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Biomedical subjects

C Cordonnier

Publications and source records attributed to C Cordonnier.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Acquired autoimmune thrombocytopenia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A 29-year-old man in remission from acute myeloblastic leukaemia was treated by chemoradiotherapy and transplantation of bone marrow (BMT) collected from his HLA identical brother. Engraftment was documented on D12. Transient acute GVHD (grade II) appeared from D34. No infection complicated the BMT. Nevertheless severe thrombocytopenia persisted and was unresponsive to marrow donor platelet transfusion. The platelet immunofluorescence test demonstrated the autoimmune basis of the thrombocytopenia. This study suggests that the transient immune imbalance observed in the early post graft period could facilitate the appearance of autoimmune cytopenias.

Adult↗

How many plasma exchanges to cure thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?

7 patients were treated by plasma exchanges and antiplatelet drugs for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The effectiveness of therapy was reviewed daily and retrospectively estimated on day 3, d6, d9, and d12. 6 of these 7 patients were cured. The low predictive value of the initial response to therapy is underlined. The clinical and biological status on d12 seems to have the best predictive value for the final outcome. These data encourage us to continue the plasma exchanges until d12, whatever the initial response to therapy in TTP.

Adult↗

Oxalic acid level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Oxalic acid is a fermentation product of Aspergillus. We have measured the oxalic acid level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids recovered from immunocompromised patients with and without invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These levels were significantly higher in patients with invasive aspergillosis than in patients with pneumonitis of other causes. Thus, the determination of oxalic acid in bronchoalveolar lavage could be a presumptive argument for invasive aspergillosis until positive fungal cultures or histologic diagnosis; its potential value in monitoring the course of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, particularly under treatment, has to be confirmed in more patients.

Adolescent↗

Diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage in pneumonitis occurring after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Fifty-two bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed in order to investigate 46 episodes of pneumonitis that occurred after allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation. No complications have been attributed to this procedure. A specific etiologic diagnosis was obtained in 24 of 46 episodes (52%) by 26 of 52 BAL (50%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV), diagnosed by the presence of typical inclusions, was the pathogen most frequently identified by BAL (13 of 46 episodes) and was associated with other causes of pneumonia in 4 patients. The other causes of pneumonitis diagnosed by BAL were: giant-cell pneumonia: 1, aspergillosis alone: 3, Pneumocystis carinii: 1, Hemophilus influenzae: 3, isolated pulmonary hemorrhage: 3. One false negative (aspergillosis, n = 1) was diagnosed at autopsy. The overall mortality rate of these episodes was 24%. Thus, BAL appears to be a rapid and reproducible diagnostic method for monitoring pneumonitis in grafted patients, particularly CMV pneumonitis, and may avoid the need for surgical biopsy.

Adolescent↗

High dose intravenous gammaglobulin and platelet transfusions in leukaemic HLA-immunized patients.

3 aplastic patients with acute leukaemia, strongly HLA-immunized and refractory to platelet transfusions, received polyvalent gammaglobulin i.v. infusions (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 or 6 d) in association with daily random platelet transfusions. Platelet recovery was obtained in 2 patients. The 3rd patient did not show any significant rise in platelet count. The ability of gammaglobulin to prolong the life-span of incompatible transfused platelets could facilitate the management of HLA-immunized patients.

Adult↗

Legionnaires' disease and hairy-cell leukemia. An unfortuitous association?

Four cases of legionnaires' disease were diagnosed by specific serologic tests in a group of 33 immunocompromised patients admitted to the same hematologic department for acute febrile pneumonitis. The underlying disease of these four patients was hairy-cell leukemia (HCL) in three cases and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in the other. This article stresses the enhanced susceptibility of patients with HCL to Legionella pneumophila and discusses its possible causes, especially monocyte deficiency. We propose the use of erythromycin as part of the initial empiric antibiotic therapy in immunocompromised hosts with acute pneumonitis until the results of specific serologic tests or isolation of L pneumophila is obtained.

Adult↗

Pulmonary fibrosis subsequent to high doses of CCNU for chronic myeloid leukemia.

Two patients treated for chronic myeloid leukemia with high doses of CCNU (1100 mg/m2 and 1240 mg/m2, respectively) developed a fatal pulmonary fibrosis. This side effect has never been reported for this nitrosourea but only for BCNU and methyl-CCNU. The responsibility of CCNU in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis seems very likely. The possibility that the underlying disease or other chemotherapeutic agents may increase the risk of pulmonary toxicity can, however, be discussed. In addition, 13 other adults treated for chronic myeloid leukemia with various doses of CCNU were reviewed. No respiratory symptoms appeared in the ten patients who were given less than 950 mg/m2. Three patients who received more than 1100 mg/m2 developed pulmonary symptoms with the same clinical and radiologic pattern as in the two cases with pathologic documents, and two of them died from acute respiratory failure. Although lung specimens were lacking from these three patients, it is suggested that the pulmonary toxicity of CCNU may be dose-related.

Adult↗

[Multiple myeloma with high tumoral mass. Treatment combining melphalan, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, CCNU and prednisone. 35 cases].

