PubMed · 7043123
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G L Simon, S L Gorbach. 1982. Intestinal microflora.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31407-9
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We report the case of a 67 year old patient suffering from acute airway obstruction caused by hemorrhage localized to the tongue, mouth cavity and hypopharynx, with no evidence of bleeding in his history. The patient presented initially with a globus feeling of the neck, dysphagia and a sore throat. CT scan revealed a swelling of the lingual and sublingual areas and the pharyngeal wall. Next day, there was an immediate life-threatening event caused by progressive bleeding with airway obstruction and an inability to intubate requiring coniotomy. The etiology of the hemorrhage was confirmed by finding a depletion of factor VIII and the presence of auto-antibody directed against this factor. Based on this case report and a review of the literature, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of acquired hemophilia.
Tetanus is a worldwide health problem, causing the deaths of approximately 1,000,000 people every year. In Germany, about 15 infections are reported annually. The initial symptoms often develop in the head and neck region. As a result, some patients are referred to the otorhinolaryngologist. We report on a 83 year old female who suffered from recurrent aspiration and trismus. She had acquired a small injury on her lower leg 2 weeks earlier; protective antibody levels did not exist. The neurophysiological examination showed a result typical of tetanus. The patient received tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole and benzodiazepines. Due to respiratory problems, tracheotomy and ventilation became necessary. Elderly people often lack protective antibody levels against tetanus. If typical symptoms are manifest, tetanus has to be considered as a possibility. A complete history, including recent injuries and past vaccinations, should be compiled.
BACKGROUND AND STUDY PURPOSE: Pain and depression share similar neurobiological characteristics, and it is a common clinical observation that pain and depression may coincide in the same patient. They also appear to influence each other in the process of chronification. Furthermore, there is a complex coupling of pain and depression by monoaminergic transmitter system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: On the basis of these findings, norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DOP), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) concentrations were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with acute (20), chronic (27), and episodic pain syndrome (44) in a prospective study. The biochemical parameters were correlated to self-assessment pain and depression scores. The control group consisted of 13 pain-free patients with diseases affecting the muscular system. RESULTS: Patients with chronic and episodic pain syndromes had significantly more depressive and psychovegetative symptoms compared to patients with acute pain. In patients with acute pain, DOP was significantly higher than in controls and chronic and episodic pain patients. In addition DOP was positively correlated to self-assessment pain score (p*<0.05). In patients with chronic and episodic pain, NE and 5-HIAA were positively correlated to the duration of disease and were significantly lower than in the control group. In neither of these two groups could significant correlations be established between these parameters and pain or depression self-assessment scores. In all groups, positive correlations were seen between the neurotransmitter and their metabolites. CONCLUSION: The pathological decrease of NE and 5-HIAA in the CSF points to the crucial role of noradrenergic and serotonergic transmitter systems in the generation, modulation, and perpetuation of chronic and episodic pain syndromes. It indicates that antidepressants are effective drugs in these diseases. However, a discriminative neurochemical pattern between pain and depression could not be established. The demonstration of polyvalent correlations between different neurotransmitters is indicative of complex neurobiological coupling between cortical, limbic, and hypothalamic neuronal networks on the one hand and the nociceptive descending system on the other hand in the genesis of pain and depression.