Mechanisms of a clonidine‐induced decrease in portal pressure in normal and cirrhotic conscious rats

Dominique Roulot, Alain Braillon, Christophe Gaudin, Yves Ozier, Catherine Girod, Didier Lebrec – 1 October 1989 – The effects of clonidine on portal pressure and splanchnic blood flow were studied in conscious rats with sinusoidal portal hypertension due to cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation. In cirrhotic and sham‐operated rats, clonidine (20 μg per kg body weight, intravenously) significantly reduced portal, pressure from 19.0 ± 0.6 to 14.5 ± 1.0 mmHg and from 9.8 ± 0.9 to 7.3 ± 0.5 mmHg, respectively. No significant change in systemic hemodynamics was observed.

Defective immunoregulation in primary biliary cirrhosis: CD4+, Leu–8+ T cells have abnormal activation and suppressor function in vitro

Takeaki Suou, Maria P. Civeira, Marjorie E. Kanof, Ricardo Moreno‐Otero, E. Anthony Jones, Stephen P. James – 1 October 1989 – To determine whether abnormalities of lymphocyte function in primary biliary cirrhosis are due to altered function of immunoregulatory T cell subpopulations, phenotypic and functional characteristics of CD4+ T cells were examined. The proportion of CD4+ T cells expressing the Leu‐8 and CD45R antigens was normal in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Bile acids inhibit endotoxin‐induced release of tumor necrosis factor by monocytes: An in Vitro study

Jan Willem Greve, Dirk J. Gouma, Wim A. Buurman – 1 October 1989 – Endotoxins play an important role in the pathogenesis of complications of surgery in obstructive jaundice. Preoperative treatment with orally administered deoxycholic acid prevented endotoxin‐related complications, such as renal malfunction. Other bile acids, however, were less effective, and the mechanism of action is not known.

Aplastic anemia after liver transplantation for fulminant viral hepatitis: Black boX or bag of worms?

Jerome B. Zeldis – 1 October 1989 – Aplastic anemia developed in 9 of 32 patients (28 percent) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation for acute non‐A, non‐B hepatitis, at one to seven weeks after the procedure. No patient previously had evidence of hematologic dysfunction or conditions known to be associated with aplastic anemia.

A pilot, double‐blind, controlled 1‐year trial of prednisolone treatment in primary biliary cirrhosis: Hepatic improvement but greater bone loss

Harriet C. Mitchison, Margaret F. Bassendine, Archie J. Malcolm, Alex J. Watson, Christopher O. Record, Oliver F. W. James – 1 October 1989 – A randomized, double‐blind, 1‐year pilot study of prednisolone treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis was undertaken. Nineteen patients received 30 mg prednisolone per day initially, with a maintenance dose of 10 mg per day. Seventeen patients received placebo. The groups were matched for age, menopausal status, hepatic histological stage and bilirubin.

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