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Biomedical subjects

K J Berg

Publications and source records attributed to K J Berg.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Side effects of cyclosporin A treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) and azathioprine (Aza) were compared with respect to renal side effects in an open controlled, randomized study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve patients were treated with CyA (mean dose 7.8 +/- 1.2 mg/kg/day) and 12 with azathioprine for 26 weeks. All patients also received prednisolone 5 mg/day. The patients had normal serum creatinine (less than 120 mumoles/liter) and protein-free urine before the trial. CyA increased serum creatinine in nine out of the 11 patients followed for 26 weeks, the mean increase was approximately 50%. Creatinine clearance was reduced by 31%. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and serum potassium were significantly increased by CyA. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin excretion was significantly increased by CyA, in five of the patients more than ten times. Urinary kallikrein excretion was reduced by more than 50% and urinary albumin excretion was doubled. All these parameters remained normal and unchanged in the azathioprine group. CyA was withdrawn in seven patients after 26 weeks. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin was still increased by 85% nine months after CyA treatment. The other parameters were gradually normalized after three to nine months except for one patient who developed renal failure. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin excretion was a very sensitive parameter for renal tubular damage in this study.

Albuminuria↗

Acute renal effects of sulindac and indomethacin in chronic renal failure.

The effects of 2 days of oral dosing with sulindac (200 mg twice a day) or indomethacin (75 mg twice a day) on glomerular filtration rate, urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2, sodium homeostasis, and other renal function parameters were investigated in eight patients with chronic stable impaired renal function. Indomethacin reduced creatinine clearance (from 41.0 +/- 7.9 to 30.3 +/- 6.3 ml/min) and increased serum levels of creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin. Sulindac had no effect on any of these parameters. Both drugs induced depression of urinary prostaglandin E2 excretion; this depression was greater after indomethacin. Urinary sodium excretion fell from 144.4 +/- 18.7 to 85.5 +/- 9.7 mmol/24 hr after indomethacin and from 131.7 +/- 11.6 to 103.4 +/- 13.3 mmol/24 hr after sulindac. Body weight increased 1.2 kg after indomethacin but was not changed by sulindac. Plasma renin activity was reduced from 2.3 +/- 0.8 to 1.7 +/- 0.6 nmol/L/hr by sulindac and from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 1.5 +/- 0.5 nmol/L/hr by indomethacin. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and kallikrein excretion was not changed by either drug. Our data suggest that sulindac affects renal prostaglandin E2 synthesis and sodium excretion in patients with severe renal failure to a lesser extent than does indomethacin. Sulindac still seems to be the drug of choice in this group of patients, but glomerular filtration rate, body weight, and electrolyte balance should be carefully monitored.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Evaluation of complications due to percutaneous renal biopsy: a clinical and angiographic study.

Complications due to 173 percutaneous biopsies in 158 patients were evaluated. In 57 of the patients the biopsies were guided by renal angiography, and in this group hematomas were found in 23% of the biopsies, arteriovenous fistulae in 8%, and renal infarction in 6%. No predisposing factors leading to complications were found. A transient increase in serum creatinine concentration was recorded with a maximal value about the fourth to sixth day after the biopsy. Thirteen percent of the biopsies controlled by angiography resulted in permanent kidney lesions, but none of them seemed to be of clinical importance.

Adult↗

Toxicity of plasma from hemodialysis patients treated with heparin or prostacyclin.

Hemodialysis was performed in 6 uremic patients with either a bolus dose of 5 000 IU heparin or prostacyclin at a constant infusion rate of 5 ng/kg/min. Clinical data, plasma triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), platelet aggregation, white blood cell count and plasma toxicity were measured prior to and during both procedures. No serious side-effects were recorded. Heparin induced a fall in plasma TG, a rise in FFA and increased plasma toxicity. Prostacyclin infusion had no effect on these parameters. During both tests a marked drop in white blood cell count was found 15 min after the start of hemodialysis. During heparin dialysis no clotting was observed in the extracorporeal circuit. During prostacyclin dialysis clotting was observed at the venous line in three cases.

