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D Corbin

Publications and source records attributed to D Corbin.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Focal seizures and non-ketotic hyperglycaemia.

The clinical features of seven patients with non-ketotic hyperglycaemia who developed focal seizures are presented. All patients were alert except one who was mildly confused. Glucose values varied from 17.8 to 55.1 mmol/l, while calculated osmolarity values were elevated in all cases to a mild or moderate extent (299.1 to 346.5 mmol/l). In three cases diabetes mellitus was a new diagnosis. Four patients had recurrent episodes of focal seizures when glycaemic control was lost. Movement induced or kinesigenic seizures were seen in three cases and epilepsia partialis continua in one case. Seizures associated with hyperglycaemia are resistant to anticonvulsant treatment and respond best to insulin and rehydration. Focal seizures in adults may indicate diabetes mellitus.

Adult

Erythropoietic protoporphyria: unusual skin and neurological problems after liver transplantation.

The case of a woman with protoporphyria who developed liver failure and underwent liver transplantation is described. During the pretransplant episode of liver failure she developed quadriparesis that rapidly progressed after transplantation to a severe polyneuropathy. Following transplantation she also developed a second-degree burn of the light-exposed abdominal wall. The neuropathy resembled that observed in other forms of porphyria, and it is proposed that the extreme disturbance of protoporphyrin levels associated with protoporphyrin-induced liver failure caused this neuropathy. Such a neuropathy has not previously been described in protoporphyria. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels remain high and fecal levels normal, although results of liver tests are normal. She remains photosensitive, which emphasizes that although liver transplantation may be lifesaving in this disorder, it is not curative, and care must be taken to prevent photosensitive damage to skin and light-exposed internal organs.

Adult

Migraine coma.

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Adolescent

The influence of mevinolin on the adrenal cortical response to corticotropin in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

The biosynthesis of adrenal corticosteroids in humans depends on a continuous supply of cholesterol, which can be derived from both local synthesis and receptor-mediated uptake of low density lipoproteins (LDL) from plasma. Mevinolin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase [mevalonate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.88] is an effective hypolipidemic agent in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. To determine whether mevinolin influences the adrenal production of corticosteroids, the adrenocortical response to a continuous 36-hr infusion of corticotropin (ACTH) was examined in eight patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia before, and again during, treatment with mevinolin (40-80 mg/day). The drug produced an average decrease of 28% and 34% in the plasma concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol. Serum cortisol levels showed similar increases in response to ACTH stimulation before and during mevinolin treatment, and the rates of excretion of urine-free cortisol were also similar. We conclude that clinically effective doses of mevinolin do not affect corticosteroid production by the adrenal cortex during prolonged ACTH stimulation in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Adrenal Cortex