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Biomedical subjects

V E Pollak

Publications and source records attributed to V E Pollak.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Deficiency of a plasma factor stimulating vascular prostacyclin generation in patients with lupus nephritis and glomerular thrombi and its correction by ancrod: in-vivo and in-vitro observations.

Glomerular thrombi occur frequently in active lupus nephritis. Their presence has been correlated with low platelet counts and with subsequent development of glomerular sclerosis. We have examined the plasma PGI2 generating capacity of 8 patients with active lupus nephritis with thrombi that were to undergo defibrination therapy with ancrod. PGI2 generation by these plasma samples was significantly decreased as compared both to normals and to 6 individuals with lupus nephritis and no glomerular thrombi. Significant improvement in the capacity to generate PGI2 was seen in the post-ancrod treatment plasma samples. the pathogenesis of this defect is discussed.

Ancrod↗

Defibrination with ancrod in glomerulonephritis: effects on clinical and histologic findings and on blood coagulation.

Ancrod, which produces in vivo defibrination, has been shown to improve renal function and decrease fibrin deposition and crescents in experimental glomerulonephritis. Ancrod was given for 14 days to 5 patients with glomerulonephritis, moderate to severe renal functional impairment, crescents, and/or fibrin deposition in glomeruli. 4 patients had systemic lupus erythematosus. Ancrod treatment resulted in fibrinogen levels less than 50 mg/dl without bleeding, decrease of previously elevated factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels, and normalization of in vitro platelet hyperaggregation. Renal function improved in all 5 patients. Serial renal biopsies showed a relatively rapid decrease of glomerular thrombi and necrosis and little increase in glomerular sclerosis. Ancrod administration appears safe, and may have a role in treatment of certain types of glomerulonephritis.

Adolescent↗

Wegener's granulomatosis: prolonged patient survival after pneumonectomy and renal transplantation.

Wegener's granulomatosis was diagnosed in a 42-year-old female 16 years ago. From the outset there was upper respiratory, pulmonary, and renal involvement. Over the years she received varying combinations of glucocorticoids and azathioprine. Renal function deteriorated, and she was treated by hemodialysis and living related donor transplantation 9 and 10 years, respectively, after the onset of the disease. 3 months prior to transplantation, the patient had a right pneumonectomy for bronchial stenosis, bronchiectasis and repeated sepsis. 5 years' posttransplantation, she is well and has no signs of activity of original disease.

Adult↗

Defibrination with ancrod: effect on reticuloendothelial clearance of circulating immune complexes.

Defibrination with ancrod has been shown to be a successful form of treatment for certain types of experimental glomerulonephritis. The effect of ancrod on reticuloendothelial function has received little attention. In the present studies the blood clearance and reticuloendothelial uptake of injected preformed BSA-anti-BSA complexes were studied in defibrinated and control mice. 3 h after their injection, the blood levels and the hepatic and splenic uptakes were significantly different in experimental and control groups. It may be concluded that the reticuloendothelial clearance of injected immune complexes is not impaired by defibrination.

Ancrod↗

Antibody production and antigenic specific suppression to bovine serum albumin in uremic rats.

Antibody response and antigen specific suppression to bovine serum albumin (BSA) in uremic rats have been investigated. Primary immune response was found to be significantly reduced independent of the route of administration or adjuvant while secondary response was affected only in animals in which a weak adjuvant such as Al(OH)3 was used. Antigen specific suppression of uremic rats was achieved by intravenous pretreatment with BSA or a C terminal fragment (505-582) of BSA. Secondary response in sham operated controls was suppressed by BSA but not by the fragment. There was about five-fold greater retention of the fragments in the uremic rats than in sham-operated controls at a 6 hr or later after i.v. administration.

Animals↗

Successful treatment by defibrination with ancrod in a patient with hyperacute renal allograft failure and a deficiency of plasma prostacyclin stimulating factor.

