Iron complex, dabigatran and toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome: a case-report.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome falls in the spectrum of acute idiosyncratic bullous disorders with medications being the major aetiological factor. The authors review the relevant literature and report a case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome where two medications, iron protein succinylate and dabigatran, not previously associated with the disorder might have acted as precipitants to it. CASE SUMMARY: An 86-year-old female recently introduced to iron protein succinylate and dabigatran, presented with a widespread rash consisting of erythematous macules symmetrically distributed on her torso and both upper and lower limbs, down to her extremities. She was diagnosed with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome. None of the drugs previously implicated with the disorder were listed in her recent prescriptions. It was therefore concluded that the two most recently initiated medications, iron protein succinylate and dabigatran, might have been the cause. They were both discontinued to good effect for our patient. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Although neither iron protein succinylate nor dabigatran has been incriminated as causative of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome, we believe that either one of these or their interaction might have acted as the precipitant to this condition. We suggest that the possibilities of the above associations should be further explored.

Parasitic, fungal and prion zoonoses: an expanding universe of candidates for human disease.

Zoonotic infections have emerged as a burden for millions of people in recent years, owing to re-emerging or novel pathogens often causing outbreaks in the developing world in the presence of inadequate public health infrastructure. Among zoonotic infections, those caused by parasitic pathogens are the ones that affect millions of humans worldwide, who are also at risk of developing chronic disease. The present review discusses the global effect of protozoan pathogens such as Leishmania sp., Trypanosoma sp., and Toxoplasma sp., as well as helminthic pathogens such as Echinococcus sp., Fasciola sp., and Trichinella sp. The zoonotic aspects of agents that are not essentially zoonotic are also discussed. The review further focuses on the zoonotic dynamics of fungal pathogens and prion diseases as observed in recent years, in an evolving environment in which novel patient target groups have developed for agents that were previously considered to be obscure or of minimal significance.

Wegener granulomatosis masquerading as pneumonia.

We report a case of an elderly patient with a limited form of Wegener granulomatosis, which simulated the clinical and imaging features of organizing pneumonia. Here we call attention to this atypical case presentation that eloquently illustrates the many faces of Wegener granulomatosis.

Reappearance of viral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in northwestern Greece.

BACKGROUND: Minor outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) with renal failure have occurred in northwestern Greece over past decades. However, during the most recent decade, there has been a paucity of human cases despite the detection of hantavirus in rodents of this area. CASE REPORTS: We present herein the cases of two patients with VHF, arising in the same area, hospitalized for a short period of time. One patient presented with renal failure, while severe hepatic involvement was predominant in the other. Significantly high ELISA antibody titers for hantavirus established the diagnosis. Supportive treatment led to a successful outcome in both cases. We further discuss the difficulties in differential diagnosis of VHF from other zoonoses with similar endemicity, such as leptospirosis. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the continuing presence of VHF in rural Greece is needed, and a rapid diagnosis is important for the correct therapeutic approach. Continuous surveillance for such diseases, at both the animal (rodents) and human level, is warranted.

Efalizumab-induced thrombocytopenia: report of relapse after re-administration.

Although a reversible, sometimes severe, drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a recognized adverse drug reaction (ADR) in patients with psoriasis treated with efalizumab, definite proof for the association of thrombocytopenia with efalizumab is still lacking (currently level II evidence for ADR). We report a patient with psoriasis who had two episodes of reversible thrombocytopenia during efalizumab; the first occurred 5 months after introduction of the medication and the second 4 months after re-introduction of efalizumab for relapsing psoriasis. The development of a second episode of thrombocytopenia on re-exposure to efalizumab provides, for the first time in the literature to our knowledge, definite (level I) ADR evidence for efalizumab-induced thrombocytopenia.

Doxycycline-rifampicin: physicians' inferior choice in brucellosis or how convenience reigns over science.

OBJECTIVES: Brucellosis treatment is based on sub-optimal, not universally implemented regimens (doxycycline-rifampicin and doxycycline-streptomycin). The authors sought to evaluate specialists' and physicians' attitude towards regimens used, non-medical aspects, and future trends in human brucellosis treatment. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey of multi-national specialists, physicians, and trainees, was conducted, questionnaire answered following lectures outlining major scientific facts about existing regimens. Responders indicated preference between the two regimens, their opinion on protracted monotherapy or triple regimens of shorter duration, awareness of disease notification and hospitalization practices. Results were evaluated in relation with professional status and experience with the disease. RESULTS: Although scientifically inferior to doxycycline-streptomycin, doxycycline-rifampicin is the choice regimen for 64.6% of the participants. A shorter triple regimen, but not protracted monotherapy, would be desirable (60.2% and 10.4%, respectively). Low awareness of disease-notifying status and related procedures were recorded in 53.9%. CONCLUSION: When choosing between currently acceptable brucellosis regimens, medical personnel prefer convenience, even at the cost of a slightly higher relapse percentage. Future trials should evaluate shorter triple regimens. Enhancement of awareness on the disease and its principles may increase therapeutic cost effectiveness.

