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Biomedical subjects

K Viskum

Publications and source records attributed to K Viskum.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Criteria for alpha 1-antitrypsin substitution.

The pharmacology and safety of substitution treatment intravenously with alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) in patients deficient of AAT has been thoroughly investigated. The clinical efficacy of the treatment has so far not been established. The difficulties and uncertainties involved in defining the right persons for treatment, and determining the right time for a possible start of treatment are discussed. A controlled trail with participation of several European countries is suggested.

Adult↗

Abacillary pulmonary tuberculosis.

In Copenhagen, a city with a low incidence of tuberculosis, 72 patients with discrete pulmonary infiltrates on the chest X-ray had a tentative diagnosis of tuberculosis. All were sputum smear negative for acid-fast bacilli. A prospective randomised study was carried out to determine whether these patients would benefit from chemotherapy. Out of the 72 patients, 22 (30.6%) had positive cultures initially and were treated. Of the remaining 50 patients, 22 received chemotherapy and 28 were untreated controls. Among the untreated patients 8 (29%) later became culture positive for M. tuberculosis, whereas none of the treated patients developed culture positive tuberculosis during the follow-up period of 5 years.

Adult↗

PEEP-masks in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease: a negative report.

Positive pressure during expiration by face masks applied by the patient has gained wide acceptance in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, but the efficacy is still unproven. The effect of 6 months of treatment with PEEP-masks (positive end-expiratory pressure) was therefore studied in 47 patients with severe irreversible obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) about 1 l), and mucus hypersecretion. Patients were double-blindly randomized to at least 45 min daily treatment with PEEP-masks with either 10 or 0 cm water pressure. After 6 months of treatment, no statistical difference was found between the two groups in change of median values (month 6 - month 0) of FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), amount of sputum or dyspnoea. Median values of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) decreased significantly (0.03 kPa) in the placebo group. Cough intensity and dyspnoea during walking on staircases improved significantly in the placebo group. No difference among groups was found in number of days bedridden, hospitalized, number of exacerbations or antibiotic consumption. We conclude, that the use of PEEP-masks in these patients is without clinical documentation and cannot be recommended.

Adult↗

[Heart-lung transplantation].

During recent years, lung transplantations have been performed as lung transplantations or heart-lung transplantations in approximately 300 patients with terminal pulmonary or pulmonary vascular disease where other forms of treatment were considered hopeless. Two of the patients were Danish and operation was undertaken in England. One and three year's survival are now so good that this form of treatment need no longer be regarded as being of experimental nature. The indications and contraindications for operation are described and the postoperative immuno-suppressive therapy and complications are reviewed. Employing strict criteria in selection, the annual number of patients in Denmark is estimated to be approximately 50 and this is an adequate basis for a transplantation centre. At present, the procedure for selection of patients for operation is still vague and random in Denmark.

Denmark↗

Spontaneous pneumothorax: comparison of simple drainage, talc pleurodesis, and tetracycline pleurodesis.

From 1978 to 1985 96 patients with their first spontaneous pneumothorax were randomised into three groups, receiving either treatment with simple drainage (34 patients), drainage with tetracycline pleurodesis (33 patients), or drainage with talc pleurodesis (29 patients). There were 58 men and 38 women, aged 18-88 years. There was no significant difference between the three groups in the mean time in hospital or the period for which the drains were retained. The incidence of infection, persistent pneumothorax, and relapse while in hospital was also similar for the three groups. At follow-up in 1987-89 patients could be accounted for, with an average follow-up period of 4.6 years. The incidence of recurrence was 36% in the simple drainage group, 13% in the tetracycline pleurodesis group, and 8% in the talc pleurodesis group. The difference between the talc and simple drainage groups was significant. None of the methods caused severe short or long term side effects or changes in the follow-up chest radiograph. Thoracoscopy, performed on admission in 85 patients, showed normal appearances in 73 patients and small cysts in 12. The thoracoscopic findings were of no value in predicting recurrence. Talc pleurodesis resulted in a significantly lower recurrence rate than simple drainage, tetracycline pleurodesis having intermediate efficacy.

