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Biomedical subjects

K Lewandowski

Publications and source records attributed to K Lewandowski.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for transport of hypoxaemic patients with severe ARDS.

Conventional inter-hospital transfer of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in need of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be risky and in severe hypoxaemic patients may be associated with cerebral hypoxia and death. Therefore, we began a phase 1 study to evaluate the feasibility, complications and outcome of inter-hospital transport of these patients using veno-venous ECMO. Eight patients with severe ARDS and a PaO2/FIO2 < 6.7 kPa at a PEEP > or = 10 cm H2O were placed on a mobile ECMO at the referring hospital. The 495 (SD 123) km inter-hospital transport via a special ground ambulance took 341 (151) min. After transfer, blood-gas tensions were improved in spite of less optimal ventilator settings, compared with data before the start of ECMO. No significant complications occurred. Six patients survived and were discharged from hospital; two patients died because of multiple organ failure. We conclude that initiation of ECMO in hypoxaemic patients before inter-hospital transfer is feasible and enables safe transport to an ECMO centre.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine (cladribine)-related eosinophilia in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases.

Eosinophilia and allergic skin reactions are uncommon events after 2-chlorodoxyadenosine (2-CdA, cladribine) administration. A multicentre retrospective analysis of eosinophilia in 360 patients treated with 2-CdA for lymphoid malignancies has been made. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) was diagnosed in 153, hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) in 68, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LGNHL) in 119, high-grade NHL in 2 and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) in 18 patients. 2-CdA was administered at a dose 0.12 mg/kg/d in 2-h intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive d. The courses were repeated monthly. Patients with HCL received 1 cycle of 2-CdA, with NHL 2-6 (mean 3.5) cycles and with B-CLL 3-6 (mean 5) cycles. Twenty patients (5.5%), including 5 with HCL, 6 with LGNHL, 7 with B-CLL and 2 with WM, developed peripheral blood eosinophilia. The mean values of absolute eosinophil count were 0.78x10(9)/l (0.58-1.06x10(9)/l), 0.71x10(9)/l (0.52-1.3x10(9)/l), 85 (0.56-1.82x10(9)/l) and 0.75 (0.74-0.76x10(9)/l), respectively. Eosinophilia occurred in 13 patients after 1 course, in 4 after 2 courses, and in 5 after > or =3 courses of the therapy. In 17 cases it resolved spontaneously. Allergic skin lesions with pruritus were noticed in 3 patients simultaneously with an increase in eosinophil count. All of them required antihistaminic drugs and/or corticosteroids. One patient with B-CLL experienced repeated episodes of eosinophilia. The highest incidence of 2-CdA-induced eosinophilia was noticed in patients with MW (11.1%) and HCL (7.4%) who received only 1 cycle of this drug and entered a complete remission. This side effect was less frequently observed in LGNHL and B-CLL, i.e. in 5.0% and 4.6% of cases, respectively. The mechanism of 2-CdA-induced eosinophilia is not clear. It has been postulated that massive tumour cell lysis may trigger a release of IL-5 and probably other cytokines. The allergic mechanism of 2-CdA-induced eosinophilia is also possible, especially in patients with simultaneous skin reactions.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed1996

Low molecular weight heparin and the heparin mobilisable pool of platelet factor 4 are reduced in young survivors of myocardial infarction.

The platelet factor 4 (PF4) mobilisation properties of low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine, Sanofi Winthrop, France) in young survivors of myocardial infarction (YSMI) and healthy volunteers have been investigated. The study group consisted of 42 YSMI less than 44 years old, all of them with angiographically proven occlusive coronary artery disease, studied 6 to 24 months after the acute event. The control group was composed of 30 healthy men of similar age. Subjects from the study and control groups were allocated to the following subgroups: those receiving 60 or 120 IU/kg b.w. of standard heparin (Polfa Kutno, Poland) and those receiving 60, 120 or 180 IC anti-Xa U/kg b.w. of low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine, Sanofi Winthrop, France) as a single intravenous injection. Additionally, in five YSMI patients the influence of prolonged aspirin administration (0.3g daily for more than 30 days) on the Fraxiparine mobilsable pool of PF4 and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) concentration in the plasma was determined after injection of 180 IC anti-Xa U/kg b.w. of the drug. The PF 4 and beta-TG concentration in the plasma was evaluated using enzyme immunoassay methods before heparin or Fraxiparine intravenous injection and 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min after. In both, the control and YSMI groups baseline PF4 levels were found to be normal. Moreover, similar marked dose-dependent increases of PF4 concentration in the plasma measured after 60 and 120 IU/kg b.w. of heparin as well as after 60 and 120 IC anti-Xa U/kg b.w. of Fraxiparine was found. The administration of 120 IU/kg b.w. of heparin resulted in a reduced rise in plasma PF 4 in YSMI as compared to healthy controls. The same phenomenon was observed when 180 IC anti-Xa U/kg b. w. of Fraxiparine was injected intravenously. In YSMI treatment with aspirin had no influence on the Fraxiparine mobilisable pool of PF 4 or the beta-TG concentration in the plasma. These results suggest that mobilisable pool of platelet factor 4 in young survivors of myocardial infarction derives from the "nonplatelet pool" and that reduction of heparin- or Fraxiparine-releasable pool of PF4 may reflect an impaired endothelium function, probably due to atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Clinical aspects of acute lung failure in adults (ARDS)].

