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Biomedical subjects

C Silvain

Publications and source records attributed to C Silvain.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Terlipressin plus transdermal nitroglycerin vs. octreotide in the control of acute bleeding from esophageal varices: a multicenter randomized trial.

We undertook a multicenter randomized trial to compare the efficacy of terlipressin combined with transdermal nitroglycerin and that of octreotide in the emergency control of acute variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis. Over 16 mo, 87 patients with endoscopically proved active bleeding from esophageal or cardiac varices were enrolled in five centers in France and randomly assigned to receive intravenous terlipressin (2 mg and then 1 mg/4 hr over 24 hr) and transdermal nitroglycerin (10 mg/12 hr over 24 hr) (group 1) or octreotide (continuous intravenous infusion of 25 micrograms/hr over 12 hr and then 100 micrograms at hr 12 and hr 18 subcutaneously) (group 2). Initial control of bleeding was assessed at the end of 12 hr of treatment on the basis of stability of blood pressure and hematocrit level with no further transfusion requirements. At 12 hr, bleeding was controlled in 59% (24 of 41) in group 1 and 78% (36/46) of group 2 patients (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.064). Mean transfusion requirements over this 12-hr period were significantly greater in group 1 (three blood units; range = 0 to 13) than in group 2 (one blood unit; range = 0 to 5) (p = 0.002). After the first 12 hr, 20% of patients (5 of 24) had repeat bleeding in group 1 compared with 27% (10 of 36) in group 2. During the first 48-hr period, five patients (12%) died in group 1, compared with 3 (6%) in group 2. Few side effects were noted in either group. However, in group 1 two patients experienced severe bradycardia; it resulted in death in one patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Long-term outcome of severe radiation enteritis treated by total parenteral nutrition.

The outcome of 31 patients with severe radiation enteritis treated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was analyzed. Before initiation of parenteral nutrition, 18 of the patients had not had abdominal surgery, while 13 had either a resection or an intestinal bypass for radiation enteritis. Median follow-up was 2 1/2 years (range: 1 month to 12 years) from the time of initiation of parenteral nutrition. Surgery was required in 15 cases because parenteral alimentation could not be continued. Only eight of these 15 were able to resume a normal oral intake. Total parenteral nutrition allowed oral feeding to be resumed in 11 (36%) after a median follow-up of 40 months (range: 6-142 months). In general, total parenteral nutrition was well tolerated and was associated with low morbidity. Eighteen patients died, 13 of complications due to radiation therapy, four of cancer recurrence, and one of an unrelated cause. Survival probability was 58% at one year and 36% at five years. When possible, prognostic factors present either before or at initiation of total parenteral nutrition were analyzed. Age, predisposing vascular factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or vascular disease), and enteric fistula and/or perforation were found to have prognostic value. The probability of clinical radiation enteritis recurrence was 34% at one year and 47% at two years. A clinical recurrence of symptoms was more frequent but not significantly so after parenteral nutrition as compared to surgical therapy of radiation enteritis. Although TPN corrected denutrition and allowed deferred surgery in some patients, severe radiation enteritis remains a poorly predictable progressive disease with numerous relapses.

Enteritis↗

Granulomatous hepatitis due to combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.

We report the case of a patient with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid-induced hepatitis with histologic multiple granulomas. This type of lesion broadens the spectrum of liver injury due to this drug combination, mainly represented by a benign cholestatic syndrome. The association of granulomas and eosinophilia favor an immunoallergic mechanism. As penicillin derivatives and amoxicillin alone are known to induce such types of lesions, the amoxicillin component, with or without a potentiating effect of clavulanic acid, might have a major role.

Aged↗

Isotypic and allotypic analysis with monoclonal antibodies and jacalin of 309 serum monoclonal IgA from French and Japanese myeloma patients.

The subclass and allotype distribution of serum monoclonal IgA from myeloma patients was determined by ELISA with monoclonal antibodies in two French and one Japanese laboratory. In addition, the French sera were tested for their reactivity with the lectin jacalin. No significant difference in the isotypic distribution between French and Japanese series could be demonstrated: kappa/lambda ratios were 0.99 and 1.17, and the IgA1 subclass accounted for 93.9% and 91% of cases in the French and Japanese studies, respectively. Five out of 7 myeloma IgA2 from Japan and only one of the 12 IgA2 from France belonged to the A2m(2) allotype (P less than 0.01). All 219 IgA1 tested reacted with jacalin by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP), although with variable intensities. Among IgA2 proteins, only one (of the A2m(1) allotype) yielded a precipitating line with jacalin by IEP. Molecular analysis demonstrated that this protein was an IgA1-IgA2 hybrid bearing most of the A2m(1) epitopes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Primary structure of a monoclonal kappa chain in myeloma with light chain deposition disease.

