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Biomedical subjects

A Martinot

Publications and source records attributed to A Martinot.

84 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Fatal cerebral and pulmonary aspergillosis in acute leukemia in a child].

Immediately after induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a 2 1/2-year-old child developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis revealed by pneumothorax, an unusual manifestation. Despite treatment with amphotericin B, status epilepticus occurred; this manifestation was related to diffuse ischemic cerebral lesions probably caused by cerebral aspergillosis. Outcome was fatal. Early invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is responsible for non-specific pneumonia. Thoracic CT scan and fiberoptic bronchoscopy are informative investigations. At recovery of bone marrow aplasia, the occurrence of hemoptysis and the discovery of excavated lesions on roentgenograms are suggestive of the diagnosis. Cerebral aspergillosis should be routinely considered whenever neurologic symptoms develop in a patient with agranulocytosis, fever, and pneumonia. The prognosis of invasive aspergillosis depends above all on the promptness of treatment; amphotericin B should be given intravenously whenever broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy fails to induce apyrexia in a patient with agranulocytosis.

Amphotericin B↗

Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.

We report the first case of Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. This supports a common pathogenic mechanism in HUS following infections by neuraminidase-producing organisms and in pneumococcal meningitis. We recommend that HUS must be considered in cases of renal failure and/or anaemia associated with pneumococcal meningitis, and that bacterial meningitis be considered in all patients with HUS and central nervous system involvement.

Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome↗

[Congestive cardiomyopathy after chronic inhalation of trichloroethylene].

A congestive cardiomyopathy (associated with an atrial flutter) was observed in a 14 year-old boy who was a regular trichlorethylene sniffer. Regression occurred after stopping exposition to the toxic chemical. This complication hitherto not reported in children, may be fatal. Its origin would be ischemic because trichlorethylene is known to potentiate the effects of circulating catecholamines. This toxic cardiomyopathy has to be added to the list of congestive cardiomyopathies in children and adolescents.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Frequency of adrenal hemorrhage in fatal forms of purpura fulminans in children. Etiopathogenic and therapeutic considerations].

Between 1971 and 1985, 43 children died of purpura fulminans in our intensive care unit: 11 had autopsy and adrenal haemorrhage was observed in 8 (73%). All these patients had an extensive purpura and a severe disseminated intravascular coagulation. Our series confirms the findings of previous studies: 69 autopsies showed 51 cases (74%) of macroscopic adrenal haemorrhage. Adrenal haemorrhage may be only one manifestation of multiple system organ failure consecutive to septic shock; however, its association with low plasma cortisol levels (as previously reported) suggests that glucocorticoid replacement therapy should be reconsidered in purpura fulminans.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗

[Value of C-reactive protein assay in severe infectious purpura in children].

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values were obtained in 24 children with infectious purpura: 8 were not shocked and survived, 10 were shocked and survived, 6 were shocked and died. On admission, mean CRP levels were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) in shocked patients who died (69 +/- 27 mg/l) than in shocked patients who survived (209 +/- 60 mg/l). In shocked patients the predictive value for death of a CRP level below 100 mg/l was 83%. The predictive value for survival of a CRP level above 100 mg/l was 90%. Steadily high values of CRP beyond the 8th day seem to be related to severe necrosis rather than to an unsuccessful treatment or superinfection.

Bacterial Infections↗

Bacterial croup and toxic shock syndrome.

An 8-year-old boy with bacterial tracheitis, treated by endotracheal intubation, humidification, airway toilet and antibiotics, experienced a toxic shock syndrome on the day after his admission. The course was favourable. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from tracheal secretions. Bacterial tracheitis is an infrequent cause of non-menstrual toxic shock syndrome. The diagnosis of bacterial tracheitis should be suspected in a child with toxicity and croup who is not responding to the usual therapy. Endoscopy should be performed allowing for removal of the secretions. The maintenance of a clear airway is the main purpose of the treatment.

Child↗

Plasma fibronectin in severe infectious purpura of children.

Plasma fibronectin levels were determined in 34 children admitted with severe infectious purpura. Fibronectin concentration was decreased in severe infectious purpura as in other sepsis, but there was no significant difference between shock and nonshock patients. Fibronectin levels were lower in children with ecchymotic or necrotic purpura on admission than in those with petechial purpura; they were lower in those who developed cutaneous sequelae, but it is not known if correction of fibronectin deficiency may limit the extent of purpura and prevent the cutaneous sequelae.

Child↗

Development of a pediatric multiple organ dysfunction score: use of two strategies.

BACKGROUND: An organ dysfunction (OD) scoring system for critically ill children is not yet available, and the method for developing such a system is not well defined. The aim of this study was to compare two developmental methods for assessing OD in critically ill children. METHODS: Consecutive admissions between January and May 1997 in three French and Canadian pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) were studied prospectively. Physiologic data were selected using a Delphi method; the most abnormal values during PICU stay were recorded. The outcome measure was the vital status at PICU discharge. Six organ systems were studied: hepatic, cardiovascular, renal, hematologic, respiratory, and neurologic. For each of the six organ systems, the PEdiatric Multiple OD (PEMOD) system included one variable and the PEdiatric Logistic OD (PELOD) system included several variables. Severity levels and relative weights of ODs were determined according to the mortality rate (PEMOD) or by logistic regression (PELOD). RESULTS: There were 594 admissions, including 51 deaths (9%). Severity levels and relative weights of ODs were: four levels graded from 1 to 4 for the PEMOD system and three levels with scores of 1, 10, and 20 for PELOD system. For both systems, calibrations were good (p = 0.23 and p = 0.44 respectively). The PELOD system was more discriminant than the PEMOD system (areas under the ROC curves 0.98 and 0.92, respectively, p < 10(-5)). Moreover, with the PEMOD system, four ODs did not contribute significantly to the prediction of PICU outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The PELOD system was more discriminant and had the advantage of taking into account both the relative severities among ODs and the degree of severity of each OD.

Adolescent↗