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Biomedical subjects

J Revuz

Publications and source records attributed to J Revuz.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

[Negativity of Borrelia burgdorferi serology in scleroderma en plaques].

The occurrence of morphea has been attributed to Borrelia, burgdorferi infection, but the relationship between localised scleroderma and borreliosis remains controverted. Antibodies directed against B. burgdorferi were looked for in 21 patients (18 female and 3 male, aged from 8 to 63 years) whose disease had been present for 6 weeks to 13 years. One patient had a single morphea, two had monomelic scleroderma and 18 had multiple localised morpheas. The search for antibodies was conducted in these 21 patients and in 200 blood donors from the Paris region by indirect immunofluorescence techniques, using the CDC method where only antibody titers of 1/256 or more are significant. Serology was lower than 1/256 in 20 cases and equal to 1/256 in one case. Among the 200 blood donors, five (2.5%) had antibody titers of 1/256 or more. None of the patients studied had been exposed to tick bite due to their occupation or place of residence. We therefore found no evidence of a link between B. burgdorferi infection and morphea in the Paris region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Plasma exchange in dermatomyositis and polymyositis. Retrospective study of 38 cases of plasma exchange].

In order to evaluate the efficacity of plasma exchanges (PE) in dermatomyositis and polymyositis, the case histories of 38 patients, who had undergone plasma exchanges between 1980 and 1986 in 10 French plasmapheresis centers, were studied. Large volume PE were performed in 34 patients after failure of conventional therapy and were part of the initial regimen for the 4 others. The initial activity of the muscle disease was acute in 27 patients and subacute or chronic in 11 cases. Clinical results were evaluated on a functional scale based on changes in muscle force: 24 patients improved (10 appreciably and 14 moderately) and 14 remained unchanged. PE were well tolerated in 23 patients. But side effects occurred in 15 patients, necessitating treatment withdrawal in 4 cases. PE seem to be more effective when the dermatomyositis is acute and evolutive than when it is chronic and insidious. The encouraging results of this exhaustive retrospective study prompt us to set up a prospective randomized trial.

Adolescent↗

[Plasma exchange in dermatomyositis. A retrospective study of 21 cases].

We have reviewed the results obtained in 21 dermatomyositis patients who were treated with plasma exchanges (PE) in 8 french centres between 1980 and 1986. Patients and methods. Seven of the 21 patients studied were male and 14 were female; 16 were children under 15 years of age. The disease was initially acute in 17 cases, subacute in 3 cases and chronic in 1 case. Plasma exchanges were performed as first-line therapy in 13 patients and after failure of the usual treatments in 18 patients. The decision to use PE therapy was prompted by an increase in muscle weakness in 14 of these 18 patients and by a lack of improvement despite treatment in the remaining 4 patients. PE therapy was started 17 months on average after the beginning of treatment. At the time 10 patients were under systemic corticosteroid therapy (prednisone or prednisolone greater than 1 mg/kg/day in 7 cases); 7 patients were receiving immunosuppressants jointly with corticosteroids (prednisone or prednisolone greater than 1 mg/kg/day in 5 cases); and 1 patient had systemic corticosteroids (3 mg/kg/day), methotrexate and antilymphocyte serum. In 3 patients, 2 of whom had severe muscle weakness. PE's were performed from the start. Our 21 patients underwent a total of 234 plasma exchanges. Each patient had a mean series of 11 +/- 6 PE's spread over 11 +/- 3 weeks. In addition to PE therapy, 12 patients received corticosteroids (greater than 1 mg/kd/day in 7 cases) and 8 had corticosteroids (greater than 1 mg/kd/day in 5 cases) together with immunosuppressants. One patient who was put on TE therapy from the start received no other treatment. It must be noted that in 12 patients the introduction of PE was accompanied by another therapeutic change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Aerosol pulmonary scintigraphy. A new test in the diagnostic strategy of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

In eleven patients with AIDS and suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia we measured the pulmonary clearance and half-life of aerosolized 99m Tc-DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetate). We correlated the half-life with gallium scans and bronchoalveolar lavages. In all nine patients with Pneumocystis, this half-life was shorter than normal value, documenting a significant increase of lung epithelial permeability (p less than 0.001). Six of these 9 patients had abnormal gallium scans. However, in two patients with normal chest X-rays, PaO2 and gallium scans, only the reduced half-life of 99mTc-DTPA evidenced acute lung disease. After treatment, the results of the DTPA half-life correlated with the presence or absence of Pneumocystis. This method is, therefore, a sensitive initial diagnostic test in patients with suspected Pneumocystis pneumonia. A short half-life should prompt bronchoalveolar lavage even when PaO2 and/or chest X-rays and gallium scans are normal.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. Ultrastructural study and successful treatment with acitretin.

Four siblings affected by Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) ranged in age from 2 to 11 years. The parents were unaffected and parental consanguinity was present. The 2-year-old girl showed the early manifestations of PLS; that is, slight gingival swelling and erythema occurring simultaneously with minimal scaling of palms and soles. The other siblings, aged 5, 8, and 11 years, showed severe periodontopathy with tooth loss and marked palmoplantar keratoderma with a centripetal extension of the keratoses to the limbs and trunk. These three older siblings were treated with acitretin (Ro 10-1670), the free acid of etretinate, with complete clearing of the skin and healing of gingival pockets. Treatment was given for 16 months; teeth that erupted during therapy were free of periodontopathy and remained firmly anchored to the alveolar bone. In two of the children ultrastructural examination of involved skin was performed before and during acitretin treatment. Before treatment a large number of lipidlike vacuoles were found in corneocytes and in granulocytes; tonofilaments were reduced in number, and keratohyaline granules frequently showed a rectangular or globular shape. During treatment with acitretin these abnormalities diminished markedly. Thus, etretin is effective in treating PLS and, if treatment is started at an early age, should allow patients with PLS to have normal adult dentition.

Acitretin↗

[Gram-negative bacteria folliculitis].

Gram-negative folliculitis was first described in 1968 and had since given rise to numerous publications. To our knowledge, no case has yet been published in France, although we observed 6 of them in 12 months. Between March, 1985 and March, 1986, samples of pus for bacteriological examination were obtained from all our patients with acnea vulgaris resistant to the standard treatment (i.e. oral tetracycline combined with topical applications of tretinoin or benzoyl peroxide), thus enabling us to detect patients who had a Gram-negative bacillus (GNB) in at least one pustule. Inflammatory and painful episodes were noted in every case. Tetracyclines, initially effective, gradually lost their activity. The lesions were always limited to the face and consisted of: either superficial small pustules located in the naso-labial line and on the upper lip and chin, associated with inflammatory papulopustular lesions of the cheeks and perioral region; or deeply sited and painful nodules of the cheeks. Various GNBs of the lactose-fermenting Gram-negative rod group were isolated from the superficial lesions, and a Proteus mirabilis strain from the deep lesions. The GNB was never found in all samples but only in 1 to 3 pustules. Four patients were treated with antibiotics proved to be active in vitro against the responsible organisms, and their lesions disappeared within a fortnight. Two patients were given isotretinoin in doses of 1 mg/kg/day with a satisfactory result after 2 and 3 months respectively. The prevalence of Gram-negative folliculitis is probably underestimated. The clinical picture is stereotyped. GNBs are found in some pustules but rarely in all.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acne Vulgaris↗