Previous data suggest that structural abnormalities of immunoglobulin light chains may be responsible for non-amyloid light chain deposition disease (LCDD). We report on the complete primary sequence deduced from complementary (c)DNA analysis of a normal-sized kappa chain in a case of myeloma-associated LCDD. The patient's urine contained a kappa type Bence-Jones protein made of monomers and dimers of an unglycosylated kappa chain. The bone marrow myeloma cells contained intracellular kappa and gamma chains by immunofluorescence. Biosynthesis experiments showed the production of normal-sized gamma chains and of kappa chains with the same apparent molecular mass (Mr) in SDS gels as the urinary kappa chain (26,000-27,000). These kappa chains were secreted as assembled IgG molecules and as a large excess of free monomers and dimers. The complete sequence of two identical cDNA clones derived from a normal-sized kappa messenger RNA indicated that this kappa chain belonged to the rare V kappa IV subgroup. The kappa mRNA had an overall normal structure made up of the V kappa IV sequence rearranged to J kappa 1 and followed by a normal constant exon of the Km(3) allotype. The variable region differed from the V kappa IV-J kappa 1 germline sequence by 17 amino acid substitutions. The peculiar sequence of the variable region of this kappa chain of a rare subgroup might relate to its tissue deposition.

Aged↗

[Hepatobiliary complications of total parenteral nutrition].

Total parenteral nutrition has showed his efficacy in severe digestive diseases. However, infections, metabolic and hepato biliary complications can appear. Aim of this study is to report hepato biliary complications in 200 adult patients, mean age 53 years, treated between 1979 and 1988. Three types of hepato biliary complications occurred in 138 patients initially free of hepato biliary disorders: 1) biochemical hepatic disorders (cholestasis and/or cytolysis) occurred in 58 patients (42%) with mean time of 27 days. In 40% these disorders disappeared after modifications or stop of parenteral nutrition. 2) Jaundice occurred in 9 patients (7%) with mean time of 73 days. Regression of Jaundice is possible only if enteral nutrition is reestablished. Sludge or cholelithiasis occurred in 34 patients (25%) with mean time of 43 days. In five of these patients cholecystectomy must be performed. Literature confirms high frequency of hepato biliary complications in total parenteral nutrition. Occurrence of these complications seems to be related to duration of total parenteral nutrition and to type of nutrition. Most complications decrease when we can stop total parenteral nutrition. Use of lipids in separated perfusion decreases significantly (p < 0.05) biochemical hepatic disorders occurrence. In conclusion, 1) biochemical hepatic disorders are very common, requiring biochemical hepatic tests weekly. 2) Jaundice is rare but serious, requiring stop of parenteral nutrition, and sometimes surgery to reestablish an enteral nutrition. 3) high frequency of cholelithiasis justifies ultrasonographic follow-up, and perhaps preventive cholecystectomy in operation leading total parenteral nutrition.

Adolescent↗

A randomized trial of terlipressin plus nitroglycerin vs. balloon tamponade in the control of acute variceal hemorrhage.

A randomized trial was undertaken to determine the efficacy of nitroglycerin in addition to terlipressin infusion to improve the control of acute variceal hemorrhage compared with balloon tamponade. Forty-seven bleeding episodes in 34 cirrhotic patients were included, with terlipressin plus sublingual nitroglycerin in 23 episodes (group I) and balloon tamponade in 24 episodes (group II). At the end of the 12-hr period, hemorrhage had been equally controlled in both groups (18 of 23; 78% in group I and 19 of 24; 79% in group II). When attempted, balloon tamponade appeared more efficient in the failures of group I (4 of 4) than did terlipressin plus nitroglycerin in the failures of group II (0 of 3), although this difference was not significant. Major complications were rare (one in each group) and never required cessation of therapy. Thus terlipressin and nitroglycerin were as effective as balloon tamponade in controlling variceal hemorrhage and were associated with few minor complications.