Adult↗

Long-term changes in transperitoneal water transport during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

9 patients were observed prospectively during 14-40 months 003 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment. From start of CAPD, each patient recorded dwell time, drained ultrafiltration volume (delta V), initial glucose concentration in dialysate, dialy fluid intake, body weight and blood pressure on a special form. These data, together with monthly values for albumin, urea, creatinin, phosphate, glucose and beta 2-microglobulin in plasma and in instilled dialysate, were later fed into a specially designed computer program to compare changes in the monthly mean (+/- SEM) values. During 5 episodes of peritonitis, daily changes in delta V were also computed. A long-term increase in delta V was found in 4 and a decrease in 5 patients. In all 9 patients delta V changed intermittently. All changes were most pronounced for long dwell times as compared to shorter dwell exchanges. The decrease in delta V started within the first 12 months of treatment. In the daily routine were aware of decreased ultrafiltration capacity in 3 patients only. Intermittent monthly changes in delta V could partly be correlated to changes in daily fluid intake. No correlations were found between long-term changes in delta V and fluid intake. All except 1 patient gained progressively in body weight, but without correlations to fluid balance, blood pressure and plasma albumin concentration. At the start of the observation period, most patients loosing delta V during this study appeared to have a more permeable membrane with a higher absorption rate of glucose and higher equilibration ratios for creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin in 5-hours drained dialysate as compared with the other patients. However, this was not statistically different between the two groups of patients. During the observation period, most patients with decreased delta V also increased transperitoneal solute transport, while the solute transport decreased in patients with increasing delta V, but these changes were only significant for some patients. During peritonitis, delta V decreased significantly 1 day before any other signs of peritonitis. All changes in delta V were most pronounced for long dwell times as compared with short dwell times. It is suggested that changes in ultrafiltration can be related to altered permeability of the peritoneal membrane, which appear earlier and more frequent than suggested by others, and any loss of delta V can be explained by a more permeable ('open') peritoneal membrane. It is also possible that different diseases act differently on the permeability of the peritoneal membrane.

Adult↗

Evaluation of benefits of drug analysis in the routine clinical management of acute self poisoning.

A prospective study including 265 patient admissions for acute self poisoning are presented. Information on drug intake was obtained on admission. This was compared with the results from an extensive toxicological screening of blood samples drawn on admission and other information obtained later during hospitalization. The drugs used were identified clinically by the case histories and by routine laboratory analyses in 86% of the patients. In 14% either wrong drugs were suspected or the drugs were unknown. Extensive toxicological screening was needed to identify the drugs in 5% of the patients. Correct identification on admission did not seem to influence the clinical outcome. It is concluded that in this group of patients, it is possible to get reliable information concerning the drugs used by the case histories, clinical examination and routine laboratory analyses on admission.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of cefuroxime in patients with severe renal insufficiency.

The pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of cefuroxime were investigated in 5 patients with severe impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance less than or equal to 23 ml/min), suffering from an urinary tract infection. Bolus i.v. injections of cefuroxime 750 mg b.i.d. or 750 mg once daily were given to the patients depending on the degree of renal impairment. The concentration of drug in serum and urine was measured during treatment, and pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated on the second and last days; the parameters obtained on the 2 days did not differ significantly. Drug elimination half-life increased from 4.2 h (creatinine clearance 23.0 ml/min) to 22.3 h (creatinine clearance 5.0 ml/min) with decreasing renal function. The apparent volume of distribution ranged from 11.6 to 17.9 l, and showed a substantial increase to 29.6 l in the patient with the poorest renal function. A linear correlation was found between the total and renal clearance of cefuroxime and the creatinine clearance; the extrarenal clearance was 8.24 ml/min. Concomitant treatment with furosemide did not impair renal function and no evidence of nephrotoxicity was found. The clinical efficacy of the drug was good. Symptoms of infection subsided after 3-4 days and the isolated pathogens were eradicated. No relapse or episodes of reinfection were observed in a following-up period of 3 months. The drug was well tolerated and no side effects or changes in haematological or biochemical values were seen.

