Browsing by Author "Van Heyningen, C. F."

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    Immunoreactive digitalis-like substance in pre-eclampsia
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986) Odendaal, H. J.; Beyers, A. D.; Van Heyningen, C. F.; Spruyt, L. L.; Kotze, T. J. van W.; Van Jaarsveld, P. P.
    An endogenous digitalis-like substance (DLS) may be involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and pre-eclampsia. The digoxin levels in maternal and cord blood of 504 randomly selected patients were determined. Since none of the patients received digoxin, these levels indicated a cross-reacting substance (immunoreactive DLS). DLS levels were significantly higher in the cord blood of pre-eclamptic patients than in the cord blood of controls. DLS levels in cord blood increased with the severity of pre-eclampsia, and levels were higher in primigravidas than in multigravidas. The structure and biological activity of DLS must be determined before definite conclusions about its role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia can be made.
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    Thiamine deficiency-induced gestational polyneuropathy and encephalopathy : a case report
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1985) Nel, J. T.; Van Heyningen, C. F.; Van Eeden, S. F.; Labadarios, D.; Louw, N. S.
    A 22-year-old multigravida presented with polyneuropathy and encephalopathy at 18 weeks' pregnancy. After excluding other applicable conditions, the diagnosis of a hyperemesis-induced thiamine deficiency was made. With the necessary vitamin supplementation the patient gradually recovered over a period of 4 months and was delivered of a normal infant at term. Gestational polyneuropathy and encephalopathy due to thiamine deficiency has very rarely been reported. The literature is reviewed with discussion of the differential diagnosis, the treatment and the prognosis.