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Biomedical subjects

L Konopka

Publications and source records attributed to L Konopka.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Activity of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (Cladribine) in 2-hour intravenous infusion in 94 previously treated patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The purpose of our study was to determine the efficacy of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) administered in 2-hour intravenous infusions in previously treated patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LGNHL). We treated 94 LGNHL patients with 2-CdA at a dosage of 0.12 mg/kg/24h in 2-hour intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days. The treatment consisted of from 1 to 7 courses (median 3), repeated usually at monthly intervals. All patients were refractory to or relapsed after standard chemotherapy. Of these 94 patients 78 (83%) had clinical stage IV of the disease. Complete response (CR) was obtained in 12 (12.8%) and partial response (PR) in 36 (38.3%) giving an overall response rate of 51.1%. In 12 (12.8%) grade 4 thrombocytopenia with haemorrhagic diathesis was noted, grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 12 (12.8%) and infections complicated the course of treatment in 38 (40.4%) patients. 2-CdA treatment was the cause of death of 3 patients. The results of our study show that 2-CdA given in 2-hour infusions is an effective agent in advanced, heavily pretreated patients with LGNHL.

Adult↗

2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) in 2-hour versus 24-hour intravenous infusion in the treatment of patients with hairy cell leukemia.

Forty one patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) were treated with 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CdA) administered in various schedules. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 31 (76%) patients and partial remission (PR) in 9 (22%). The mean duration of remission (CR + PR) was 25.2 months (range 9-45 months). One patient did not respond to therapy. Twelve out of 16 patients (75%) achieved CR after 5-day intravenous infusions of 2-CdA and 19 out of 25 patients (76%) after 7-day courses. In 19 out of 23 patients (82.6%) CR was achieved after intermittent 2-hour infusions and in 12 out of 18 (66.7%) after continuous 24-hour infusion. The differences were not statistically significant. Side effects of 2-CdA were similar in both groups except for infections, which were less frequently observed in the group treated for 5 days. The results of our study suggest that 2-CdA can be effectively administered to patients with HCL using 5-day courses and a 2-hour daily infusion.

Adult↗

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↗

[Use of hematopoietic growth factors in nonmalignant neutropenias in adults].

The results of clinical trials suggest that human hematopoietic factors are very usefull in overcoming neutropenia. Particularly, the great clinical benefit after G-CSF, GM-CSF therapy is observed in different types of neutropenia (cyclic, chronic neutropenia) aplastic anaemia, and neutropenias in infection diseases. At present, in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, GM-CSF and other CSFs are envisioned in a primarily adjunctive role, supporting blood counts during period of myelosuppressive drug therapy.

Adult↗

Impaired in vitro proliferative response of suppressor lymphocytes in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage from ruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Proliferative response to mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen, and other chosen indicators of the activity of the immune system were assayed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from blood of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm. Healthy blood donors served as control group. The SAH group displayed impaired response to concanavalin A, which is a mitogen specific for suppressor cells. It is suggested that the impaired activity of suppressor cells pre-existed in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage, and after intracranial bleeding it might have contributed to the development of late neurological deficits.

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[Pseudothrombocytopenia].

Pseudothrombocytopenia in four patients has been described. It was due to platelet "++EDTA-dependent" antibodies. The number of platelets was described only in EDTA blood while the number was normal when platelet were evaluated in citrate blood. The importance of distinguishing pseudothrombocytopenia from thrombocytopenia is discussed, especially in view of unnecessary treatment, delayed operation etc.

Adult↗

[Effectiveness of interferon alfa in different stages of thrombocythemia (preliminary report)].

In 6 women aged 38 to 68 years with thrombocythaemia during chronic myeloid leukaemia (4 cases), myelofibrosis (1 case), and idiopathic thrombocythaemia (1 case) the effects of recombinant human alpha-interferon (Intron A, rh IFN alpha -2b, Schering) were studied. The drug was given to all patients subcutaneously in one daily dose of 3 x 10(6) u, every day for 3 weeks, and then in the same doses twice weekly for 2 weeks (5 cases) and for 14 weeks (1 case). Intron A caused in all cases a fall of peripheral blood platelet count by 37% to 65.5% (mean 50%) in relation to the initial count (532 - 1,453 x 10(9)/l). The fall of the platelet count occurred usually after 7-10 days of this treatment, and the lowest count was noted usually after 24 days (10 to 42 days). During the treatment in 4 cases the peripheral leucocyte count dropped as well by 20-70%. In no cases exacerbation of chronic myeloid leukaemia was noted, and in the patient with myelofibrosis the enlarged spleen shrunk somewhat. These results of treatment and follow-up of patients with thrombocythaemia treated with Intron A indicate a significant although short-lasting effect of platelet count fall limited, however, to the time of the treatment. Side effects of the drug included mainly febrile conditions, myalgia and arthralgia.

Adult↗

Disturbances of cell-mediated immunity in ornithosis.

27 cases of ornithosis were observed during an epidemia in 1980 in Kielce and subsequently followed with respect to immunological characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Blastic transformation of these cells was tested after stimulation in vitro with three different mitogens. Identification of peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes was done using rosette tests (E,EA,EAC) and the occurrence of surface immunoglobulins was determined by the immunofluorescent method with polyvalent anti-immunoglobulin serum. The counts of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were normal throughout the whole period of the observation, but from the 3rd week on a significant impairment of 3H-thymidine incorporation into the cells stimulated with Con A was observed, and from the 10th week on, this impairment appeared also in cells stimulated with PHA and PWM. These observations revealed considerable disturbances in cell-mediated reactivity in patients with ornithosis and seem to be connected with chronic infection with Chlamydia psittaci.

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