Annali italiani di medicina interna : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di medicina interna
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Ann. Ital. Med. Int. · Oct 2005
Review[Antiphospholipid syndrome and venous thromboembolism: the role of congenital thrombophilia].
The antiphospholipid syndrome is associated with complications of pregnancy or venous or arterial thrombosis in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Venous thromboembolism is the most common clinical feature. Pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the syndrome are not completely understood and several hypotheses have been raised. ⋯ High levels of factor VIII, factor IX and lipoprotein(a) have recently been proposed as new risk factors for venous thromboembolism. The coexistence of inherited thrombophilia seems to enhance the thrombogenic risk, in particular in the venous vascular bed. The new insights into the diagnosis of inherited thrombophilia could allow a better evaluation of the thrombotic risk, leading to tailor the prophylactic strategy.
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Ann. Ital. Med. Int. · Apr 2005
ReviewHepatitis C virus-related cryoglobulinemia and glomerulonephritis: pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and glomerulonephritis are the most important extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. MC is a non-neoplastic B cell lymphoproliferative process induced by HCV in an antigen-driven mechanism. The clinical expression of cryoglobulinemia varies from an indolent course to the development of systemic vasculitis. ⋯ In such cases, a short course of steroids and cytotoxic drugs (with or without plasmapheresis) may be needed to improve the vascular manifestations and decrease the production of cryoglobulins. Once the acute disease flare has been controlled, antiviral therapy may be administered to eradicate HCV, the causative agent of the cryoglobulinemic syndrome. In patients in whom antiviral therapy is ineffective, contraindicated or not tolerated, rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, may be an alternative to standard immunosuppression.
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Ann. Ital. Med. Int. · Jan 2004
Adult idiopathic subglottic stenosis: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
A 22-year-old woman presented with effort dyspnea unresponsive to bronchodilators. Harsh respiratory sounds were audible at the neck. Thoracic and cardiac evaluation was normal. ⋯ A biopsy specimen of the stenotic area of the trachea showed a normal mucosa and non-specific chronic inflammation. The tracheal stenosis was managed by means of endobronchial laser therapy, which led to the resolution of the patient's symptoms. As we could not identify any specific pathogenetic process, our final diagnosis was idiopathic subglottic tracheal stenosis.
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Ann. Ital. Med. Int. · Jan 2004
Review Case Reports Comparative Study[Celiac disease: presentation of a typical case and an atypical case].
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Ann. Ital. Med. Int. · Jul 2002
Review[Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in hospitalized non neutropenic patients: retrospective clinical and microbiological analysis].
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading agents of nosocomial infection among adult patients. The aim of this study was to determine the predisposing factors and secondary complications of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia (SAS) in non neutropenic patients, as well as the predictors of the outcome in non neutropenic patients with SAS. We performed a retrospective study of 56 cases of SAS that occurred from January 1997 through June 2001 in patients hospitalized in medical wards at the Policlinico Umberto I, "La Sapienza" University of Rome; we excluded surgical patients and those admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ At univariate analysis, the following factors were associated with a complicated course: delay to adequate antibiotic therapy (2.46 vs 1.15 days, p < 0.03), persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia during antibiotic therapy (3.56 vs 1.51 days, p = 0.01), septic shock (58.6 vs 3.7%, p < 0.002), bacteremic pneumonia as the source of bacteremia (17.2 vs 0%, p = 0.02), and the increased severity of illness at the onset of SAS as evaluated using an "illness score" (4.2 vs 2.1, p < 0.002). At multivariate analysis, septic shock (p < 0.01) and delay to adequate antibiotic therapy (p = 0.05) were confirmed as associated with a complicated outcome. SAS in non neutropenic patients is associated with significant morbidity consequent to a high rate of metastatic infectious disease and with a considerable related mortality.