Beta‐2‐microglobulin determinations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and oat cell carcinoma were performed to evaluate the utility of this test in early detection of metastasis to the central nervous system (CNS). In the presence of CNS disease, significantly higher levels (P < 0.001) were found than in normals or patients without CNS disease. Serial measurements were performed on two patients, and in all cases beta‐2‐microglobulin became elevated coincident with CNS relapse, and returned to normal as remission was achieved. Serial testing of CSF beta‐2‐microglobulin, in patients with cancers known to invade the CNS, should facilitate prompt treatment of CNS metastasis. Cancer 52:101‐104, 1983.
To assess the effects of dexamethasone on platelet function, aggregation studies were performed on nine healthy adults before and after ingestion of a single dose of dexamethasone 10 mg, and on six patients receiving daily dexamethasone. Bleeding times were done on 14 volunteers before and after a similar drug dose. Platelet aggregation by ADP, epinephrine and collagen was unchanged after dexamethasone in the healthy subjects and aggregation curves in the patient group were comparable to the normals. Bleeding times were moderatley prolonged in women (from 284 +/- 58 seconds to 389 +/- 114 seconds) but not in men. This prolongation was much less pronounced than that which occurs with low doses of aspirin and no subject experienced delayed bleeding. Dexamethasone in single high doses probably does not cuase a clinically important effect on platelet function.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.