ABSTRACT
Background: Calcinosis cutis is usually seen in long standing and untreated cases of juvenile dermatomyositis. Case characteristics: 7-year-old girl with severe calcinosis cutis who developed cutaneous ulceration, rash and myopathy. Observation: Myopathic changes in EMG, muscle edema in MRI, elevated muscle enzymes and Jo-1 positive antibodies. Outcome: Treatment with prednisolone and methotrexate resulted in improvement of the lesion. Message: Calcinosis cutis may be a presenting feature of juvenile dermatomyositis even in the absence of characteristic findings of rash and weakness.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the correlation of cord blood nucleated red blood cell (NRBC)/100 white blood cell (WBC) count with perinatal asphyxia in terms of severity and short-term outcome. Material and methods: A prospective, comparative case-control study was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital from January 2011 to December 2012, which included a total of 200 neonates with 100 asphyxiated babies (case group) and 100 normal babies (control group). The cord blood was collected immediately after delivery for measurement of NRBC/100 WBC, and pH. Early neonatal outcome of both groups was also evaluated in relation to the NRBC/100 WBC count. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square and student t-test. Results: The mean NRBC/100 WBC count was 50.82 ± 23.85 (range from 5 to 106) in case group and 1.67 ± 1.005 (range from 0 to 13) in control group (p < 0.001). Also a statistically significant correlation existed between severity of asphyxia (stage of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [HIE]), poor outcome and higher number of NRBC/100 WBC count (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It is an inexpensive and easily available procedure to evaluate perinatal asphyxia, specially in a resource poor country like ours, where blood gas analysis facilities are not available in majority of places. Also, it is a good predictor of short-term outcome of asphyxiated babies.