Long-term follow-up of patients with adult-onset Still's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). METHODS: Eleven patients with AOSD who were regularly followed-up during the past 13 years, even after discontinuation of treatment, were evaluated for the long-term prognosis of the disease and its possible complications. RESULTS: No exacerbation of the symptoms was noted during therapy. Only two of the 11 patients exhibited relapse of the systemic disease after discontinuation of treatment. Both patients had previously been on corticosteroids and responded well to reinitiation of therapy. Progressive deforming arthritis was not noted in any patient. Hepatic failure, central nervous system involvement, renal involvement or systematic amyloidosis did not complicate the course of any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term prognosis of AOSD may be benign in a significant subset of patients. Further studies should clarify characteristics of the subset of patients for whom disease-modifying therapy is warranted.

Brucella as a biological weapon.

Brucella has traditionally been considered a biological weapon. It was the subject of extensive offensive research in the past, and still belongs to category B pathogens on most lists. Its propensity for airborne transmission and induction of chronic debilitating disease requiring combined antibiotic regimens for treatment, its abundance around the world and its vague clinical characteristics defying rapid clinical diagnosis are some of the characteristics that apply to the pathogen's weapons potential. Yet minimal mortality, availability of treatment options, protracted inoculation period and the emergence of new, more virulent potential weapons means that its inclusion among agents of bioterrorism is nowadays mainly of historical significance. Nevertheless, in the interest of literacy and of avoiding panic, physicians and the public both should be aware of the most common zoonosis worldwide.

Quinolones for brucellosis: treating old diseases with new drugs.

Although quinolones are theoretically interesting candidates for the treatment of brucellosis, the existing data concerning their efficacy are limited and conflicting. A number of small clinical studies with combination regimens that include quinolones have shown adequacy, but not superiority, although cost-effectiveness, excluding certain disease complications, is an important issue. The emergence of quinolone resistance and its implications is another drawback. Experimental data have yielded contradictory results, although most studies do not indicate a bactericidal effect for quinolones. However, in-vitro studies contrast repeatedly with the clinical response, both in terms of clinical failure, despite in-vitro success, and vice versa.

Hodgkin's disease during pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature.

The simultaneous presence of cancer and pregnancy is rare but occurs, creating extreme scenarios in clinical practice. Hodgkin's disease (HD), affects primarily young adults and therefore obstetricians may confront young women with this type of lymphoma during pregnancy. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with HD who presented during the 28th week of gestation. After counseling the couple decided to continue with the pregnancy. The patient received conservative treatment with regression of the symptoms and rapid improvement of her general condition. At 36 weeks of gestation a healthy infant was born and the patient underwent chemotherapy after delivery with complete resolution of the disease.

Unusual causes of reactive arthritis: Leptospira and Coxiella burnetii.

Reactive arthritis is a well-defined clinical syndrome occurring after various infections, although most cases are usually associated with Chlamydiae and gastrointestinal pathogens. Its immunologic background has been extensively studied, as has its relationship with HLA-B27. We describe two cases of reactive arthritis arising after infections with two pathogens not so far related to the occurrence of reactive arthritis: one patient exhibited migratory oligoarthritis shortly after the course of acute Q fever, and another patient developed monoarthritis during recovery from leptospirosis. Arthritis was transient and did not exhibit a chronic course in either patient. We further discuss the context of pathophysiology of the arthritis in these patients, with an emphasis on the immunomodulatory properties of these two pathogens.

Gallbladder adenomyomatosis presenting as fever of unknown origin: a case report.

Gallbladder adenomyomatosis is a rare disorder, characterized by benign hyperplasia of the gallbladder mucosa creating invaginations through the muscular layer, known as Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses. It is considered an acquired disease, with pathophysiology similar to that of the diverticular disease of the colon. Diagnosis is often achieved by ultrasound, but a significant percentage is misdiagnosed as chronic cholecystitis, whereas the diagnosis is finally achieved histologically. We describe a case of gallbladder adenomyomatosis presenting as fever of unknown origin. The patient was a 17-year-old girl with a history of sustained fever of 38.5 degrees C of two months' duration. There were no accompanying symptoms and the whole diagnostic workup, including abdominal ultrasound, was negative. Gallbladder inflammation was evident during an eventual investigatory laparoscopy, and cholecystectomy was performed. The histologic results were consistent with diffuse adenomyomatosis. The patient became afebrile immediately after cholecystectomy. To our knowledge, fever has never been associated with gallbladder adenomyomatosis before in bibliography, nor has adenomyomatosis been mentioned as a cause of fever of unknown origin. We therefore believe that gallbladder adenomyomatosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sustained fever with negative workup.