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is rare but beset with a high mortality rate. In recent years, however, a trend towards higher survival rates has been observed. High inspiratory oxygen concentrations, large tidal volumes, and high peak inspiratory airway pressures applied during mechanical ventilation have been identified as harmful to the lung and can contribute to the progression of ARDS. This had led to reconsideration of the sequelae of ventilatory therapy. Mechanical ventilation and other adjunctive strategies in ARDS have changed from the conventional approach aiming at normalisation of physiological ventilatory parameters to an elaborated approach that intends to protect the ventilated lung, prevent oxygen toxicity, recruit the infiltrated atelectatic and consolidated lung and reduce the anatomical and alveolar dead space. This new approach consists of various forms of pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation with PEEP and permissive hypercapnia, body position changes, and inhalation of nitric oxide. Should these procedures fail to improve impaired gas exchange, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an additional therapeutic option. None of these therapeutic procedures, however, has been tested against traditional standard treatment in a classical randomised controlled trial. The following review focuses on the latest insights into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of ARDS.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1996

Evidence of nitric oxide in the exhaled gas of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Nitric oxide (NO) produced in the respiratory tract is released into the respiratory gases of humans, rabbits, guinea-pigs, and rats. We analysed the NO concentrations in the exhaled gas of four awake Asian elephants. Two methods were employed: (1) exhaled gas was sampled from the elephants' trunks with a 1 L syringe and analysed for NO concentrations by chemiluminescence; (2) respiratory gas was continuously aspirated via a thin plastic tube positioned within the trunk and on-line analysed for NO concentrations by chemiluminescence. Syringe sampling (n = 4), when corrected for dilution by ambient air using linear regression analysis, revealed a mean NO concentration of 31 parts per billion (ppb); highest exhalatory concentrations measured during continuous suctioning were 27 and 28 ppb (n = 2). The exhaled NO concentrations in elephants are similar to those found in humans measured with a comparable technique. This supports the hypothesis that a size-independent 'normal value' of endogenous NO is provided in the airways which may contribute to regulation of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion by autoinhalation in some mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Intermittent 2-hour intravenous infusions of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in the treatment of 110 patients with refractory or previously untreated B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of 2-CdA in 2-hour intravenous infusions in the treatment of B-CLL. One hundred and ten patients with B-CLL received 1 to 10 courses of 2-CdA (median 2.5) at a dosage of 0.12 mg/kg daily for 5 consecutive days. Eighteen of them were untreated and 92 relapsed or became refractory to previous therapeutic modalities. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 8 (7.3%) and partial remission (PR) in 35 patients (31.8%) giving an overall response rate of 39.1%. In 3 patients, cross-resistance to fludarabine was noticed. Toxic effects of 2-CdA were more frequently observed in previously treated patients. Hemorrhagic complications due to drug-induced thrombocytopenia were noticed in 25 (22.7%) and severe infections including sepsis in 14 (12.7%) patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) as adjunctive therapy with thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study with a one year follow up].

