ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and an immunologic profile consistent with allergic disease. It is associated with increased eosinophil and IgE level and decreased INF-gamma production. We describe the result of a treatment with INF-gammaand assess the clinical, immunologic, and laboratory data of 12 patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Twelve patients were treated for 12 weeks with 2x106 units/m2 INF-gamma by subcutaneous injection. General hematologic tests were done, and total eosinophil counts, eosinophil fractions, neutrophil fractions, and IgE levels were measured before the treatment, 2 weeks after the treatment, 12 weeks after the treatment serially. We also followed up the patients for 12 weeks after discontinuing INF-gammatherapy. RESULTS: All patients showed clinically significant improvement after 12 weeks of the systemic INF-gammatherapy. There was no clinical aggravation during the therapy period and the follow-up 4 weeks without the therapy. But the recurrence rate in the 12 weeks after discontinuing the therapy was about 40%. Eosinophil counts and eosinophil fractions were significantly decreased after the therapy. And, eosinophil counts and eosinophil fractions were increased in clinically aggravated patients during the 12 weeks of off-therapy. CONCLUSION: We conclude that INF-gammais an effective therapy in atopic dermatitis without significant side effects. The eosinophil counts and eosinophil fractions were decreased during the INF-gamma therapy, and increased in clinically aggravated patients after the off-therapy. There was no aggravation during the therapy. But 5 patients were clinically aggravated during the 12 weeks of off-therapy. Further studies for a long-term maintenance therapy and its side effect might be needed in chronic atopic dermatitis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dermatitis, Atopic , Eosinophils , Follow-Up Studies , Hematologic Tests , Immunoglobulin E , Injections, Subcutaneous , Interferon-gamma , Neutrophils , Pruritus , Recurrence , Skin DiseasesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of Henoch-Schonlein purpura and existance of renal involvement may influence on its course and prognosis. To verify prevention with early administration of steroid, we studied the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analysed 65 children under 15 years of age with Henoch-Scho nlein purpura according to their age, sex, and seasonal incidence. Forty children showed typical skin lesions, arthralgia and abdominal pain. We have divided them two groups. Group A consisted of 20 children who received 1 mg/kg of prednisolone/perday for 2 weeks and group B did not. We carried out their physical examination and urinalysis monthly for a year. RESULT: The main clinical manifestations were skin rash(100% ), abdominal symptoms(41.5 %), joint symptoms (49.2%), and renal involvement(34%). As for gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain(66.7% ) was most commonly observed one and others were nausea or vomiting (44.7%) and melena(25.9%). The joint involvement was observed mostly in knee(56.3%) and ankle joint(31.3% ), Hematuria was observed in all cases with renal involvement and proteinuria, in 28% of them. The improvement of renal manifestations were noted in 84.2% of them within 4 months. Mild elevation of IgA was more frequently observed in renal involvement group than non-involved group (p< 0.01). There were no significant differences in immonologic parameters such as IgG, IgM, IgE, duration of the acute phase and severity of cutaneous symptoms between two growps. None of steroid treated growp showed progression of nephropathy. Of the 20 non-steroid treated growp, 2(10%) developed nephropathy. Conclusion We may suggest that existance of renal involvement in Henoch-Schonlein purpura influences its course and prognosis.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Abdominal Pain , Ankle , Arthralgia , Hematuria , Immunoglobulin A , Immunoglobulin E , Immunoglobulin G , Immunoglobulin M , Incidence , Joints , Nausea , Physical Examination , Prognosis , Proteinuria , Purpura , IgA Vasculitis , Seasons , Skin , Urinalysis , VomitingABSTRACT
Recently, some cases of paradoxical bronchoconsthction with the use of nebulized antiasthmatic respirator solutions have been reported. This study was performed to determine whether benzalkonium chloride, contained in several antiasthmatic respirator solutions as a preservative, may cause paradoxical bronchoconstriction. This was accomplished by comparing the FEV(1) change after Ventolin (benzalkonium containing salbutamol) nebulization with the FEV(1) change after Respolin autohaler (benzalkonium free sa1butamol) inhalation within the same patient. This study consisted thirty patients with stable asthma who regularly attend the allergy clinic at Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital. Patients were excluded from the study if they had respiratory disease or were taking any other medications. The results are as knows: 1) The baseline FEV(1) in the Ventolin group was 73+/-1O(% predicted) and 74+/-10(% predicted) in the Respolin autohaler group, showing no statistical difference in baseline FEV(1) between the two groups. 2) FEV(1) was decreased in 9 subjects(3096) after Ventolin nebu1ization and in 1 subject(3396) after Respolin autohaler inhalation, showing that the incidence of FEV(1) fall was higher in the Vento1in group than in the Respo1in autohaler group(p<0.OO5, one-tailed t-test). 3) Considering the cases with increased FEV(1) after inhalation, FEVl was increased by 9+/-7 (% predicted) in the Vento1in group and 7+/-5(% predicted) in the Respolin autohaIer group, suggesting that bronchodi1ator effects of both medications are similar. 4) Mild coughing occurred in 4 subjects(13396), and mild chest tightness in 1 subject(33%) in the Ventolin group. These symptoms resolved without any treatment. No side effects were reported by subjects in the Respolin autohaler group. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that the paradoxical bron-choconstriction occurring with nebulized antiasthmatic respirator solutions is due to the ingredient benzalkonium chloride. Therefore we recommend that a benzalkoniulm free salbutamol product should be used for asthmatic patients, or if a product such as Ventolin which contains benza1konium chloride must be used, we recommend that it should be administered cautiously.
Subject(s)
Humans , Albuterol , Asthma , Benzalkonium Compounds , Bronchoconstriction , Cough , Hypersensitivity , Incidence , Inhalation , Protestantism , Thorax , Ventilators, MechanicalABSTRACT
Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a medical disorder characterized by a complex disorder of renal resistance to parathyroid hormone and the mechanism underlying the disease is still unclear. The authors described two cases of pseudohypoparathyroidism in sibling,who had metabolic anomalies(hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, high circulatin immunoreactive PTH)and basal ganglia calcification. Bilateral basal ganglia calcifications, which was not visible on plain skull film, was detected by CT scan of brain MRI. We report these cases with a review of related literatures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Basal Ganglia , Brain , Hyperphosphatemia , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Parathyroid Hormone , Pseudohypoparathyroidism , Siblings , Skull , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
No abstract available.