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Biomedical subjects

C A Stegeman

Publications and source records attributed to C A Stegeman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Pharmacokinetics of cefpirome in critically ill patients with renal failure treated by continuous veno-venous hemofiltration.

OBJECTIVE: To study the cefpirome pharmacokinetics of patients with sepsis and multiple organ failure treated with CVVH. DESIGN: Measurements of serum and ultrafiltrate (UF) concentrations and in vitro sensitivity testing of isolated micro-organisms. SETTING: University hospital-based, single ICU. PATIENTS: Six critically ill CVVH-dependent patients with sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in need of antimicrobial therapy. Age range: 60-75 years; APACHE II score for severity of illness on admission: 19-30. One patient survived. INTERVENTIONS: Cefpirome i.v. was started at 2 g in 30 min, then continued 1 g i.v.b.i.d. MEASUREMENTS: The UF rate was 27 +/- 7 ml/min on day 1 and 34 +/- 2 ml/min on day 2. Serum and ultrafiltrate samples were measured by a validated high performance liquid chromatography assay. Volume of distribution: 23 x 5(SD +/- 4 x 6) l. Total cefpirome clearance was 32 +/- 6 x 3 ml/min; cefpirome CVVH clearance (ClCVVH): 17 +/- 4.2 ml/min; mean serum half-life (t1/2): 8.8 +/- 2.3 h; mass transfer on day 1: 660 +/- 123 mg/12 h (33 +/- 6% of administered dose) and day 2: 642 +/- 66 mg/12 h (64 +/- 7%). Estimated sieving coefficient (ClCVVH/UF rate): 64 +/- 11%. In vitro sensitivity of isolated microbes was excellent except for two non-sensitive enterococci and Candida spp. CONCLUSIONS: The sieving coefficient (64%) indicates that a substantial fraction of the drug is not filtered; clearance by pathways other than CVVH mounted to 50% of the total clearance and increased on day 2, indicating that the dosing schedule used is appropriate for this setting. Cefpirome appeared to be safe in these patients and effective for most of the nosocomial microbial isolates. During more than 90% of the time, serum levels were maintained above killing concentrations for susceptible micro-organisms.

APACHE↗

Differential B- and T-cell activation in Wegener's granulomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune mechanisms are postulated to play a role in the development and progression of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), a form of systemic, idiopathic necrotizing vasculitis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relation between lymphocyte activation and disease activity in patients with WG. METHODS: B- and T-lymphocyte activation was studied by cytometric assessment of the expression of the activation markers CD38 on B cells and CD25 and HLA-DR on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets, respectively. Activation at the cellular level was related to serum levels of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and soluble IL-2 receptor, which can be regarded as soluble activation markers of B and T cells. RESULTS: Percentages of CD38(bright) activated B cells were higher in patients with active WG than in patients experiencing disease remission (P <.05) or in healthy control subjects (P <.05). Percentages of activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were higher in patients with active WG (CD4 subset, P <.0001; CD8 subset, P <.005) than in healthy individuals. An increased percentage of activated T cells of both subsets was also seen in patients whose condition was in remission, as compared with healthy control subjects (CD4 subset, P <.0005; CD8 subset, P <. 001). Lymphocyte activation at the cellular level did not correlate with plasma levels of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies or soluble IL-2 receptor. CONCLUSION: In WG, B-cell activation is related to active disease, whereas T-cell activation persists during remission of the disease, which points to an intrinsic disordered immune system in this disease.

Adult↗

Hemolytic uremic syndrome due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteremia after a dog bite.

The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is known to have several causes, including infectious diseases, drugs, pregnancy, and malignant disease. We report a patient who developed acute renal failure attributable to HUS in the course of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteremia. Acute tubular necrosis as well as HUS should be considered as a cause of acute renal failure in the setting of Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteremia.

Animals↗

Assessing dialysis adequacy and dietary intake in the individual hemodialysis patient.

