1/18. Encephalopathy associated with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following rotavirus infection.A 2-year-old Japanese boy with a haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated encephalopathy which developed after rotavirus infection is described. The neurological symptoms consisted of coma, seizures and spastic quadriplegia. On therapy with steroids, etoposide and cyclosporin A, the patient recovered without any neurological deficits. The interferon-gamma levels in serum and CSF were elevated at onset of the disease but had returned to normal at the time of clinical remission. brain MRI revealed diffuse white matter abnormalities and parenchymal volume loss. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed elevated lactate in the abnormal lesions observed on MRI, indicating that macrophages not exhibiting aerobic metabolism had infiltrated the CNS. At the time of clinical remission, the white matter abnormalities and brain lactate had disappeared. These findings suggested that the neurological symptoms resulted from the overproduction of cytokines by activated T-cells and macrophages. The pathophysiology of a HLH associated encephalopathy was considered to be a local immune response within the CNS, because interferon-gamma can induce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens on glial cells in the CNS. CONCLUSION: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated encephalopathy should be considered early in the differential diagnosis of cases with acute onset neuropathy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/18. alpha1-Antitrypsin deficiency and liver disease in children.This report describes the clinical, biochemical, and hepatic morphologic findings in ten children with severe serum alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. Genetic protease inhibitor (Pi) phenotyping, using acid-starch gel and crossed antigen-antibody electrophoresis, demonstrated Pi phenotype ZZ in all our cases. In eight patients, manifestations of liver disease appeared during the first year of life. The case reports show that alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency should be suspected in any child with neonatal hepatitis, unexplained hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, or cirrhosis. In our report, one infant is normal at age 6 months, and one infant had progressive hepatic damage that culminated in liver failure and death at age 6 months. The variable clinical course and prognosis for infants with severe alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency is well illustrated by these two infants.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/18. Hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with leukemic phase successfully treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.An unusual case of hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with leukemic phase in a 39-year-old woman is reported. At the first presentation she had splenomegaly and pancytopenia diagnosed as hypersplenia treated by splenectomy. Subsequently, she developed hepatomegaly and progressive neoplastic lymphocytosis. The bone marrow showed a sinusoidal infiltrate of medium-sized cells. Flowcytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated expression of CD3, CD7, CD16, CD56 antigens and T-cell receptor gamma delta. A monoclonal TCR gamma- and beta-chain gene rearrangement were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated by traditional chemotherapy and alpha-interferon, unsuccessfully. Therefore, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine was introduced resulting in a complete remission for 6 months. The reported case demonstrates the usefulness of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine in treatment of hepatosplenic gamma delta T-cell lymphoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/18. jaundice and rash associated with the use of phenobarbital and hydrochlorothiazide.Rash, lymphadenopaty, splenomegaly, periorbital edema, and hepatitis occurred in an 18-year-old woman who was taking phenobarbital and hydrochlorothiazide. Tests for fluorescent antinuclear antibody and hepatitis-associated antigen and antibody were negative. Liver biopsy was not characteristic of viral hepatitis. Clinical recovery occurred within two weeks. Treatment consisted of withdrawal of the above drugs plus the administration of methylprednisolone and diphenhydramine.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/18. An adult case of severe chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection syndrome.A 23-year-old man with persisting high fever developed hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and massive pericardial effusion. Immunological examination revealed a marked elevation of anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies (anti-viral capsid antigens IgG-antibody 1:10,240, anti-early antigens-DR IgG-antibody 1:5,120), decreased activities of Epstein-Barr virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, natural killer cells and lymphokine activated killer cells. A liver biopsy showed moderate sinusoidal lymphocytosis with punched-out lesions. These findings suggested severe chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection syndrome. The patient was treated with recombinant human interleukin-2, but it was discontinued because of an adverse reaction. Twelve months later, he died of suspected pulmonary infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/18. Gamma/delta T cell lymphoma.A 54-year-old woman complained of fever and hepato-splenomegaly. The pathological findings of a liver biopsy specimen revealed the infiltration of lymphocytes in the sinusoids and that of the laparoscopically resected spleen revealed the infiltration of lymphocytes in the red pulp, which was positive for CD3, CD43, CD45RO and T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1) and was negative for betaF1, while the white pulp was spared. Genetic analysis of the spleen cells revealed the rearrangement of T-cell receptor (TCR) Cbeta1, Jdelta1 and Jgamma. