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Biomedical subjects

M A Halim

Publications and source records attributed to M A Halim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Corticosteroid treatment of peritoneal tuberculosis.

Corticosteroids are beneficial as treatment of certain tuberculosis syndromes. We reviewed all cases of peritoneal tuberculosis diagnosed at our institution over 10 years to evaluate the role of corticosteroid administration combined with antituberculous therapy. Nine patients were treated with steroids plus antituberculosis agents (cases), and 26 received antituberculosis treatment only (controls). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of their basic demographics or disease. Nineteen controls compared with one case had recurrent abdominal pain. Seven controls had 17 emergency department visits because of abdominal pain. Intestinal obstruction was diagnosed for five of these patients, four of whom underwent laparotomy revealing extensive adhesions. Three controls died, and no case died. No case required laparotomy, had a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, or visited the emergency department because of abdominal pain. These findings suggest that corticosteroid administration combined with antituberculosis treatment reduces the frequency of morbidity and complications in patients with peritoneal tuberculosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Breast abscess caused by Brucella melitensis.

Cutaneous and soft tissue lesions are uncommon manifestations of brucellosis. Though breast involvement in animal brucellosis is not uncommon, involvement of the breast in human brucellosis is extremely rare. We report a case of breast abscess in a 39-year-old female caused by Brucella melitensis. Treatment with combination of trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (TMP/ SMX; cotrimoxazole) and doxycycline for 3 months resulted in clinical cure.

Abscess↗
PubMed1995

Systemic amphotericin B versus fluconazole in the management of antibiotic resistant neutropenic fever--preliminary observations from a pilot, exploratory study.

A pilot exploratory study was undertaken to collect preliminary information relating to safety and overall outcome in using intravenous fluconazole (FLUC) for managing antibiotic resistant neutropenic fever (ARNF), with the objective of assessing feasibility of performing a larger prospective controlled study. Patients who were neutropenic from treatment for leukaemia or bone marrow transplantation, received either fluconazole (FLUC) or amphotericin B (AB). Eight of 16 patients (50%) on FLUC and 21 of 25 patients (84%) on AB defervesced; the mean time to defervescence was 11.0 +/- 10.0 days for FLUC compared to 7.7 +/- 6.3 days for AB, and a similar proportion in each treatment group defervesced within 5 days (50% vs. 52%), respectively. Six of 16 patients (37.5%) on FLUC and three of 25 patients (12%) on AB developed overt invasive fungal disease, including pulmonary aspergillosis (FLUC 4 cases, AB 2 cases) and invasive candidiasis (FLUC 2 cases, AB 0 cases). The mean time to these events was 19.5 +/- 13.4 (FLUC) and 9.0 +/- 3.6 (AB) days. The fungal related mortality rates were higher in the FLUC group: five of 16 patients (31%) vs. two of 25 patients (18%) died respectively; the time to fungal death was 43.2 +/- 18.2 (FLUC) and 25.0 +/- 18.4 (AB) days. This tendency towards a more favourable outcome in patients on AB may have been due to absence of prior fluconazole prophylaxis in patients subsequently receiving IV FLUC. Analysis of a small subgroup of patients who had all received prior prophylaxis with clotrimazole only, indicated that a greater number of patients subsequently receiving IV FLUC died from fungal disease (5/16 vs.0/6, P = 0.09).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Controlled study of fluconazole in the prevention of fungal infections in neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies and bone marrow transplant recipients.

The efficacy and safety of oral fluconazole versus a polyene regimen in preventing mycoses in neutropenic patients was compared. Patients with haematological malignancy or bone marrow transplantation received as antifungal prophylaxis either fluconazole 200 mg daily or a regimen consisting of clotrimazole trouches 10 mg twice daily with mycostatin, 500,000 I.U. four times daily, benadryl and cepacol mouthwash. Ninety patients at risk for fungus infection were evaluable. Four of 42 patients (9.5%; confidence interval 2%-23%) on fluconazole and 17 of 48 patients (35.4%; confidence interval 22%-52%) (p < 0.01) on the clotrimazole regimen developed a clinically significant fungal infection, including 3 (7.1%) and 11 (22.9%) patients respectively who had severe fungal infection, mainly pulmonary aspergillosis. Death directly due to a fungal infection within 100 days of the start of prophylaxis occurred in 2 of 42 patients (4.8%) and 9 of 48 patients (18.8%) respectively (p < 0.06). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the chance of survival on fluconazole was statistically greater than for the clotrimazole regimen (p < 0.04). A decrease of candidal colonisation of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts occurred only in patients receiving fluconazole. No significant toxicity occurred. A 200 mg daily dose of fluconazole given to these patients thus appears to be well tolerated and to provide a protective effect against the development of fungal infection and death from severe fungal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Brucella peritonitis.

