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Biomedical subjects

L Mouthon

Publications and source records attributed to L Mouthon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prognosis and outcome of 26 patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis admitted to the intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate presenting features, prognostic factors and outcomes of patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis (SNV) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all 210 SNV patients followed in our university hospital and admitted to the ICU between 1982 and 2001, with respect to clinical features, ICU disease severity scores (APACHE II and SAPS II), the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS), the five-factors score (FFS) and outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (16 men, 10 women) with a mean age of 46.3+/-16.5 yr were included. The reasons for ICU admission were: active SNV, 20 (77%); infection, 3 (12%); others, 3 (12%). SNV was diagnosed in 11 (42%) patients in the ICU. The mean APACHE II and SAPS II scores were significantly higher for patients who died in the ICU (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01 respectively). After a mean follow-up of 31.4+/-29.2 months, the overall mortality rate was 39% (10 patients). Among patients admitted to the ICU with active SNV, BVAS calculated at ICU admission was significantly higher for non-survivors at the end of follow-up (26.9+/-13.0 vs 14.7+/-4.6, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The main reason for admitting SNV patients to the ICU was active vasculitis, which was often the first manifestation of SNV and led to its diagnosis. ICU disease severity scores at admission were associated with mortality in the ICU but did not predict long-term outcome, unlike BVAS, which accurately predicted long-term outcome but not ICU prognosis for patients admitted to the ICU with active SNV.

Adolescent↗

[Therapeutic indications of intravenous immunoglobulins].

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) provide a wide spectrum of antibody specificities in patients with antibody deficiencies and restore immune homeostasis in patients with auto-immune diseases. Controlled trials have now been performed in a large number of diseases: in primary and secondary antibody deficiencies, auto-immune neurological diseases and various other auto-immune or systemic inflammatory conditions. Mechanisms of action of IVIg are multiple and often associated for a given disease. These mechanisms are however incompletely understood and therapeutic effect of IVIg remains to be investigated in a wide range of diseases.

Antibody Specificity↗

Common variable immunodeficiency patient classification based on impaired B cell memory differentiation correlates with clinical aspects.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a very heterogeneous syndrome defined by impaired immunoglobulin production. The functional classification of CVID patients on the basis of in vitro immunoglobulin production is time consuming and has never shown any predictive value. We propose a classification based on the quantitative repartition of naive/memory B cells according to the dual expression of IgD and CD27. Fifty-seven patients were categorized into three groups: Group MB2 (11 patients, 19%) with normal memory B cells; Group MB1 (19 patients, 33%) with defective switched memory (IgD-CD27+) but normal nonswitched memory B cells (IgD+CD27+); Group MB0 (27 patients, 47%) with almost no memory B cells. In addition, a downexpression of activation markers (CD25, CD21, CD80, CD86) on B cells characterized the group MB1 patients and was associated with an upexpression of activation markers (HLA-DR, CD95, CD57) on T cells. This classification correlates with some clinical aspects showing a higher prevalence of splenomegaly (16/27, 59%), lymphoid proliferation (13/27, 48%) and granulomatous disease (12/27, 44%) in group MB0. Splenomegaly was also frequent in group MB1 (8/19, 42%). In contrast, autoimmunity was observed with similar prevalence in all three groups. Moreover, by analyzing B cell phenotype, immunoglobulin transcript expression, and somatic mutations, we propose different putative mechanisms responsible for impaired B cell activation and memory differentiation in this syndrome.

Adult↗

Intravenous immunoglobulins in infectious diseases: where do we stand?

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) are therapeutic preparations of normal human IgG that have been used for more than 20 years for substitutive therapy in patients with primary antibody deficiencies. Recent studies pointed out the need to obtain normal residual levels of IgG (i.e. 8 g/L) in order to reduce the number and severity of bacterial infections in these patients. The IVIg are also prescribed for the substitutive therapy of secondary immunodeficiencies such as chronic lymphoid leukemia and multiple myeloma with hypogammaglobulinemia and severe and/or recurrent infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children with recurrent bacterial infections before the era of highly active antiretroviral agents. However, in the latter situation, no recent study has evaluated IVIg therapy in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) children receiving highly active antiretroviral agents (HAART), and the use of IVIg must probably be restricted to the currently rare clinical situation in Western Europe of children with AIDS who develop recurrent infections despite the administration of HAART and prophylactic cotrimoxazole. IVIg have also been reported to prevent infections, interstitial pneumonia and graft-vs. host disease during the first 90 days post-transplant in allogeneic bone-marrow transplant recipients. However, this result was not confirmed by two recent studies and IVIg therapy should probably only be proposed for a subgroup of bone-marrow allografted patients such as those with hypogammaglobulinemia and sepsis. With the exception of erythrovirus B19 infection with erythroblastopenia, no clear benefit of IVIg therapy has been reported for the curative management of other infectious diseases.