In 53 patients with recent (< 6 hrs) acute myocardial infarction a study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of conjunctive therapy with streptokinase (1.5 mln U), aspirin (150 mg) and low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine). Patients were treated with Fraxiparine 250 U anti-Xa IC/kg/24 hrs iv for 2 days (with bolus 12.5 U anti-Xa IC/kg), and 125 U anti-Xa IC/kg twice a day sc for 5 subsequent days. Clinical course in one-year observation was compared regarding the time the therapy was initiated. In the group undergoing therapy 3-6 hrs after the infarct had occurred 4 (7.5%) patients died (2 during hospitalization, 2 after discharge). In 31 patients treated within 3 hrs of the myocardial infarction there were fewer cases of recurrent myocardial infarction, unstable angina or congestive heart failure necessitating rehospitalization their (9.1%) than in 22 patients included in the treatment regimen between 3 rd and 6th h of the infarction (27.3%). Earlier thrombolysis was also connected with higher left ventricular ejection fraction (55 +/- 8% vs 49 +/- 10%) and more frequent peak CK-MB values 12 hrs after thrombolysis (81% and 68% of patients respectively). Neither symptomatic deep vein thrombosis nor pulmonary embolism was detected. The left ventricular thrombosis was diagnosed by echocardiography in 4 of 20 patients (20%) with the first anterior myocardial infarction. There was neither bleeding requiring blood transfusion nor cerebrovascular stroke. The treatment with Fraxiparine did not induce the prolongation of APTT values. Conjunctive thrombolytic therapy with low molecular weight heparin was safe and followed by a favorable outcome of the acute myocardial infarction, especially if instituted within the first 3 hrs after the onset of infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Similar risk of thrombosis complications in heterozygous carriers of Leiden mutation and in patients with idiopathic thromboembolic disease].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the thrombosis free survival in unrelated 24 heterozygous carriers for Leiden mutation and in unrelated 26 patients with "idiopathic" thromboembolic disease. The subjects with coexisting antithrombin III, protein C, S deficiency, obesity, antiphospholipid antibodies, cancer or taking oral contraceptives were excluded from analysis. The clinical manifestations of thrombosis were comparable in both investigated group, similarly the mean age of the first episode occurrence (37.2 vs 41.5 years). The probability for development of thrombosis in Kaplan-Meier analysis was not different between two groups. Moreover, during six months of observation period thrombosis reoccurrence rate was similar (1/24 vs 1/26).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Preliminary evaluation of a new continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring device.

Continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring is a new technique, possibly offering therapeutic advantages through improved monitoring in patients prone to hypoxaemia, hypercapnia and/or respiratory acidosis. Therefore, we studied the clinical applicability, reliability, precision and side effect of long-term continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring in patients suffering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. In 10 patients continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring based on fluorescent optodes technique was performed. At 4 h intervals, arterial blood samples for in vitro blood gas analyses were drawn, stored in ice, and analysed within 3 min. Evaluation of data retrieved from the continuous intra-arterial blood gas monitoring and in vitro blood gas analysis was based on 596 data points using 10 catheters. Average length of insertion was 281 +/- 215 h, max. lengths of stay was 750 h. Arterial blood gas data obtained in vivo were compared to the mean of in vivo and in vitro arterial blood gases. Inter-catheter bias, expressed as percent difference between continuous intra-arterial blood gas and mean in vitro blood gas analysis was 0.19 +/- 0.23% for pH. 1.1 +/- 5.2% for PaCO2 and 1.6 +/- 5.7% for PaO2. No significant gas partial pressure dependent change in precision was demonstrable. There was no significant time dependent drift in sensor precision over the study period. No negative side-effects related to IABG monitoring were observed. We conclude that long-term use of this new device is possible in patients and represents a reliable alternative to conventional in vitro arterial blood gas analysis, when continuous monitoring of blood gases and/or acid-base balance is critical.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1995

Incidence, severity, and mortality of acute respiratory failure in Berlin, Germany.

