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Biomedical subjects

J Labrousse

Publications and source records attributed to J Labrousse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Significance of lymphoplasmocytic infiltration in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Apropos of 3 own cases and review of the literature].

Three patients with typical histological signs of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia progressed to fulminating heart failure in 1 case and unexplained sudden death in the other two. There were signs of superacute myocarditis in the first case, previous healed pericarditis in the second and chronic myocarditis in the third case. These cases suggested the presence of an inflammatory process complicating the substrate of the dysplasia. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia seems to be a developmental defect which is complicated in 50 to 70% of patients, according to a review of 74 cases reported in the literature, by a varying degree of myocarditis suggesting particular susceptibility of these patients to infection and explaining the presence of unusual amounts of fibrous tissue in some and the so called "progressive" nature of the disease in other patients.

Adult

[Current humoral profile in acute severe asthma].

This study examined the relationships between acid-base disorders, hypoxemia, electrolyte imbalances, plasma adrenaline (Ad) and noradrenaline (NAd) in 94 patients with acute severe asthma. Criteria of inclusion were [PaO2 + PaCO2/.8] less than 140 mmHg when breathing air (FiO2 = 21%) and/or PaCO2 greater than or equal to 45 mmHg. PaCO2 was closely related to H+ in those patients with hypercapnia: H+ nmol/l = 0.88 PaCO2 + 4 (r 0.91 ; n = 61; p less than 0.001). However, among the 62 acidotic cases (pH less than or equal to 7.36), 24 were classified as respiratory, 22 as mixed and 16 as metabolic. A loose though highly significant relationship was found between PaO2 and PaCO2 (when breathing air). Blood lactate, which was 3.61 +/- 1.9 mmol/l (+/- SD), was not correlated with anion gap or H+, but was loosely related to PaO2 and kalemia. Ad (1.53 +/- 1.17 nmol/l) and NAd (5.85 +/- 3.44 nmol/l), measured at the time of admission in 27 patients (FIO2 = 21%), varied significantly from those of a control group (p less than 0.01). NAd was correlated with H+, lactate and especially PaCO2, whereas no correlation could be established for Ad with these factors or NAd values. On the average, kalemia, phosphatemia and calcemia were lowered. In conclusion, mixed and metabolic acidosis were more common in this study than in a previous personal series and were not necessarily associated with an increase in blood lactate. Drugs taken prior to hospitalization must be considered in the pathophysiology of hyperlactatemia, which appears to be one among several factors linked to NAd levels.

Acid-Base Imbalance

[Treatment of severe acute asthma in adults].

Although abnormal blood gases are unusual in status asthmaticus, hypercapnia indicates a considerable increase in bronchial resistance. The authors report their experience of 106 personal cases of acute severe asthma. Emergency management of acute respiratory failure consisted in symptomatic therapy (low rate oxygen or mechanical ventilation after nasal intubation). Corticosteroids, rehydration, antibiotics and beta-2 adrenergic agents were associated. Mechanical ventilation was necessary in patients who developed alterations of consciousness or PaCO2 above 60 mm Hg (8 kPa). In respirator-patients, sedative drugs were needed. Terbutaline and salbutamol were occasionally beneficial but epinephrine remains the drug of choice. In our series of 106 cases (79 with hypercapnia) the overall mortality was 3.8 p. 100. Of the 33 cases who underwent mechanical ventilation, there were 4 deaths (12 p. 100). A review of the literature showed a much higher mortality in other series.

Acute Disease

Diffuse interstitial pneumonitis due to aspiration of gastric contents.

Two cases of interstitial pneumonitis are described which developed after the acute phase of aspiration pneumonitis. Open lung biopsy revealed an interstitial, granulomatous foreign body response induced by foodstuff aspiration. Steroid treatment was administered and both cases then showed a favourable course, with the pulmonary lesion healing within 12 days.

Biopsy

[Changes in the electrocardiogram in status asthmaticus].

The aim of this study, based on the electrocardiographic analysis of 42 patients in status asthmaticus, is to define the basic criteria which may be used as a basis for electrocardiographic differential diagnosis. The following ECG changes were observed: the pulmonary "p" wave is common, sometimes with exaggerated amplitude in peripheral leads, however, in the precordial leads, the voltage of the "p" wave is reduced; most cases have a vertical heart with clockwise rotation and mild right axis deviation, S1 Q2 Q3 and the transitional zone displaced to the left. Ten cases also had a S1 S2 S3 appearance and three cases showed Q1 Q2 Q3, simulating myocardial infarction; there is poor progression of the R wave in the precordial leads and marked persistence of the S wave in the left precordial leads. In some cases, a QS complex dominates the right precordial leads. A variation in the amplitude of the QRS with the respiratory rhythm is often seen in V1 and V2; ventricular repolarization shows a lowered J point with an upward oblique ST segment in the peripheral leads. However, in the precordial leads, the repolarization is normal except for three cases which presented a frank hypokalaemia. The mechanism of these electrocardiographic changes appears to depend on the vertical position of the heart caused by over expansion of the lungs and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The elements of the electrocardiographic differential diagnosis with myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism are discussed.

Adolescent

[Acute respiratory and circulatory failure. Prognostic value of plasma fibronectin levels].

Plasma fibronectin (FNp) concentrations were measured in 63 patients with acute respiratory failure and 28 patients with circulatory failure, using Laurell's electroimmunoassay method. Measurements were made in the acute phase and repeated in the course of the disease. The mean FNp concentration in 20 controls was 262 +/- 59 mg/l. FNp values were normal in the acute phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. In contrast, they were significantly decreased in adult respiratory distress syndrome and in acute pneumonia, as well as in acute circulatory failure, notably from septic shock. FNp values were also considerably reduced in patients with severe disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Clinical improvement was accompanied by a return to normal of FNp concentrations. The mortality rate was greater in patients with low FNp values than in those with normal values.

Acute Disease

[Acute gangrenous acalculous cholecystitis disclosed by postoperative septic shock].

Three cases of acute gangrenous acalculous cholecystitis, revealed by a postoperative septic shock, are reported. Clinical examination was negative and the surgery gave the diagnosis. Infection with biliary stasis and ischaemia accounts for this pathological entity. The very serious prognosis of this condition can only be reversed by cholecystectomy.

Acute Disease

Adult respiratory distress syndrome and silicone injection.

This report describes a case of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after massive subcutaneous injections of silicone. The patient, a 23 year-old transsexual man, treated with mechanical ventilation, died on the 12th day of hospital, in septic shock and refractory hypoxemia. Autopsy findings revealed empty vacuoles surrounded by macrophages in various organs, especially in lung tissue. Toxicological analysis by emission by high frequency induced plasma showed silicone in the organs with histological lesions. The pathophysiology of this ARDS is considered.

Adult

[Fatal pneumopathy linked to subcutaneous injections of liquid silicone into soft tissue].

The case of a 23-year old transsexual male who developed a lethal lung disease 48 hr after a 1 l subcutaneous silicone fluid injection is reported. Histologic examination showed optically empty oil red O negative vacuoles in several specimens, and particularly in the lungs; refractile particles of silicium were also found. We identified the material as silicium, and evaluated its quantity in tissues by atomic absorption and spectrometric and toxicological analysis. Experimental studies and rare human accidents suggest that silicone fluid is transported by migrating phagocytes, thereby explaining lymph node, spleen, liver, adrenal and lung deposits. In our patient's report, we added gradual blood contamination to explain the progressive development of respiratory failure with the severity of the respiratory disorder linked to the massive dose injected. Massive silicone blood embolization could be excluded because of the interval between the injection and emergence of the first clinical signs.

Adult