Hyperacute and renal allograft failure, whether due to rejection or other mechanisms, such as perfusion injury, is usually associated with extensive intraglomerular fibrin deposition and allograft loss. Defibrination with ancrod was used to treat a patient with hyperacute renal allograft failure and extensive glomerular fibrin deposition and necrosis. The patient's plasma had normal fibrinolytic activity but a complete absence of the ability to generate prostacyclin-like activity from rat aortic endothelium "in vitro". Treatment was associated with complete recovery of renal function, disappearance of glomerular fibrin, and restoration toward normal of glomerular structure.

Adult↗

Evaluation of treatment in lupus nephritis: effects of prednisone.

Survival of patients with SLE and renal disease has improved in the past 25 yr. There are numerous variables in patients with SLE, and many factors are important in determining outcome. The precise role of any therapeutic regimen in improving survival is unproven. Patients with SLE with normal kidneys, with mesangial changes or with membranous glomerulonephropathy do well whatever treatment is used. Focal and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis has a poor prognosis without treatment. Prednisone treatment appears to have improved the survival, but it is probable that treatment with prednisone alone may be less effective than a regimen in which it is combined with cyclophosphamide or nitrogen mustard.

Cyclophosphamide↗

Effects of a dietary prostaglandin precursor on the progression of experimentally induced chronic renal failure.

The effect of increasing a dietary PG precursor on the progression of chronic renal failure was studied in the partially nephrectomized rat. NLA or HLA diets were pair-fed to groups of 3/4-nephrectomized and sham-operated rats. Serum creatinine and urinary protein excretion were measured serially. Nephrectomized rats on the NLA diet had progressive deterioration of renal function, the serum creatinine level rising to 1.55 mg/dl by week 20. At week 20, by contrast, nephrectomized rats on the HLA diet maintained stable renal function; the serum creatinine level was 0.97 mg/dl at week 20. Urinary protein excretion was significantly lower and glomerular sclerosis was prevented in the rats fed the HLA diet. No changes were observed in the levels of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, or serum triglycerides as an effect of the diet. Increased PGE2 production, measured by radioimmunoassay in the renal cortex of rats on the HLA diet, suggested that the protective effect upon renal function in this model of chronic renal failure may be mediated by increased renal cortical PG formation.

Animals↗

Multiple use of dialyzers: safety and efficacy.

The practice of multiple use of dialyzers was examined over a 15-month period on all 104 patients in a chronic maintenance hemodialysis facility. A computerized medical information system permitted analysis of the incidence of events in over 10,000 successive hemodialyses. It also allowed analysis of the events in 27 patients dialyzed for a total of 655 months successively in two units practicing single and multiple dialyzer use. The incidence of complications during dialysis, of complications that might be related to infection, and the rate of hospitalization was not greater when the 27 patients were dialyzed in the unit practicing multiple use as compared with the rates in the unit practicing single use. Events possibly associated with infection did not occur more frequently during dialyses in which the dialyzer had been used between 2 and 20 times than they did with the initial use of the dialyzer. With successive dialyzer use, there was no significant change in the ability to remove fluid or in the dialysance of urea and creatinine. The neutropenia that characteristically occurs early in dialysis was substantially less with reused dialyzers than with their initial use. Under the operating conditions described, we conclude that multiple dialyzer use over a 15-month period is safe, efficacious, and is not associated with an increased rate of infection, of morbidity from any cause, or of mortality.

Adult↗

Renal parenchymal malakoplakia. A case associated with renal vein thrombosis and partial recovery of kidney function.

A 65-year-old woman with bilateral renal parenchymal malakoplakia and renal vein thrombosis had severe azotemia, bilaterally enlarged kidneys, urinary tract infection, and sepsis. Angiographic studies demonstrated left renal vein thrombosis. A percutaneous kidney biopsy specimen showed the characteristic Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. After therapy with fluid replacement, antibiotics, and long-term anticoagulation, kidney function improved and both kidneys decreased in size. We suggest that, with adequate treatment of urinary tract infection and correction of potential insults to the kidney, progression of this peculiar disease can be prevented.

Aged↗