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Biomedical subjects

M Kosmin

Publications and source records attributed to M Kosmin.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Concurrent presentation of erythrocytic and megakaryocytic aplasia.

A case of a patient presenting with idiopathic concurrent erythrocytic and megakaryocytic aplasia is reported. The patient's response to immunosuppressive therapy and her bone marrow pathology clearly suggest an immune mechanism. Based on the lack of suppression of erythroid colony growth, several mechanisms are postulated. Well-established molecular and genetic evidence, along with clinical observations, suggests that a relationship exists between the erythrocytic and megakaryocytic cell lines. This may be related to a common bipotential stem cell or common cell surface markers. This case provides strong clinical evidence to support this relationship.

Adult

Hemolytic anemia associated with lead poisoning from shotgun pellets and the response to Succimer treatment.

Symptomatic lead poisoning with severe hemolytic anemia was observed in a patient with retained shot gun pellets. Surgical resection of the retained pellets and the use of a newer chelating agent, Succimer (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) successfully lowered blood lead level. Hemolytic anemia was associated with deficient erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase, and lowering of the lead level corrected the deficiency, suggesting that the enzyme deficiency is responsible for the hemolysis associated with lead poisoning. This case illustrates that retained lead pellets from shotgun wounds can cause severe lead poisoning.

Adult

Increased preoperative collection of autologous blood with recombinant human erythropoietin therapy.

To study whether the administration of recombinant human erythropoietin increases the amount of autologous blood that can be collected before surgery, we conducted a randomized, controlled trial of erythropoietin in 47 adults scheduled for elective orthopedic procedures. The patients received either erythropoietin (600 units per kilogram of body weight) or placebo intravenously twice a week for 21 days, during which time up to 6 units of blood was collected. Patients were excluded from donation when their hematocrit values were less than 34 percent. All patients received iron sulfate (325 mg orally three times daily). The mean number of units collected per patient (+/- SE) was 5.4 +/- 0.2 for the erythropoietin group and 4.1 +/- 0.2 for the placebo group. The mean red-cell volume donated by the patients who received erythropoietin was 41 percent greater than that donated by the patients who received placebo (961 vs. 683 ml, P less than 0.05). Only 1 of the 23 patients treated with erythropoietin was unable to donate greater than or equal to 4 units (4 percent) as compared with 7 of the 24 patients who received placebo (29 percent). No adverse effects were attributed to erythropoietin. We conclude that recombinant human erythropoietin increases the ability of patients about to undergo elective surgery to donate autologous blood.

Adult

Natural history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in hemophilic patients.

During the 5-year period from 1981 to 1985, we have observed 8 cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among our 85 patients with hemophilia A. Thus, the prevalence of AIDS with hemophilia A is 9.4% in our patient population. By utilizing stored serum or plasma samples dating back to 1978, antibody against HTLV-III was detected in all 8 cases with AIDS. Based on the time interval from the appearance of antibody to HTLV-III to the diagnosis of AIDS in these patients, the incubation period ranged from 27 months to 60 months, with a median of 36 months. Before the diagnosis of full-blown AIDS, all patients exhibited a variety of prodromal manifestations of non-specific nature, including weight loss, oral candidiasis, unexplained non-productive chronic cough, generalized lymphadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia lasting several months to several years. Serial T-lymphocyte subset studies were available in some patients during the HTLV-III seropositive period and showed progressive lymphopenia, depletion of T4 cells with an average absolute count of 94 +/- 128 per mm3 (mean +/- 1 S.D.), and a markedly reversed T4/T8 ratio of 0.26 +/- 0.19 (mean +/- 1 S.D.). These findings suggest that the incubation period of AIDS is considerably long and that prospective study of serial immunologic markers and HTLV-III markers may be warranted in hemophilic patients at risk.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Clinical trial of a new disposable bleeding-time device.

A new disposable bleeding time device (Hemalet) was tested in 20 normal individuals and 11 patients with various bleeding disorders. The results were compared with those of Simplate II. The mean bleeding time for normal individuals was 5.4 +/- 1.5 (mean +/- 1 SD) minutes by Hemalet and 5.8 +/- 1.4 (mean +/- 1 SD) minutes by Simplate II, with good correlation between the results by the two devices (r = 0.81). The bleeding time in patients with various bleeding disorders were also comparably prolonged between the two devices. The new disposable bleeding time device with a disposable blade has quick release (penetration) into skin and retraction, and offers an alternative means of a bleeding time test.

Bleeding Time

Neonatal thrombosis with anticardiolipin antibody in baby and mother.

The anticardiolipin antibody is associated with increased risk of thrombosis, which is manifested with various clinical presentations, including vascular thrombosis, recurrent fetal wastage, and neurologic defects. We report a case of neonatal thrombosis occurring in the renal vein and inferior vena cava associated with moderate positive anticardiolipin antibody titer in the baby while the maternal serum showed even stronger anticardiolipin antibody of immunoglobulin G class. Subsequent follow-up over the 4 months postpartum period showed a disappearance of the antibody in the baby, whereas the mother's antibody persisted. This case illustrates the fact that the maternal anticardiolipin antibody can be transferred to the fetus and may be a risk factor for thrombosis in the neonates. Anticardiolipin antibody syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal thrombosis.

Adult