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Biomedical subjects

A R Hull

Publications and source records attributed to A R Hull.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Confirmation of the utility of fine needle aspiration biopsy of the renal allograft.

Allograft immunobiologic theory would predict that analysis of immunocompetent cells infiltrating the renal transplant would be most instructive. Recently a new aspiration biopsy technique has been developed to permit such analysis in patients which can be safely and repetitively performed. The clinical utility of such a technique has been tested utilizing a randomized prospective trial in which an aspirate was obtained every other day from the third post-operative day until discharge. Analysis included examination of adequacy criteria and the capacity of pathologic diagnosis to corroborate clinical diagnosis from coded specimens. Ninety-six aspirates from 21 consenting transplant recipients were obtained and analyzed. In 94 instances a clinical diagnosis could be made; 80 aspirates fulfilled adequacy criteria. We found the technique to be highly sensitive (greater than or equal to 90%) and highly specific (greater than or equal to 90%) for the clinical diagnoses of acute allograft rejection, post-operative acute renal failure, cyclosporine toxicity, and normal function. We conclude that the fine needle aspiration technique is an important adjunct to analysis of clinical renal transplantation and offers a major advantage to the clinical scholar in understanding transplant biology.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

The quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease.

We assessed the quality of life of 859 patients undergoing dialysis or transplantation, with the goal of ascertaining whether objective and subjective measures of the quality of life were influenced by case mix or treatment. We found that 79.1 per cent of the transplant recipients were able to function at nearly normal levels, as compared with between 47.5 and 59.1 per cent of the patients treated with dialysis (depending on the type). Nearly 75 per cent of the transplant recipients were able to work, as compared with between 24.7 and 59.3 per cent of the patients undergoing dialysis. On three subjective measures (life satisfaction, well-being, and psychological affect) transplant recipients had a higher quality of life than patients on dialysis. Among the patients treated with dialysis, those undergoing treatment at home had the highest quality of life. All quality-of-life differences were found to persist even after the patient case mix had been controlled statistically. Finally, the quality of life of transplant recipients compared well with that of the general population, but despite favorable subjective assessments, patients undergoing dialysis did not work or function at the same level as people in the general population.

Adult↗

Disturbances in mineral metabolism after successful renal transplantation.

Abnormalities of mineral metabolism remain a clinical problem after successful renal transplantation. These disturbances may be the result of derangements in divalent ion, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and/or vitamin D metabolism. We therefore measured serum Ca, phosphorus, PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels and fractional intestinal Ca absorption (alpha) in 6 patients before and after successful transplantation (early, less than or equal to 6 months). 3 were reexamined later (late, greater than or equal to 24 months after transplantation). The patients exhibited decreased serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D and alpha before the renal transplantation. In the early stages, renal transplantation reduced serum phosphorus from 5.55 +/- (SD)1.96 to 2.96 +/- 0.95 mg/dl (p less than 0.02); this was accompanied by a rise in serum 1,25(OH)2D from 8.7 +/- 1.5 to 26.3 +/- 8.4 pg/ml (p less than 0.005). The calcemic response to PTH infusion became normal, since the increment in serum Ca rose from 0.45 +/- 0.21 mg/dl before transplantation to 1.03 +/- 0.18 mg/dl early after transplantation. Although the mean value for alpha increase significantly from 0.263 +/- 0.048 to 0.402 +/- 0.175 (p less than 0.05), alpha was subnormal in 3 patients (alpha less than 0.37). Urinary Ca was high in 3 patients, and it exceeded absorbed Ca (from intestines) in 4 patients (indicative of negative Ca balance). Serum PTH fell significantly but remained above normal. It was hoped that late after transplantation, when patients were maintained on smaller doses of oral glucocorticoids, these abnormalities would be ameliorated. However, hypercalciuria was found in 2 of 3 patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Renal transplantation in diabetic patients: the end result does justify the means.

There were 49 insulin-dependent diabetics who received 52 renal allografts: 13 from living related and 39 from cadaveric donors. The mean age and time on dialysis were similar for both recipient groups. Patient survival at 1 and 2 years was 100 per cent for living related donor recipients, and 76 and 56 per cent at 1 and 2 years for cadaveric recipients. Renal allograft survival was 92 and 85 per cent at 1 and 2 years for living related donor recipients. Cadaveric allograft survival was 49 and 41 per cent at 1 and 2 years. The cumulative mortality rate was 39 per cent and the over-all surgical morbidity was low. Renal transplantation in diabetic patients is worthwhile from the standpoint of patient and allograft survival.

Adult↗

Urologic complications in 505 renal transplants with early catheter removal.

Of 505 consecutive renal transplants urologic complications occurred in 4.1 per cent of cadaver, 2.6 per cent of living related, 1.9 per cent of diabetic and 3.8 per cent of nondiabetic allografts. Over-all, patient survival and graft salvage rates were 94 and 83 per cent, respectively. Principles of prevention, diagnosis and management of these complications are discussed. In contrast to prior standards the bladder catheter was removed within 36 hours postoperatively in nearly all cases without any increase in morbidity.

Graft Survival↗

Disease due to cytomegalovirus and its long-term consequences in renal transplant recipients. Correlation of allograft survival with disease due to cytomegalovirus and rubella antibody level.

