Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2016
Case ReportsCommon variable immunodeficiency, immune thrombocytopenia, rituximab and splenectomy: important considerations.
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is readily considered in patients presenting with recurrent sino-pulmonary infections, however this disease has a broad range of clinical manifestations and diagnosis can be delayed by several years. We present the case of a 44-year-old postpartum female who presented with nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension. Four years prior, she was hospitalized for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) with splenectomy and rituximab followed by two episodes of bacterial meningitis despite immunizations. ⋯ Intestinal pseudo-obstruction has been reported in children with CVID, but literature search failed to reveal similar presentation in adults. Physicians must consider the heterogeneous clinical manifestations of CVID to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. Institution of appropriate therapy with immunoglobulin replacement is important to decrease risk of serious infection.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2016
Review Meta AnalysisPositive penicillin allergy testing results: a systematic review and meta-analysis of papers published from 2010 through 2015.
β-lactam antibiotics are the most widely used group of antibiotics, given their effectiveness for the most common bacterial pathogens and their relatively low price. Adverse reactions, mainly cutaneous, are often reported to be associated with their use and hence, less effective and usually more costly alternative antibiotics are prescribed. However, it is not clear what is the risk of immediate immune-mediated (i.e. developing within one hour of administration) and potentially life-threatening reactions among those using β-lactam antibiotic. ⋯ The I(2) value ranged between 87.2% and 97.0%. Our results indicate that the prevalence of immediate reactions is higher in adults than in children. However, wide confidence intervals and a large study heterogeneity preclude conclusive estimates.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialImpact of lorcaserin on glycemic control in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes: analysis of week 52 responders and nonresponders.
Treatment guidelines for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) suggest weight loss as a means to maintain glycemic control. Lorcaserin has been approved for chronic weight management in the United States as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, and the previous phase 3 Behavioral Modification and Lorcaserin for Obesity and Overweight Management in Diabetes Mellitus (BLOOM-DM) study has shown that, in addition to weight loss, lorcaserin is associated with improvements in glycemic parameters. In this post hoc analysis of the BLOOM-DM trial, the relationship between responder status (patients achieving ≥5% weight loss at Week 52) and glycemic and cardiometabolic parameters is evaluated. ⋯ www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT00603291.
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Postgraduate medicine · Aug 2016
ReviewCharacteristics of a new meningococcal serogroup B vaccine, bivalent rLP2086 (MenB-FHbp; Trumenba®).
Neisseria meningitidis is a common cause of bacterial meningitis, often leading to permanent sequelae or death. N. meningitidis is classified into serogroups based on the composition of the bacterial capsular polysaccharide; the 6 major disease-causing serogroups are designated A, B, C, W, X, and Y. Four of the 6 disease-causing serogroups (A, C, Y, and W) can be effectively prevented with available quadrivalent capsular polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccines; however, capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccines are not effective against meningococcal serogroup B (MnB). ⋯ Human factor H binding protein (fHBP; also known as LP2086), a conserved surface-exposed bacterial lipoprotein, was identified as a promising vaccine candidate. Two recombinant protein-based serogroup B vaccines that contain fHBP have been successfully developed and licensed in the United States under an accelerated approval process: bivalent rLP2086 (MenB-FHbp; Trumenba®) and 4CMenB (MenB-4 C; Bexsero®). This review will focus on bivalent rLP2086 only, including vaccine components, mechanism of action, and potential coverage across serogroup B strains in the United States.