ABSTRACT
A 22 year-old man died from multiple cerebral abscesses due to Petriellidium boydii 4 1/2 months after an episode of near drowning. The autopsy showed dissemination to heart and kidney. This patient had no immunocompromising disease but was treated with corticosteroids. The treatment of this condition with ventricular shunting and amphotericin B is discussed and compared with the experience of ten other cases reported in the literature.
Subject(s)
Brain Abscess/pathology , Brain/pathology , Mycoses/pathology , Adult , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Brain Abscess/therapy , Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts , Humans , Hydrocortisone/adverse effects , Male , Mycoses/therapy , XylarialesABSTRACT
This retrospective study concerning 102 patients was undertaken to study the therapeutic decisions in these patients when they presented with symptoms of cerebral vascular insufficiency, mostly from the territory of the carotid artery, either transient or accompanied by a deficit. The current literature on the subject is also mentioned. The clinical outcome with regard to the quality of life, seems to have been better in patients who were subjected to carotid endarterectomies than in those who received medical treatment.
Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/diagnosis , Arteriosclerosis/therapy , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnosis , Carotid Artery Diseases/therapy , Aged , Brain Ischemia/diagnosis , Brain Ischemia/etiology , Carotid Artery Diseases/surgery , Carotid Artery Thrombosis/diagnosis , Cerebral Angiography , Endarterectomy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , RiskABSTRACT
Various CSF proteins were studied in 255 definite multiple sclerosis patients at various disease stages and compared with corresponding values obtained from 174 controls. The CSF changes in acute multiple sclerosis patients included a significant increase of total proteins and of gamma globulin, IgG, IgA, IgM, alpha-2 ceruloplasmin, 7S-gamma-1, and cytotoxic index for nerve cells in tissue culture, and significant decreases of pre-albumin, alpha-1, and alpha-2 and of the beta/gamma globulin ratio. The CSF levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM remained significantly higher in steroid-treated multiple sclerosis patients than in controls, but the levels often were significantly reduced while patients were on treatment or in remission. During remission or treatment with ACTH and/or steroids, the alpha-2 ceruloplasmin, 7S-gamma-1, and cytotoxic index were significantly reduced and the pre-albumin, alpha-1, and alpha-2 globulin classes and the beta/gamma ratio showed a tendency to return to normal.