[Reduction of kidney prostaglandin synthesis in patients with essential hypertension. Stimulating effect of cicletanine].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of renal synthesis of vasodilator and natriuretic prostaglandins I2 and E2 in patients with essential hypertension and to test the effect of cicletanine, a new antihypertensive drug, on the renal synthesis of these prostanoids in hypertensive patients. The first part of the study was carried out in 12 healthy normotensive subjects and in 25 patients of both sexes with essential hypertension. The effect of cicletanine administered in dose of 150 mg was assessed in 10 healthy volunteers and 12 hypertensive patients.

Physiology and management of intrauterine growth retardation: a biologic approach with fetal blood sampling.

Intrauterine growth retardation is a major contributor to perinatal mortality and morbidity. The most important obstetric problem is to determine which fetuses are well in utero and which are at risk of irreversible damage or severe and prolonged neonatal morbidity. The optimal timing of delivery is at present made by subjective assessment of clinical variables.

[Fetomaternal therapeutic follow-up of spiramycin during pregnancy].

In the preventive treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis it is admitted that spiramycin is concentrated in the placenta and crosses the placental barrier at the end of pregnancy. However, little is known about its entry in the fetal circulation. We studied fetal spiramycin blood levels during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy in women who, having presented with toxoplasmosis during the 1st trimester, had been given spiramycin until delivery.

Direct fetal blood examination for prenatal diagnosis of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Prenatal diagnosis of homozygous hypercholesterolemia was achieved at the 24th week of gestation by analysis of lipid values in a fetal blood sample obtained by a needle guided by ultrasound. These abnormal values were compared to values in blood obtained from normal fetuses at the same stage of gestation. After abortion, the diagnosis was confirmed by measuring LDL receptor activity on fibroblast cultures from a skin biopsy.