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Biomedical subjects

R Kaaja

Publications and source records attributed to R Kaaja.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Comparison of enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, and unfractionated heparin, with or without dihydroergotamine, in abdominal hysterectomy.

The effects of administration of low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin 20 mg) once a day, of unfractionated heparin (5000 IU twice a day, and of unfractionated heparin (2500 IU) plus dihydroergotamine (0.5 mg) twice a day were assessed in 100 patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. The test medications were given subcutaneously 2 hours before operation and for 3 days thereafter. There were no thromboembolic complications. Intraoperative blood loss, wound haematomas and blood loss via drains during four days after operation were similar in the three groups. None of the 37 patients receiving enoxaparin experienced major postoperative bleeding. Six out of 31 patients receiving unfractionated heparin without dihydroergotamine and two out of 32 patients receiving dihydroergotamine in addition experienced major bleeding necessitating re-operation and/or blood transfusion, (P < 0.05). Enoxaparin caused less major bleeding than unfractionated heparin with or without dihydroergotamine in patients undergoing hysterectomy.

Dihydroergotamine↗
PubMed1992

Maternal antihypertensive therapy with beta-blockers associated with poor outcome in very-low birthweight infants.

The progress of 36 very-low birthweight (less than or equal to 1500 g) infants born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertonia or pre-eclampsia was studied. During the first year of life, 7 out of 19 infants died when the mothers' antihypertensive regimen included beta-blockers. Four of the deaths occurred within 15 days. There were no deaths in 16 infants whose mothers were treated with other antihypertensive treatment (P = 0.006). These results suggest that maternal beta-blocker therapy may have adverse effects on the very-low birthweight infants.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

Ketoprofen and ergotamine in acute migraine.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of ketoprofen and ergotamine in the treatment of acute migraine attacks without aura. The study design was a single-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over comparison of a single dose of ketoprofen (100 mg) and ergotamine (2 mg) suppositories in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Fifty patients were included in the statistical evaluation. Ketoprofen was found to be more efficient than ergotamine and placebo in reducing the severity of pain. Ketoprofen was found to be more satisfactory than ergotamine and placebo with regard to influence on working ability, and better than placebo in global assessment. We conclude that ketoprofen (100 mg suppository) is superior to ergotamine (2 mg suppository) and placebo in the symptomatic treatment of acute migraine attacks, and has better tolerability.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Corticotropin-releasing hormone in maternal and cord plasma in pre-eclampsia.

The concentration of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in maternal plasma increases greatly during the last trimester of normal pregnancy. This CRH has been proposed to originate from the placenta. We studied plasma immunoreactive CRH in 46 uncomplicated pregnancies, in 10 pregnant women with chronic hypertension, in 17 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and in 24 women with pre-eclampsia, and correlated it to the levels of corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol. CRH levels were greatly increased in women with pre-eclampsia, less significantly in women with PIH, while no change was found in pregnant women with chronic hypertension. ACTH levels also were increased in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia or PIH and there was a positive correlation between CRH and ACTH levels. CRH levels in cord venous plasma were significantly increased in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia but cortisol did not show any significant increase. These findings suggest that placental release of CRH into the maternal and fetal circulation is increased in pre-eclampsia.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1991

Congenital heart block: successful prophylactic treatment with intravenous gamma globulin and corticosteroid therapy.

In mothers with anti-Ro-positive antibodies whose previous pregnancies have ended in deliveries of infants with congenital heart block, prophylactic therapeutic strategies are used to try to diminish the production and passage into fetal circulation of autoantibodies. Intravenous gamma globulin was given at 14 and 18 weeks' gestation and prednisone was given from 14 weeks' gestation to a woman with Sjögren's syndrome. The pregnancy ended with delivery of an infant without congenital heart block.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Venous gangrene of the limb. Pathophysiological and therapeutic considerations.