We prospectively studied 52 consecutive renal allograft recipients who retained their grafts at least three months. The transplant recipients were observed for five years or longer. Disease due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) occurred in nine (17.3%). Manifestations of disease due to CMV that were significantly more common than in chronologically matched controls in comparable periods after transplantation included fever, leukopenia, hepatic function abnormalities, pneumonia, and renal dysfunction. Life-table analyses suggested a trend of decreased allograft survival with disease due to CMV, but the difference between controls was not statistically significant. A significant inverse correlation were noted between the level of hemagglutination inhibition antibody to rubella virus reached after transplantation and allograft survival. This correlation remained statistically significant even when patients with disease due to CMV were excluded from the analysis.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Surgical correction of posttransplant renovascular hypertension.

The incidence of renovascular hypertension in the transplanted kidney is reported to range between 5 and 15%. A review of 391 consecutive renal transplant patients revealed 16 patients (5.4%) with hypertension secondary to partial obstruction of renal arterial blood flow. The clinical course of this group of patients was marked by early normotension followed by progressive diastolic pressure elevation, with improving renal function and loss of accumulated excess volume. Five etiologic factors are responsible for impaired arterial flow in this group of patients. Indication for operation was based on hypertension and/or impaired renal function. Patch angioplasty using saphenous veins was the procedure of choice in most instances. The average blood pressure was 185 mmHg; systolic/125 mmHg; diastolic preoperatively, compared with 140 mmHg; systolic/90 mmHg: diastolic postoperatively. Twelve of 16 patients had good results, and improvement in renal function was observed in eight patients. Serum renin levels did not correlate well with the operative findings. The use of meticulous technique, combined with maximum use of autogenous tissue, is emphasized.

Blood Pressure↗

Acute nickel intoxication by dialysis.

Nickel intoxication was observed in a group of 23 dialyzed patients when leaching of nickel-plated stainless steel water heater tank contaminated the dialysate. Symptoms occurred during and after dialysis at plasma nickel concentrations of approximately 3 mg/L. Symptoms included nausea (37 of 37), vomiting (31 of 37), weakness (29 of 37), headache (22 of 37), and palpitation (two of 37). Remission of symptoms occurred spontaneously, generally 3 to 13 hours after cessation of dialysis. The evidence indicated that the nickel became bound in the plasma after crossing the membrane, resulting in a higher concentration in the plasma than in the dialysate and preventing its removal by dialysis.

Heating↗

Etiology of liver disease in renal-transplant patients.

The etiology of 72 episodes of liver disease that developed in 62 of 162 renal-transplant recipients was evaluated. Infection with hepatitis B virus was a minor problem, and none of our patients had evidence of infection with hepatitis A. Cytomegalovirus infection was ubiquitous in the population and probably accounted for many episodes of acute liver disease. This agent's role in causing chronic hepatitis is less secure. Infections with other viruses including Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, and the herpes viruses were only rarely associated with hepatic disease. Azathioprine was responsible for some episodes of acute cholestasis but could not be incriminated as a direct cause of chronic disease. A cause could be identified for the majority of episodes of acute hepatic dysfunction, but the cause of most of the chronic hepatitis remains undetermined. It is likely that infection with non-A, non-B hepatitis virus accounts for much of this serious, often fatal, complication of renal transplantation.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Rubella antibodies and adverse events late after renal transplantation.

Rubella antibody titers were determined pretransplant and then serially posttransplantation in 52 consecutive patients whose renal allografts survived at least three months. Group A patients (18) had antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:128 in the posttransplant period. Group B (24) had intermediate antibody titers that never rose higher than 1:64. Group C (10) consistently had antibody titers less than 1:8. Group A did not differ from groups B and C with respect to age, race, sex, type of transplant, underlying renal disease, or maximum complement fixation antibody titers posttransplant to cytomegalovirus or herpes simplex virus, type 1. Group A did differ from groups B and C in its frequency of hepatitis, chronic liver disease, episodes of late rejection (greater than or equal to 21 days after transplant), transplant nephrectomy required for rejection, infections whose defense involves intact cell-mediated immunity, and the number of late rejection episodes per patient. Mechanisms underlying these associations are not known but apparently are not related to HLA phenotype.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula. An unusual complication of indwelling pericardial catheter and intrapericardial steroid instillation for the treatment of uremic pericarditis.

The drainage and instillation of poorly absorbable corticosteroids has recently been suggested as an laternative to the present modes of therapy for uremic pericarditis. One patient who underwent such a therapeutic approach subsequently had a left internal mammary artery to right internal mammary vein arteriovenous fistula develop. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the development of arteriovenous fistula after either pericardiocentesis or intrapericardial instillation of steroids.

Adult↗

Association between acute pancreatitis and malignant hypertension with renal failure.

Of 42 patients with malignant hypertension seen in five years in our institutions, seven (17%) had acute pancreatitis. All patients with pancreatitis were black, all had renal failure, and six received dialysis. No particular drug was received by all patients, gallstones were excluded in the majority, and alcoholism was not a factor. Clinical acute pancreatitis persisted for several weeks and five patients died, three of them with pancreatic pseudocyts. Among 259 patients on long-term hemodialysis programs in the same time period, only two additional cases of acute pancreatitis were observed and related to chronic alcoholism. Acute pancreatitis is a frequent complication of malignant hypertension, and when it happens it is severe and commonly fatal.

Acute Disease↗