The results of a combination chemotherapy trial (melphalan, CCNU, vincristine, cyclophosphamide) involving 28 patients with stage III (n = 21) or stage II (n = 7) multiple myeloma suggest a high response rate, with a mean 71% malignant cell destruction in 78.5% of the patients. A longer survival in responsive stage III patients as compared with patients treated with alkylating agents seems likely, but this can only be established by a randomized trial. Despite haematological side-effects, this combination therapy may be used in high risk patients, especially those resistant to a single alkylating agent and in whom the frequency, intensity and duration of responses appears to be the same as in previously untreated patients. In contrast, only one of the 7 patients treated for relapse after previous response to a single alkylating agent responded to the combination chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Cytomegalovirus encephalitis occurring after bone marrow transplantation.

4 months after a bone marrow transplantation performed for acute lymphocytic leukaemia, a 28-year-old man had encephalitis. A brain CT scan revealed bilateral and symmetrical temporal hypodense areas. Serological studies revealed a recent CMV conversion in serum and a higher conversion in cerebral spinal fluid. All other viral antibodies remained at low levels, especially for herpes simplex virus. Because of a high incidence of CMV infection after bone marrow transplantation, the responsibility of CMV as the cause of the encephalitis is discussed.

Adult↗

[Bacterial septicemia in neutropenia patients].

Two hundred bacterial septicemia occurring in neutropenic patients (PMN less than 1,000 microliter) were analyzed. Most of these patients had hematologic malignancies. The underlying disease, the degree of neutropenia the association of septic focus with the bacteremia, the responsive microorganisms and their evolution during hospitalization were studied as prognosis factors. The overall mortality was 32.5 p. 100. The mortality was higher in patients whose granulocyte count was lower than 500 microliter. The occurrence of major septic focus (pulmonary, perineal infection, diarrhea with abdominal distension, ORL, or cutaneous extensive focus) during bacteremia was a highly significant factor of bad prognosis. The mortality of bacteremias with and without major septic focus was respectively 62 p. 100 and 15 p. 100. A study of the distribution of the bacterias was performed in terms of mortality and duration of hospitalization. "Escherichia coli" and gram positive cocci were predominant during the two first days and mortality was then low. After that time, others Gram-negative bacterias appeared, especially "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" and the mortality was increasing until the twentieth day. Therefore, the authors raise the opportunity of antibiotic therapy according to the duration between the beginning of the hospitalization and the occurrence of sepsis in neutropenic patients. The role of the extensive use of a curative antibiotic association using colistine and nalidixic acid between 1974 and 1976 is discussed in the emergence of more gram positive cocci bacteremias between 1976 and 1978 than between 1974 and 1976 in the same intensive care unit.

Agranulocytosis↗

[Choriocapillaris occlusion in Moschowitz's disease (author's transl)].

Two cases of choriocapillaris occlusion in Moschowitz's disease were examined. The first case was seen at the acute stage with severe findings including retinal detachment, yellowish spots, dye leakage in the subretinal space. Pathology examination revealed multiples choriocapillaris occlusions and foci of pigmentary epithelial necrosis. The second case was seen at the sequelar stage, with numerous Elschnig's spots well documented by angiography. Relationship between angiographic and pathologic findings are discussed, and emphasize the various kinds of blood retinal barrier rupture at the level of pigmentary epithelium.

Adult↗

[Diagnostic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pneumopathies in immunodeficient adults: a report on 59 examinations (author's transl)].

Fifty-nine fiberoptic examinations with endobronchial sampling, brushings, distal bronchial biopsy, and alveolar lavage were conducted during the course of recent pneumopathies in immunodeficient adults with malignant hemopathies (41 cases), solid tumors (7 cases), and other affections (11 cases). Diagnosis was established by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 4 cases with specific locations of hemopathy or cancer, after bronchial biopsy, in 5 cases of mycoses, after bronchial biopsy, aspiration and/or alveolar lavage, in 4 patients with bacterial pneumonia after bronchial aspiration, and in 1 case of pneumocystosis, after distal biopsy. Diagnosis was not confirmed in the other cases. Mortality (50 p. cent) was similar in the diagnosed group and the group without confirmation of diagnosis. No significant complications due to the examination were observed, except for worsening of the respiratory condition in 7 patients with hypoxemia. The role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in causing these alterations cannot be excluded. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy appears to be a safe examination except in patients with hypoxemia (PaO2 less than or equal to 50 mmHg). Distal biopsy appeared to be of less value than bronchial biopsy in these patients, as there was a positive correlation between the results of the latter examination and the macroscopic lesions observed in all cases.

Adult↗

[Thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura in adults. 10 cases (author's transl)].

Thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura is a rare condition of controverted pathophysiology. The authors have observed and treated 10 cases between 1974 and 1979. The clinical features were uniform: haemolytic anaemia with schistocytosis (10/10), thrombopenia (10/10), fever (9/10), varying neurological disorders (9/10) which required assisted ventilation in 7 cases. Renal insufficiency was found in 7 patients, but associated with renal lesions only one and never interfered with the course of the disease. All patients received corticosteroids in high dosage and anti-platelet aggregation drugs. That treatment alone cured 3 patients. In addition, 5 patients underwent plasmapheresis, which seemed to be very effective in 2 cases. Five patients died, 3 of whom despite corticosteroids, anti-aggregants and plasmapheresis. Thus, none of these treatments seems to be effective in all cases, and prospective multicentre therapeutic trials are probably required.

Adult↗