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Biomedical subjects

V Arroyo

Publications and source records attributed to V Arroyo.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Intrarenal distribution of plasma flow in cirrhosis as measured by transit renography: relationship with plasma renin activity, and sodium and water excretion.

1. The intrarenal distribution of plasma flow was determined with a technique based on the analysis of the transit time of sodium o-[131I]- iodohippurate through the kidney in 43 patients with cirrhosis with near-normal total renal perfusion. 2. Twenty-five of the patients had an abnormal pattern of transit times, suggesting a redistribution of plasma flow from outer cortical to juxtamedullary nephrons. 3. Plasma renin activity ranged from below normal to six times normal and high values were found only in patients showing an abnormal pattern of transit times. The latter was also found to be related to sodium retention and a reduced renal capacity to excrete free water.

Adult↗

Functional renal failure and haemorrhagic gastritis associated with endotoxaemia in cirrhosis.

Forty-three patients with cirrhosis and ascites, 21 with normal renal function, 10 with a progressive functional renal failure (FRF), and 12 with a steady FRF, were investigated for the presence of endotoxaemia by the Limulus lysate test. Endotoxaemia was found in nine patients with FRF and in none of the 21 with normal renal function (P less than 0-01). A positive Limulus test was almost exclusively associated with a progressive FRF (eight of 10 patients) and all but one of them died. Renal function improved as endotoxaemia disappeared in the survivor. Endotoxaemia was also associated with haemorrhage due to acute erosions of the gastric mucosa, being present in six of the seven patients who had this complication. Intravascular coagulation was not found in any patient. The Limulus test was positive in the ascitic fluid in 18 of 21 patients tested, although only two of them had peritonitis. These results suggest that endotoxaemia may play a critical role in the development of progressive renal failure and haemorrhagic gastritis in cirrhosis, and emphasise the potential risk of procedures involving reinfusion of ascitic fluid.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Renal failure associated with demeclocycline in cirrhosis.

Three patients with cirrhosis, ascites, and dilutional hyponatremia were treated with demeclocycline in an attempt to correct the abnormal water retention. Demeclocycline administration (600 to 900 mg/day for 8 to 9 days) resulted in [a] increased blood urea nitrogen and plasma creatinine concentrations; [b] reduction of the inulin clearance by between 63% to 78% and of paraaminophippurate clearance by 36% to 77%; and [c] an impairment of the renal concentrating ability. Urine osmolality decreased to hypotonic levels, but polyuria did not appear, probably because it was prevented by the reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. Renal failure was reversible on withdrawal of demeclocycline. No other causes than demeclocycline administration could be found to explain the reduction of the glomerular filtration rate and the estimated renal plasma flow.

Blood Urea Nitrogen↗

Prognostic value of spontaneous hyponatremia in cirrhosis with ascites.

Spontaneous hyponatremia in cirrhosis with ascites is generally considered to be due to an impaired renal ability to excrete free water, to be a contraindication of diuretics, and to be a bad prognostic sign. These concepts are reviewed in this paper. 55 cirrhotics with ascites were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of 13 patients with hyponatremia and very low free-water clearance CH2O, 0.07 +/- 0.26 ml/min). These patients also had poor renal function: low inulin clearance (CINU, 40.6 +/- 25.9 ml/min) and paraaminohippurate clearance (CPAH, 383 +/- 275 ml/min). Group II consisted of 8 patients who also had hyponatremia. CH2O, CINU, and CPAH in these patients were fairly high: 5.85 +/- 1.53 ml/min, 85.7 +/- 26.2 ml/min, and 651 +/- 294 ml/min. These values are similar to those o7 +/- 4.27 ml/min, 94.7 +/- 33.1 ml/min, and 598 +/- 199 ml/min. Hyponatremia in Group I could be related to the impaired free-water clearance. The mechanism of hyponatremia in Group II patients is not clear. Patients with hyponatremia and low CINU and CPAH had a negative response to diuretics and a poor prognosis. Patients with hyponatremia but with relatively good renal function had a good prognosis, similar to Group III patients. They responded to diuretics with no worsening of their hyponatremia.

Bilirubin↗

Hypernatremia following gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis with ascites.

3 patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites underwent increased diuresis on six occasions, closely related to episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding. In each instance the increased urine volume was preceded by a sharp increase in blood urea nitrogen, presumably due to absorption of nitrogenous compounds from the gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a mechanism of osmotic diuresis. In each case there was a signigicant increase in serum sodium and osmolality, related to the greater-water-than-sodium diuresis induced by urea, which was promptly reversed by the administration of water or isotonic solution. Clinically this syndrome may be defined as the association of hypernatremia and hyperosmolality due to osmotic diuresis from urea appearing in a cirrhotic patient with ascites and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Adult↗