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Biomedical subjects

A M Ward

Publications and source records attributed to A M Ward.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

A diagnostic triad for portal cirrhosis.

Abnormal serum aminotransferase activities with dominance of aspartate aminotransferase over alanine aminotransferase activity, and elevated serum adenosine deaminase activity and immunoglobulin. A concentration, were commonly encountered among patients with portal cirrhosis. The full triad was present in 31 of 49 cases (63%). As isolated abnormalities, these features were not uncommon in patients with other diseases of the liver and biliary tree, but the full triad was found only in 11 of 163 such cases (6.8%). The presence of this triad in a patient with unexplained hepatomegaly is indicative of portal cirrhosis.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of vinyl chloride disease.

Vinyl chloride (VC) disease is a multisystem disorder incorporating Raynaud's phenomenon, acro-osteolysis, thrombocytopenia, portal fibrosis, and hepatic and pulmonary dysfunction. Immunological and immunochemical investigations showed the presence of circulating immune complexes in 19 out of 28 patients with the disease and in a further two out of 30 workers exposed to VC. The immunological data were reviewed in relation to the clinical picture of the disease and to the available evidence on the metabolism of VC. The results suggest that VC disease is an immune complex disorder and that the immune response is initiated by the adsorption of VC or a metabolite on to tissue or plasma protein.

Autoantibodies↗

Changes in immune status in patients undergoing splenectomy for the staging of Hodgkin's disease.

The immune status of 17 patients with Hodgkin's disease was studied before and after splenectomy (undertaken in staging laparotomy) and during chemotherapy or after radiotherapy. The findings were compared with those in 19 patients not selected for splenectomy. Serum IgA and IgM levels became significantly lower after treatment in the splenectomy group. Cell-mediated immunity was depressed mainly in patients receiving quadruple cytotoxic chemotherapy. Neutrophil function was normal or enhanced and was unchanged after splenectomy and treatment despite changes in neutrophil counts. Three patients who underwent splenectomy suffered fatal septicaemia. These results suggest that humoral immunity is depressed by treatment in patients who have undergon splenectomy, and the benefits of early accurate staging must be weighed against the likelihood of infective complications.

Adult↗

Amniotic fluid alpha1fetoprotein in the diagnosis of neural tract malformations.

Amniotic fluid alpha1fetoprotein levels were determined in 400 pregnancies. The normal range for alpha1fetoprotein in amniotic fluid was defined by 350 samples from normal pregnancies. Elevated levels of alpha1fetoprotein were detected in 17 out of 18 pregnancies which gave rise to infants with neural tract abnormalities. The significance of this test in the antenatal diagnosis of neural tract abnormalities is discussed together with the possible reasons for "false negative" and "false positive" results. There were no complications in an individual series of 105 consecutive amniocenteses.

Alpha-Globulins↗

The kidney and intravascular coagulation in myelomatosis.

In 15 out of 35 patients with myelomatosis histological examination showed intravascular fibrin within the glomeruli, and this was associated with proliferation of the mesangial complex in 12. The presence of intravascular fibrin and mesangial proliferation was not associated with any specific immunoglobulin abnormality or with the presence or absence of Bence Jones proteinuria. In addition to fibrin being present within glomerular capillaries it was also shown in intertubular capillaries in three cases of myelomatosis with acute tubular necrosis. It is suggested that intraglomerular coagulation and fibrin deposition may contribute to the genesis of renal failure in myelomatosis.

Acute Kidney Injury↗