Adult↗

[Prolonged hepatitis due to ajmaline--description of a case and review of the literature].

A 60 years old woman was admitted for jaundice and fever which appeared after a treatment with ajmaline-butabarbital for two-weeks. Abdominal ultrasound examination and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were normal. Mitochondrial antibodies were absent. Jaundice persisted for three years, associated with diffuse cutaneous xanthomatosis. Five years later, alkaline phosphatases remained elevated. A liver biopsy showed vanishing interlobular bile ducts with centrolobular cholestasis and ductular proliferation. We suggest that ajmaline can induce long lasting cholestasis due to damage to the intrahepatic bile ducts. The responsibility of butabarbital and the relationship with primary biliary cirrhosis are discussed.

Ajmaline↗

Oral pharmacokinetics and ascitic fluid penetration of ofloxacin in cirrhosis.

Plasma and ascitic fluid concentrations of ofloxacin were determined in 12 cirrhotic patients after a single dose and repeated 200 mg oral doses. The single dose kinetics were compared to those obtained in 12 healthy volunteers. Mean plasma elimination half-life was 11.6 h in cirrhotics and 7.0 h in controls. Mean total clearance was 2.3 times lower in patients than in controls, due to a significant decrease of renal clearance of the drug, unrelated to creatinine clearance. Mean apparent volume of distribution was 1.2 l/kg in patients and 1.8 l/kg in controls. Estimated by the ratio of AUC in peritoneal fluid and plasma, ascitic fluid penetration was 80% after the first oral dose. Ascitic fluid concentrations equaled corresponding plasma concentrations after 10 h, without pronounced accumulation of ofloxacin in ascites. We may conclude that, in cirrhotic patients with normal serum creatinine, a significant impairment of renal tubular handling of ofloxacin could be observed and led to a delayed elimination half-life of the drug. Because of its broad spectrum of activity, low side-effect profile, and large ascitic fluid penetration after oral administration, ofloxacin appears to be a new therapeutic approach of severe infections in cirrhotic patients, in particular spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Administration, Oral↗

[Systemic mastocytosis disclosed by rupture of esophageal varices].

A 77-year-old woman had variceal bleeding related to systemic mastocytosis. Physical examination revealed minimal ascites and mild hepatomegaly noted 11 years before. Liver function tests were nearly normal. Because of early recurrent bleeding, a mesocaval shunt was performed. Wedged liver biopsy showed a moderate fibrosis of portal tracts and massive mast cell infiltration within portal tracts and sinusoids. Perisinusoidal collagen deposition was demonstrated ultrastructurally. We suggest that systemic mastocytosis be added to the list of diseases related portal hypertension with perisinusoidal fibrosis. As there is currently no specific treatment, a portocaval shunt should be discussed.

Aged↗

[Can septicemia and ascitic fluid infections in cirrhotic patients be treated by the oral route alone?].

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral antibiotics in the treatment of severe infections in cirrhosis. Twenty-two patients (17 males, 5 females) with spontaneous bacteremia (n = 7) or bacterial peritonitis (n = 15) were treated with oral pefloxacin 400 mg per 24 hr alone (n = 1) or in combination with another oral antibiotic, trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (n = 13), amoxicillin (n = 6), cefadroxil (n = 2), or metronidazole (n = 1). In patients with spontaneous bacteremia, all organisms were found to be sensitive to oral antibiotics, and a favorable response was elicited in 6 out of 7 (86 p. cent) within 3 days (mean) of treatment. In patients with spontaneous peritonitis, ascitic fluid cultures were positive in 11 cases, and organisms were sensitive to pefloxacin in 9 out of 11 cases. A favorable response was elicited in 13 out of 15 within 2 to 8 days of treatment. Fourteen patients died (64 p. cent), 3 of infection (bacteremia n = 1, peritonitis n = 2), and 11 patients of causes unrelated to infection, mainly variceal hemorrhage, hepatorenal syndrome or hepatocellular carcinoma, although the clinical symptoms of infection were controlled. One-year survival was 57 p. cent in patients with bacteremia and 33 p. cent in those with bacterial peritonitis. Oral treatment was well tolerated in all patients. We suggest that most bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients can be treated with oral antibiotics. In some patients, this may be accomplished on an out patient basis.

Administration, Oral↗