Der Internist
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In the last years monoclonal antibodies directed against B-cell associated epitopes have enriched our armentarium of therapeutic strategies against malignant B-cell lymphoma. Monoclonal antibodies are characterized by a different mode of action compared to chemotherapy, thereby opening new avenues in lymphoma treatment. ⋯ The anti-CD52 antibody alemtuzumab was shown to induce remissions in high risk CLL. Furthermore, clinical trials have demonstrated promising activity of monoclonal antibodies conjugated to radioisotopes such as the (131)iodine anti-CD20 antibody tositumomab or the (90)yttrium anti-CD20 antibody ibritumomab tiuxetan.
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African tick bite fever (ATBF) is an infectious disease commonly observed in travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. Because the presentation of the disease is often not specific, ATBF is frequently not diagnosed or confused with Mediterranean spotted fever. ⋯ The diagnosis of ATBF was serologically confirmed by immunofluoroscence. ATBF is an important differential diagnosis of fever in patients returning from sub-Saharan Africa.