Chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction with micro-perforation in a psychiatric patient

Colonic pseudo-obstruction, both in its acute and chronic forms, usually occurs in association with organic disease. Occasionally, this entity has been described in patients with underlying psychiatric illness. We describe a 53- year-old man with schizophrenia who presented with chronic pseudo-obstruction of the colon with megacolon, complicated by perforation. This report is intended to increase the clinical awareness of the association between psychiatric illness and colonic pseudo-obstruction, so that this condition could be recognized early and unwanted complications avoided

Monoclonal gammopathy among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

To determine the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies in Kuwait and its association with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection. Methodology: Serum protein electrophoresis and measurement of immunoglobulin levels were carried out prospectively in 100 consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection. Among the 100 patients tested [82 males, 18 females; median age 45 years], 59 had polyclonal band in serum protein electrophoresis while the other 41 had a normal pattern. None of the patients had monoclonal gammopathy. The mean serum immunoglobulin levels were: IgG 18.4 g/l [range 4-39], IgA 2.9 g/l [range 0.09-8] and IgM 1.6 g/l [range 0.14-6.08]. There was no evidence of monoclonal gammopathies in patients with chronic HCV infection in Kuwait

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and interferon therapy for Hepatitis C: a case report and review of the literature

Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, can be activated or induced, though rarely, after interferon alpha therapy. We report a patient with hepatitis C and chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura who developed a profound thrombocytopenia of an autoimmune nature shortly after alpha-interferon therapy. We discuss possible mechanisms for this phenomenon and offer a review of the literature