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Biomedical subjects

O Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to O Ortega.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of hirudin overdosage in a dialysis patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with mixed hemodialysis and hemofiltration treatment.

We report a patient who developed type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and accidentally received a recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) overdosage. Treatment with hemodialysis (HD) using high-flux polysulfone dialyzer and hemofiltration was performed. Length of treatment was adjusted, monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to 1.5-2.5 times the mean of the normal range. She developed deep venous thrombosis and occlusion of vascular access. Only after cessation of heparin lock catheter, platelet count began to increase. After one year of treatment with acenocoumarol and additional low-dose r-hirudin, neither bleeding nor thrombotic episodes have been reported.

Aged↗

[Telemedicine and follow up of peritoneal dialysis patients].

UNLABELLED: Mean-term experience in the use of Telemedicine in Peritoneal Dialisis (PD) patients is limited as well as its cost-benefit. The main objective of this work is to evaluate Telemedicine utility in mean-long term control of stable PD patients, analyzing if the televisit (TV) could substitute 50% of the programed inhospital consults (HC) the time spent in both visit modalities, the quality of patient-personel contact as well as how image and sound have been perceived. Visit resolution was analyzed taking into account the need of HC after a TV; We also have studied if it would be possible to retrain patients in the dialisis technique with telemedicine, and we have checked the patient perceived quality and calculate the real and social costs. METHODS: during 18 months, the system has been implanted to 19 patients with 7 +/- 4 follow up (range 3-17). A Falcon videoconference kit at patient's place was used, connected to the home television set. In the hospital there was a computer with a videoconference card, webcam and software meeting point which permits the control of patient's camera from the hospital. Both are connected by a 3RDSI line system. A monthly programmed HC or TV has been made. If more controls had been required, they have been made by TV Time spent was recorded on each TV and patients and staff questionary were inquired. RESULTS: (a) PATIENTS: mean age 44 +/- 8 years, 13 (68%) male. 12 (63%) had elemental educational level and 7 (37%) mean-superior. 17 (89%) were actively working. The PD technique was: CAPD 6 (32%) and APD13 (68%). (b) Televisits: 103 TV have been made. 22 +/- 9 minutes were spent on each TV less than in the HC, 33 +/- 8 minutes (p < 0.01). There were technical problems related with lines in 21 TV, but only in 4 the connection was not possible. 92 TV (89%) were made on time, 99 (96%) had a good image quality and 96 (93%) had a correct sound. 100% of patients perceived TV as close to HC. In 90 TV (87%) medical treatment was modified. Only in 4 cases (3.9%) patients needed an hospital visit. According to patient's valuation, TV replaced correctly to HC in 97 instances (94%) and in 97 (97%) in staff opinion. In all cases (100%) catheter exit site could be evaluated as well as edema presence. Retraining was possible in all cases. There was a save in nurse's time and patient's time and also, a save in physical hospital space. Initial investment apart, the daily cost increment was scarce (1.5 Euro) taking into account that there is a save in time for patients and personnel, save in physical space in hospital and in sanitary transport. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine is useful from the clinical point of view in the mean-term for stable patients in PD. Daily cost increment is scarce and there is a save in time for patients and personnel, save in physical space in hospital and in sanitary transport.

Adult↗

[Benign mediastinal opacity: Castleman disease, apropos of a case and review of the current literature].

We report a case of fortuitously observed Castleman's disease. An mediastinal opacity was observed on the chest x-ray. At surgery, the apparently benign tumor was well individualized. Pathology reported Castleman's disease. Pathogenesis is unknown. Recent data on localized and more diffuse forms of this disease are presented. Diffuse forms occur more readily in immunodepressed patients.

Adult↗

[Treatment of the diffuse and focal proliferative forms of lupus nephropathy with intravenous cyclophosphamide. Intravenous cyclophosphamide in systemic lupus erythematosus].

