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Mecillinam in enteric fever.

Twelve consecutive patients with enteric fever entered a trial of 14 days' treatment with mecillinam. Only three patients became afebrile within three days; four continued unimproved with fever and toxaemia for seven to nine days, when treatment was changed to chloramphenicol with good results. In one case the fever did not settle until the 13th day, and five days later the patient had a clinical relapse. Although all organisms recovered were fully sensitive to mecillinam, this drug is not an effective or consistent treatment for enteric fever.

Administration, Oral↗

Further experience with amoxycillin in typhoid fever in children.

A study of 155 children with typhoid fever proved by blood culture showed that amoxycillin was superior to chloramphenical with regard to clinical and temperature response and relapse and carrier rates. This confirmed the findings of a randomised clinical trial on 200 children with typhoid fever and lends support to the value of amoxycillin in this disease.

Amoxicillin↗

Treatment of Q fever endocarditis: comparison of 2 regimens containing doxycycline and ofloxacin or hydroxychloroquine.

BACKGROUND: Q fever endocarditis, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is fatal in 25% to 60% of patients. Currently, treatment with a long-term tetracycline and quinolone regimen for at least 4 years is recommended, although relapses are frequent. METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 1997, the reference treatment of Q fever endocarditis was compared with one of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine sulfate. Patients were treated by conventional therapy until May 1991 and then by the new regimen. Microimmunofluorescence was used for antibody-level determination for diagnosis and follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included in the study, 26 males and 9 females. Of 14 patients treated with a doxycycline and quinolone combination, 1 died, 7 relapsed (3 were re-treated and 4 switched to the new regimen), 1 is still being treated, and 5 were considered cured using this regimen only. The mean duration of therapy for cure in this group was 55 months (median, 60 months). Twenty-one patients received the doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine regimen: 1 patient died of a surgical complication, 2 are still being treated, 17 were cured, and 1 is currently being evaluated. Two patients treated for 12 months but none of the patients treated for longer than 18 months relapsed. The mean duration of treatment in this group was 31 months (median, 26 months). No significant differences were observed between the 2 regimens in terms of death, valve surgery, or tolerance. The mortality rate for both regimens in this study was 5%. CONCLUSION: Prescription of the doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine combination for at least 18 months allows shortening of the duration of therapy and reduction in the number of relapses.

Adult↗

Mononeuritis multiplex caused by Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever).

After 1 week of flu-like illness, a 64-year-old man developed rapidly progressive mononeuritis multiplex involving the right arm and both legs. Serologic studies identified Coxiella burnetii as the cause of the febrile disease (Q fever). Fourteen days doxycycline treatment (200 mg daily) induced rapid and complete recovery. After 6 months, flu-like symptoms, weakness and hypalgesia of the right leg reappeared. Antibody titers again identified Q fever. Doxycycline was re-established and induced prompt recovery. Q fever has been associated with various neurologic complications such as meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, optic neuritis or polyneuroradiculitis. This is the first report on Q fever related mononeuritis multiplex. Prolonged antibiotic treatment may be required to prevent relapsing infection from the resistant bacterium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Infection risk factors in febrile, neutropenic children and adolescents.

We studied 276 fever episodes with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 500/mm3 to determine patient characteristics predicting serious infection. Infections occurred in 38% of patients. Blood cultures were positive in 58% of documented infections. There was no difference in the rates of infection or positive blood culture when ANC was < 200/mm3 compared with a higher ANC. However, certain high risk infections were more common with an ANC < 200/ mm3. Leukemia patients had more infections compared with other groups. Serious infections were more common during induction therapy or relapse. Infection incidence varied significantly with patient age and onset of fever in the inpatients. Less than one fifth of febrile neutropenic episodes had no risk features for serious infection. We conclude that several clinical characteristics correlate with serious infection in febrile, neutropenic children and adolescents receiving modern supportive care. Despite improvements in supportive care measures, most febrile, neutropenic patients need close observation and empiric intravenous antibiotic therapy.

Adolescent↗

[A case of relapsing polychondritis with IgA nephropathy].