Aged↗

The pharmacokinetics and diuretic effects of piretanide in chronic renal insufficiency.

The pharmacokinetics of piretanide, a new loop diuretic, were studied in four patients with GFR 4.7-14.8 ml/min. An oral dose of piretanide 18 mg was given at 08.00 h in two patients and at 08.00 h and 14.00 h in two. Blood samples were drawn after 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h. Serum concentrations of piretanide were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The peak serum concentration of piretanide (1-2 h after drug administration) was 510-880 ng/ml, independent of renal function. Elimination half life (t1/2) was 1.2-4.1 h, area under the curves (AUC(0,24)) 1.63-2.44 micrograms ml-1 h, volume of distribution (Vz) 0.30--0.741#kg, total plasma clearance (CL) 122.8-184.0 ml/min and renal clearance (CLR) 1.5-5.2 ml/min. The clinical effects of oral treatment with piretanide 18 mg twice daily were compared with bumetanide 3 mg twice daily in eight patients with renal failure (GFR 2.2-24.5 ml/min). Both drugs equally increased the 24 h output of urine (delta V), sodium (delta UNaV), chloride (delta UC1V), potassium (delta UKV) and calcium (delta UCaV). Fractional excretion of sodium (ENa%) was doubled by piretanide in patients with GFR less than 8 ml/min while a five fold increase was found in patients with GFR greater than 8 ml/min. The onset of effect was the same for both drugs, but the duration exceeded 6 h only for piretanide. Both drugs were most effective on the first of two consecutive treatment days. Delta UC1V was always greater than delta UNaV and urinary phosphate excretion was unchanged, as expected of a loop diuretic without significant proximal effects. Metabolic or clinical side effects were not noticed.

Bumetanide↗

Labetalol in the treatment of hypertension in patients with normal and impaired renal function.

Labetalol (Trandate) is a new antihypertensive agent with both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocking properties. In a double-blind cross-over study the antihypertensive action and side-effects of labetalol and propranolol were compared in 18 previously untreated outpatients with hypertension, WHO stage I--III. Mean daily dose of labetalol was 667 mg and of propranolol 129 mg. Labetalol reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the seated and upright position significantly more than propranolol. The pulse rate reduction was greater with propranolol. Side-effects were more pronounced with propranolol. The antihypertensive effect, effect on pulse rate and pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of 400 mg labetalol were studied in 6 patients with normal and 6 patients with impaired renal function (creatinine clearance less than 20 ml/min), all belonging to WHO stage I--II. A significant fall in pulse rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed in both groups, the duration being more than 25 h. No difference was found between the two groups. From the serum concentration-time curves the elimination rate constant, elimination half-life and area under the curve were calculated. The mean values of the two groups did not differ significantly. A pronounced interindividual variation was found in both groups.

Adult↗

Removal of uremic toxins and regeneration of hemofiltrate by a selective dual hemofiltration artificial kidney (SEDUFARK) system.

A new system for the treatment of patients with end-stage renal failure has been developed. The SElective DUal Filtration ARtificial Kidney (SEDUFARK) is based on a dual filtration technique combined with low flow dialysis. Primary hemofiltrate containing large molecular weight substances is regenerated through a second filter followed by dialysis before the fluid containing essential substances of low molecular weight is returned to the patient. The ability of SEDUFARK to purify blood from uremic patients has been evaluated using a human macrophage assay system. Uremic plasma post SEDUFARK treatment was significantly less toxic than matched pre treatment plasma and the SEDUFARK regeneration system was found superior to conventional hemofiltration treatment.

Blood↗