Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Rifón.
We describe a case of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with a complex karyotype including a 14q+ marker. Secondary changes affected chromosomes 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 17. The cytogenetic significance of the changes and their prognostic value, as compared with those described in previous reports, are discussed.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) as a second tumor in patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD), as well as to establish the role of different variables in its appearance. Between January 1973 and June 1988, 101 patients with HD were treated according to the stage, with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Complete remission was obtained in 87 patients. Five patients developed secondary NHL between the 77th and 124th month of complete remission. The median follow up was 73 months (range 3-227 months). The incidence of second NHL in our series was, 0%, 4.6% (CI 0-11%) and 17% (CI 4-32%) at 5, 10 and 15 years respectively. Cox's stepwise regression analysis performed with all initial and treatment covariates (sex, age, splenectomy, histology, stage and treatment modality) showed that the only statistically significant variable was the treatment received (p < 0.01). Cumulative incidence of NHL at 15 years, ranged from 0% for patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone to 39.6% for those who received combined therapy (p = 0.002). We can conclude that the use of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for treatment of HD increases the risk for the development of second NHL.
Graft thrombotic occlusion is a common complication in patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery. Clotting activation seems to contribute to the thrombotic event. We have determined the plasma concentrations of two hemostatic markers, thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F 1+2) in 100 patients undergoing revascularization procedures of whom 81 underwent shunt angiography. Angiographically proven graft occlusion was present in 19 patients (23.5%). A significant increase of both parameters was observed immediately after surgery and on postoperative days 1 and 5 (p < 0.001), although a relationship to graft occlusion could not be demonstrated. However, the preoperative TAT concentration was higher in patients developing graft occlusion (p < 0.01). We conclude that there is a marked clotting activation in patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery, as demonstrated by elevated TAT and F 1+2 concentrations. Preoperative TAT values can be good markers of early graft occlusion.
We present a patient diagnosed of polycythemia vera who developed a multiple myeloma 13 years after the initial diagnosis of polycythemia vera. Although an unusual finding, another 17 patients with polycythemia and myeloma have been described. In some patients the diagnosis of both diseases was simultaneous but in most cases myeloma developed years after polycythemia vera. Some patients received only venipuncture for treatment of polycythemia vera so the appearance of multiple myeloma could not be explained on the grounds of chemotherapy induced second neoplasm. An explanation for this association is suggested.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A patient with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and a translocation t(8;14) (q24;q11) is described. Translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32) is commonly associated with B-cell leukemia; nevertheless, translocations affecting chromosome 14 at band q11 are associated with T-cell malignancies, since the locus 14q11 contains genes that encode for the alpha and delta chains of the T-cell receptor (TCR). This finding points to the idea that the association between 14q11 rearrangements and T-cell neoplasia is less than complete.
We describe a patient with essential thrombocythemia (ET) who developed multiple myeloma (MM) 5 years after the initial diagnosis. A review of the literature revealed no additional reports of the association of these two diseases. Development of MM was not related to treatment of essential thrombocythemia. This association suggests an alteration at the pluripotential stem cell level.
PURPOSE: To assess the therapeutic efficacy of agents capable of stimulating the fibrinolytic system, such as tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase (UK) on endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the rabbit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: DIC was induced by intravenous administration of endotoxin, 20 micrograms/kg/hr during 6 hr. Four different groups were established: a) control group, receiving only saline solution; b) t-PA group receiving 0.2 mg/kg; c) t-PA group receiving 0.7 mg/kg, and d) UK group, which was given 3,000 IU/kg/hr for 6 hr. Blood samples were drawn before and after 2 hr and 6 hr of endotoxin administration. Platelet count, and fibrinogen, factor XII and antithrombin III concentrations, were assessed in each sample. Mean, standard deviation and percentage of increase or decrease with respect to the basal value, this considered 100%, were used to evaluate the findings. For comparison of values, Student's t and Mann Whitney's U were used; the Fisher test was used for mortality studies. RESULTS: No statistical differences appeared for any of the values in the rabbits under basal conditions. The rabbits in the control group developed DIC. No doses of t-PA modified the changes appearing in blood coagulation. UK reduced the fibrinogen and factor XII consumption induced by endotoxin. The mortality rate in the control group reached 70%. High-dose t-PA decreased such figure to 50%, while low-dose t-PA or UK failed to reduce mortality. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose t-PA has beneficial effects on endotoxin-induced DIC in rabbits. UK failed to achieve such effect at the doses given in this experimental DIC model.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible role played by activation of the coagulation system in the early occlusion of grafts in patients subjected to aortocoronary bypass. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study includes 30 patients subjected to coronary revascularization surgery. The plasma rates of thrombin-anti-thrombin complexes (TAT) and 1+2 prothrombin fragments (F1+2) were measured before and after surgery. The studies were performed by enzyme immunoassay techniques. Selective angiography was performed in every patient on the 10th day after surgery. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison of means ans statistical analysis. RESULTS: Occlusive lesion was shown by angiography in 15 of the 30 patients. The TAT and F1+2 levels showed a statistically significant increase (p less than 0.001) along the postoperative period, without any correlation regarding the presence or absence of occlusion. The preoperative concentration of TAT was significantly higher in patients with thrombotic occlusion (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Marked activation of the coagulation system is present in patients subjected to coronary revascularization surgery. 2) The pre-operative determination of TAT may be of value for predicting early graft occlusion.
