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Biomedical subjects

A Bont

Publications and source records attributed to A Bont.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Area reduction in carotid stenosis of the internal carotid artery].

AIM: In patients with atherosclerotic extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA-) stenosis the diagnostic value of colour Doppler energy (CDE)-coded duplexsonography was compared to three other methods: continuous wave (cw) Doppler peak systolic frequency (pF), pulsed wave (pw) Doppler peak systolic velocity (pV), and intraarterial digital subtraction angiography. METHODS: In 58 patients who suffered from 60 moderate to severe ICA stenoses, B-mode sonography combined with CDE-coded duplex sonography was applied to measure the extent of the stenosis by determining the residual lumen width. Results were correlated to pF and pV and with various angiographic indices. RESULTS: The determined values of the degree of stenosis were correlated to the measurement of pV (r = 0.441, p < 0.01), but not to pF (r = 0.122, n.s.). The best correlation to angiography was obtained when the linear ICA diameter was compared to the distal common carotid artery (common carotid artery index) (r = 0.214, n.s.). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were comparable to the different frequency-based measurements, but the positive predictive value was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of the degree of stenosis based on CDE alone is not reliable enough to allow correct diagnosis of severe carotid artery stenosis. In combination with the peak frequency method is's diagnostic value could be improved. This requires verification in a separate study.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Acute hepatic porphyria and its neurological syndrome].

Certain of the hepatic porphyrias are classified as belonging to the acute hepatic prophyrias, namely acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), variegate porphyria (VP), hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) and ALA-dehydrase deficiency. The common feature of all acute hepatic porphyrias is the sudden onset of neurological symptoms. The whole syndrome consists of acute abdominal pain crises with autonomic dysfunction, global or focal central nervous system involvement and a predominantly motor polyneuropathy. Mono- or oligosymptomatic manifestations of acute porphyrias occur and are probably underestimated. The laboratory diagnosis of porphyria depends on the measurement of porphyrin precursors in urine, whereas the measurement of porphyrins in urine and feces is essential for evaluation of the porphyria type. Enzyme measurements are used to identify asymptomatic family members whose quantitative excretions of porphyrins are normal. At present the pathogenesis of neurological manifestations of acute porphyrias remains an unsettled question. The major hypotheses are discussed in this paper. The most important precipitating factor in acute hepatic porphyrias is drug ingestion. As many new drugs have not been in use for sufficiently long periods to assess their porphyrogenic activity, it is safer to avoid drugs in patients with porphyria. The most effective treatment of porphyria attacks is the administration of heme. Among the porphyria patients with epileptic seizures requiring antiepileptic medication, treatment with bromides should be taken into consideration.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1996

Transient radicular irritation after single subarachnoid injection of isobaric 2% lignocaine for spinal anaesthesia.

Several cases have been reported recently in which symptoms suggestive of transient radicular irritation occurred following the use of hyperbaric 5% lignocaine for spinal anaesthesia. We report on three patients in whom we observed similar symptoms attributable to this kind of radicular irritation following uneventful spinal anaesthesia using isobaric 2% lignocaine. All three patients underwent minor gynaecological procedures and developed burning pains in the buttocks within 24 h of surgery. The long-term outcome was not clear for all the patients, but in at least one the pain disappeared.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Acute vertigo].

Among all patients presenting with acute vertigo, majority will be suffering from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis or Meniere's disease. One of the most important central vestibular disorder that imitates labyrinthine dysfunction is vertebrobasilar artery disease. To differentiate this condition from peripheral vestibular lesions, particular attention should be directed to the type of nystagmus which is present. Additionally, duration of vertigo and further neurological symptoms and signs are crucial for correct localization and etiology of the underlying disorder.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Superficial cerebral hemosiderosis: a rare cause of ataxia or hypoacusis].

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSC) typically involves slowly progressive ataxia, hypoacusis and dementia, possibly with pyramidal signs and sphincter disturbances in combination with xanthochromic CSF with siderophages. However, there are also atypical oligosymptomatic forms. Before the era of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosis was only possible at autopsy. Nowadays a firm diagnosis can be made during life by demonstrating the typical marginal hypointense signal in the T2-weighted images in the cerebrum, brain stem, cerebellum and spinal cord. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography may demonstrate widespread meningeal enhancement, but this sign is not specific for SSC. We present an oligosymptomatic case of SSC with slowly progressive ataxia and slight hypoacusis. The etiology, gross pathological and histopathological findings, differential diagnosis and therapy are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Herpes-simplex encephalitis: case example, diagnosis and therapy].

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the most common nonepidemic cause of acute viral encephalitis. Since successful therapy depends on a high level of suspicion that HSE is present and on the early administration of antiviral treatment, knowledge of clinical and laboratory findings of HSE is of great importance. The clinical hallmark of HSE are signs of both focal and diffuse neurologic involvement. Our case report exemplifies the diagnostic problems that can occur in HSE-patients. The validity of the different ancillary examinations is discussed. Up to the present time brain biopsy has been the method of choice for a reliable early diagnosis of HSE. In the foreseeable future early diagnosis is likely to become available in a non-invasive way by the polymerase-chain reaction. Immediate antiviral therapy with acyclovir in HSE has proved to be useful in rigorously controlled trials. The clinical picture of the acyclovir-induced encephalopathy represents a disorder that can be probably avoided by means of a sufficient hydration.

Acyclovir↗