1/673. Induction of hyperacute graft-vs-host disease after donor leukocyte infusions.BACKGROUND: Infusions of leukocytes obtained from the original bone marrow donor is a new approach for treating patients who have a relapse of leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Up to 90% of patients who achieved remission developed graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). However, any description of the clinical and histologic features in these cases is lacking. OBSERVATIONS: We describe 2 patients in whom a severe, peculiar, hyperacute, fatal GVHD developed after treatment with donor leukocyte infusions and interferon alfa. The patients had not received any additional chemotherapy or GVHD prophylaxis. In both patients, the eruption started with the appearance of erythematous plaques at the interferon alfa injection sites, and a generalized maculopapular eruption subsequently developed. The clinical lesions evolved from acute to lichenoid within several days. The histologic examination also demonstrated unusual findings and showed features of both acute and chronic lichenoid GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: Donor leukocyte infusions without GVHD prophylaxis may provoke a severe fatal hyperacute GVHD. In the cases presented herein, we discuss the significance of the rapid clinical evolution from acute to lichenoid and the combination of histologic features of both acute and chronic GVHD in the biopsy specimens.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/673. Intrapericardial yolk sac tumor associated with acute myocarditis.An occult intrapericardial yolk sac tumor occurred in a 3-year-old girl with a fatal outcome. At autopsy, a 5.5-cm mass surrounded the base of the heart and compressed the left atrium posteriorly. Histologically, the tumor was a pure yolk sac tumor. Postmortem chemical analyses of the blood revealed an alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 7000 microg/L. Acute myocarditis of both ventricles was also found.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/673. Acute tumor lysis syndrome associated with concurrent biochemotherapy of metastatic melanoma: a case report and review of the literature.BACKGROUND: Treatment of solid tumors rarely has been associated with tumor lysis syndrome. However, to the authors' knowledge the clinical scenario has not been reported previously in melanoma patients. methods: A patient with bulky metastatic melanoma was treated with concurrent biochemotherapy using interleukin-2, interferon-alpha, and a combination of cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine. RESULTS: Within 24 hours of the initiation of treatment, brisk tumor lysis occurred and led to a fatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in the treatment of solid tumors may increase the incidence of tumor lysis syndrome for tumors once believed to be marginally responsive. Oncologists should remain cognizant of this problem as more active regimens become available.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/673. Purtscher's retinopathy in acute pancreatitis.A patient who became blind following an episode of alcohol-induced pancreatitis is described. The clinical appearance of this patient's retinal changes corresponds most closely to post-traumatic (Purtscher's) retinopathy. The etiology of the retinopathy is best explained by retinal vascular occlusion due either to fat embolism or thrombosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/673. Recovery of both acute massive pulmonary hemorrhage and acute renal failure in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient with lupus anticoagulant by the combined therapy of plasmapheresis plus cyclophosphamide.Acute massive pulmonary hemorrhage (AMPH) is a rare and highly fatal complication in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report here survival in a case of AMPH in a SLE patient with both rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and lupus anticoagulant. The AMPH occurred while the nephritis was refractory to 2 courses of pulse methylprednisolone therapy. After combined therapy with plasmapheresis plus cyclophosphamide, circulating immune complex levels declined, AMPH recovered, and serum creatinine levels returned to normal. In conclusion, the combined therapy of plasmapheresis plus cyclophosphamide should be considered for treating AMPH especially in those SLE patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/673. Respiratory chain deficiency presenting as recurrent myoglobinuria in childhood.myoglobinuria is an abnormal urinary excretion of myoglobin due to an acute destruction of skeletal muscle fibres. Several metabolic diseases are known to account for myoglobinuria including defects of glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Here, we report on respiratory chain enzyme deficiency in three unrelated children with recurrent episodes of myoglobinuria and muscle weakness (complex I: one patient, complex IV: two patients). All three patients had generalized hyporeflexia during attacks, a feature which is not commonly reported in other causes of rhabdomyolysis. Studying respiratory chain enzyme activities in cultured skin fibroblasts might help diagnosing this condition, especially when acute rhabdomyolysis precludes skeletal muscle biopsy during and immediately after episodes of myoglobinuria.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/673. Fatal herpetic hepatitis in adult following short corticotherapy: a case report.herpes simplex virus hepatitis (HSV hepatitis) is an uncommon and severe complication of HSV type 1 and HSV type 2 infection. HSV hepatitis affects mostly immunocompromised patients. We report the case of a young man without any previous known immunodeficiency who developed fatal HSV hepatitis in the first 8 days of oral corticotherapy given for ulcerative colitis. A prompt diagnosis was possible because HSV was recovered from peripheral blood leukocytes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/673. Do acute lesions of Wernicke's encephalopathy show contrast enhancement? Report of three cases and review of the literature.Contrast medium was given intravenously to three nonalcoholic patients who underwent MRI or CT in the acute stage of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Lesions enhancement was not seen in one patient examined within 4 days of clinical onset, was mild in a another 3 days after clinical deterioration and marked in a patient examined 12 days after admission. Contrast enhancement of lesions was present in half of 12 cases of acute disease reported previously. There was a substantial overlap in the time interval between clinical onset and contrast-enhanced CT or MRI in the groups of enhancing and nonenhancing lesions. Since contrast enhancement may be absent in acute WE, proton-density and T2-weighted images are more useful for diagnosis of this reversible but potentially fatal condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/673. Fulminant herpes hepatitis in a healthy adult: a treatable disorder?hepatitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a potentially fatal disorder that is often not considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hepatitis. This disease occurs most often in patients with impaired immunity and is very uncommon in healthy patients. HSV hepatitis presents with a wide clinical spectrum, and the clinical diagnosis is difficult. We describe a case of disseminated herpes virus infection with fulminant hepatitis mimicking an acute human immunodeficiency virus infection in a 33-year-old healthy man. Preliminary studies suggest that early treatment of HSV hepatitis with acyclovir may be beneficial in these patients. A high index of suspicion and the availability of early diagnostic tools, such as HSV dna detection, may dramatically improve the clinical outcome of severe HSV hepatitis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/673. kerosene-induced severe acute respiratory failure in near drowning: reports on four cases and review of the literature.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to present an unusual respiratory and cardiovascular course after intoxication and near drowning in a river contaminated with kerosene. DESIGN: case reports and review of the literature. SETTING: intensive care unit of a university-affiliated hospital. patients: Four patients after near drowning. INTERVENTION: Supportive only. RESULTS: The four patients developed acute respiratory failure. Cardiomyopathy was present in three patients and a persistent hypokalemia in two patients. The onset of the symptoms was delayed, which led to underestimation of the severity of their illness. Two of the four patients died. The diagnosis of hydrocarbon intoxication was based on bronchoalveolar lavage results, neutrophilic alveolitis with the presence of lipid-laden macrophages, and evidence of lipoid pneumonia from the autopsy performed on one victim. One patient who clinically deteriorated and another who developed a severe restrictive pulmonary disorder were treated with corticosteroids, which were effective only in the latter patient. CONCLUSIONS: Acute kerosene intoxication in a near-drowning event often results in severe respiratory and cardiac failure, with a high fatality rate. Treatment with corticosteroids may lead to a rapid improvement in lung function.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = fat (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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