Medicine
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Bronchiectasis as a feature of rheumatoid arthritis is considered rare and, in most series, has preceded rheumatoid arthritis. We identified 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and bronchiectasis at the Brigham and Women's Hospital followed between 1984 and 1991, 18 of whom had arthritis preceding lung disease. The 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent bronchiectasis had a mean age of 63.8 years. ⋯ They also had received fewer disease-modifying agents for the treatment of their rheumatoid arthritis. Bronchiectasis can be a feature of rheumatoid arthritis and is often found in patients with severe, long-standing nodular disease. Recurrent pulmonary infections and respiratory failure occur and may be fatal.
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Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) may not be as uncommon as was once believed. Our study has substantiated the existence of 2 major clinical forms. The acute syndrome is invariably associated with extensive blockage of the major hepatic veins, resulting in congestive liver cell necrosis. ⋯ The association of MOVC with hepatocellular carcinoma, however, did not appear to be as clear as was previously believed. There has been a wide geographical variability in the causes and manifestations of BCS. Our study has clearly shown that--Kipling's categorical statement to the contrary--East and West do meet in India, in the Budd-Chiari syndrome.
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Pretibial myxedema is an uncommon manifestation of Graves disease, and little information is available regarding its natural course and its relation to other manifestations of Graves disease. We reviewed 150 consecutive cases with the diagnosis of pretibial myxedema over a 20-year period in a referral center. Only 1 patient in this group did not have ophthalmopathy, whereas 88% had significant proptosis and 30% required orbital decompression surgery. ⋯ The polypoid form occurred in 1 patient and the elephantiasic form in another; 7.3% had thyroid acropachy. Follow-up was available for 120 patients (range, 3 mo to 19 yr; mean, 3.2 yr), and complete remission was observed in only 12 patients. Topically applied corticosteroid therapy was used in 76 patients, and in this group 38% had sustained long-term partial remission, as opposed to 18% in the group receiving no corticosteroid therapy.
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We evaluated a consecutive series of patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at a single institution between 1974 and 1989 for the occurrence of a non-Candida fungal infection in the first 180 days after BMT. Of the 1186 patients, 129 (11%) patients developed a total of 138 significant non-Candida fungal infections in this period. Eight patients had multiple distinct infections. ⋯ Early aggressive surgical debridement appears to be important in control of localized invasive infections. Prolonged therapy with amphotericin B is the standard of care, although the role of the newer antifungal agents is not yet well-defined. Ancillary roles may also be provided by granulocyte transfusions and the colony-stimulating factors.
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Review Case Reports
Bacterial spinal epidural abscess. Review of 43 cases and literature survey.
We have reviewed our experience with 43 cases of bacterial spinal epidural abscess, as well as previously reported series of cases. We found a striking male predominance of the disease, accounting for 86% of cases. Most patients had some underlying conditions that predisposed to infection, a prior infection at a distant site, or an abnormality or trauma to the spine. ⋯ Plain roentgenograms and nuclear scans contributed little useful information that was not already available from other radiographic procedures. Surgical drainage together with antibiotics was the treatment of choice; 35 of our 43 patients underwent operative intervention. The preoperative status clearly predicted the final neurologic outcome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)