Postgraduate medical journal
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Coagulation problems in pregnancy are primarily associated with overactivity of the intrinsic clotting system. This accounts for the increased incidence of thrombo-embolism during pregnancy. ⋯ Therefore the role of anticoagulant treatment in the management of pre-eclampsia remains questionable. A new test for estimating factor VIII consumption is proving to be a sensitive index of early activation of the clotting system and can be used for the diagnosis of early pre-eclampsia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Domperidone in the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting.
In a series of open pilot studies, intravenous domperidone was given to three groups of post-operative patients, at doses ranging from 10 mg to 60 mg. As a result of these studies, it was decided that a regime of 20 mg initially, followed by maintenance doses of 10 mg at 6 hourly intervals was highly effective in preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting. ⋯ The results showed that only three out of 53 patients (5.7%) on active treatment were having nausea and vomiting compared with 16 of 53 patients (30.2%) on placebo. It is concluded that this regime is effective in preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting.
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The clinical and pathological findings in patients with neurological disorders in association with disordered function of the small intestine, in particular coeliac disease, are outlined. The possible significance of the abnormalities of pyridoxine, tyrosine and tryptophan metabolism are considered in relation to biopterin derivatives and their relevance to neurological dysfunction.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Endometrial factors under treatment with oestrogen and oestrogen/progestogen combinations.
In a continuing prospective study, uterine curettage was undertaken on sixty-four patients attending a Menopause Clinic prior to consideration of gonadal hormone therapy. Two of these patients (3.1%) were found to have endometrial hyperplasia, and subsequently they were not given gonadal hormone therapy. Sixty-two patients with normal endometrium at pre-treatment curettage received cyclical oestrogen regimens or sequential oestrogen/progestogen treatments. ⋯ Furthermore, in the four patients who developed endometrial hyperplasia, this condition occurred within six months in two patients and within 9 and 10 months respectively in the remaining two. In the nineteen patients receiving cyclical sequential oestrogen/progestogen regimens, all had regular withdrawal bleeding, while one patient had breakthrough bleeding during sequential therapy. It is concluded that in those climacteric patients who present with severe menopausal symptoms which necessitate the administration of high-dose oestrogen regimes it is necessary either to undertake both pretreatment uterine curettage or to add a progestogen to the oestrogen in a sequential regimen.
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The literature concerning hepatitis B in pregnancy is reviewed and problems of management of both the acute and chronic infections are discussed.