Swiss medical weekly
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A survey of 54 patients who had received one or two renal homografts revealed that 15 presented 18 types of serious digestive complications. A relation between immunosuppressive treatment and subsequent appearance of a complication is frequently encountered. ⋯ The importance of early detection of peptic ulcer and treatment by major surgery are stressed. Out of the 12 deaths registered among the total number of patients, 2 were caused by one of the digestive complications.
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Swiss medical weekly · Jan 1976
Case Reports[Rejection of a kidney graft after pregnancy and delivery].
Eighteen months after cadaver kidney transplantation a 22-year-old woman was successfully delivered of a healthy female child. Onset of allograft rejection in the third trimenon was followed three weeks after delivery by progressive renal failure and resumption of regular dialysis treatment. Pregnancy risk factors after successful renal transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy are discussed.
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1975
[Experiences with allogeneic and isogeneic bone marrow transplantations in aplastic anemia and acute leukemia].
A report is presented on 13 clinical bone marrow transplantations (BMT). Six of 6 patients with refractory aplastic anemia are presently alive with partial to complete hemopoetic reconstitution now lasting up to 3 years and more. It is shown that after immunosuppression with ALG and cyclophosphamide, followed by BMT, the patient's own hemopoetic system can recover. ⋯ Two of 4 patients grafted for acute refractory leukemia are alive, one being in complete remission on day 140. One died from interstitial pneumonia and one had no take although the donor was an identical twin. This patient had been on a maintenance program which included active immunotherapy.
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The availability of factor VIII and factor IX concentrates has considerably improved substitution therapy in hemophilia A and B respectively. The desired activity levels and the corresponding factor VIII or factor IX dosage are indicated. ⋯ The administration of factor IX concentrate in case of hemorrhage due to oral anticoagulation or to liver disease, or in newborns, should be used in emergency situations only, since this material may provoke either thrombosis or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Transmission of hepatitis is also possible.
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The mammalian immune system appears to play an essential role in preventing the development, and/or in controlling growth and spread, of malignant tumor cells. Antigenic properties of neoplastic cells and defense mechanism of the tumor host are briefly reviewed. The relative importance of immune reactions and other "non-specific" means of host defense with regard to tumor development and growth are discussed in the light of available experimental and clinical evidence. An attempt is made to incorporate these considerations into a hypothesis relating to the development of intestinal neoplasms.