BACKGROUND: Urea kinetic modeling (UKM) and food records are widely used to assess the dialysis adequacy. Clinicians use these methods in individual patients to decide whether the dialysis prescription should be adjusted. We determined the variation in UKM parameters and dietary intake within individual patients in order to determine the required number of UKM measurements, and the number of food recording days to assess dialysis adequacy and dietary intake reliably. METHODS: Session-to-session variation in urea reduction ratio (URR), Kt/V, urea distribution volume (UDVDDQ), and protein catabolic rate (PCR) was determined during three mid-week dialysis sessions in 50 stable hemodialysis patients on three-times per week hemodialysis with a Kt/V of 0.98 +/- 0.13 (mean +/- SD). The dialysis prescription was kept constant. The day-to-day variation in dietary protein intake (DPI) and dietary energy intake (DEI) was determined from seven-day food records. The 90th percentile value of the coefficient of variation (CV) was used to determine the number of measurements. RESULTS: The variation in URR [CV, 2.4% (0.3 to 9.5) median (range)] and in Kt/V [CV, 4.0% (0.6 to 11.6)] was small in the majority of the patients. The variation in UDVDDQ [CV, 4.9% (0.3 to 25.7)] and PCR [CV, 9.3% (0.8 to 28.5)] was considerably larger. The variation in DPI [CV, 17.3% (8.4 to 64.0)] was larger than that in DEI [CV, 12.9% (5.0 to 33.0)]. To assess the URR within +/- 10% of its true value, the average of two measurements was required. Reliable assessment of Kt/V required three measurements. URR and Kt/V could be assessed reliably from a single measurement in 86 and 66% of the patients, but we were not able to distinguish these patients beforehand. Reliable estimation of UDVDDQ required six measurements. The required number of measurements for PCR, DPI, and DEI was determined using a precision of +/- 20%. To assess PCR reliably, three measurements were needed. Estimation of DPI and DEI required seven and five food recording days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The session-to-session variation in URR and Kt/V is small in stable hemodialysis patients. Nevertheless, the averaged value of two to three measurements is required to assess the dose of dialysis reliably. Assessment of dietary intake requires at least three PCR measurements or food records for at least one week. Basing clinical decisions on a single dialysis adequacy assessment is an unjustified practice that should be abandoned.

Adult↗

Relating protein intake to nutritional status in haemodialysis patients: how to normalize the protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (PNA)?

BACKGROUND: The protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (PNA) is assumed to be a reliable estimate of dietary protein intake in haemodialysis patients. Protein requirements are related to body size. In order to standardize PNA to individual differences in body size, PNA is normalized to various terms related to the patient's body weight. It is not clear which is the most appropriate method to normalize PNA. METHODS: We calculated five commonly used variants of normalized PNA and related them to indices of nutritional status in 57 stable chronic haemodialysis patients, 57 +/- 15 (mean +/- SD) years of age. PNA, determined by direct dialysate quantification, was normalized to actual post-dialysis dry body weight (DBW), normal body weight (DBWnormal), lean body mass (LBM), normal lean body mass (LBMnormal), and 'normalized' body weight (N). Nutritional status was assessed using an index of nutrition composed of anthropometry derived parameters and plasma albumin concentration. RESULTS: PNA(DBW) (0.85 +/- 0.14 g/kg/d) tended to be higher than PNA(DBWnormal) (0.81 +/- 0.14 g/kg/d). PNA(LBM) (1.17 +/- 0.19 g/kg/d) did not differ from PNA(LBMnormal) (1.19 +/- 0.21 g/kg/d). PNA(N) (1.06 +/- 0.14 g/kg/d) was significantly higher than PNA(DBW) and PNA(DBWnormal), but lower than PNA(LBM) and PNA(LBMnormal). Actual PNA (61 +/- 13 g/d) correlated significantly with DBW (r=0.52) and LBM (r=0.63) indicating that large patients eat more protein. Interestingly, actual PNA correlated with plasma albumin (r=0.33) and with the overall index of nutrition (r=0.27) as well. PNA(DBW) correlated negatively with relative DBW (r=-0.32), expressed as a percentage of normal values, indicating that PNA(DBW) is relatively high in underweight patients. In contrast, PNA(DBWnormal) correlated positively with all nutritional parameters as well as with the overall index of nutrition (r=0.33). PNAN and PNA(LBM) did not correlate with the nutritional status, but PNA(LBMnormal) correlated positively with relative DBW (r=0.50) and with overall nutritional status (r=0.34). PNA(DBWnormal) and PNA(LBMnormal) in well-nourished patients showed overlap with the values in patients with evident malnutrition, despite the positive correlation of the normalized PNA values with nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS: Normalizing PNA by DBWnormal and LBMnormal appeared to be the most appropriate method to standardize protein intake in haemodialysis patients. Since actual PNA is the purest estimate of protein intake that correlated with nutritional status, we recommend to evaluate actual PNA as well in studies that relate protein intake to patient outcome.