A 35-year-old Spanish female having acute myelomonocytic leukaemia with marrow eosinophilia is reported. The karyotype revealed the specific chromosomal abnormality associated with this disorder, inv(16), and a less-specific myelodysplastic cytogenetic marker, del(12p). We have reviewed the published cases in order to elucidate the possible significance of presenting a 12p deletion (nonrandomly associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia) together with other chromosomal rearrangements.
The respective roles of intravascular coagulation (DIC) and fibrinolysis were assessed in severe chronic liver disease by measuring thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes, tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA Ag) and fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FgDP and FbDP respectively) in 66 patients with liver disease caused by cirrhosis (n = 34) or chronic hepatitis (n = 32) as compared to findings in a control group (n = 30). There was a significant increase of TAT complexes (P less than 0.01), tPA Ag (P less than 0.002), FDP and FbDP (P less than 0.001) in patients as compared to controls. FbDP increase was more evident in patients with cirrhosis than in those with hepatitis (P less than 0.01). Significant correlations between these parameters with some liver function tests were also demonstrated. Thus, in patients with severe liver disease, an increased thrombin activity, as demonstrated by high TAT levels; followed by hyperfibrinolysis suggest that a low grade DIC may occur.
The influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on fibrinolytic activity was assessed in 100 patients with valvular heart disease or atrial septal defects. Euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA), tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), and D-dimer were measured pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. There were significant increases in EFA and t-PA activity (p less than 0.002), and decreases in plasminogen and alpha 2-AP (p less than 0.0001) intraoperatively with respect to baseline values. t-PA activity decreased significantly after surgery (p less than 0.002), whereas PAI-1 activity showed a marked increase shortly after operation and on postoperative day 1 (p less than 0.0001). FDP and D-dimer levels were significantly increased both intra- and postoperatively, the latter showing higher values (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.0001, respectively). This study shows that there is an activation of the fibrinolytic system, as a result of the increased activation of plasminogen and decreased levels of plasmin inhibitors, during CPB surgery followed by a postoperative fibrinolytic shutdown.
We have determined fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FgDP and FbDP respectively) by an ELISA method using specific monoclonal antibodies in 100 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for valvular heart disease and in 60 patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery. Blood samples were taken pre-operatively and on post-operative days 1 and 5. Post-operative evolution was similar in both patient groups, with a significant increase in FgDP on post-operative days 1 and 5 with respect to baseline value (P less than 0.01). FbDP were also significantly higher on post-operative days 1 and 5 (P less than 0.001), especially the day after surgery in patients with valvular disease as compared with coronary patients (P less than 0.01). Our results indicate that fibrinolysis is more important than fibrinogenolysis after open-heart surgery, which may have pathophysiological implications.
We present two cases of mortality during a stress test after which coronary arteriography was performed after the acute event. In both patients, left coronary arteries presented eccentric lesions with irregular bordes and intraluminal lucencies. We have discussed the probable pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in view of the angiographic findings. We concluded that the cracking of the plaque was an essential event in the pathogenesis of this picture.
Different coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were investigated in 149 patients with metastatic and non-metastatic tumours and results were compared with those obtained in a healthy population. Results showed a significant increase of thrombin-antithrombin complexes, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and fibrin monomers in the group of patients (p less than 0.001). There was also a significant prolongation of euglobulin lysis time (p less than 0.005) and an increase of plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (p less than 0.0001), fibrinogen degradation products (p less than 0.001), and D-dimer (p less than 0.05) in the group of patients as compared to controls; FPA levels were also increased in patients with metastases (p less than 0.005). This study demonstrates clotting activation, at the level of fibrinogen to fibrin conversion, and impairment of fibrinolysis in patients with malignancy.
Mean plasma concentrations of the main inhibitors of blood coagulation antithrombin III (AT III), protein C and protein S were determined in 149 patients with different local and disseminated malignancies. Results were compared with findings in 44 healthy subjects. No statistical significant differences for AT III, protein C and free protein S were found between patients and controls. However, total protein S showed a significant increase in the patient group (p less than 0.0003). None of the parameters analyzed showed differences according to the degree of tumoral activity nor to the tumour localization. We conclude that the main inhibitors of the blood coagulation seem not to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the hypercoagulable state in malignancy. The increased levels in total protein S would indicate endothelial synthesis in response to thrombogenic stimuli.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.