We report the case of a patient with peritonitis caused by Brucella melitensis who also had chronic liver disease. At first the patient was treated for bacterial peritonitis but when a lymphocytic ascites was aspirated antituberculosis chemotherapy was given. However, the serological tests for brucellosis were strongly positive and subsequently B. melitensis was isolated from ascitic fluid.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1993

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis complicated by end-stage renal failure treated with recombinant interferon alpha.

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis occurs in 50% of Saudi patients with end-stage renal failure and requires long-term hemodialysis since it is a contraindication to renal transplantation. Thirteen patients with biochemical and histological documented chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (11 with HCV antibodies) entered a double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study, in which Roferon A 3 MU or placebo were administered subcutaneously 3 times weekly after hemodialysis for 6 months. The mean ALT fell significantly from pretreatment levels of 74.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 54.7, 92.5) (13 patients in the 6-month run-in period) and 66.8 (CI 47.7, 85.8) (7 patients in the run-in period + 6 patients in the placebo period) (difference NS) to 37.6 (CI 21.0, 54.2) during interferon treatment (P < 0.005). In 10/13 patients (77%) ALT levels became normal. In the 6-month follow-up period immediately after therapy, the mean ALT was 45.2 (CI 28.0, 62.0). Although this change was not significant (P = 0.49), only 7 of these 10 patients sustained biochemical remission in the 6-month follow-up period. The corresponding total Histological Activity Index improved from 8.9 (CI 7.5, 10.3), 8.9 (CI 7.2, 10.7) (difference NS) to 6.2 (CI 3.9, 8.5) (P < 0.05; P = 0.052, respectively). Intralobular inflammation and periportal inflammation showed the most significant changes. Five of 13 (39%) and 2/13 patients (15%) had complete resolution of piecemeal necrosis and intralobular inflammation, respectively. Toxic effects of interferon were mild, early and self-limiting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Successful treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with allopurinol plus ketoconazole in a renal transplant recipient after the occurrence of pancreatitis due to stibogluconate.

A case of a renal transplant recipient who developed pancreatitis during stibogluconate treatment for visceral leishmaniasis and who was successfully treated with a combination of allopurinol and ketoconazole is reported. The features of this case are compared with those of the three previously reported cases of pancreatitis during stibogluconate treatment. Complete cure was achieved during the follow-up period of 15 months. If stibogluconate is used for treatment of renal transplant recipients, we advise extreme caution with close observation and combination therapy to be considered instead.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Efficacy of ciprofloxacin for treatment of Brucella melitensis infections.

The effectiveness of treatment of human brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis with ciprofloxacin alone was investigated in a prospective nonrandomized study. Subjects with central nervous system involvement, endocarditis, or severe renal dysfunction; children under 16 years of age; and pregnant women were excluded from the study. Of 19 patients, 16 completed the study; 7 were diagnosed as having acute systemic brucellosis, and 9 had acute brucella arthritis-diskitis. A rapid response to ciprofloxacin was seen in all 16 patients, but the blood cultures of 1 patient remained positive and the treatment was changed. During a 104-week follow-up period, 4 of the 15 responding patients relapsed or were reinfected within 8 to 32 weeks after completion of therapy. We conclude that treatment with ciprofloxacin alone, although effective for the acute symptoms, is associated with an appreciable rate of relapse; therefore, it should be given with other agents for treatment of brucellosis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Diagnostic dilemma and therapeutic non-compliance in a case of intracranial tuberculoma.

A case of extensive intracranial tuberculoma is presented. The patient had been treated for 5 years with a standard antituberculosis regimen but she had been grossly non-compliant. This had led to emergence of multi-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis producing progressive disease and extensive cranial nerve damage and proptosis. The unusual CT and angiographic appearances cast doubt on the original diagnosis and a brain biopsy was necessary. Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, ethionamide, pyrazinamide, clofazimine and PAS was cultured from the brain biopsy specimen and from an associated groin abscess. A novel regimen of isoniazid, cycloserine, amikacin and ciprofloxacin produced clinical improvement of symptoms and radiological resolution.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade in the management of pregnant women with mitral stenosis.

