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H Amital

Publications and source records attributed to H Amital.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Massive proteinuria as a main manifestation of primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Renal involvement in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is increasingly reported. So far, massive proteinuria as the principal feature of primary APS (PAPS) has not been well documented. We describe 3 patients with PAPS and massive proteinuria. Renal biopsy was performed in all 3, and features consistent with membranous and focal segmental glomerulopathy were disclosed. These histological lesions were not yet reported in PAPS. We conclude that the spectrum of renal lesions in PAPS is diverse and that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with massive proteinuria.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Immunomodulation of murine experimental SLE-like disease by interferon-gamma.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of murine recombinant IFN-gamma and anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody on the BALB/c mice experimental model of lupus. BALB/c female mice were immunized with a human anti-DNA antibody that carries the 16/6 idiotype. These mice were divided into several therapeutic groups according to different treatment strategies; injection with mouse recombinant IFN-gamma, anti-IFN-gamma mAb, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), irrelevant mouse IgG and control groups that were neither treated nor immunized with the human anti-DNA antibody. The administration of IFN-gamma, intensified the degree of clinical, histological and serological parameters in this model of BALB/c murine lupus. This immunomanipulation decreased the mice longevity. All the laboratory parameters reflected acceleration of the disease in the IFN-gamma treated group as an elevated sedimentation rate, decreased white blood cell count and the development of massive proteinuria. One month after the boost injection, all the mice that were immunized with the anti-DNA antibody, developed high titers of autoantibodies; however, following an additional month, their levels declined in the IFN-gamma treated group. These findings were in concordance with an increased glomerular deposition of immune complexes in the IFN-gamma treated mice. IFN-gamma upregulated the levels of IL-4 and increased the number of IL-4 and IL-6 secreting splenocytes. In conclusion IFN-gamma administration can aggravate the clinical and laboratory outcome of 16/6 id induced lupus in BALB/c mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Cytokines, antibodies to cytokines and autoimmunity.

It is commonly accepted that cytokines play a major role in the generation of immune responses to various stimuli, whether to exogenous antigens or to autoimmune events. This process must be regulated via complex mechanisms that maintain the normal immune homeostasis. Anti-cytokine antibodies (ACAs) are one of the components that take part in confining immune responses. Manipulating autoimmunity by the administration of ACAs might provide an opportunity to correct an altered regulatory mechanism and to maintain health. The current review will focus on the different ways these objectives might be achieved.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Aspirin for prevention of myocardial infarction. A double-edged sword.

BACKGROUND: The use of low dose aspirin is associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in the elderly. Anemia is one of the risk factors of acute myocardial infarction especially in patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present a series of fifteen patients treated with low dose aspirin for secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease who had upper GI bleeding and were admitted to our hospital because of unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Nine patients had acute myocardial infarction and six patients had unstable angina. The mean age of the patient was 72 +/- 9 years. Only two patients had a previous history of duodenal ulcer before their admission. The duration of aspirin therapy ranged from a few days to more than a year. Weakness, abdominal pain and melena were present in most of the patients between 2-7 days before the appearance of chest pain, and syncope was the chief complaint in 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that aspirin which is given to patients in order to prevent myocardial infarction might cause myocardial infarction as a sequella of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Lack of patient education was the primary cause of the delayed diagnosis of this complication. Instruction of patients treated by aspirin to seek medical advise because of symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding could prevent acute myocardial infarction in patients treated by aspirin who have upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Catalytic antibodies: generation, nature, and possible role as chemical warfare scavengers.

Nearly three decades have passed since the idea was proposed that antibodies may provide catalytic activity as enzymes. Since then the term "catalytic antibodies" has gained more and more popularity. Numerous antibodies enhancing the rate of reactions have been described. This review will address the basic biological considerations involved in the genesis of catalytic antibodies and explore their possible role in the future providing protection in chemical warfare.

Antibodies, Catalytic↗
PubMed1996

Low dose aspirin in patients with ischemic heart disease may precipitate secondary myocardial infarction.

We conducted a retrospective case-control study to compare the frequency of myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina (UA) precipitated by aspirin-induced upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding among patients with and without ischemic heart disease(IHD), and to determine whether the risk of MI or UA is related to the hemoglobin level on admission. Of the 51 patients admitted to the hospital between 1987 and 1994 because of aspirin-induced upper GI bleeding, 33 had ischemic heart disease. The prevalence of MI and UA inpatients with IHD and aspirin-induced upper GI bleeding was significantly higher than in patients without IHD (42% vs. 5.5% respectively) (P < 0.005). Of the patients with upper GI bleeding and a hemoglobin concentration of 5-8 g/dl, 75% had either MI or UA in comparison to 50% and 18% of the patients with hemoglobin concentrations of 8-10 and 10-14 g/dl respectively. We conclude that low dose aspirin therapy may precipitate MI or UA, especially in patients with IHD, by inducing upper GI bleeding. Patients with IHD who use low dose aspirin to prevent MI should be instructed how to identify emerging symptoms of peptic ulcer as well as the initial signs of upper GI bleeding. Early diagnosis and treatment of these patients might prevent the induction of secondary MI or UA.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Membranous nephropathy in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: description of a case and induction of renal injury in SCID mice.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a recently recognized clinical entity encompassing the combination of thromboembolic phenomena, thrombocytopenia and recurrent abortions in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. We present a patient with PAPS accompanied by renal involvement, manifested as membranous nephropathy, as proven by a renal biopsy. To investigate further the possible association between PAPS and the renal lesions we attempted to induce similar renal manifestations by transferring peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from this patient to severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. The mice transfused with PBL from the affected patient exemplified antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) following which a renal lesion consistent with the human membranous nephropathy lesion was precipitated. This study substantiates the role of aPL as possible inducers of renal damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia].

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a cardiomyopathy with autopsy evidence of fibrous and fatty infiltration of the right ventricular. The disease, which shows familial clustering, causes electrical instability that may place affected subjects at risk of sudden death. It is characterized by ECG changes and right ventricular dysfunction. Death can occur due to ventricular arrhythmia. We describe a 46-year-old female Cypriot who presented with recurrent syncope and palpitation due to ventricular tachycardia with the LBBB pattern; T waves were inverted in V1-V3. Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization revealed severe right ventricular dysfunction. Her sister had died several years before of a similar syndrome, including ventricular tachycardia. Family members should be screened for right ventricular dysplasia. Those currently asymptomatic should be given prophylactic therapy to prevent sudden death. Treatment is either medical: sotalol, beta-blockers or verapamil; or surgical: ablation of the arrhythmogenic focus in the right ventricle, total disconnection of the right ventricular free wall; or implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1995

Pseudotumour cerebri in SLE.

A 29 year-old woman with SLE was admitted to our department due to severe remitting headaches. Following investigation a high degree of intra cranial pressure was determined. Several years ago a similar finding was diagnosed, and the disease was brought into remission by the administration of periodical pulses of high dose intravenous immunoglobulins. Benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) is an uncommon presentation of neuro-psychiatric SLE. In this patient several risk factors of BIH (obesity, steroid therapy, and SLE) assembled and elicited a severe presentation of the disorder which became more resistant to therapy. Several pathogenic pathways tie BIH with SLE as thrombotic obliteration of cerebral arteriolar and venous systems and immune complex deposition within the arachnoid villi (that are responsible for CSF absorption). As shown in this care report of BIH, clinical findings do not always parallel various imaging techniques as MRI and CT brain scans.

Adult↗