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Biomedical subjects

J Conard

Publications and source records attributed to J Conard.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Anti Xa activity and prothrombinase inhibition in patients treated with two different doses of enoxaparin in gynecologic surgery.

A prospective open study was performed in a series of 547 patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. A dose of 20 mg of enoxaparin was administered to all patients 2 hours before surgery. Then patients at high risk of thrombosis (mostly oncologic surgery) received 40 mg of enoxaparin daily whereas those at moderate risk received 20 mg of enoxaparin daily. The principal aim of this prospective open study was to monitor amidolytic anti Xa activity and to study the inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase using prothrombin consumption measurement as a simple and global test. A second aim was to investigate efficacy and tolerance of these regimens. Treatment tolerance was satisfactory with both regimens since the total incidence of bleeding was 1.8%. A single patient developed a clinically significant thrombosis during hospital stay. The results confirm and extend previous reports regarding a dose effect relationship between the dose of Enoxaparin and plasma Anti Xa activity 3 hours after s.c. injection. A significant relationship was found between Anti Xa activity and patients body weight. Interestingly a dose dependent inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase was observed when using a one stage prothrombin consumption assay in whole blood. This test in whole blood can be considered as closer to physiological conditions than assays performed in citrated platelet rich or platelet poor plasma samples. The mechanism of intrinsic prothrombinase inhibition during prophylactic treatment with enoxaparin requires further investigation.

Adult↗

[Biological monitoring of treatment with antivitamin K. Value of INR and definition of new therapeutic ranges. A study of 73 patients].

The prothrombin time test (PT) is the most common method used for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy. As a consequence of the variability in responsiveness of different thromboplastins, PT results obtained from patients on oral anticoagulant therapy may not be interchangeable between laboratories and as consequence could produce potential problems for anticoagulant control. The conversion of PT in INR (International Normalized Ratio) has been introduced recently to standardise the PT used for anticoagulant control. 127 determinations of prothrombin time and INR with 2 different thromboplastin reagents (Thromboplastin C Dade and Owren reagent) have been performed in 73 patients. This study confirm the usefulness of the INR (INR discrepancy in 10% of the cases) despite the imperfections concerning the choice of the control plasma and the need of a precise measurement of the ISI, International Sensitivity index. In parallel, changes in therapeutic ranges for anticoagulant therapy occurred, based on results of the international literature: less intense anticoagulant treatment (INR 2-3) is effective against recurrent venous thromboembolism with reduced bleeding. Different therapeutic ranges must be recommended for oral anticoagulant therapy according to the indication of the treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

A 32 kDa lipocortin from human mononuclear cells appears to be identical with the placental inhibitor of blood coagulation.

A 32 kDa protein isolated from human mononuclear cells is a member of the lipocortin family, a new group of Ca2+-dependent lipid-binding proteins thought to be involved in the regulation of phospholipase A2, in exocytosis and in membrane-cytoskeleton interactions. Purification of this protein was based on its ability to associate with membrane phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner and its capacity to inhibit purified phospholipase A2 from pig pancreas. Using immunological detection, we show that it is present in various cells involved in the inflammatory and coagulation processes. We present extensive amino acid data that strongly suggest that this protein is identical with a recently described inhibitor of blood coagulation, with endonexin II and with lipocortin V. Sequence alignment with other known proteins show a significant degree of homology with lipocortins I and II, the substrates of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor tyrosine kinase and the oncogene pp60src tyrosine kinase respectively, and with protein II. The possible physiological role of this 32 kDa lipocortin is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparative metabolic study of percutaneous versus oral micronized 17 beta-oestradiol in replacement therapy.

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic effects of two presentations of 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) which are of recognized effectiveness in the prevention of post-menopausal bone loss, one being administered via the oral and the other via the percutaneous route. During this prospective, randomized study, 32 patients were treated for 2 mth with either 2 mg/day of oral micronized E2 (n = 16) or 1.5-3 mg/day of percutaneous E2 (n = 16). Both regimens proved efficacious, since significant increases in oestrone (E1) and E2 concentrations ranging up to mid-follicular values were observed. In the percutaneous-treatment group we noted a significant decrease in triglycerides (TG), without any significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In the oral-treatment group, we saw no significant increase in HDL-C, although significant increases were observed in body weight, TG, plasma renin substrate (PRS) and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) as well as significant decreases in antithrombin III (AT III) activity and antigen. All of these metabolic variations led us to the conclusion that oral E2 at the dose established as effective in preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis may, even when micronized, alter certain metabolic and haemostatic parameters in a population characterized by increases in cardiovascular risk factors and morbidity. Oral oestrogen replacement therapy should therefore continue to be used only in carefully selected patients and be strictly followed up by systematic checks on a series of metabolic criteria.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

[Intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) at the prehospital phase of acute myocardial infarction. Apropos of 49 cases].