We report a case of a 37-year-old man with relapsing polychondritis and IgA nephropathy. He visited our hospital with high fever and the swelling of his ears and eyelids. His symptoms and the results of the biopsy of his right auricle fulfilled the Damiani's criteria. Laboratory examination on admission showed an increase of serum IgA level, a presence of immune complex, remarkable hematuria (grade III) and proteinuria (grade II). Most of his symptoms were improved by the administration of antibiotic and NSAIDs, however, urinary findings still remained unchanged. The biopsy of his right kidney led to a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy (group II). Although relapsing polychondritis is known to associate rarely with renal involvement, it is very rare to associate with IgA nephropathy. This case indicates that immune disorders including IgA nephropathy should be investigated in patients with relapsing polychondritis.

Adult↗

Intensive alternating drug pairs after remission induction for treatment of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A Pediatric Oncology Group Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) often enter remission; however, they have a high rate of relapse. To prevent relapse, infants' tolerance of and benefits from early intensive rotating drug pairs as part of therapy were studied. METHODS: After prednisone, vincristine, asparaginase, and daunorubicin induction, 12 intensive treatments (ABACABACABAC) were administered in 30 weeks: A, intermediate dose methotrexate (MTX) and intermediate dose mercaptopurine (MP); B, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and daunorubicin (DNR); C, Ara-C and teniposide (VM-26). Triple intrathecal chemotherapy (Ara-C, MTX, and hydrocortisone) was administered for central nervous system prophylaxis. Continuation therapy consisted of weekly MTX and daily MP for a total of 130 weeks of continuous complete remission. RESULTS: Thirty-three infants (1 year old or younger) with newly diagnosed ALL were treated. Two infants did not respond to induction, 1 died from sepsis during continuation, 1 received a bone marrow transplant, and 24 relapsed. Median time to relapse was 39 weeks. The event-free survival rate at 5 years was 17% (standard error +/- 7.7%). The most significant toxicities occurred during intensification and included fever-neutropenia and bacterial sepsis. CONCLUSION: Although early intensive rotating therapy is tolerable, the relapse-free survival rate remains poor for infants treated with the schedule on this protocol.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Relapsing viral hepatitis type A complicated with renal failure].

We report the case of a 42-year old male with an episode of relapsing hepatitis A of cholestatic pattern, which clinic course was complicated by fever, anemia and renal failure, requiring hemodialysis. The occurrence of cryglobulins and diminished complement levels was detected. A kidney biopsy was performed showing evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy. The patient had a good therapeutic response to corticosteroids, although he developed recurrence of fever and a palpable purpuric rush over his lower extremities when dose was reduced. A skin biopsy found leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Symptoms and physical findings improved when therapy with cycloposphamide was started and the dose of corticosteroids was increased. Hepatitis A virus infection usually has a benign course, although complications may occasionally develop. The relapsing form can be seen in 3-20% of the case; it can appear with a cholestatic pattern and most of the time it has a mild clinic development. Unlike hepatitis B, extra-hepatic manifestations are unusual in hepatitis A, and renal manifestations are even more infrequent. Acute renal failure (ARF) in non-fulminating hepatitis A has been reported only occasionally and its etiology remains unclear. Several hypotheses have been proposed, including renal toxicity due to hyperuricemia or increased bilirrubin, cryoglobulinemia, alterations in the renal blood flow due to endotoxemia or peripheral immune complex-mediated damage when hypocomplementemia is found. Kidney biopsy showed evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy, which raised the hypothesis of a Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). An association with HUS has been described in a patient with surface antigen for hepatitis B (HBsAg) and anomalies in the hepatic biochemical tests, but as far as we know this is the first case of relapsing hepatitis A associated with a confirmed microangiopathic renal involvement.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Massive ascariasis of the bile ducts and posterior relapse].

A 7 year old girl presented with persistent right upper abdominal colicky pain, fever, elevated white blood cells count, high blood sedimentation rate and mild liver enlargement. At surgical exploration 33 live ascarides (ascaris lumbricoides) were taken off from the hepatic duct. Medical treatment with mebendazole was given in full doses after surgery. She remained well for six years except for intermittent episodes of colicky right upper abdominal pain. At age 13 year ascarides were again demonstrated at the common biliary duct by abdominal echography. A second operation was necessary to eliminate parasites from the lower biliary tree, together with medical treatment for the patient and her family. One year later she was free of symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of procollagen-III peptide as a marker for veno-occlusive disease after bone marrow transplantation.

