Browsing by Author "Van der Merwe, P.-L."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Cerebral oedema with coning in diabetic keto-acidosis : report of 2 survivors
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1991) Kalis, N. N.; Van der Merwe, P.-L.; Schoeman, J. F.; Smith, R. M. L.
    Two children presented with a first episode of diabetic keto-acidosis. Initially both patients made a good clinical and biochemical recovery, but suddenly developed neurological signs consistent with a diagnosis of tentorial herniation. Cranial computed tomography showed signs of cerebral oedema in both cases with evidence of uncal and tentorial herniation in 1 patient, which resolved after the appropriate treatment. The excellent neurological outcome emphasises the need for early recognition and treatment of sudden onset brain oedema in diabetic keto-acidosis.
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    Infective endocarditis - The effect of liposomes as carrier substance for α1-antitrypsin and amicillin
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1991) Schaaf, H. Simon; Bates, W. D.; Hanekom, C.; Neiteler, B. F.; Kriegler, A. B.; Van der Merwe, P.-L.
    Infective endocarditis has a high mortality and morbidity rate despite all available treatment. Little attention has been paid to the possible role of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in damage to the heart valves. It was postulated that if the elastases set free from these leucocytes could be neutralised, this would prevent damage to the heart valves. Alpha1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) in liposomes was used to neutralise elastases. This process on its own and in various combinations with ampicillin were compared in animal models. Evaluation was performed by measuring vegetation size, by blood and vegetation cultures, and by light microscopy of the damaged tissue. A statistically significant difference (t-test; P < 0,005, with Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons) was found in vegetation size in the groups receiving ampicillin in liposomes, but the hypothesis that α1-AT might reduce valvular damage was not proven.
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    Kawasaki disease masquerading as anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1999) Waggie, Z.; Van der Merwe, P.-L.; Kalis, N. N.
    Although myocardial ischaemia/infarction is rare in childhood, it is a well-described complication of both Kawasaki disease (KD) and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (AOLCA). We describe a case of Kawasaki disease appearing as an AOLCA in a 2-year-old boy with myocardial infarction.
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    Progressive familial heart block (type I) : a follow-up study after 10 years
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1988) Van der Merwe, P.-L.; Weymar, H. W.; Torrington, M.; Brink, A. J.
    A follow-up study was done on 55 patients, all members of families with type I progressive familial heart block (PFHB) examined during 1977. Of the 55 patients 5 had died, 17 had normal ECGs while 7 with previously abnormal ECGs remained unchanged. All the others had progressed to a more severe form of heart block and 8 of them had received permanent pacemakers. These findings again emphasise the importance of regular ECG follow-up examinations of members of PFHB families.
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    Progressive familial heart block type I : clinical and pathological observations
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1991) Van der Merwe, P.-L.; Rose, A. G.; Van der Walt, J. J.; Weymar, H. W.; Hunter, J. C.; Weich, H. F. H.
    Progressive familial heart block type I (PFHB-I) is an autosomal inherited disease. It was previously postulated that the disease is limited to the cardiac conduction tissue. The presentation of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy focused on the possibility that this might be part of PFHB-I. This observation led to routine echocardiographic examination of patients with complete heart block, who belonged to PFHB-I families, and another 5 cases with signs of dilated cardiomyopathy were identified. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that the histological picture of PFHB-I has been described. From these case reports it is clear that in the presence of a dilated cardiomyopathy the prognosis in PFHB-I tends to be poor.
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    Progressive familial heart block: Part I. Extent of the disease
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1986-09) Torrington, Marie; Weymar, H. W.; Van der Merwe, P.-L.; Brink, A. J.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Progressive familial heart block (type I) has been identified in the RSA. Since 1977 many families have been referred for pedigree tracing. The present probands of some 9 pedigrees are the descendants of specific children of an immigrant; other genetic diseases appear in these pedigrees. The necessity of identifying, diagnosing and possibly treating the descendants of carriers is emphasized.