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Biomedical subjects

W E MacKenzie

Publications and source records attributed to W E MacKenzie.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The value of screening for Down's syndrome in a socioeconomically deprived area with a high ethnic population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of biochemical antenatal screening for Down's syndrome in a socioeconomically deprived area with a high proportion of Asian women from the Indian Subcontinent. DESIGN: Audit of Down's syndrome biochemical screening service over a four-year period. SETTING: Teaching hospital and community antenatal clinic in inner city Birmingham. POPULATION: Women booked between October 1992 and December 1996. METHODS: Blood for screening was collected between 14 and 21 weeks gestation, alpha-fetoprotein and intact human chorionic gonadotrophin were measured in serum and the risk of Down's syndrome was calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uptakes of screening and amniocentesis, screen positive rate, odds of being affected given a positive result, miscarriages associated with amniocentesis offered following a high risk result, detection rate, number of Down's cases prevented and a cost analysis. Outcome measures were compared between Asians and Caucasians. RESULTS: Overall 11,974 women (71%) accepted serum screening. The screen positive rate was 8.3% in Asians and 5.0% in Caucasians. The uptake of amniocentesis in women following a high risk result was 54% overall (35% Asian, 67% Caucasian). Nineteen cases of Down's syndrome were identified, of which 13 occurred in women who opted for biochemical screening. The detection rate of the biochemical screening programme was 85% (11/13). Of these 11 cases, six (none of whom were Asian) elected to have an amniocentesis, of whom four thereafter had a termination. CONCLUSION: In this study the public health benefits of screening for Down's syndrome in a socioeconomically deprived area with a high Asian population, were small.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1989

Division of uterine adhesions (Asherman's syndrome) with the Nd-YAG laser.

Two women with Asherman's syndrome after postpartum curettage are presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by hysteroscopy. The adhesions were vaporized under hysteroscopic control, using a Nd-YAG laser (neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser). The method was precise, caused minimal thermal injury and resulted in immediate return of regular menstrual cycles. The use of the Nd-YAG laser for Asherman's syndrome warrants further study.

Adolescent↗