In acute myocardial infarction, the earlier intravenous thrombolysis is performed the more effective its action. Pre-hospital intravenous thrombolysis with 100 mg rt-PA was carried out in 49 patients within 3 hours of myocardial infarction. Male preponderance was conspicuous with 44 men (92%) and only 5 women (8%). Mean age was 50.2 +/- 8 years. The infarction was inferior in 48% of the cases. Out of the 49 thrombolyses performed by the mobile intensive care unit, 3 were discontinued on admission (2 diagnostic errors, 1 external heart massage). The time gained by pre-hospital thrombolysis was 52 +/- 25 minutes. There were few complications of thrombolysis: blood effusion at the site of puncture occurred in 4 cases (9%) and haematemesis in 1 case (2%). No cerebral or lethal haemorrhage was observed. Major complications of MI were seldom encountered at the pre-hospital phase: 1 patient died of extensive anterior necrosis with left ventricular dysfunction, and 2 had reversible ventricular fibrillation before treatment was initiated. There was no haemorrhagic complication. The earlier the patient was treated the lower the mortality and morbidity rates. Pre-hospital thrombolysis therefore seems to be feasible when performed by a mobile intensive care unit, and it represents an important gain of time.

Adult↗

[Thromboembolic complications in pediatric orthopedics. Multicentric collection of 33 case reports].

We report 33 cases of venous thrombosis of the limb, in children aged 15 years or less (average age is 10 years old): 22 acute thrombophlebitis have been treated, 11 children shown post-phlebitic disease. The thrombus was found, most of the time, in the iliac and/or femoral vein. Acute complications were seen in 30% of our cases, and 25% treated children reviewed, had post-phlebitic sequelae. Congenital disease of hemostasis (deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C or S) must be detect before anticoagulant start, because such deficiency influence the treatment and the prognosis. There is non indication for preventive treatment, because of the rarity of spontaneous thrombophlebitis by children. Nevertheless, we can draw an "high risk" population: antecedent of phlebitis, antecedent of congenital disease of hemostasis, antecedent of thrombophlebitis by parents below 40 years old, thrombogenic disease (homocystinuria), vertebral arthrodesis.

Adolescent↗

[AL amyloidosis and primary fibrinolysis. Study of the mechanism of fibrinolysis].

A 45 years old woman with AL amyloidosis presented with a hypofibrinogenemia (fibrinogen 100 mg/dl) without severe bleeding. There was laboratory evidence of fibrinolysis with shortened euglobulin lysis time, decreased alpha-2 plasmin inhibitor and decreased plasminogen. The mechanism of this primary fibrinolysis remains unclear, since there is no enhancement of the tissue-type plasminogen activator. Analysis of the 8 cases related in the literature of excessive fibrinolysis associated with amyloidosis demonstrated improvement of bleeding manifestations and abnormal fibrinolysis following the administration of antifibrinolytic agents.

Amyloid↗

[Value of moderate doses of urokinase combined with heparin in the treatment of massive pulmonary embolism. A retrospective study of 33 cases].

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a moderate dose of urokinase (UK : 2000 IU/kg/h) for at least 24 h in a series of 23 patients with massive pulmonary emboli (PE) (mean pulmonary vascular obstruction = 70 +/- 7%). All patients received heparin in conjunction with UK. A control pulmonary angiography, performed at the end of UK therapy, revealed an important decrease in pulmonary obstruction (-50%). One patient died before the end of UK therapy from shock due to PE (early mortality = 4.3%). Severe hemorrhagic complications occurred in 3 patients (13%) and dictated the stoppage of UK administration, but bleeding was never the cause of death or sequelae. Thus, moderate doses of UK associated with heparin appear to effectively induce clot lysis in patients with massive pulmonary emboli. The incidence of hemorrhagic complications should be decreased by strictly respecting all contraindications to the use of thrombolytic agents and by avoiding excessive heparinization.

Adult↗

Coagulation assays as diagnostic markers of hepatocellular carcinoma.

With the aim of improving the biological diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) and factor V levels were assayed in 119 patients with HCC and 60 cirrhotic patients without HCC. Among the patients with HCC, increased levels of AFP (greater than 300 ng/ml) and of DCP (greater than 15 mU/ml) were observed in 36% and 69% of the cases, respectively. None of the 60 patients without HCC had increased AFP, and one had abnormal DCP; in this patient, DCP level returned to normal value after vitamin K1 injection. No significant correlation was found between increased AFP and DCP, thus indicating that the two tests complement each other for the diagnosis. A factor V level higher than expected from the reduced prothrombin time test of the patient was detected in 50% of patients with HCC and only 7% of those without HCC. No correlation was found between increased factor V and abnormal AFP or DCP. The thrombin time, fibrinogen activity to antigen ratio, and polymerization index failed to differentiate between cirrhosis and HCC. We conclude that AFP, DCP and factor V may give complementary informations in the diagnosis of HCC, one of these markers at least being positive in 88% of the patients.