The objective is to evaluate the therapeutic effect and toxicity of IV Cyclophosphamide on the evolution of diffuse and focal proliferative forms of lupus nephritis. It's a prospective, descriptive and non-controlled study. We treated 12 patients (M/F = 1:11, aged 30.07 +/- 14.15) diagnosed by renal biopsy with diffuse proliferative (n = 10) and focal (n = 2) lupus nephritis. All patients received IV Cyclophosphamide. A dose of 1 g/sg.m of body surface area was administered monthly for the first three months and each three months until two years. The follow-up was 34 +/- 24.83 months (range 6-67). Seven patients completed two years of treatment with Cyclophosphamide with a further follow-up of 18.71 +/- 12.36 months (range 6-67). Renal function either improved or remained unchanged. Proteinuria, hematuria and immunologic markers decreased or normalized at three years. The patients who finished the period of two years with CFIV remained stable. There were neither infections nor hemorrhagic cystitis. We conclude that with the scheme of CFIV used by us good therapeutics effects will be obtained with minimum secondary toxicity in a follow-up of three to five years.

Adolescent↗

Choice of dialysis membrane does not influence the outcome of residual renal function in haemodialysis patients.

It has been recently proposed that haemodialysis membrane choice may influence the maintenance of residual renal function. The aim of the present study was to prospectively analyse the effect of membrane choice on the outcome of renal function in patients entering a chronic haemodialysis programme. Twenty-two patients from four hospitals have been randomly assigned to be dialysed with either polysulphone (PSF)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) (group A; n = 9), or cuprophane membranes (group B; n = 13). Basal and monthly serum biochemistry, residual creatinine clearance (Ccr) and urine volume (Vu), pharmacological and dialytic treatment, diet, and haemodialysis-related complications were recorded. A significant decrease was observed in the two most relevant variables, i.e. remnant Ccr and Vu, within 3 months of starting haemodialysis, with stabilization during the further follow-up. Such decrease was similar (P NS) for both groups A and B throughout the 9-month observation period. In conclusion, our results suggest that the choice of haemodialysis membrane does not influence the outcome of the residual renal function. Renal function decreased significantly within 3 months on haemodialysis, independently of the type of dialyser membrane.

Acrylic Resins↗

Gastroparesis: an important cause of hospitalization in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients and the role of erythromycin.

Gastroparesis is a disabling complication in diabetic patients. It has been reported as the second most frequent cause of hospitalization in diabetic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We analyzed infectious and noninfectious complications in our CAPD patients. We included 31 patients (12 diabetics and 19 nondiabetics) with an average time on CAPD of 14 +/- 7 months. The incidence of peritonitis was 1.68 episodes/patient/year in diabetics and 0.84 in nondiabetics. Nine (75%) diabetic patients had peritonitis, 5 (42%) had vomiting, and 4 (33%) had ischemic heart disease. The hospitalization index (days/year) was greater in diabetics: 11.83 +/- 11.36 versus 4.16 +/- 8.84 in nondiabetics (p < 0.05). Vomiting was the first cause of admission in diabetics. We were unable to control severe gastroparesis with cisapride and metoclopramide in 4 patients. Erythromycin, 100 mg/2-L bag of dialysate, improved symptoms in all of them. We concluded that gastroparesis is an important cause of morbidity in CAPD patients. Intraperitoneal erythromycin can improve symptoms if other prokinetic drugs fail.

Cisapride↗

[Changes in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with HIV infection].

Spinal fluid from 53 HIV infected patients has been reviewed. A diagnosis was made exclusively from the spinal fluid exam in 15 cases while in 15 others it contributed to diagnosis together with other exams. The exam did not contribute any positive data in 23 cases. AIDS diagnosis was obtained in 11 patients by the spinal fluid exam. The most frequently occurring disease was infectious meningitis (10 cases) being 3 of them HIV aseptic meningitis. In our experience, a spinal fluid exam in HIV infected patients and fever of unknown origin did contribute useful data for the diagnosis of AIDS in a large number of cases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection].

28 cases of tuberculosis in patients infected with HIV, 22 of them having AIDS criteria (CDC 87), are presented. Tuberculosis was the first diagnosis criteria in 34% of the cases 68% were I.V.U., 25% homosexuals and 7% heterosexual. Half of the patients had disseminated tuberculosis and the other half had localised disease with a high frequency of pulmonary setting. The most frequent symptoms were fever and constitutional syndrome (92% and 91%). The patient's chest X-rays showed few cavitations and infiltrates and frequently had mediastinal and/or hilar (22%) lymphatic gland enlargement. The study of lymphocyte populations showed levels of CD4 lower than 400 in 79% of the cases. The response to treatment was favorable in 16 patients and only 3 died of tuberculosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