Study on epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura

Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura [HSP] is the most common vasculitiis in children. It is characterized by non-thrombocytopenic purpura, arthritis and arthralgia, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis. This study was conducted to determined epidemiological and clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of children who admitted with HSP at university hospitals of Ahvaz. Information about the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients were selected from hospital records of all 63 children with final diagnosis of HSP who were admitted in pediatric wards in university hospitals of Ahvaz during February 2001 to February 2008. Data analyzed by SPSS software. There were 63 children, 41[65%] males and 22 [35%] females [M/F ratio: 1.86/1]. The mean age of the patients was 6.4 [ +/- 3.15] years. Previous history of upper respiratory tract infections was found in 42.9% of the patients. In the review of clinical features, skin manifestations, gastrointestinal symptoms, arthritis/arthralgia and evidences of renal involvement were found in 100, 76, 66.7 and 39.6% of cases, respectively. The neurological signs were not found. Anemia, gastrointestinal bleeding, nephrotic syndrome and intussusception were found in 47.6, 19, 6.3 and 3.2% of cases, respectively. We found that relative to other studies, gastrointestinal manifestations in our patients were more common and more severe than arthicular manifestations. But, the final prognosis was good with no mortality

Prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran

The prevalence of asthma was determined in a random sample of schoolchildren in Ahvaz city, southwest Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood [ISAAC] protocol. The prevalence of ever wheeze and current wheeze was 11.1% and 7.4% among 1410 children aged 6-7 years [parent-reported] and 17.7% and 10.3% among 1450 children aged 13-14 years [self-reported]. The prevalence of ever asthma was significantly higher among 13-14-year-olds [9.8%] than 6-7-year-olds [6.8%] but no significant difference was found between males and females in either age group. Comparisons are made with other Iranian cities and international data

Evaluation of carcinoemberionic antigen CEA and CA 15.3 tumor markers in patients operated for breast cancer

Tumor markers are biochemical signs of tumor existence and consist of cell surface antibodies, cytoplasm proteins, enzymes and hormones. We evaluated the variability of tumor marker levels in following-up patients without the evidence of the disease after the resection of a primary breast cancer. Carcinoemberionic antigen [CEA] and CA 15.3 were measured by commercially available methods in serial blood samples collected from 94 patients referred to surgical and oncological center of Ahwaz. In 72 cases with normal CA 15. 3, metastasis and recurrence occurred for 12% and 4.17 respectively. In 12 cases with abnormal CA15.3 metastasis and recurrence occurred for 54.55% and 4.55% respectively. In 80 cases with normal CEA metastasis and recurrence occurred for 15% and 5% respectively, and in 14 cases with abnormal CEA metastasis and recurrence occurred for 64.24% and 14% respectively. The incidence of metastasis is high in patients with abnormal tumor markers, and CA15.3 is more sensitive in following-up and evaluating the patient"s response to the treatment