Communicable Diseases↗

Lack of association between B19 or V9 erythrovirus infection and ANCA-positive vasculitides: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the potential association of human B19 or V9 erythrovirus infection and onset of ANCA-positive vasculitides. METHODS: We tested the sera of 13 adults with newly diagnosed ANCA-positive vasculitides. Each was age- and sex-matched to three sera obtained from healthy controls. All samples were tested for B19- and V9-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies (Ab) (third-generation ELISA), and B19 or V9 DNA was sought with the polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Patient diagnoses comprised six cases of Wegener's granulomatosis, six of microscopic polyangiitis and one of Churg-Strauss syndrome. IgG Ab to B19 were detected equally in patient and control sera (77 and 79% respectively) (odds ratio=0.84, P=0.84). All 13 cases and 39 controls were negative for IgM Ab and viral DNA. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neither acute nor chronic B19 or V9 infection is an aetiological factor in ANCA-associated vasculitides.

Acute Disease↗

Characteristics and outcome of 49 patients with symptomatic cryoglobulinaemia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a population of patients with symptomatic cryoglobulinaemia, comparing manifestations and outcome as a function of hepatitis C virus (HCV) status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study on 179 patients who tested positive for cryoglobulins, seen between 1978 and 1998 in an internal medicine department. RESULTS: Among 179 cryoglobulin-positive patients, only 49 (18 men, 31 women; mean age 59.96+/-12 yr) had clinical manifestations attributable to cryoglobulinaemia. Thirty-three had HCV infection, 20 had systemic autoimmune diseases, two had haematological diseases, one had human immunodeficiency virus and HCV co-infection, one had HCV and HBV co-infection and six had essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia. The clinical manifestations and cryoglobulin levels in HCV(+) and HCV(-) patients did not differ significantly. Only arthralgias and elevated transaminases were significantly more frequent in HCV(+) patients (P<0.02 and <0.05, respectively). Five-year survival rates were comparable for HCV(+) and HCV(-) patients. Eight patients died (six HCV(+), two HCV(-)), with a median time between diagnosis and death of 38.7 months. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations of cryoglobulinaemia, except arthralgias, were comparable for HCV(+) and HCV(-) patients. When systemic manifestations are present, the prognosis is poor despite intensive or prolonged therapy.

Cryoglobulinemia↗

Severe perturbations of the blood T cell repertoire in polymyositis, but not dermatomyositis patients.

Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are diseases characterized by muscle weakness and muscle inflammatory infiltrates. Their pathogenesis remains unclear. A central role for endomysial autoaggressive CD8(+) T cells is suspected in polymyositis and for perivascular B cells in dermatomyositis. We compared the T cell repertoire of 10 polymyositis and 10 dermatomyositis patients by immunoscope, a method providing a global assessment of the T cell repertoire and a sensitive detection of clonal T cell expansions. Samples were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in the blood (unsorted cells and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells) and in muscle infiltrates. Dramatic perturbations of the T cell repertoire were observed in the blood of polymyositis but not dermatomyositis patients (p < 0.0005), the latter being undistinguishable from controls. These perturbations were due to oligoclonal expansions of CD8(+) T cells and most blood clonal expansions were also found in muscle. These results indicate that the pathogenesis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis is different and reinforce the view that polymyositis but not dermatomyositis is an autoimmune CD8(+) T cell-mediated disease. Moreover, this method may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of polymyositis and dermatomyositis and for noninvasive follow-up of polymyositis patients.

Adult↗

Breast adenocarcinoma complicating Kallmann's syndrome.

Carcinoma of the breast is relatively rare among men, accounting for less than 1% of all malignancies. An increased risk has been associated with benign breast diseases, such as gynecomastia, Klinefelter's syndrome, testicular disorders, exogenous estrogen use, radiation, or a family history of male or female breast cancer. To date, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism has never been associated with male breast cancer. We report here the first case of breast cancer coexisting with Kallmann's syndrome in a 66-year-old man.

Journal Article↗

Treating systemic sclerosis in 2001.