Procollagen-III peptide (PIIIP) has been suggested as a marker for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Using the RIA-gnost PIIIP assay, we examined frozen plasma samples from three groups of patients. The groups included (A) four patients with clinically proven VOD, (B) nine patients with remarkably uneventful post-BMT courses, and (C) patients with either early complications other than VOD or pulmonary fibrosis in their later course. In group A, PIIIP levels increased parallel to the clinical course, with maximum values of 2.7-5.5 units/ml. In group B, values did not exceed 1.4 units/ml. In group C, higher values were occasionally observed. In one patient with early relapse of a lymphoma PIIIP peaks correlated with episodes of fever and graft versus host disease (GVHD). In another patient mild VOD seems possible retrospectively. The highest levels ( > 15 units/ml) occurred in one patient with ileus. Several patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP), adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or lung fibrosis showed increases in PIIIP levels corresponding to the clinical course; most of these events occurred later than day 30 after BMT. One patient with severe GVHD of the liver showed a maximum of only 1.4 units/ml. PIIIP elevation correlated with clinical VOD and may help to differentiate it from hepatic GVHD. In the presence of other complications (pulmonary, gastrointestinal), some caution in interpreting the results may be advisable.

Adult↗

Kimura disease with advanced renal damage with anti-tubular basement membrane antibody.

Kimura disease (KD) is an autoimmune eosinophilic granulomatous disorder with generalized lymphadenopathy. A handful of pediatric patients with renal disease have been described, none of whom have been African-American (AA). We present an AA boy with KD and nephrotic syndrome (NS). Two months after stopping steroids, fever, asthma, eczema, and proteinuria recurred. His NS did not relapse but his platelet count decreased to 51,000/microl (x10(6)/l). On restarting prednisone, his platelet count normalized. A kidney biopsy revealed 23 of 37 glomeruli obsolescent and advanced damage with over 50% of cortical tissue replaced by interstitial fibrosis and chronic inflammation. Glomerular immunofluorescence was largely negative; very intense linear anti-tubular basement membrane (TBM) deposits of IgA, IgG, C3, and C4 were noted. At present, 36 months from onset, serum creatinine is 1.2 mg/dl (106 micromol/l). We present a 4-year-old AA boy with KD, NS, relapsing thrombocytopenia, and renal damage with anti-TBM antibody.

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia↗

Listeria monocytogenes brain abscesses in a girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after late central nervous system relapse.

A case of Listeria monocytogenes bacteraemia and meningitis with intracerebral abscesses in a girl with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in relapse is reported. The clinical features included subacute onset with fever and marked irritability followed by seizures, meningism and confusion. The pathogen was isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Computerised tomography of the brain showed two intracerebral parenchymal localisations, in the left frontal lobe and in the right occipital lobe, respectively. The patient survived this severe infection without neurological sequelae. 2 months later she underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation without major complications. This case report should alert pediatric oncologists about the possible occurrence of severe intracerebral listerial infections in the immunocompromised child and suggests that this infection can be treated successfully and should not necessarily preclude continuation of antineoplastic treatments.

Brain↗

EUS-guided rendezvous drainage of obstructed biliary and pancreatic ducts: Report of 6 cases.

BACKGROUND: Only a few cases have been reported of EUS-guided drainage of obstructed pancreatic or bile ducts. An initial experience with EUS-guided rendezvous drainage after unsuccessful ERCP is reported. METHODS: EUS-guided transgastric or transduodenal needle puncture and guidewire placement through obstructed pancreatic (n=4) or bile (n=2) ducts was attempted in 6 patients. Efforts were made to advance the guidewire antegrade across the papilla or surgical anastomosis. If guidewire passage was successful, rendezvous ERCP with stent placement was performed immediately afterward. RESULTS: EUS-guided duct access and intraductal guidewire placement was accomplished in 5 of 6 cases, with successful traversal of the obstruction, and rendezvous ERCP, with stent placement in 3 of 6 cases (two biliary, one pancreatic). The procedure was clinically effective in all successful cases (two patients with malignant obstructive jaundice, one with relapsing pancreatitis after pancreaticoduodenectomy). There was one minor complication (transient fever) but no pancreatitis or duct leak after successful or unsuccessful procedures. CONCLUSIONS: EUS is a feasible technique for allowing rendezvous drainage of obstructed biliary or pancreatic ducts through native papillae or anastomoses after initially unsuccessful ERCP.