Twenty-five pregnant women with symptomatic mitral valve stenosis (mean valve area, 1.1 +/- 0.25 cm2) were managed by initiation or modification of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade with the use of either propranolol or atenolol. Significant improvement of symptoms occurred in 23 patients (92%) (p less than 0.01); the mean maternal heart rate was reduced significantly from 86 +/- 4 to 78 +/- 5 beats/min (p less than 0.0001). The overall fetal heart rate ranged between 130 to 150 beats/min during treatment. Only two patients required urgent closed mitral valvotomy, after pulmonary edema developed as a result of poor compliance to beta-blockade. All patients were safely delivered of infants at term. Fetal heart rates ranged between 120 to 140 beats/min at delivery. There was no maternal or fetal death. Pregnant woman with symptomatic mitral valve stenosis can be safely managed with beta-blockade, giving significant reduction in the incidence of pulmonary edema with no unwanted neonatal side effect.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1987

Brucella endocarditis.

Brucella endocarditis is an underdiagnosed, fatal complication of human brucellosis. Four successfully treated cases of Brucella endocarditis are reported. The development of a new valvar lesion and bulky vegetations seen on echocardiography helped to identify Brucella endocarditis occurring during systemic brucellosis. The aortic valve was affected in all four patients, and in one the mitral valve was also affected. Medical treatment did not cure the patients and all needed valve replacement--for haemodynamic deterioration in three and because a further embolism was feared in one. Antibiotics were continued for six to nine months after operation. There was no early or late mortality and no recurrence after a follow up of 15 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Endarterectomy of the left coronary system. Analysis of a 10 year experience.

Between January, 1971, and June, 1981, 278 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting had additional endarterectomy to the left coronary system. This constitutes 28% of all patients undergoing bypass grafting. Additional endarterectomy of the left anterior descending was performed in 250 and of the circumflex in 75 (an average of 1.2 endarterectomies to the left coronary system per patient). Five hundred thirty-six additional grafts to other vessels were performed, for a total of 861 grafts (three grafts per patient). There were 11 (4%) early and 29 (10%) late deaths. The actuarial survival rate was 93% at 3 years and 80% at 6 years. The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 12%. Of the survivors, 94% were either asymptomatic or improved. Two hundred forty-three grafts (75%) were restudied early (2 weeks to 1 year). The early patency rate of the grafts to the left anterior descending was 83% (156/188) and to the circumflex 75% (41/55). In 75 patients (81 grafts), restudied 1 year or more after operation, the patency rate was 75% (61/81). The runoff of grafts to the left coronary system was judged to be good in 76%, moderate in 14%, and poor in 10%.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Late results of mitral valve replacement using unstented antibiotic sterilised aortic homografts.

Three hundred and seventy nine patients who had undergone mitral valve replacement using unstented antibiotic sterilised aortic homografts were followed up for 52 to 138 months (mean 102 months). Patients requiring additional aortic valve replacement were excluded. The commonest cause was rheumatic heart disease (321 patients). There were 37 early deaths (9.8%) and 97 late deaths (28%). The actuarial survival of operative survivors was 83% at three years, 75% at five years, and 55% at nine years. Technical valve failure occurred in six patients (1.6%), infective endocarditis in 19 (5%), and degeneration of the valve in 43 (12.5%). The cumulative probability of freedom from endocarditis was 96% at three years, 94% at five years, and 91% at nine years, while that of freedom from valve degeneration was 97% at five years and 48% at 10 years. There were no early embolic episodes, but late embolism occurred in five patients (1.5%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Early and late results of combined endarterectomy and coronary bypass grafting for diffuse coronary disease.

Between October 1969 and December 1979, a total of 440 patients who had diffuse coronary artery disease were treated with combined endarterectomy and coronary bypass grafting. This constitutes 42 percent of all patients operated on at the same institution during this period. Six hundred eight endarterectomies were performed, 329 on the right coronary artery, 227 on the left anterior descending coronary artery and 52 on the left circumflex coronary artery. The early mortality rate was 4.3 percent and the late mortality rate 9 percent during a mean follow-up period of 47 months. The perioperative infarction rate was 15 percent. Ninety-five percent of survivors were asymptomatic or in improved condition. Only 11 patients were lost to follow-up study. Three hundred fourteen patients (71 percent) were reinvestigated with coronary and graft arteriography 1 month to 8 years postoperatively. The early patency rate of grafts to the endarterectomized vessels was 85 percent and the late patency rate (1 year or more) was 77 percent. The runoff was good in 79 percent, fair in 14 percent and poor in 7 percent of grafts. Endarterectomy is a valuable additional procedure in the management of patients with diffuse coronary artery disease.

Adult↗