ABSTRACT
Primary idiopathic polymyositis is a condition of presumed autoimmune etiology in which the skeletal muscle is damaged by a nonsuppurative inflammatory process dominated by lymphocytic infiltration. We recently experienced a patient with primary idiopathic Polymyositis associated with hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. About 4 months prior to admission, he was diagnosed as primary idiopathic polymyositis, and improved by treatment with prednisolone 60 mg/day. During steroid tapering, muscle weakness was recurred and accompanied by hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. Despite retreatment with prednisolone 60 mg/day, muscle weakness, hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia persisted. He was then started to administer methotrexate(MTX) 15 mg/week which resulted in prompt improvement of muscle weakness, hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia. These findnigs suggest that primary idiopathic polymyositis is one of the cause of hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia, and that the hypoalbuminemia and thrombocytopenia can be improved promptly by methotrexate treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Hypoalbuminemia , Methotrexate , Muscle Weakness , Muscle, Skeletal , Polymyositis , Prednisolone , Retreatment , ThrombocytopeniaABSTRACT
Pure red cell aplasia(PRCA) is characterized by anemia, absence of reticulocytes in the peripherial blood and selective erythroid hypoplasia in the bone marrow. Acquired PRCA is often associated with thymoma but may also occur in many diverse conditions, such as chromic lymphocytic leukemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune disorders, T gamma lymphocytosis, acquired hypogammaglobulinemia, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Recently we experienced a case of T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with pure red cell aplasia. A 65-year-old man was presented with severe anemia. absolute reticulocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphocytosis(T cell marker' CD2, CD7 positive). Bone marrow findings showed a marked decrease in erythroid precursors and normal maturations of granulocytic and megakaryocytic series, which were consistent with pure red cell aplasia. So we report this case with a review of the literature.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Anemia , Bone Marrow , Common Variable Immunodeficiency , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell , Leukemia, Lymphoid , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Lymphocytosis , Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure , Reticulocytes , ThymomaABSTRACT
Backgrounds: Thyroid hormones play a fundamental role in the initiation and maintenance of somatic growth in mammalian species, and the insulin-like growth factors(IGFs) occupy a position of central importance in the growth of all tissues. To evaluate the changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients, sera was obtained from 19 hyperthyroid patients, 9 hypothyroid patients, and 10 healthy volunteers. Methods: IGF-I concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay, and changes in IGFBPs were assesed by Western Ligand Blotting. To evaluate the binding pattern of IGF-I & IGFBPs, autoradiographs were obtained. Results & Conclusion: IGF-I levels were increased significantly in hyperthyroid patients(mean ±SE, 267.88±9.80 ng/ml, p<0.05) and decreased significantly in hypothyroid patients(154.81±1.43 ng/ml, p<0.01) compaired to healthy control group(209.45±.60 ng/ml). Autoradiograph of serum IGFBPs from patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism did not show any change in the intensity of IGFBP-3 bands(40-45 KD) and IGFBP-1 bands, but in hyperthyroid patients, it showed increased intensity of IGFBP-2 band compared to healthy control group and hypothyroid patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Equidae , Healthy Volunteers , Hyperthyroidism , Hypothyroidism , Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 , Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 , Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 , Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I , Radioimmunoassay , Thyroid HormonesABSTRACT
Pulmonary histiocytosis X is an idiopathic benign disease characterized by proliferation and infiltration of lung tissue by characteristic Langerhans cells and eosinophils. Pulmonary histiocytosis X is common in young male adults, and shows variable clinical characteristics. We experienced a case of pathologically proven pulmonary histiocytosis X in a 30-year-old man who visit to our hospital due to chest discomfort and cough. The chest radiograph of our patient shows right pneumothorax and characteristic multiple thin-walled cysts on the both upper lung fields. The HRCT shows multiple thin-walled cysts, a few scattered nodules in both upper and right middle lung, and right pneumothorax.