Adult↗

Crohn's disease in the Singapore Chinese population.

Crohn's disease (CD) is rare in the Chinese population, but lately there seems to be an increasing trend of CD in the Singapore Chinese population. We carried out a retrospective study of all Chinese patients with CD seen from 1987 to 1993 at the Singapore General Hospital. All patients were regularly followed up and treated. Disease activity was defined by the Organisation Mondiale de Gastroenterologie index. We also compared our series with our first series reported in 1987 and a Western series. There were 32 patients (20 men, 12 women) giving a hospital prevalence of 26.7 per 100,000 patients compared with 3.5 per 100,000 patients in 1986. The mean age was 37.1 years (range, 19-80 years). Twelve patients had small intestinal disease, 9 had colonic disease, and 11 had both. The common presenting symptoms were bloody diarrhea (67%), abdominal pain (53%), loss of weight (47%), and fever (34%). Extraintestinal manifestations were rare. Six patients had no relapse during the follow-up period, whereas the remaining 26 patients had an average of two relapses (range, 1-5). These relapses were complicated by fistulas in 8 patients and strictures in 11 patients. Response to steroids and sulfasalazine was good in most patients. Four patients required repeated surgery despite medical treatment. The prevalence of CD appears to be increasing among the Singapore Chinese population. The clinical features are similar to those of the Western population. Most of our patients responded to standard medical therapy, but further follow-up is needed to assess their long-term clinical outcome.

Adult↗

Recombinant interferon alpha 2a is effective in the treatment of discoid and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Ten patients suffering from either discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) or subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) were treated with interferon alpha 2a. Eight received low or intermediate doses (18-45 x 10(6) U/week) for a short period of time (4-8 weeks), with marked improvement of skin lesions in six, an exacerbation in one patient and no change in the other. Two patients with SCLE received high doses (100-120 x 10(6) U/week) over 12 weeks, with complete clearing of the lesions in one and a marked improvement in the other. The responses were of short duration and within a few weeks of stopping treatment all who had improved or cleared relapsed. The side-effects in all the patients were fever and a flu-like syndrome which necessitated a reduction of the dose in one case. In two patients there were increases in the liver enzyme levels, but no haematological toxicity was noted.

Adult↗

Brucellosis treated with rifampicin.

14 children, aged between 15 months and 14 years, with brucellosis were treated with oral rifampicin only (20 mg/kg per day) for 3 weeks. Laboratory diagnosis depended on blood culture (positive for Brucella melitensis in 11 of the cases), serum agglutination, complement-fixation test, and Coomb's test. Response was good in each child, with fever clearing between the 2nd and 8th day. 2 children relapsed, but one relapse was probably a reinfection from contaminated cheese. Both children were given a further course of treatment (rifampicin and co-trimoxazole) which was successful. Despite the reasonably good results with rifampicin alone, it is advisable to combine the drug with co-trimoxazole when treating brucellosis.

Adolescent↗

An outbreak of ornithosis.

An outbreak of ornithosis occurred in Lidköping, a small town in Southwest Sweden, in January 1967 through May 1969. 24 proved cases were known, aged from 10 to 72 years, 19 patients gave a history of contact with birds (parrots, canaries, parakeets), 13 of them with birds from the same pet shop. Five patients had visited the pet shop only once before their illness. Attempts to prove infection with ornithosis agent in 7 birds from the pet shop were unsuccessful. Three patients, 2 of them in the same household, had no contact with birds and infection from person to person was strongly suspected. All patients had pneumonia. Fever, cough and headache were predominant clinical symptoms. There were relapses in 4 patients and 2 patients had symptoms of encephalitis. No deaths occurred.

Adolescent↗