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Biomedical subjects

V L Seltzer

Publications and source records attributed to V L Seltzer.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of the adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test with and without prior dexamethasone suppression in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

A comparison was made of the ACTH stimulation test with and without prior dexamethasone suppression in 10 patients, each of whom served as her own control. It was found that it is not necessary to administer DEX before the test, the specificity and sensitivity of both tests being the same in the diagnosis of CAH, although the calculated values are lower when DEX is given. Further investigation with HLA typing and ACTH stimulation testing is necessary to establish whether either or both types of ACTH stimulation tests are capable of discriminating between the heterozygotic and homozygotic varieties of CAH.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Clearance of continuous intravenous morphine for severe cancer pain.

Four cancer patients with intractable pain received continuous morphine infusions in doses of 15-275 mg/h for a time period ranging from 4 to 27 days. Serum morphine concentrations were determined periodically following adjustments in infusion rates. As doses were changed and continued at static hourly rates, serum morphine concentrations were relatively constant 20 hours and beyond the time of the respective change, thus suggesting morphine elimination half-lives of less than or equal to 4 hours. High doses did not influence the time required to achieve steady-state concentrations. Steady serum morphine concentrations corresponded with hourly morphine doses in a parallel manner. High interpatient variabilities in clearances and steady-state serum morphine concentrations were noted. These data suggest that at morphine infusions up to 275 mg/h elimination pathways permit handling of increasing concentrations of morphine without nonlinear blood level increases. Also, marked interpatient and intrapatient variations in patient dose requirements were noted.

Female↗

Prevalence of and markers for the attenuated form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and hyperprolactinemia masquerading as polycystic ovarian disease.

To determine the prevalence of the attenuated form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and hyperprolactinemia (HPPN) relative to polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), 100 consecutive women presenting with the classic clinical features of PCOD were evaluated by basal hormonal profiles and subsequent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests. The study also sought biochemical markers for CAH other than ACTH stimulation. The prevalences were found to be as follows: PCOD, 65%; PCOD with HPPN, 9%; HPPN, 3%, end-organ hypersensitivity (EOH), 4%; homozygotic CAH, 4%; and heterozygotic CAH, 15%. Other than the differential response to ACTH, the only other biochemical markers observed for homozygotic CAH were significantly higher basal levels of testosterone (T) and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). Luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate all showed no significant differences between homozygotic CAH, heterozygotic CAH, HPPN, PCOD, and EOH. This study establishes the relative prevalences of the syndromes commonly mimicking PCOD. We also conclude that the observed low incidence of CAH does not justify routine ACTH testing on all patients presenting with features of PCOD--however, our data suggest that patients with basal serum levels of T and 17-OHP greater than 50% above the upper limit of normal should undergo this dynamic test, especially if there are also certain clinical features suggestive of CAH.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Effect of advancing pregnancy on the glucose tolerance test and on the 50-g oral glucose load screening test for gestational diabetes.

To determine the validity of the 50-g, one-hour glucose screening test for gestational diabetes in relation to the duration of pregnancy, 101 patients from a high-risk population had the screening test in the first trimester and glucose tolerance tests (GTT) in the second and third trimesters. The sensitivity (88%) and specificity (82%) of the screening test were similar to values reported when the test is performed later in pregnancy. However, immediate follow-up GTTs in the second trimester revealed only 25% instead of 88% of the gestational diabetic patients uncovered by the positive screening tests. Guidelines for screening for gestational diabetes should include follow-up with a third-trimester GTT on all patients who have positive screening tests even in the presence of normal follow-up second trimester GTTs.

Blood Glucose↗

Cervical cancer detected by cervicography in a patient with negative cervical cytology.

The existence of false negative cervical cytology is well recognized. Cervicography was introduced in part to minimize the incidence of false negative smears, but its use has been controversial. A case is presented of a patient with occult cervical cancer whose initial Papanicolaou smear was atypical (class II) and follow-up smear was negative. The patient's cancer was detected by cervicography. Detection of the patient's disease would have been delayed were it not for cervicography.

Aged↗

Status epilepticus in pregnancy. A case report.

Status epilepticus is a serious emergency that rarely complicates the management of the pregnant patient with seizure disorders. Because of concerns regarding the safety of anticonvulsion medications, this condition may appear with increasing frequency. Our management of such a case resulted in a healthy mother and infant.

Adolescent↗

Abnormal Papanicolaou smears found in victims of sexual assault.

Four women, at the time of treatment for rape, were concurrently found to have abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. It is suggested that all women who seek emergency care after sexual assault have Pap smears taken at that time if there is no record of a negative Pap smear within the preceding six months.

Adult↗

Comparison of the adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

A comparison was made of the ACTH stimulation test in the proliferative and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in 13 subjects, each of whom served as her own control. The test yielded a 53.9% false-positive rate in the luteal phase. The study, therefore, clearly shows that from a practical, clinical point of view, the test is completely unreliable in the luteal phase, and is only valid when carried out in the follicular phase of the cycle.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Perimenopausal bleeding patterns and pathologic findings.

The charts of 500 sequential perimenopausal patients were reviewed and their alterations in menstrual flow were characterized as fitting one of three patterns. Sixty-two patients (12%) had sudden amenorrhea, 347 (70%) had oligomenorrhea and/or hypomenorrhea, and 91 (18%) had menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, and/or hypermenorrhea. All of the patients in the menorrhagia/metrorrhagia and/or hypermenorrhea group had histologic evaluations to rule out the presence of premalignant or malignant disease; 17 women (19%) in this group had premalignant or malignant findings. In addition, 4 of the 5 women with malignancies had intermenstrual bleeding. Of the 9 women in the study with intermenstrual bleeding, 4 had invasive cancer and 2 had endometrial hyperplasia. This study documents and highlights the high incidence of premalignant and malignant findings in perimenopausal patients with bleeding patterns other than amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea/hypomenorrhea, and underscores the need for perimenopausal women with menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, and/or hypermenorrhea to undergo thorough evaluation.

Age Factors↗