Adolescent↗

Childhood tuberculosis in a developed country.

From 1975 to 1985, 25 Danish children (aged less than 15 yrs) and 40 children of immigrants were notified for tuberculosis in Copenhagen for the first time. A follow-up was undertaken in 1987. The annual rate of tuberculosis per 100,000 among the Danish children was 5 and among immigrant children 68-200 depending on the nationality. At the time of diagnosis, no significant differences were present between Danes and immigrants as regards age, sex, occurrence of symptoms or previous BCG immunization, whereas there were significantly more bacteriologically proven cases among the immigrants. All Danish children had respiratory tuberculosis only, whereas 13 immigrant children had extrapulmonary manifestations including one case of miliary and two cases of meningeal tuberculosis. At follow-up, all patients were cured for tuberculosis and had experienced a normal physical development.

Child↗

Long term sequelae after talc pleurodesis for spontaneous pneumothorax.

After talc pleurodesis performed between 1954 and 1964 because of spontaneous pneumothorax during thoracoscopy, 99 patients were followed up. Only 2 patients experienced a pneumothorax relapse. Mesothelioma was not observed in any case, X-ray changes in the Pleura were moderate, and lung function did not show any significant restriction. It is concluded therefrom that the method is effective and does also not produce any noticeable side effects on long-term observation.

Adolescent↗

Tuberculosis in a developed country.

All 515 patients notified for tuberculosis for the first time in 1972, 1977 and 1982 in Copenhagen have been studied. Changes during the period and differences between Danes and immigrants were looked for. The percentage of immigrants increased during the period. The immigrants had a different age distribution, higher frequency of extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a distribution different from that of Danes, fewer complicating diseases and they drank less alcohol. No significant changes in the patient population took place in the decade studied, except for a decreasing number of Danes with tuberculosis, a decreasing number of abacillary patients and an increase in the percentage of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. At follow-up in 1983, none of the immigrants, but 147 of 407 Danes had died, mainly from complicating diseases. Life expectancy for the Danes, who survived the initial phase, was not significantly different from that for the population at large. None of the patients were bacillary at the time of the follow-up.

Adult↗

The effect of RU 41.740, an immune modulating compound, in the prevention of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic bronchitis.

The effect of Biostim (RU 41.740), a new non-specific immune modulator, in reducing the number of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic bronchitis, was examined. One hundred and ninety-eight patients with chronic bronchitis stages 2 and 3 entered the study, which was conducted as a multicenter, double-blind, parallel three-group, placebo-controlled trial. The patients were randomised to placebo, Biostim 2 or 8 mg per day, and received treatment for 1 week every other week for 3 successive months during the winter 1983. A significant (p = 0.005) reduction in the number of acute exacerbations was observed in the patients treated with Biostim 2 mg/day, whereas no effect was observed in the placebo or 8 mg/day group. No serious side-effects were encountered.

Acute Disease↗

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a case of progesterone receptor positive lymphangioleiomyomatosis treated with medroxyprogesterone, oophorectomy and tamoxifen.

A 28-year-old woman with lymphangioleiomyomatosis had severe changes in the chest radiograph and recurrent pneumothoraces. Pathological tissue from the lung was progesterone receptor positive. After treatment with medroxyprogesterone her condition improved, but did not become clinically stable until after bilateral oophorectomy. Even after oophorectomy her condition deteriorated, when the dose of medroxyprogesterone was decreased. For one year after oophorectomy she has had no episodes of pneumothorax or breathlessness. In order to depress oestrogen activity further the anti-oestrogen drug tamoxifen was added to her usual treatment with medroxyprogesterone. During 2 weeks of treatment with tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone marked increase of the changes in the chest radiograph were seen and a pneumothorax occurred. After discontinuation of tamoxifen the condition improved and has since been stable on medroxyprogesterone treatment.

Adult↗