ABSTRACT
A 17-month-old boy with a known case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was admitted to the authors' hospital because of blood-streaked diarrhea a week after his last chemotherapy session. Initially, he was treated with supportive care and an empiric regimen for opportunistic causes of diarrhea; however, this was not effective. Eventually, evaluation of his stool with PCR showed positivity for cytomegalovirus. Consequently, he responded dramatically to treatment with ganciclovir. Although cytomegalovirus colitis is rare, a few case reports suggest cytomegalovirus as a possible cause of colitis in children with leukemia, which can be fatal and should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Colitis , Cytomegalovirus Infections , Leukemia , Opportunistic Infections , Child , Colitis/diagnosis , Colitis/drug therapy , Cytomegalovirus/genetics , Cytomegalovirus Infections/complications , Cytomegalovirus Infections/diagnosis , Cytomegalovirus Infections/drug therapy , Diarrhea/drug therapy , Humans , Infant , Leukemia/complications , Male , Opportunistic Infections/complicationsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a common vasculitis in children that can present with multi-organ involvement. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between direct immunofluorescence (DIF) results and the systemic involvements of the HSP in pediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Those HSP patients with leukocytoclastic vasculitis on their biopsies who also had documented immunoglobulin/complement deposition by DIF were included in our study. Their demographic and laboratory data and clinical manifestations were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Medical records of 95 patients (1.5-15 years old) were studied. 26.3% of the patients showed renal, 86.3% articular, and 70.3% gastrointestinal involvement. The risk of renal involvement was significantly higher in those with C3 deposition in their skin DIF. IgM deposition was mostly associated with articular involvement. CONCLUSION: Pediatric HSP patients who had C3 deposition in their skin DIF should be selected for further evaluation regarding HSP nephritis.
Subject(s)
IgA Vasculitis/pathology , Skin/pathology , Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous/pathology , Adolescent , Biopsy , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct/methods , Humans , IgA Vasculitis/complications , Infant , Kidney/pathology , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic data of spinal cord injured (SCI) patients are necessary for prevention policymaking and improvement of social and healthcare support to patients. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of traumatic and non-traumatic SCI in Iran in a three-source capture-recapture study. METHODS: Three organizations, which provide supports to SCI patients were identified. Demographic data of patients in each organization was obtained. Datasets were formed and matching data were found. Matched data were incorporated into STATA 12 for log linear analyses. Results of sensitivity analyses were used to estimate total number of SCI patients in Iran. Veterans of Iraq-Iran conflict were added as separate data source to final results. RESULTS: The prevalence of traumatic and non-traumatic SCI patients is 296.87 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 292.04-302.48) per million in Tehran and Alborz provinces. The prevalence of SCI in Iran is an estimated 318.45 (95% CI: 312.98-324.54) per million. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of SCI in Iran is among the lowest figures reported in the literature. The supporting organizations in Iran do not have details about the cause, level and severity of SCI patients. A national study to register SCI patients' data is needed.
