Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use , Eosinophils/immunology , Immune System Diseases/drug therapy , Interleukin-5 Receptor alpha Subunit/antagonists & inhibitors , Interleukin-5/antagonists & inhibitors , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Immune System Diseases/immunology , Interleukin-5/immunology , Interleukin-5 Receptor alpha Subunit/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Off-Label UseABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus most often targets organs such as joints, serosa, skin, bone marrow, and the kidneys. Gastrointestinal complications are uncommon, and among these, protein losing enteropathy is particularly rare. We present a young woman who suffered from chronic abdominal pain and diarrhea, developed severe malnutrition, and was eventually diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and associated protein losing enteropathy.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain/etiology , Diarrhea/etiology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Protein-Energy Malnutrition/etiology , Protein-Losing Enteropathies/etiology , Adult , Chronic Disease , Female , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: EBV associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an aggressive and potentially life-threatening condition. So far, most EBV associated HPS has been characterized mainly in infants and children in Asian countries. RESULTS: Here, we report six cases of EBV associated HPS occurring in previously healthy adults in a non-endemic area within a short period of 3 years. All patients presented with fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia as well as disturbed liver function tests and coagulopathy. Half were diagnosed as having lymphoma. While EBV-specific serological assays were non-diagnostic in four of the six patients, the presence of EBV DNA in plasma allowed the diagnosis of EBV associated HPS in all patients. CONCLUSION: EBV associated HPS may be more prevalent in non-Japanese adults than was previously considered. Screening for hemophagocytic syndrome, in adults as well as in children, should include real-time PCR for EBV.
Subject(s)
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/complications , Herpesvirus 4, Human/isolation & purification , Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Viral/blood , DNA, Viral/blood , Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/diagnosis , Female , Hepatomegaly/pathology , Herpesvirus 4, Human/genetics , Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology , Humans , Liver/physiopathology , Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/pathology , Lymphoma/pathology , Male , Pancytopenia/pathology , Splenomegaly/pathologyABSTRACT
Different types of rapid tapping responses were described in the finger-tapping test. The "Hastening phenomenon" was described as an abnormal motor response in patients with Parkinson's disease. Accelerated tapping has been shown in a healthy elderly sample. It is not clear whether accelerated tapping relates to the hastening phenomenon or characterizes normal aging. We hypothesized that this sample of 21 healthy elderly people showed increased accelerated tapping but not hastening phenomenon. To assess this hypothesis, 20 healthy young and 21 elderly subjects performed a tapping test, requiring responses from 1 to 6 Hz. The healthy elderly sample showed increased accelerated tapping but not increased "hastening phenomenon." We conclude that Accelerated tapping may represent age-related motor processes unlike the hastening phenomenon characterizing Parkinson's disease.