Venous gangrene of the limb is a rare disease. Peripheral arterial collapse has been shown to underlie the ischaemia. The two patients studied had venous gangrene and malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract with liver metastases. One patient had slowly and the other rapidly progressing gangrene despite heparin-warfarin therapy. Both patients died. Microscopy revealed occlusive thrombosis of small peripheral arteries of the leg. The authors conclude that the pathophysiology in venous gangrene may be occlusive thrombosis of small arteries. This situation is the lethal form of the entity and responds poorly to established therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Hypertension as a risk factor in pregnancies complicated by systemic lupus erythematosus.

To study the occurrence and significance of pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we studied retrospectively 34 pregnancies in 27 SLE patients in 1981-87. Eleven pregnancies (32%) were hypertensive (group A). The remaining 18 patients during their 23 pregnancies had a normal blood pressure (group B). Previous nephritis was slightly more common in the hypertensive group (54.5% vs. 26.1%, NS). Preeclampsia was present in seven of the pregnancies (21%) and of whom four were superimposed. Flare-ups of the disease were more common in the non-hypertensive group (30.4%) than in group A (9.1%) (NS). Duration of pregnancy was the same in the two groups. Intra-uterine growth retardation was present in 27.3% of the pregnancies in group A and in 13.0% of group B (NS). Fetal loss occurred only in 2 patients of the non-hypertensive group; one patient had exacerbation of SLE and the other (with two stillbirths) high anticardiolipin antibodies. Our data suggest that pregnancy-associated hypertension and pre-eclampsia do not cause increased fetal loss in pregnancies affected by SLE. There seem to be other factors that are more important, such as antiphospholipid antibodies and flare-ups of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Leucopenia associated with beta-lactam antibiotic therapy.

Two cases of penicillin-induced and one case of cephalosporin-induced leucopenia are described. This unusual complication of widely used beta-lactam antibiotics can occur when these antibiotics are administered parenterally in high doses for prolonged periods (14 days or more). The close monitoring of the white cell count is important when treating patients with high doses of beta-lactam antibiotics for prolonged periods. We would like to emphasize that when penicillin- or cephalosporin-induced leucopenia is suspected, continuation with another beta-lactam antibiotic may be dangerous.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Myocardial LDH isoenzyme patterns in rats exposed to cold and/or hypobaric hypoxia.

Exposure of rats to hypobaric hypoxia (9.5% O2) for 40 days produced cardiac hypertrophy, increases in the total LDH activity and subunit M percentage of LDH and a significant decrease (50%) in H/M ratio when compared to control rats. An equally long exposure to cold (+6 degrees C) did not affect heart weight or total LDH activity, but a significant increase (17.6%) in the H/M ratio developed. Simultaneous exposure to cold (+6 degrees C) and hypoxia (9.5% O2) caused a significant decrease in the H/M ratio, but there was no change in the total LDH-activity when compared to the control group. The poor hypoxic tolerance of the cold-exposed rats could partly be explained by disadvantageous distribution of LDH isoenzymes leading to impaired glycolytic capacity of such an aerobic organ as the heart.

Altitude↗
PubMedDate not supplied

ACTH and growth hormone in myocardial LDH adaptation to hypoxia in rats.

The role of hypophysis in cardiac growth, and in myocardial lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme adaptations to hypobaric hypoxia (9.5% O2) during 3 weeks was studied in four groups of hypophysectomized rats: one group received no hormone, and the second, third, and fourth groups received, respectively, growth hormone, ACTH, and growth hormone+ACTH. One hypophysectomized and one non-surgical group maintained at sea-level and one non-surgical group exposed to hypoxia served as controls. Exposure of hypophysectomized rats to hypoxia produced a proportional loss of body and heart weight with an equal decrease in both LDH subunits, H (heart) and M (muscle). Growth hormone and/or ACTH did not reverse cardiac atrophy. ACTH given alone or with growth hormone enhanced M-subunit synthesis (2- to 4-fold) and corrected the H/M ratio to the level of the non-surgical controls exposed to hypoxia, but at the expense of a lower total level of LDH. The adaptative changes in LDH isoenzymes induced by hypoxia could be abolished with hypophysectomy, and partly restored by giving growth hormone and ACTH, but this restoration was not coupled with cardiac growth.

Adaptation, Physiological↗