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomic dna was detected in the spleen cells. Atypical lymphocytes appeared in the peripheral blood and bone marrow, chromosomal analysis revealed del (13) (q12 q14), trisomy 8 and breakage of RB gene. Elevated level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was observed. Hepatosplenic gammadelta T cell lymphoma (GDTL) was diagnosed. The patient was treated with chemotherapy by cyclophosphamide, hydroxydoxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (CHOP), however, it was ineffective, and the patient died of hemorrhage from the lymphoma involvement of the intestine 5 months after the onset of disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/18. An unusual histiocytoid proliferation in infancy.A 2 1/2-month-old female infant was admitted to the Hopital Ste-Justine for investigation of marked hepatosplenomegaly. The pregnancy and neonatal period were uneventful and the child had exhibited normal growth. There were no skin or osseous lesions. Investigations revealed a coagulopathy with hypoproteinemia, but normal liver enzymes. An open liver biopsy revealed widespread infiltration of portal veins and hepatic sinusoids by large histiocyte-like cells, exhibiting protein s-100 and Ia antigen, but negative for OKT6, peanut agglutinin, and T and B cell and macrophage markers. Ultrastructural examination failed to reveal Birbeck granules. After a 4-month course of chemotherapy, liver and spleen size decreased, the biochemical profile returned to baseline levels, and the child has remained well. A repeat liver biopsy, performed at the end of the therapeutic trial, was normal. This patient presents an unusual pattern of infiltration of liver and spleen not readily classifiable within the present scheme of histiocytic disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/18. Severe chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection syndrome and adenovirus type-2 infection.Four patients from 4 to 24 years of age (3 males, 1 female) with generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and intermittent fever associated with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection were investigated. Laboratory data showed polyclonal gammopathy and a tendency for bone marrow suppression. Noteworthy were the extremely elevated immunoglobulin g (IgG) antibody titers to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen (VCA) (range, 10,240-81,920) and early antigen (EA) (range, 1,280-40,960). All patients had IgA antibodies to VCA and EA. Subtle, heterogeneous immune functional defects were observed in all four patients. Another unusual feature was our inability to establish spontaneous or B95-8 EBV-immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) due to a marked cytopathic effect (CPE). Thus, we investigated for other viruses. Both IgG and IgM antibodies to adenovirus type-2 (Ad-2) were positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IF) test, suggesting recent or activated Ad-2 infection had occurred. Dual active EBV and Ad-2 infections were likely etiologic in this severe chronic active EBV infection syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/18. Tropical splenomegaly syndrome associated with cytomegalovirus infection.The tropical splenomegaly syndrome (TSS) is characterized by massive splenomegaly with hypersplenism, moderate hepatomegaly, and lymphocytic infiltration of the hepatic sinusoids. In previous reports this syndrome has been shown to be a consequence of a disordered immunologic response of the host to malarial infection. Treatment with antimalarial drugs has resulted in a decrease in malarial antibody titers and a reduction in splenic size. We report a child who had TSS associated with cytomegalovirus infection rather than malaria. Our results suggest that TSS may be precipitated by a variety of infections producing chronic antigenic stimulation and perhaps by autoantigenic stimulation as well.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/18. T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia: a clinical and immunological study.2 cases of T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) were investigated for their reactivity with a series of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) as well as for the cytochemical expression and functional activity of the pathological cells. Both patients showed morphological (large cells with abundant cytoplasm and eccentric and irregularly shaped nucleus with large and prominent nucleoli) and clinical (high leucocyte count and splenomegaly) features typical of T-PLL. The cells from 1 patient expressed a helper/inducer phenotype (T4 , T8-) and were reactive with the anti-Tac (interleukin-2 receptor) MoAb, while the other case co-expressed both the T4 and the T8 antigens. The response to phytohaemagglutinin and the natural killer activity (assessed by 51chromium release) were significantly reduced in both cases, while the helper capacity, tested in a pokeweed mitogen-driven system, was maintained only in the 1st case. This latter case which expressed a more mature phenotype (T4 , T8-) responded well to chemotherapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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