin activity remained within the normal range. By contrast, except for insignificant changes in protein C activity and activated factor VII content, specific markers of plasma hypercoagulability, that is, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, prothrombin activating factor F 1+2, activated factor XII (XIIa), and dimer D were all markedly increased. Pathologic levels of TAT and Xlla were found in 82% and 73% of all plasma samples, respectively. The augmentation of TAT correlated with prolongation of thrombin time and increases in F 1+2 levels. The increase in XIIa correlated with thrombocytopenia, prolongation of APTT, exhaustion of antithrombin, and accumulation of F 1+2 and FDP in the plasma. Moreover, a significant increase in XIIa, stronger positivity of the ethanol gelation test, a greater increase in FDP, and a more pronounced decrease in protein C activity were observed in 8 patients with fatal septic shock. This study suggests the usefulness of TAT and XIIa measurements in the early recognition of plasma hypercoagulation in serious infections.

Adult↗