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Biomedical subjects

H E Franz

Publications and source records attributed to H E Franz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Ultrasonically targetted fine-needle aspiration cytology in the immediate postoperative follow-up of transplanted kidneys].

From March 1982 to September 1983 62 ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytologies in 22 patients with cadaveric kidney transplants had been performed during the postoperative hospitalisation period. In any case it was possible to guide the needle tip into the cortico-medullary boundary or in sonolucent parenchymal areas occurring during acute cellular rejection episodes. Thus technical failures could be reduced to 6% (4 out of 22). In 79% the clinically suspected diagnosis could be confirmed by FNAC. Aspirates from circumscript sonolucent parenchymal areas allowed rejection diagnosis in 95%. In 17% cellular signs of rejection were seen cytologically despite a regular transplant function.

Adult↗

[Successful treatment of kappa light chain nephropathy using membrane plasma separation].

Often the diagnosis "light chain nephropathy" is not made before renal failure has developed. In the past these patients had a poor prognosis. Special features of this disease and improvement of renal function by plasma exchange therapy are shown in a case report. A 51-year-old man admitted to hospital with renal failure, proteinuria and hypercalcaemia was treated by Ca-free dialysis and membrane plasma separation (MPS). Renal biopsy studied by light and electron microscopy showed mainly tubular protein casts. It is assumed that this nephropathy is caused by a direct toxic effect of the kappa light chains on function and structure of tubuli. Proteinuria was markedly lowered and renal failure was made partly reversible by prompt and effective MPS. Thus, MPS may improve the prognosis of this stage of disease.

Cell Membrane↗

Membrane plasma separation: complications and monitoring.

During the last 3 years, 306 membrane plasma separations (MPS) were performed on 40 patients. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), oncotic pressure (OP), blood count, free hemoglobin, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XIII were determined. The complication rate was evaluated. Mild complications were observed in 4.2% of the cases (extracorporeal coagulation 1.5%, hypotensive episodes 2%, allergic reactions 0.7%). Severe complications were not observed. A flexible heparinization schedule dependent on the APTT values is necessary. In general, 4,500-7,000 IU/MPS is required. The serum OP is maintained within the normal range using a 3-6% human albumin solution to prevent circulatory complications. A marked loss of fibrinogen occurs with short intervals between successive treatments. The remaining coagulation factors are reduced by an average of 32% and the prothrombin time by 28%. Control of the heparinization and OP is essential for monitoring plasma exchange therapy.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗

HLA-DR-MT matching improves graft survival rate in cadaver kidney transplantation. A prospective multicenter analysis of the South German Cooperative Study Group for Kidney Transplantation.

The influence of prospective HLA-DR matching on the graft survival rate was investigated in a multicenter analysis of 85 transplants. Simultaneously in a retrospective analysis of graft outcome the importance of matching for MT-antigens MT1, MT2 and MT3 as a newly defined B-cell alloantigen system was evaluated. HLA-DR antigens and MT-specificities were determined on B-cells enriched by nylon-wool filtration using locally well characterised HLA-DR antisera and the antiserum set of the 8th International Histocompatibility Workshop ("disease set") which allowed the definition of the HLA-DR specificities HLA-DR 1-9 and of the MT-antigens MT1-3. HLA-DR matching showed a significantly improved graft outcome only in HLA-DR identical donor-recipient combinations. In 11 of 60 patients with one HLA-DR compatibility additional matching for two MT-antigens, however, improved the two year graft survival rate from 60% to 91%. Altogether 17 patients were matched for two MT-specificities with their kidney donor and showed a superior prognosis of 94% at two years compared to 53% or 17% of recipients with one or zero MT compatibility. Graft outcome in this patient group was also superior to that of HLA-DR identical or HLA-AB identical grafts. These data suggested that the MT-system rather than the HLA-DR antigens may be of critical importance in cadaver kidney transplantation. In addition a favorable influence of pretransplant blood transfusions on less HLA-DR matched grafts was confirmed.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Improvement of uremic neuropathy and hypogeusia by dialysate zinc supplementation: a double-blind study.

