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Biomedical subjects

C Grant

Publications and source records attributed to C Grant.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

The effects of therapy for mild hypertension on circulating level of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

Circulating dopamine beta-hydroxylase levels and norepinephrine excretion were measured in 76 mild hypertensive patients. Levels of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, norepinephrine excretion and blood pressure were obtained both before and after the initiation of therapy. Data from 20 patients exhibiting a diastolic blood pressure decrease of 10 mmHg or more were compared with data from 10 normotensive individuals. Changes in dopamine beta-hydroxylase levels were similar for the two groups and were not related to blood pressure changes. Intra-individual variation was small in both groups. There were no detectable functional relationships between diastolic pressure and urinary norepinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine beta-hydroxylase or dopamine beta-hydroxylase and diastolic pressure. It dose not seem likely that dopamine beta-hydroxylase levels can replace urinary catecholamines as a commonly used index of sympathetic activity.

Blood Pressure↗

Splenectomy in children with sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

A number of Saudi children (31) with sickle cell disease and thalassemia underwent splenectomy: 12 for frequent blood transfusions, 15 for chronic hypersplenism (most of whom were also the recipients of periodic blood transfusion) and 4 for splenic abscess. The mean age of splenectomy was 8.8 years (8 months-18 years). Eight patients had sickle cell disease, 14 beta-thalassemia and 9 had sickle cell thalassemia. All patients received prophylaxis against pneumococcal infection. There was one postoperative death most probably due to sepsis. Sixteen of those who required frequent preoperative blood transfusions needed no more transfusions, while in 7 the need for transfusions decreased significantly (p less than 0.05). For those with hypersplenism, there was a significant postoperative increase in total hemoglobin (P less than 0.001), RBC (P less than 0.001) and platelet counts (p less than 0.02); and a substantial decrease in reticulocyte counts (p less than 0.05). The common post splenectomy complications were chest infection and a brief episode of pyrexia, but without undue morbidity. The study establishes a definite place for splenectomy in a selected population of children with sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Adolescent↗