Adult↗

Valproic acid toxicokinetics: serial hemodialysis and hemoperfusion.

The toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties of a drug determine whether hemodialysis and/or hemoperfusion are indicated in acute intoxications. Valproic acid is considered unremovable by hemodialysis because of the high protein binding of 90%-95%. A 27-year-old male with a history of seizures was admitted to the emergency room because of coma, hypernatriemia, and respiratory failure caused by an intoxication with a large dose of valproic acid. At admission, the plasma valproic acid level was 1414 mg/L (9.9 mmol/L) (therapeutic range: 50-100 mg/L (350-700 micromol/ L). The anion gap was 26 mmol/L (normal <12-14 mmol/L) and corresponded fairly well with this valproic acid level. Because of the potential toxicity of this high valproic acid level serial hemodialysis and hemoperfusion was performed. The first session was done with a charcoal column and the second session with a resin column. The patient recovered during the course of treatment. The valproic acid plasma clearances during treatment were: 80 mL/min (hemodialysis); 40 mL/min (hemoperfusion by charcoal) and 80 mL/min (hemoperfusion by resin, only in the first hour). The protein binding of valproic acid in plasma was only 32% at the start and was 54% at the end of the two sessions. In this specific case of a severe valproic acid intoxication, saturated protein binding resulted in an increased fraction of unbound valproic acid. This made hemodialysis an effective treatment, while hemoperfusion was relatively less effective because of saturation of the column. In conclusion, the toxicokinetics of valproate are quite different from the pharmacokinetics at therapeutic levels. The anion gap and protein binding are important parameters in toxicokinetics.

Adult↗

In vitro neutrophil activation by antibodies to proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase from patients with crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Previously, it was found that patients with necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) directed against proteinase 3 (anti-PR3) had a faster deterioration of renal function and more active renal vasculitic lesions than patients with ANCA directed against myeloperoxidase (anti-MPO). Because ANCA-mediated neutrophil activation is thought to play an important role in the pathophysiology of this form of glomerulonephritis, this study was conducted to determine whether anti-PR3 are capable of inducing a more pronounced activation of neutrophils in vitro than anti-MPO. To test this hypothesis, the release of reactive oxygen radicals, as assessed by ferricytochrome c reduction and by dihydrorhodamine 123 oxidation, and the release of granule constituents from healthy donor neutrophils upon stimulation with IgG fractions were measured from 17 anti-PR3- and 14 anti-MPO-positive patients with active NCGN. Patients with anti-PR3 had a higher renal activity index (P < 0.05) compared with patients with anti-MPO. IgG fractions from anti-PR3-positive patients induced more oxygen radical release from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-primed neutrophils compared with IgG fractions from anti-MPO-positive patients, as assessed by ferricytochrome c reduction (P < 0.05) and dihydrorhodamine 123 oxidation (P < 0.01). In addition, IgG fractions from anti-PR3-positive patients generated more neutrophil degranulation of beta-glucuronidase (P < 0.01) than IgG fractions from anti-MPO-positive patients. In conclusion, IgG fractions from anti-PR3-positive patients with NCGN are more potent activators of the respiratory burst and degranulation in vitro than IgG fractions from anti-MPO-positive patients. These observations may be relevant in view of the clinical differences between anti-PR3- and anti-MPO-positive patients with NCGN.