Adult↗

Age-related changes in factor VII activation in healthy women.

1. To investigate the age-related changes in factor VII activation in healthy women, a regular factor VII clotting assay (factor VIIc) was carried out simultaneously with a new enzyme immunoassay for the quantification of antigen factor VII (factor VIIag). 2. Both factor VIIc and factor VIIag levels were positively correlated with age (r = 0.79 and r = 0.62, respectively, n = 25, P less than 0.001). The rise with age in factor VIIc was steeper than in factor VIIag and the ratio of factor VIIc to factor VIIag (an indicator of the activity state of factor VII) increased with age (r = 0.42, P less than 0.05). 3. The results show that an increased conversion of native single-chain factor VII to the fully active double-chain form is associated with advancing age in women. 4. This finding is consistent with a possible role of activated factor VII in the pathogenesis of thrombo-occlusive vascular disease in women.

Adult↗

Comparison of thrombolytic, fibrinolytic, and fibrinogenolytic properties of tissue plasminogen activator, streptokinase, single-chain urokinase, high molecular weight and low molecular weight urokinase in human plasma in vitro.

Thrombolytic, fibrinolytic, and fibrinogenolytic properties of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) from melanoma cells (mt-PA), recombinant t-PA (rt-PA), streptokinase (SK), single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scu-PA), and high and low molecular weight urokinase (HMW UK, LMW UK) were compared in vitro by means of systems using human plasma. Thrombolytic activities were tested on standard or labeled hanging clots. When compared on the basis of urokinase international units, t-PA appeared to be slightly more active than scu-PA and streptokinase, and about 10-fold more active than both preparations of UK when they were diluted in plasma. Fibrinolytic activity was evaluated by measuring the lysis time of recalcified plasma containing variable amounts of thrombolytic agents. t-PA was shown to be twice as active as HMW UK, which was itself more active than LMW UK. When scu-PA and both types of UK were compared on bovine fibrin plates, they showed similar fibrinolytic activity, but the t-PA calibration curve was not parallel to those obtained with UK and scu-PA. Relative thrombolytic and fibrinogenolytic properties were studied for each thrombolytic agent. For similar thrombolytic activities, fibrinogenolysis provoked by scu-PA was less marked than with t-PA and with both UK, while SK showed the highest activity. Our results demonstrate that the thrombolytic/fibrinogenolytic ratio is much more favorable to t-PA and scu-PA than to both forms of UK. Another observation clearly shows that fibrinogenolysis can be induced in vitro in human plasma by high doses of t-PA. This consequence may be important since the therapeutic use of t-PA can be associated with high concentrations of t-PA, and thus t-PA infusion could lead in vivo to severe fibrinogen breakdown. In addition, the methodology described could be useful in standardizing comparison between different species of thrombolytic agents.

Fibrinogen↗

Hemostatic enzyme generation in the blood of patients with hereditary protein C deficiency.

The presence of hereditary protein C deficiency has been shown to predispose patients to the development of venous thrombosis. We used radioimmunoassays for the protein C activation peptide (PCP) and the prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 to quantitate the extent of in vivo activation of protein C by thrombin-thrombomodulin and prothrombin by factor Xa, respectively, in the blood of individuals with this clinical disorder. A total of 46 protein C deficient subjects from 18 kindreds were studied. In 23 nonanticoagulated patients with an isolated deficiency of protein C, the mean level of PCP was substantially reduced while the mean concentration of F1 + 2 was significantly elevated as compared with normal controls (1.10 pmol/L v 1.78 pmol/L, P less than .0005 and 2.54 nmol/L v 1.51 nmol/L, P less than .0005, respectively). The metabolic behavior of 131I-F1 + 2 was found to be similar in protein C deficient patients and normal individuals. However, we were unable to establish a significant correlation between decreased PCP levels and increased F1 + 2 measurements in these 23 patients. This study demonstrates that heterozygous protein C deficient individuals with equivalent plasma levels of the zymogen may have markedly different biochemical profiles when assay techniques are used that quantitate the in vivo activity of the coagulation system. Six individuals from three pedigrees were identified as having combined deficiencies of protein C and either antithrombin III or protein S; the genetic basis for the combined deficiency state was determined in two of the kindreds. Finally we observed that hemostatic system activity as measured by the PCP and F1 + 2 assays is markedly suppressed in protein C deficient patients who are chronically anticoagulated with coumarin derivatives.

Anticoagulants↗