Acta medica Hungarica
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Acta medica Hungarica · Jan 1991
Biologic blood markers reflecting thyroid hormone effect at peripheral tissue level in patients receiving levothyroxine replacement for hypothyroidism.
Plasma fibronectin, serum procollagen-III-peptide and sex-hormone-binding globulin as non-specific markers of thyroid hormone effect at peripheral tissue level were determined and their values were related with serum levels of TSH, free-thyroxine and triiodothyronine during levothyroxine sodium replacement therapy for hypothyroidism. Low levels of biologic markers characteristic of hypothyroidism were normalized in consequence of hormone replacement and a negative correlation between their serum levels, and TSH concentration was demonstrated in most subjects. However, in some patients a discrepancy in the response to levothyroxine between the pituitary and other target organs was revealed. ⋯ Furthermore, it was revealed that during L-T4 replacement therapy in a large fraction of patients with subnormal serum TSH concentration blood levels of the measured markers often exceeded the upper limit of the normal range indicating a possibility of "tissue" thyrotoxicosis, besides the pituitary, in other target organs, too. According to the present study, which takes into consideration markers reflecting end-organ responsiveness to thyroid hormones, it is recommended to adjust the dose of levothyroxine to maintain serum TSH in the normal range. For patients with subnormal TSH concentration a close follow-up is obligatory and in case of concomitantly raised free-thyroxine level the reduction of the levothyroxine dosage is proposed.
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Acta medica Hungarica · Jan 1989
Myasthenia gravis: familial occurrence. A study of 1100 myasthenia gravis patients.
Eleven-hundred myasthenia gravis cases observed by the author in a period of 37 years are reviewed. The ratio of familial incidence was 4.23%. Transitory (neonatal) myasthenia in new-born babies should be separated from the familial cases. ⋯ Some rare instances are reported, among them a unique family with six sisters suffering from myasthenia gravis. Genetic line and HLA antigens' role are dealt with. Observation of familial myasthenia cases may contribute to the knowledge of the immunologic and clinicopathologic background of the disease.
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Acta medica Hungarica · Jan 1989
Review Case ReportsTreatment of chronic pain syndromes with transcutaneous iontophoresis of vinca alkaloids, with special regard to post-herpetic neuralgia.
Successful treatment of 35 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients by means of transcutaneous iontophoresis of Vincristine is reported. This technique, based on transganglionic regulation--a novel neurobiological principle discovered by Csillik and Knyihár-Csillik-, alleviated pain in both fresh and inveterated PHN cases. Statistical analysis of the results excludes a placebo-like action.
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Acta medica Hungarica · Jan 1986
Pre-evacuation dilatation of the pregnant uterine cervix by Laminaria japonica.
Laminaria japonica was used as pre-dilator of the pregnant uterine cervix prior to termination of pregnancy in the first and second trimester. In the first trimester (6-11 weeks, n=26) no other method was used, while in the second trimester pharmacological stimulation--prostaglandin F2 alpha or the prostaglandin analogue Sulprostone was used after or simultaneously with the laminaria insertion (12-18 weeks n=34 and 40, respectively). The dilatatory effect of laminaria was an obvious help in termination of both first and second trimester pregnancies.
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Acta medica Hungarica · Jan 1986
Examination of the uterine cervix by ultrasound in normal and pathologic pregnancy.
New possibilities of examination of the uterine cervix are provided by sonography in normal and pathologic pregnancy. Basic data of the ultrasonographic anatomy of the non pregnant uterine cervix is presented first: the length of the cervix as well as the diameters at the levels of external and internal os. ⋯ In this group shortening of the cervical length, opening of the internal os and the funnel, or hour-glass-like herniation of the fetal membranes were characteristic findings. The method seems to be suitable for the assessment of the effectivity of cerclage operations for cervical incompetence.