Adult↗

Are circulating neutrophils intravascularly activated in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides?

Vascular injury in vasculitis may be due to activation of circulating neutrophils resulting in their increased adhesiveness to locally activated endothelium (Shwartzman phenomenon). Previously, we demonstrated up-regulation of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in biopsies from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. In the present study, we investigated the expression of adhesion molecules (CD11b, ICAM-1, VLA-4, L-selectin) and activation markers (CD66b, CD64, CD63) on circulating neutrophils from patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in comparison with their expression on cells from healthy volunteers and patients with sepsis. We related these findings to parameters of disease activity. Surface marker expression was determined by using a non-activating whole blood flow cytometric assay. The expression of activation markers, but not the expression of adhesion molecules, was increased on neutrophils from patients with active vasculitis. The expression of CD63 and CD66b on neutrophils correlated with disease activity as determined by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS). In contrast to patients with active vasculitis, patients with sepsis showed up-regulation of all markers, including adhesion molecules, suggesting that circulating neutrophils are fully activated in sepsis. We conclude that in ANCA-associated vasculitis, circulating neutrophils are not fully activated, since they do not express increased levels of adhesion molecules as sepsis or in the Shwartzman reaction. These findings are compatible with the concept that in vivo vascular damage in ANCA-associated vasculitides does not occur due to a Shwarzman-like reaction but only after ANCA-induced neutrophil activation at the endothelial cell surface.

Adult↗

Silicon exposure and vasculitis.

A combination of risk factors are involved in susceptibility to a primary or secondary form of vasculitis. Most forms of vasculitis are probably genetically based but environmentally triggered. This review discusses currently available evidence for a pathophysiologic role of one possible environmental trigger, silica. Since 1960, several patients with pulmonary silicosis have been described that developed pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis, i.e., with either completely negative immunofluorescence findings or nonspecific granular IgM or C3 deposits along the capillary wall. Recently it was reported that these patients have antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) that are in most cases directed to myeloperoxidase. Further, patients with pulmonary silicosis may develop microscopic polyangiitis, the syndrome of lung hemorrhage and nephritis, or Wegener's granulomatosis. To further substantiate the relation between silicon exposure and renal failure or vasculitis, several case-control studies have been reported. Exposure to silicon-containing compounds was found to be related to chronic renal failure (odds ratio, 1.7:2.5) or vasculitis (odds ratio, 6.5:14.0). The mechanisms by which silica may induce ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis or vasculitis are not well known. Silicon-containing compounds have a pronounced adjuvant effect on immune responses, and silica particles are potent stimulators of lymphocytes and monocytes or macrophages. Further, silica may induce apoptosis of monocytes or macrophages and possibly neutrophils. In conclusion, at present there is ample evidence that occupational exposure to silicon-containing compounds is related to the development of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis and vasculitis, and silica is one of the first well-documented environmental triggers in these diseases.

Adult↗

Determinants of renal outcome in anti-myeloperoxidase-associated necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Patients with anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO)-associated necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN) may develop chronic renal failure (CRF) leading to end-stage renal disease despite an initially favorable response to treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features at the time of presentation and during follow-up for the development of CRF in 21 consecutive anti-MPO-positive patients with NCGN. Renal function did not recover in two of five patients who were dialysis-dependent at presentation. The remaining 19 patients all went into remission and were off dialysis at 3 mo after diagnosis. At long-term follow-up, nine of these patients had stable renal function and did not relapse (group A), five patients developed CRF without signs of relapse (group B), and five patients relapsed (group C). At diagnosis, serum creatinine, C-reactive protein, and anti-MPO levels did not differ between groups A, B, and C. Microscopic erythrocyturia resolved in all patients within 4 mo of treatment. BP at presentation and during follow-up did not differ between groups A, B, and C. Proteinuria at diagnosis and in the first 6 mo after diagnosis was higher in patients who developed CRF than in patients with a stable renal function. Anti-MPO levels at 3 mo had decreased compared with anti-MPO levels at diagnosis in groups A and C, whereas anti-MPO levels did not fall significantly in patients who developed CRF. The predictive value of a renal biopsy at diagnosis on long-term renal outcome was limited. In conclusion, a higher degree of proteinuria at diagnosis and during follow-up as well as persistently elevated anti-MPO levels after induction of remission are associated with the development of CRF and are predictive of poor renal outcome in anti-MPO-associated NCGN.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Risk factors for long-term renal survival after renal transplantation: a role for angiotensin-converting enzyme (insertion/deletion) polymorphism?