A prospective multicenter study was carried out from October 1 to November 30, 1991, to determine the incidence, severity, and mortality of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in Berlin, Germany, a metropolis with a population of 3.44 million. Adult patients from 72 intensive care units (ICUs) were evaluated. ARF was defined as: (1) intubation and mechanical ventilation (I+MV) > or = 24 h; age > or = 14 yr. Incidence of ARF was assessed as the number of patients fulfilling ARF criteria within the 2-mo study period. Severity of ARF was defined as "no lung injury" (NLI), "mild-to-moderate lung injury" (MMLI), and "severe lung injury" (SLI) according to Murray and coworkers' proposals. Mortality was assessed as number of patients with ARF dying during ICU stay. During the study period, 508 patients were diagnosed as having ARF, representing an incidence of ARF of 88.6 per 100,000/yr. Twenty-four h after I+MV, MMLI occurred in 94% and SLI in 3.6% of the ARF patients. Overall mortality rate was 42.7%. Mortality rate in the NLI group was 36.4%; in patients with MMLI, 40.8%; and in patients with SLI, 58.8%. Our data offer novel information on incidence, severity, and mortality of ARF in a major urban population.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide in patients with severe ARDS.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the initial and long-term effect of nitric oxide (NO) inhalation in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DESIGN: Retrospective, clinical study. SETTING: University surgical ICU. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven patients with severe ARDS. INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: Thirty of 87 patients with ARDS inhaled low concentrations of NO for more than 48 h in addition to the standard treatment. Initial and long-term effects of NO inhalation on hemodynamics, gas exchange, and methemoglobin formation were determined. Survival of patients treated with inhaled NO was compared with survival in similar patients without NO inhalation. RESULTS: In 83% of the patients, NO increased the ratio of arterial PO2 to the fraction of inspired O2 (PaO2/FIO2) by > or = 10 mm Hg; in 87%, NO reduced venous admixture (QVA/QT) by > or = 10%, and in 63%, NO decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) by > or = 3 mm Hg. Daily short interruption of continuous inhalation of NO for a duration of 17 +/- 2.4 days was consistently associated with a decrease in PaO2/FIO2 by 81 +/- 4 mm Hg (p < 0.001). QVA/QT increased by 8.3 +/- 0.4% (p < 0.001) and PAP by 5.3 +/- 0.3 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Over time, we observed neither tachyphylaxis nor a more pronounced effect of inhaled NO. Methemoglobin increased from 0.74 +/- 0.56% to 0.98 +/- 0.02% (p < 0.001). Survival rates in patients treated with NO did not differ from survival rates in patients not treated with NO. CONCLUSION: Beneficial effects of NO inhalation can be observed in most patients with severe ARDS; in some cases, however, it may fail to improve pulmonary gas exchange or to reduce pulmonary hypertension without obvious explanation. To demonstrate a possible increase in survival associated with NO inhalation, large randomized prospective trials are required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Contemporary possibilities of prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes].

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a heterogenous group of closely related, acquired stem cell disorders. Various patterns of clinical evolution have been observed in patients with different subtypes according to the FAB (French-American-British) criteria. The marked differences in clinical outcome among MDS patients have encouraged us to search the alternative variables for predicting leukemic transformation and survival. During the past 10 years different prognostic scoring systems based on age combined with blood and bone marrow parameters have been described. This has enabled the identification of patients with better and worse prognosis among different MDS types. Additionally, studies of cytogenic patterns in MDS patients and widespread availability of bone marrow histological specimens extended the possibility of prognosis in this disease. Similarly, the in vitro culture results of hematopoietic cells using growth and differentiation factors have given very promising results. The high prevalence of RAS mutation in patients with MDS has been defined, but its clinical usefulness is under discussion.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1995

[Current approaches of treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)].

The number of treatment modalities for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has increased, but curative options are still limited. For the majority of patients with low risk there is no standard therapy other than appropriate supportive care. In selected patients anabolic steroids, differentiation inducers such as cis-retinoic acid (RA), interferon alpha or gamma have been claimed to be active. Application of growth factors such as granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), and interleukin 3 (IL-3) improves neutrophil count and diminishes frequency of infectious complications, but responses are incomplete and of short duration. Preliminary results of erythropoietin (Epo) applied in therapeutical doses are disappointing, giving an improvement in 15-20% patients. Epo in large doses produces greater and sustained responses, but this treatment is too expensive. Low-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) induces a response rate in 25-30% patients, however, no survival advantage has been obtained. Addition of RA or GM-CSF produces response rates comparable to Ara-C alone, but also with no prolongation in survival. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers a good chance of long-term disease-free survival if is performed in an early stage of the disease or in complete remission, however, it is limited to patients below 55 years with an HLA-identical donor. Relatively young, high risk patients not eligible for allogeneic BMT should be considered for treatment with intensive polychemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

[Thrombophilia in a family with resistance to activated protein C and protein S deficiency].

Although patients with thromboembolic disease frequently have family histories of thrombosis, well-defined defects such as inherited deficiencies of anticoagulant proteins are found only in minority of cases. Herein, we present a family study of 42 years old woman with recurrent deep vein thrombosis which occurred first time four years ago during pregnancy, in subclavian vein, in relation to cardiac stimulator implantation because of atrio-ventricular III(0) block. Her laboratory investigation demonstrated normal APTT time, prothrombin time, platelet number, antithrombin III and protein C activity. Plasma antiphospholipid antibodies contents was within the normal range. The result of activated protein C(APC) resistance test was abnormal (R=1.64). Family study revealed similar degree of APC-resistance defect in her DVT symptomatic mother and two healthy young daughters (R=1.73 and 1.54 respectively). Additionally, a slightly reduced total protein S plasma concentration was found in the patient and her two children. The influence of a slightly reduced protein S level on the results of APC-resistance was excluded by evaluation of normalized activated protein C sensitivity ratio (nAPC-SR) as described de Ronde and Bertina.

Adult↗