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Biomedical subjects

A Schattner

Publications and source records attributed to A Schattner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Captopril-induced jaundice: report of 2 cases and a review of 13 additional reports in the literature.

Two elderly patients, treated with captopril for left ventricular dysfunction and diabetes, developed severe cholestatic jaundice for which no alternative explanation could be found. The jaundice resolved completely after discontinuation of the drug. A review of the literature identifies a highly similar and distinctive clinical pattern in another 13 cases reported and suggests that hepatotoxicity is a well-established yet rare adverse effect of captopril. However, the very common use of this drug, together with the severity of the liver injury it may cause, calls for a high index of suspicion and increased awareness of this phenomenon.

Aged↗

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) in HIV-negative patients--a distinct clinical entity.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a recently described rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring almost exclusively in HIV infected people. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), has been linked with PEL, and a causative relationship has been suggested. In the vast majority of PEL cases Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been found in the tumour cells. We describe here an elderly human immune deficiency (HIV) seronegative man with intractable chest pain and pleural effusion. The diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was suggested cytologically and confirmed histologically following pleural biopsy. No lymphadenopathy or organ involvement with lymphoma was found. Systemic chemotherapy with a modified CHOP regimen with G-CSF support gradually led to the resolution of the chest pain and ultimately resulted in a complete clinical remission (CCR). The presence of HHV-8 was demonstrated by PCR using paraffin-embedded tissue samples from the involved pleura, whereas EBV-associated genetic material was absent. The patient remained in CCR for 18 months and died of an unrelated cause (cerebrovascular event). Only 11 other cases with clinical and virological features similar to those of our patient have been reported in the literature. Analysis of these rare cases suggests HIV-negative EBV-negative PEL to be a distinct clinical entity with epidemiological features resembling classical KS and supports an EBV-independent role for HHV-8 in the pathogenesis of PEL.

Aged↗

Facial diplegia as the presenting manifestation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A 36-year-old man with recent onset of unilateral peripheral 7th nerve paresis presented ten days later with involvement of the other side of his face. Physical examination was otherwise normal, and since blood tests and imaging were also normal, he was considered to have bilateral Bell's palsy. However, unexpected headaches and worsening of the paresis led to a gallium-67 scan which revealed uptake in the mediastinum. A repeat lumbar puncture revealed cells which were identified as lymphoblasts. T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) was diagnosed, although the peripheral blood smear was normal. The differential diagnosis of bilateral 7th nerve palsy and of mononuclear cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis is discussed, as well as this rare central nervous system presentation of acute leukemia.

Adult↗

Advanced Hodgkin's disease in a pregnant HIV seropositive woman: favorable mother and baby outcome following combined anticancer and antiretroviral therapy.

We describe a 33 y/o HIV(+) woman who developed advanced Hodgkin's disease (HD) during the 2nd trimester of her pregnancy. Combination chemotherapy and antiretroviral treatment along with opportunistic infection prophylaxis were administered. At term, while in partial remission, she delivered by a Caesarian section a healthy baby, PCR-negative for HIV. A complete remission was later achieved upon completion of the chemotherapy regimen. Since both the incidence of HD and the proportion of young women among the HIV(+) individuals are increasing, it seems important to recognize that successful completion of pregnancy with no deterioration of accepted surrogate parameters of HIV disease progression is achievable in a carefully treated HIV(+) pregnant woman with advanced HD.

Adult↗

Cactus thorn arthritis: case report and review of the literature.

Synovitis secondary to penetrating plant thorn injuries is an infrequently reported event. Despite its wide geographic distribution, thorns from the prickly pear cactus (Optunia ficusindica) are a rare source of this type of inflammatory arthritis. We hereby present an unusual case of an individual who developed an acute monoarthritis of the knee shortly after sustaining a penetrating cactus thorn injury. The clinical and pathophysiologic features of cactus thorn arthritis are reviewed and the unusual features present in this individual are highlighted. Treatment options, with an emphasis on rapid diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, are discussed. Increased physician awareness and recognition of this unusual but not rare entity are essential as a means of improving clinical outcome.

Adult↗

Fatal hepatitis and renal failure during treatment with nimesulide.

A healthy 70-year-old woman who took nimesulide for 5 days, presented 2 weeks later with jaundice for which no other cause was found. Laboratory evidence of coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia and hypoglycaemia were present on admission, and liver biopsy showed massive necrosis of hepatocytes and severe inflammatory infiltrate. Despite supportive and corticosteroid treatment, her jaundice deepened and progressive acute renal failure developed, characterized by a 'prerenal' profile changing into irreversible acute tubular necrosis pattern, coma, occult Gram-negative sepsis and death. Although rare, nimesulide-associated hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity may occur and should be recognized as early as possible, to ensure immediate drug withdrawal and treatment.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

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Journal Article↗

Immune cytopenias as the presenting finding in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A diagnostic delay of several years in primary Sjögren's syndrome is common, even in patients who present with sicca symptoms. It is much more likely in cases with prominent symptomatic extraglandular involvement. We report on three such patients who presented as Coomb's positive haemolytic anaemia, systemic symptoms with agranulocytosis and gingival bleeding due to immune thrombocytopenia, to alert clinicians to the fact that primary Sjögren's syndrome may present as clinically significant immune-mediated cytopenia in the absence of sicca symptoms. Sjögren's syndrome, a common autoimmune disorder, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of apparently 'idiopathic' cytopenias and actively sought by directed history, Schirmer test and autoantibody screening.

Adult↗

Increased risk of type 2 diabetes in noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without evidence of cirrhosis have an increased risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to evaluate possible risk factors for diabetes in this group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 45 consecutive eligible patients with HCV infection and no clinical, scintigraphic, or histological evidence of cirrhosis, and a control group of 90 subjects without liver disease matched by age, sex, and body mass index and similar in their origin distribution. Eighty-eight patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with no evidence of cirrhosis were also evaluated. The diagnosis of diabetes was based on the 1997 American Diabetes Association criteria. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (33%) with HCV infection were found to have type 2 diabetes compared with 5.6% in the control group without liver disease (P < .001) and 12% in the group with HBV infection (P = .004). Comparison of the patients with and without diabetes revealed that positive family history of diabetes, HCV 1b genotype, and a more severe liver histology were significantly associated with DM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic HCV infection have an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes, and this prevalence is independent of cirrhosis. The pathogenesis is intriguing, appears to be unique to HCV, and requires further study.

Adult↗

To E or not to E.

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Arteriosclerosis↗