Chronic progressive renal function loss is a main cause of long-term graft loss after initially successful renal transplantation. Transplanted kidneys share some risk factors for renal function loss, such as hypertension or proteinuria, with diseased native kidneys. Recently, it has been shown that renal function loss is influenced by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (insertion/deletion [I/D]) genotype in renal disease in diseased native kidneys. This study examines whether donor or recipient ACE (I/D) genotype is a risk factor for graft loss after renal transplantation. To avoid bias by acute events, graft survival was studied, with patients dying with a functioning graft censored, starting at 12 mo after transplantation in a cohort of 367 patients transplanted between 1987 and 1994 with at least 2 yr of follow-up. Mean follow-up was 58 mo. ACE (I/D) genotype was determined by PCR on stored donor and recipient lymphocytes. Neither donor nor recipient ACE (I/D) genotype was associated with graft survival. However, Cox proportional hazards analysis identified recipient, but not donor, ACE (I/D) genotype D-allele to be independently associated with a shorter time to graft loss in subgroups of patients at high risk for graft loss defined by a creatinine clearance <50 ml/min (n = 108, P = 0.017) or proteinuria > or =0.5 g/24 h at 12 mo (n = 97, P = 0.0051) after transplantation. In conclusion, recipient ACE (I/D) genotype was associated with time to graft loss in a specific high-risk subgroup of the study population. This suggests that the effect of ACE (I/D) genotype on graft survival only becomes apparent when other risk factors are simultaneously present.

Adult↗

Pharmacokinetics of piperacillin and tazobactam in critically ill patients with renal failure, treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH).

OBJECTIVE: Kinetics of piperacillin (pip), in combination with the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam (taz) have been studied in volunteers and patients in relatively stable conditions. The fixed drug preparation appeared to have ideal pharmacokinetic properties if renal function was normal or slightly impaired, but no data are available for critically ill patients in anuric renal failure. This study should provide such data. PATIENTS, DESIGN: We studied the pharmacokinetics in nine patients with multiple organ failure, including anuric renal failure, treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). Patients received a standard schedule of 4 g pip and 0.5 g taz administered over 0.5 h intravenously, 8 hourly. During 2 consecutive days, the serum levels of both compounds were determined, and total clearance (CIT) was calculated from serum concentrations. RESULTS: All nine patients completed day 1, and 8 completed day 2 of the protocol. On day 1, single-dose kinetics showed considerable spread, but pip/taz serum levels followed the pattern as expected, with a pip/taz concentration ratio of 20:1. On day 2, however, taz serum concentrations showed a relative increase as compared to pip, resulting in a change in the serum pip/taz concentration ratio to 10:1 on day 2. The CIT of pip was 2.52 +/- 1.38 l/h (t 1/2: 5.9 +/- 2.9 h), and CIT of taz 4.44 +/- 2.28 l/h (t 1/2: 8.1 +/- 3.7 h). The CIT and t 1/2 of pip and taz correlated highly significantly with clearance by CVVH. Despite a higher CIT, taz has a longer half-life, because of a higher volume of distribution. CONCLUSION: In CVVH dependent patients, pip/taz fixed drug preparations can be used initially, but the pip dosage should be increased relative to that of taz (or interval-adjusted) to prevent cumulation of taz, as compared to the active antimicrobial agent pip.

Adult↗