Medicine
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Clinical and laboratory features as well as immunogenetic markers were analyzed in 150 patients with SLE to determine if demographic factors--age at diagnosis, sex and race--influenced the expression of disease. The overall series included 103 white females, 35 black females, 10 white males and 2 black males; the mean age at diagnosis was 32.5 years. Males had a significantly older mean age at diagnosis than females (40.4 versus 31.8 years) and a significantly higher frequency of peripheral neuropathy (50% versus 18.8%). ⋯ Similar findings were noted when blacks aged 35 and above were compared to those aged 17 and below at diagnosis. In whites, the frequency of both anti-Ro(SS-A) and La(SS-B) antibodies increased with increasing age as did that of HLA-DR3; HLA-DR2, however, was more frequent in those with younger age at diagnosis. These data suggest the existence of two serologic-genetic subsets of SLE with different age at diagnosis.
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Review Case Reports
Thrombophlebitis and cellulitis due to Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus. Report of four cases and a review of the literature.
Four cases of acute thrombophlebitis and cellulitis due to C. fetus ssp. fetus are reported, with a review of 18 previously reported cases. Vascular infection with thrombophlebitis due to C. fetus ssp. fetus occurred predominantly in adult male patients with underlying debilitating, immunocompromising illnesses resulting in a mortality rate of 32%. ⋯ Diagnosis of C. fetus ssp. fetus thrombophlebitis or cellulitis is based on clinical suspicion and recovery of the agent from blood culture; the latter requires an average incubation period of 8 days. Empiric therapy with erythromycin, and an aminoglycoside or chloramphenicol is recommended in suspect patients pending results of blood cultures.
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In an autopsy study of patients with cancer, 14.6% had pathologic evidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and in 7.4% clinical symptoms of CVD had been present in life. The usual risk factors for CVD were overshadowed by pathophysiologic abnormalities related to the neoplasm, including direct effects of the tumor, coagulation disorders, infections and diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. In patients with leukemia, hemorrhages (72.4%) were much more common than ischemic infarcts. ⋯ The clinical presentation of CVD in patients with cancer is more often a diffuse encephalopathy, with or without localizing signs, than the typical acute onset of a focal deficit. This was particularly true with intravascular coagulation, septic infarction and subdural hematoma. Our study suggests that by knowing the clinical setting, neurologic features and laboratory findings, one can, in many instances, make an accurate clinical diagnosis that, in some cases, leads to effective treatment.
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Review Case Reports
Alveolar hemorrhage syndromes: diffuse microvascular lung hemorrhage in immune and idiopathic disorders.
We have reviewed the alveolar hemorrhage (AH) syndromes, defined as immune or idiopathic disorders associated with diffuse microvascular hemorrhage into the acinar portion of the lung. The disorders that are most often associated with AH include antibasement membrane antibodies (ABMA) disease, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic vasculitides, and idiopathic rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. An approach to the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of the AH syndromes has been outlined and several illustrative case studies have been presented. ⋯ High-dose pulse methylprednisolone appears to effectively control AH of diverse etiology. Combined plasma exchange and immunosuppression controls AH in ABMA disease and is the treatment of choice in this disorder. Cyclophosphamide is used for Wegener's granulomatosis, and sometimes in systemic necrotizing vasculitis, in an attempt to prevent irreversible damage to the kidneys.
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The presenting features, modes of treatment and clinical course were reviewed for 55 patients with pyogenic liver abscess, seen at Duke University Medical Center over a 15-year period. Thirty-three patients had a solitary abscess and 22 had multiple abscesses. Most patients were between the ages of 40 and 60 years. ⋯ Surgical or percutaneous drainage was successful when attempted in all patients with a single abscess, but the outcome was less favorable in those with multiple abscesses. Percutaneous drainage is currently replacing open operative drainage as the method of choice. Overall mortality in patients with single abscesses was 15% (5/33) and in those with multiple abscesses 41% (9/22).