Changes in vitamin E concentration after surgery and anesthesia.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this randomized study was to examine changes in vitamin E concentration in female subjects (age 30-60, ASA I) after cholecystectomy and halothane (N = 16) or isoflurane (N = 16) anaesthesia. Vitamin E concentration was measured two days before, and then one, five and twenty-four hours and four days after surgery. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used for its determination. Simultaneously activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were determined. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: ANOVA, Tukay HSD test. The research has been accepted by the Drugs Committee of the Karlovac County Hospital. Preoperative vitamin E concentrations in the halothane group were 8.69 +/- 2.35 micrograms/L, median 8.67 micrograms/L and in the isoflurane group 9.43 +/- 2.4 micrograms/L, median 9.08 micrograms/L. Statistically lower vitamin E concentrations compared with preoperative values were noted one hour (P < 0.05), 5 hours (P < 0.01), 24 hours (P < 0.01), as well as 4 days (P < 0.01) after the operation. The lowest vitamin E concentrations were noted 24 hours after the operation with statistically insignificantly higher values in the isoflurane group (halothane group 5.98 +/- 2.08 micrograms/L, isoflurane group 6.58 +/- 1.51 micrograms/L). Analyzing enzyme (ALT, AST and GGT) pre- and postoperative values, no statistically significant differences between the investigated groups and during the time were observed. Statistically significant differences were found between individual measurement times, with no statistical significance of the differences between the halothane and isoflurane groups. It seems that neither the difference in halothane and isoflurane biotransformation nor their distinct effect on perfusion of some organs are the determining factors in post-operative changes in vitamin E concentration.

[Results of vaccination with the hepatitis B vaccine in patients and personnel at the Hemodialysis Center in Karlovac]. / Rezultati cijepljenja hepatitis B vakcinom bolesnika i osoblja Centra za dijalizu u Karlovcu.

Hepatitis B remains a significant risk to patients and staff members of hemodialysis unit. Prior to immunization, 38 hemodialysis patients and 24 staff members were screened for HBs antigen, HBc antibodies and HBs antibodies using ELISA method (Abbott). Of 18 (47%) patients, five were chronic carriers of HBsAg and 13 had anti-HBs and anti-HBc while anti-HBs and anti-HBc were found in four (17%) members of medical staff. A total of 20 (53%) susceptible patients (mean 51.2 years) and 19 (79%) susceptible staff members (mean 28.1 years) received hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-VAX, Merck, Sharp and Dohme). Between patients were four (20%) non-responders and seven (35%) low-responders while among medical staff were two (10.5%) non-responders and one (5.2%) low responder only. The geometric mean titer of anti-HBs was 724 IU/L in patients and 3407 IU/L in staff members. Non-responders (5 of 6) who were given a fourth vaccine dose also failed to mount an antibody response. In none of vaccinated patients antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) occurred in their sera three and six months after complete vaccination. Consideration should be given to a prevaccinal screening of presumptive vaccinees between patients and staff members of hemodialysis units because of high level of preexisting HBV infection among them. The data suggest a high non-responder and low-responder rate in vaccinated hemodialysis patients and serial surveillance for anti-HBs is warranted especially in persons aged over 40 years. Additional booster dose or some doses of HB vaccine should be given to low-responders and they should be retested thereafter. Non-responders still remain the unresolved problem.