Biomedical subjects

S Berentsen

Publications and source records attributed to S Berentsen.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

[Experiences from a stroke unit in a county hospital].

We review our experience from a stroke unit run as a project in a county hospital serving a population of 95-100,000. The average length of stay in hospital was 33.5 days. The mortality rate was low (10%). 73% of the patients were discharged to their homes, either directly or after a short stay of less than three months in nursing homes. A questionnaire sent to the patients after the end of the project period confirmed that about 70% were living at home 1-15 months after discharge. These findings are in accordance with the results from other stroke units, and support the conclusions of other investigators that treatment in stroke units improves the outcome for patients with acute stroke. We also briefly discuss complications, follow-up after discharge, and the implications for the patients' families.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1993

[Acquired von Willebrand's disease].

We describe a patient with acquired von Willebrand's disease and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. He suffered from an acquired tendency to bleed. The laboratory findings were identical to those of congenital von Willebrand's disease. The acquired form of this bleeding disorder is seen in association with immunologically active B cell lymphomas, certain other malignant tumours, and autoimmune diseases. The incidence and prevalence are unknown, but this disorder is probably uncommon. We discuss possible pathogenetic mechanisms. Acquired von Willebrand's disease should be considered in patients with an acquired tendency to bleed, especially if the patient also has a lymphoproliferative, neoplastic, or autoimmune disease.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

[Hearing loss in autoimmune diseases].

Several autoimmune disorders are associated with inner ear involvement. The resulting sensorineural loss of hearing may be improved by treatment with immunosuppressive agents. We describe a patient with oral ulcerations, systemic vasculitis, iridocyclitis and bilateral sudden deafness. After a course of systemic steroid treatment the hearing improved. Atypical Cogan's syndrome is the most likely diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

[Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar)].

Visceral leishmaniasis is a serious zoonosis which has very rarely been diagnosed in Norway. We report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a Norwegian patient, and present an up-to-date review of the disease. We conclude that this disease should be considered even in Scandinavian patients if the appropriate symptoms and signs are present and there has been possibility of exposure. Simple blood tests and serum electrophoresis are of considerable value. If possible, the protozoa should be demonstrated by microscopy of bone marrow aspirate. We also discuss the identification of the parasites in bone marrow biopsy, which should be performed in pancytopenic patients. The diagnosis should be confirmed by culture or a serological test.

Bone Marrow↗

PubMed1989

[Retinopathy as a complication of acute pancreatitis].

We describe a case of acute, severe retinopathy in a patient with acute pancreatitis. The relative times of the organ manifestations, and comparisons with other published cases, strongly suggest that the pancreatitis was the cause of the retinal changes. This complication is unknown to most physicians, but ten to 12 cases have been published earlier. The pathogenesis is not known. We briefly discuss the significance of this complication and several possible pathogenetic mechanisms.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acute phase haemolysis in chronic cold agglutinin disease.

We previously described a paradoxical form of chronic cold agglutinin disease (CAD) in which haemolysis occurred during episodes of fever but only marginally during exposure to colds. In order to investigate the molecular basis for this response we performed a 12-month prospective study of a patient with CAD and paradoxical haemolysis. Blood samples were collected monthly during health, and daily following hospitalization owing to hip fracture. During health we observed decreased levels of C3, undetectable C4, a non-functional classical pathway and a normal alternative pathway. Increased concentrations of C1-INH/C1rs complexes indicated continuous formation of C1-antibody-antigen complexes. There was a low-grade temperature-dependent fluctuating haemolysis as evidenced from measurements of lactate dehydrogenase. Following the hip fracture, the haemolysis increased. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha increased as did C1-INH, C3, C4, CRP, and lactate dehydrogenase. The results support our hypothesis stating that paradoxical haemolysis in CAD is controlled by the availability of early classical pathway complement molecules and that haemolysis following acute phase responses occurs as a consequence of increased complement synthesis.

Acute Disease↗