Systemic sclerosis (SS) is characterized by sclerosis of the dermis and internal organs and by vascular abnormalities. Although the pathophysiology of the disease has been partly elucidated, the efficacy of long-term treatments remains limited, with no significant increase in survival in prospective studies. Conventional drug treatments are disappointing in clinical practice, and in a recent prospective randomized study standard-dose D-penicillamine was not more effective than mini-dose D-penicillamine. New long-term treatments are emerging for diffuse SS, including cyclophosphamide for patients with progressive interstitial lung disease or stem cell transplantation for those with early organ involvement. The most effective treatments remain symptomatic, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for acute renal crisis, calcium channel antagonists for Raynaud's phenomenon, and proton pump inhibitors for the complications of gastroesophageal reflux. This review article focuses on long-term treatments that are most likely to be effective and suggests symptomatic treatment strategies tailored to specific organ involvements.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Polyarteritis nodosa and mixed cryoglobulinaemia related to hepatitis B and C virus coinfection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the responsibility of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and therapeutic implications in a patient who developed systemic vasculitis. CASE REPORT: The case of a 38 year old woman who had a past history of addiction to intravenous drugs and developed systemic vasculitis after infection by HBV and HCV is described. The clinical and laboratory findings substantiated not only the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) but also that of mixed cryoglobulinaemia with a monoclonal IgMkappa component. CONCLUSION: Because cryoglobulins are rarely found in HBV related PAN but often associated with HCV infection, and in light of the histological findings, cryoglobulinaemia was interpreted as being secondary to HCV infection. This example of a highly complex situation emphasises the need to gather all relevant clinical, biological, histological, and complementary data so that the best treatment for overlapping of distinct vasculitides can be selected.

Adult↗

Risk factors and prognostic influence of infection in a single cohort of 87 adults with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: To describe infectious complications and analyse their risk factors and prognostic role in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A monocentric cohort of 87 adults with SLE (1960-1997) was studied to determine the risk factors for infection (disease activity evaluated by SLAM and SLEDAI scores, type of organ(s) involved or any biological abnormality, specific treatments) by comparing patients who had suffered at least one infectious episode (n=35; 40%) with non-infected patients (n=52; 60%). Prognostic indicators were assessed by comparing survivors at 10 years with non-survivors. RESULTS: Of the 57 infectious episodes, 47 (82%) were of bacterial origin, 16 (28%) were pneumonia, and 46 (81%) were community acquired. According to univariate analysis, significant risk factors for infection were: severe flares, lupus glomerulonephritis, oral or intravenous corticosteroids, pulse cyclophosphamide, and/or plasmapheresis. No predictors were identified at the time of SLE diagnosis. Multivariate analyses retained intravenous corticosteroids (p<0.001) and/or immunosuppressants (p<0.01) as independent risk factors for infection, which was the only factor for death after 10 years of evolution (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In adults with SLE, infections are common and most often caused by community acquired bacteria. Intravenous corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are independent risk factors for infection, which is the only independent risk factor for death after 10 years of SLE evolution.

Adolescent↗

Localized neurological necrotizing vasculitides. Three cases with isolated mononeuritis multiplex.

Localized vasculitic neuropathies are increasingly reported. We describe 3 cases of peripheral neuropathy with necrotizing vasculitis confined to nerves and muscles without systemic involvement. These neuropathies were severe and relapsing, in contrast to a usually benign prognosis. Our cases appear to be isolated vasculitic neuropathies, with vasculitis strictly limited to the peripheral neuromuscular system without nonspecific clinical and/or biological systemic involvement.

Aged↗

Hydroxyethyl starch-induced renal insufficiency after plasma exchange in a patient with polymyositis and liver cirrhosis.

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is a macromolecular preparation that has been used as a volume expander since 1991. Renal toxicity of high-dose HES is now well recognized but potential renal toxicity of low-dose HES is poorly documented. Acute renal toxicity of cyclosporin A (CyA) may be responsible for osmotic nephrosis-like lesions. We report here the case of a 30-year-old male who developed cirrhosis due to hepatitis B and delta viruses and polymyositis. Polymyositis was treated with CyA, prednisone and plasma exchanges using low-dose HES as the replacement fluid. Renal insufficiency occurred with biopsy-proven osmotic nephrosis-like lesions, considered to be secondary to HES infusions and/or CyA.

Adult↗

Antigen inhalation as a triggering factor in systemic small-sized-vessel vasculitis. Four cases.

In order to identify small-sized-vessel vasculitis occurring immediately after massive inhalation of particles which could be considered antigenic, we performed a retrospective review of patients who consulted our Department of Internal Medicine between 1980 and 1998 and were diagnosed as having small-vessel vasculitis that developed immediately after massive exposure to inhaled particles. Four patients, 27 to 55 years old, presented with small-sized-vessel vasculitis (one with Wegener's granulomatosis and three with Churg-Strauss syndrome) which developed after massive inhalation of particles. Clinical manifestations occurred from a few hours to 10 days after inhalation of diesel fumes, cereal dust, flour or cereal dust and/or pigeon droppings. Three patients remain disease-free 8, 9 and 18 years after discontinuing treatment. One patient remains well after 3 years on low-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide therapy. Our data suggest that primary antigens can cause small-sized-vessel vasculitides. Identifying such etiological factors could improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitides and prevent relapses due to similar antigenic exposure.

Adult↗