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Biomedical subjects

S Wiersbitzky

Publications and source records attributed to S Wiersbitzky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Persistent parvovirus B19 infections in immunocompromised children.

Immunocompromised patients have been shown to suffer from prolonged viral infections often without detectable immune response. Here chronic infections with low virus levels can be frequently observed. In these patients viral DNA can be detected over long periods by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study parvovirus B19 presence was assessed by PCR, immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from children with mainly oncological and hematological diseases. In 45% of sera B19 DNA was observed. Of the children 25% had IgG antibodies to viral protein 1 and 2 (VP1/2) and 15% to nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). In 6% of children IgM antibodies to VP1/2 were detected. These results indicate that the number of children with immune response to B19 proteins is distinctly lower than the number of children with B19 DNA. Transfusions of blood products might have been a possible route for B19 infection. Establishment and maintenance of a persistent parvovirus B19 infection with or without immune response are enhanced in the analyzed immunocompromised children in comparison with immunocompetent children. A persistence of B19 DNA was demonstrated up to 10 months in patients sera.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of immunoassays for detection of antibodies to human herpesvirus 7.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA), an immunoblot assay (IB), and an indirect immunofluorescence assay were developed for detection of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) antibodies in human serum. Cross-absorption studies with EIA or IFA using HHV-7 and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) antigens indicated that most human sera contain cross-reactive HHV-6 and HHV-7 antibodies and that the degree of cross-reactivity varies between individual serum specimens. Inhibition of homologous antibody activity by absorption with heterologous virus ranged from 0 to 57% by EIA. However, for every sample tested, absorption with homologous virus removed more activity than did heterologous virus. An 89-kDa protein was identified as an HHV-7-specific serologic marker by IB. Activity to this protein was not removed by absorption with HHV-6 antigen. Of the three assays, the EIA was the most sensitive (94%), while the IB was the most specific (94%). Approximately 80% of specimens collected from German adults and children older than 2 years were positive for HHV-7 antibodies by these assays.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Case report: detection of parvovirus B19 in a skin biopsy of a patient with erythema infectiosum.

We report the findings on a skin biopsy taken from a child acutely infected with parvovirus B19 showing the typical exanthematous rash. By indirect immunofluorescence with a monoclonal antibody to B19, viral capsid proteins were detected in epidermal cells localized mainly in the stratum basale. Additionally, B19 DNA was detected in epidermal cells of the stratum basale by in situ hybridization using a Dig-labelled B19 DNA probe. The detection of viral capsid proteins and viral DNA suggests the presence of complete viral particles. It is therefore concluded that B19 plays a direct role in the formation of the exanthematous rash in erythema infection.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1993

[Screening for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy--a pilot program in Northeast Germany].

A general serological screening of pregnant women for toxoplasmosis was carried out by means of an IgG-ELISA in Greifswald and its surroundings from October 1986 to the end of 1990. Anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected in 72.8% of 4355 pregnant women. Since 1987, the prevalence of antibodies has decreased from 76% to 68%. The incidence of acquired toxoplasmosis in pregnancy was 2.53 per 1000. Seroconversion occurred in 11 women, but only 8 of them were treated with combined pyrimethamine and sulphamerazine. Despite treatment we observed 3 connatal infections. No newborn infant had clinical symptoms. With regard to the epidemiological situation, a toxoplasmosis screening is recommendable, at least in our area, from an ethical, moral, medical and economical point of view. To ensure, that toxoplasmosis screening is adequately effective, treatment of the pregnant women and their infants must be guaranteed both organisationally and professionally. It must also comprise health education measures, especially for non-immunised women to avoid the well-known main sources of infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Suspected vaccination complications or atypical vaccination course. Diagnostic assessment of 58 vaccine recipients].

The "list of recommended vaccinations" of the regional Ministries of Health is the legal basis for routine vaccination programmes in each region of Germany; the recommendations of the Federal Commission on Vaccinations, "STIKO", are not legally binding. These programmes of the different regions provide legal grounds for determining claims for damage against a vaccinating doctor. In cases of damage, the Ministry of Health is liable for the damage to a patient caused by a recommended vaccination. Irrespective of these clear and comprehensive legal provisions, in case of an atypical course the patient is entitled to careful diagnosis of the complaint and appropriate medical treatment. However, later claims by the patient for damage can only be decided correctly if the necessary diagnostic data have been carefully collected at the acute stage of the disease. In our 58 patients suffering from atypical vaccination courses or suspected complications, we were able to show in each case that the symptoms are the result of interference by infectious diseases or that there was some other clear diagnosis; in no case did we find that the vaccination had caused disease or permanent damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Acute obstructive respiratory diseases (ARD) and bacterial complications of ARD (pneumonia, sinusitis) in infants and children associated with human herpesvirus-6 infection.

The existence of catharreal respiratory symptoms (such as pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis etc.) is established as the usual manifestation of "exanthema subitum" due to acute human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection. But so far pneumonia, purulent sinusitis, purulent otitis media and/or acute obstructive bronchitis (bronchiolitis) in infants and children have not been described. Here we report the results of observations of 2 children with bronchopneumonia/sinusitis maxillaris and severe bronchiolitis associated with an acute HHV-6 infection. Other respiratory viruses were excluded as agents causing the ARD.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

Pre- and perinatal infections due to human herpesvirus-6 and Epstein-Barr-virus with lethal outcome or severe residual encephalopathy.

The Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection causes exanthem subitum (in typical cases) and a wide range of other symptoms. So far no prenatal or perinatal infections have been reported. For HHV-6 the prenatal infection should be extremely rare, because more than 95% of adults are immune in Germany. Two own cases reported here document that pre- and perinatal HHV-6 infection does occur and can provoke dramatic clinical symptoms of illness with death or cerebral defects like other prenatal herpesvirus infections (HSV, VZV, CMV etc.).

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

Reactivation in children of juvenile chronic arthritis and chronic iridocyclitis associated with human herpesvirus-6 infection.

The human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) causes exanthem subitum. Moreover it can provoke a large scale of different other clinical symptoms. The life-long persistence of human herpes viruses is well known (HSV 1 and 2, VZV, CMV, EBV). For the HHV-6 we have described here for the first time the onset/reactivation of juvenile chronic arthritis (jcA) and chronic iridocyclitis as chronically active and persistent infection in two children of school age.

Antibodies, Viral↗