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Biomedical subjects

A B Cosimi

Publications and source records attributed to A B Cosimi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Transplantation.

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Adult↗

Controlled clinical trial of prophylactic human-leukocyte interferon in renal transplantation. Effects on cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus infections.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of interferon prophylaxis against viral infections was conducted in renal-transplant recipients receiving standard immunosuprressive therapy with or without antithymocyte globulin. Interferon was administered for six weeks, beginning on the day of transplantation. Cytomegalovirus excretion began earlier and viremia was more frequent in placebo-treated than in interferon-treated patients. Cytomegalovirus viremia correlated with clinical syndromes was more frequent in recipients of antithymocyte globulin. In contrast, neither interferon nor antithymocyte globulin altered excretion of herpes simplex virus. Reversible leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in seven interferon recipients. Patient and graft survival were comparable in interferon and placebo groups. There preliminary results suggest that a six-week course of prophylactic interferon delays shedding of cytomegalovirus and decreases the incidence of viremia after transplantation. In contrast, antithymocyte globulin appears to increase the severity of infection from cytomegalovirus among these patients.

Adult↗

Experience with dacron graft arteriovenous fistulas for dialysis access.

The technique, hemodynamics, and results of a new, more successful Filamentous Velour Dacron graft dialysis fistula between brachial artery and axillary vein are described. Hemodialysis has been successfully instituted in 15/16 patients. One graft was removed for infection and one for overlying skin erosion. There have been five episodes of thrombosis, all with successful restoration to function. After a median nine-month follow-up, nine of 16 grafts have been complication-free and 13 of 16 remain functional or functioned until the time of death. Hemodynamic studies revealed that with high flows (even 1900 cc/min), there was no evidence of cardiac failure or peripheral "steal". One patient with low flow (less than 300 cc/min) had transient distal ischemic symptoms and another with similar flow later developed arterial occlusion distal to the fistula after suffering a myocardial infarction. With increased attention to technical details observed in this early experience, it appears that greater than 80% of these grafts should provide long-term dialysis access for this difficult patient population.

Adult↗

IGA nephropathy in HLA-identical siblings.

This report describes a patient with end stage IgA nephropathy who received a renal transplant from his asymptomatic HLA-identical brother. A biopsy of the donor kidney performed at the time of transplantation showed evidence of widespread electron-dense mesangial deposits. On immunofluorescence these deposits stained with IgA, documenting clinically occult IgA nephropathy in this otherwise healthy donor. These findings are of particular interest in view of the association of IgA nephropathy with the HLA-Bw35 alloantigen, and raise the possibility that asymptomatic disease, already present in a donor kidney, may have accounted for what has previously been called "recurrence" of this disease in renal allograft recipients.

Adult↗

Randomized trial of adjuvant therapy for "high risk" primary malignant melanoma.

Retrospective pathological classification of 213 patients with malignant melanoma identified a group at high risk of recurrence (25% developed recurrence in 12 months, 50% by 5 years) after resection for apparent cure. Using these criteria, 70 patients were identified after resection of all apparent disease as being at high risk for recurrent melanoma. They were randomly assigned to one of the three adjuvant treatment arms: chemotherapy with dimethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (DTIC), immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), or combined chemoimmunotherapy. Six of 20 patients receiving DTIC developed recurrence (30%) and four died (20%). Five of 28 patients receiving BCG developed recurrence (18%) and two died (7.5%). There have been no recurrences or deaths in 22 patients receiving combined chemoimmunotherapy. In the prevention of early recurrence, the combined therapy arm was significantly superior to both the immunotherapy arm (p less than 0.05) and the chemotherapy arm (p less than 0.01). In terms of survival, combined therapy also was superior to chemotherapy alone (p less than 0.05).

Adult↗

Differentiation between renal allograft rejection and acute tubular necrosis by renal scan.

The usefulness of the renal scan in diagnosing technical complications in the transplant patient is well established. However, the ability of the renal scan to differentiate between acute rejection and acute tubular necrosis has remained uncertain. We have evaluated the effectiveness of the 99mTc DTPA computer-derived time-activity curve of renal cortical perfusion, as well as data obtained from scintillation camera images, in making such diagnoses. Fifteen patients with a clinical diagnosis of either acute rejection or acute tubular necrosis, or both, were studied retrospectively. Technetium scan diagnoses did not agree with the clinical assessment in nine of the patients. Thus selection of a course of treatment should not be based on data obtained from the scan alone.

Acute Kidney Injury↗