A reduction in the plasma zinc concentration is a well-recognized complication of hemodialysis. A positive clinical response to zinc therapy under controlled conditions is the most reliable criterion of zinc deficiency. Zinc therapy using a nonproprietary zinc dialysate was evaluated in 12 dialysis patients with proven hypogeusia and polyneuropathy, in a randomized double-blind crossover comparison (preliminary phase, 4 weeks; placebo phase, 12 weeks; initial phase, 12 weeks; final phase, 6 weeks; post phase, 4 weeks). The dosage was related to the zinc plasma and erythrocyte levels, measured weekly. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and taste-testing were used to evaluate the effect of treatment at the end of the placebo and therapy phases. There was significant reduction in the recognition and determination threshold level for each of the four qualities of taste. The NCV improved significantly. The plasma zinc level could be elevated in all patients to the desired concentration, using individualized supplementation of dialysate with zinc. The erythrocyte zinc level remained constant, at double the normal value. The plasma zinc concentration fell back to the initial level 6 weeks after conclusion of therapy. We conclude that (1) zinc substitution may provide a specific therapy for uremic polyneuropathy, (2) the observed hypogeusia results from zinc deficiency, (3) long-term therapy is necessary to obtain a constant normal plasma zinc concentration, (4) zinc substitution by dialysate is a suitable and nonstressful method of administration.

Adult↗

Comparison of urine cytology versus fine needle aspiration cytology in monitoring renal allograft dysfunction.

In renal allograft monitoring we performed daily urine cytology (UC) (n = 773) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) (n = 144) two to three times weekly in 29 allograft recipients with 18 acute rejection episodes. UC is more accurate in diagnosis and therapeutic control of acute rejection episodes. In addition UC is better than FNAC in revealing non-rejection causes of graft dysfunction such as interstitial nephritis (pyelonephritis, allergic nephritis), the presence of bacteria, fungi and virus inclusion bearing cells in the sediment and nephrotoxic tubular damage.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Viscosity adaption for an automated micromethod of flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and intracellular trace-element analysis after pressure decomposition: zinc determination in plasma and erythrocytes.

We measured zinc in the plasma of 50 normal persons, and in erythrocytes of six, by an automated micromethod of atomic absorption spectrometry. Using a rotation viscometer, we measured the viscosity and flow behavior of plasma, undiluted and equi-volume diluted (with water), from 12 patients, and, for comparison, of two- to 20-fold dilutions of an 870 mL/L glycerol solution. Erythrocytes were washed three times, lyophilized, and wet-ashed in a pressure decomposition device. The mean viscosity of equi-volume diluted plasma is about the same as that of the glycerol solution diluted 7.5-fold. The observed concentration of zinc in normal plasma was 13.8 (SD 1.9) mumol/L, with intra-assay CV (n = 30) of 2%, day-to-day CV (n = 22) 3.8%, and accuracy (measurement of an aqueous std.) 2.5%. The mean normal value for erythrocyte zinc was 34.7 micrograms/g, with intra-assay CV (n = 8) 5%, day-to-day CV (n = 6) 5.9%, and accuracy 4.6%. Our results compare well with those by neutron activation analysis, the differences in values being 3% for plasma, 1% for erythrocytes.

Autoanalysis↗

[Improvement of psoriasis by haemodialysis (author's transl)].

Haemodialysis treatment of 5 patients with therapy-resistant psoriasis showed that certain clinical forms seem to respond to such treatment. Each patient had at least one of the frequently occurring antigens of psoriatic patients in his HLA match (B 13, B17, B 27, B 37, Cw 6). Of these antigens B 37, B 13 and B 27 were found only in such patients where treatment was successful. The HLA-B 37 antigen was associated with generalised, HLA-B 13 with chronic stationary and HLA-B 27 with arthropathic manifestation of psoriasis.

Adult↗

[Increased success rate of renal transplantation by HLA-DR-typing: a retrospective analysis of the South-German co-operative study group for renal transplantation (author's transl)].

Retrospective HLA-DR-typing and the influence of HLA-DR antigen on transplantation prognosis was studied in 90 kidney donor-recipient pairs. It was clearly demonstrated that HLA-DR compatible donor kidney provides a significantly better transplant prognosis than if there is HLA-DR incompatibility. Donor kidneys with only one identical HLA-DR antigen gave a six-month survival rate of 80%. Only HLA-AB identical cadaver kidneys ("full house identity") give similar survival times. Because of relatively lower polymorphism of the HLA-DR alloantigen system, HLA-DR identical donor organs are discovered more frequently than when HLA-AB antigens are taken into consideration. HLA-DR identical donor kidneys (identical for both HLA-DR antigens) have an even better transplant prognosis than "full house identical" kidneys, since the survival rate in the former is 87% after six months.

HLA Antigens↗