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Biomedical subjects

E Palazzo

Publications and source records attributed to E Palazzo.

77 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Sulphasalazine-related life-threatening side effects: is N-acetylcysteine of therapeutic value?

This report is on a patient with a spondylarthropathy with peripheral joint involvement treated with sulphasalazine who developed severe hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, high spiking fever, a mononucleosis-like syndrome and a diffuse cutaneous rash. All these features resolved rapidly after drug withdrawal and intravenous N-acetylcysteine. Serious sulphasalazine-related adverse reactions are rare and their outcome is generally favourable within a few weeks after drug withdrawal. However, certain cases with life-threatening side effects may need additional treatment. The course in our patient suggests that N-acetylcysteine may be useful for treating sulphasalazine-induced side effects.

Acetylcysteine↗

Neurological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus: role of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) are associated with venous and arterial thrombosis in SLE patients. Various thrombotic and non-thrombotic neurological manifestations have been reported in SLE but whether or not they are related to the presence of APL antibodies remains uncertain. To assess the possible association between neurological involvement in SLE and APL antibodies, IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG ACL) were looked for using an ELISA technique in 92 consecutive SLE patients seen over a one-year period. Other APL determinations included VDRL and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) testing using APTT and the diluted thromboplastin time. Twenty-four SLE patients presented with neurological manifestations (40 episodes): 15/24 (62.5%) were found positive for APL antibodies (11 VDRL, 8 LAC, 7 ACL antibodies) versus 22/68 patients (32%) without neurological symptoms (p < 0.01). APL antibodies antedated neurological symptoms in 13/16 cases. Neurological manifestations were subsequently divided into 3 groups: thrombotic (n = 14), psychosis and convulsions (n = 15), miscellaneous (n = 10). No correlation was found between APL antibodies and any of the 3 subgroups. Among patients with neurological SLE, APL antibodies were present in two with valvular heart disease, as well as in seven with a history of either deep vein thrombosis, livedo reticularis or miscarriage. Among 7 patients with thrombocytopenia and neurological symptoms, 6 had APL antibodies. These data suggest that APL syndrome is associated with neuro-ophthalmological manifestations of SLE regardless of whether or not the mechanism of neurological involvement is thrombotic. SLE patients with APL antibodies may be at risk for future neurological manifestations. However, it is still questionable that APL positivity has definite therapeutic consequences.

Adolescent↗