ABSTRACT
Ninety-five rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with aurothiomalate and/or D-penicillamine have been studied for possible associations between HLA-A, -B, -DR antigens and various toxic reactions to the above drugs. HLA-DR3 and -DRw6 had a higher frequency in patients with toxic reactions (all types) than in patients without toxic reactions (28.5 per cent vs 13.0 per cent and 26.5 per cent vs 4.3 per cent, chi 2 = 2.6 and 7.2, respectively). HLA-B8 was found at a higher frequency in patients with proteinuria and other types of renal involvement (20.0 per cent vs 7.4 per cent in controls), whereas skin manifestations were mainly associated with the presence of HLA-DRw6. The lowest frequency of side-effects was seen in patients with HLA-DR1 and DR2 (10.2 per cent vs 28.3 per cent and 28.5 per cent vs 54.3 per cent, chi 2 = 3.9 and 5.5, respectively). In addition, seropositive patients possessing HLA-DR1, showed toxic reactions less frequently.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology , Gold Sodium Thiomalate/adverse effects , HLA Antigens/analysis , HLA-D Antigens/analysis , HLA-DR Antigens/analysis , Penicillamine/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Gold Sodium Thiomalate/therapeutic use , Greece , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Penicillamine/therapeutic use , Proteinuria/chemically induced , Proteinuria/immunology , Stomatitis/chemically induced , Stomatitis/immunologySubject(s)
Dermatitis, Contact/etiology , Lepidoptera , Animals , Greece , Humans , Larva , Urticaria/etiologyABSTRACT
Brucellosis remains a problem in many rural areas of Greece. A case report is given of 50 patients with brucellosis treated at the regional hospital of an endemic area. Various forms of fever were observed; a raised temperature was universal. Sweating and joint pains were prominent general symptoms. The most common local findings were arthritis, orcheoepididymitis and osteomyelitis. More rarely, rashes, bronchitis, difficulty in micturition and paraesthesiae were found. Routine laboratory investigations were of no diagnostic help, but the serum agglutination reaction according to Wright is diagnostic of brucellosis at high titres. An equally successful therapeutic result was achieved with streptomycin in conjunction with tetracyclines or with the combined preparation of sulphamethoxiazole and trimethoprim.
Subject(s)
Brucellosis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Brucellosis/drug therapy , Brucellosis/epidemiology , Child , Female , Greece , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Rural Population , Sulfamethoxazole/therapeutic use , Tetracyclines/therapeutic use , Trimethoprim/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The results of therapy with a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in 30 brucellosis patients are described. Clinical improvement and apyrexia were achieved in an average of 5 days. Duration of treatment was at least 3 weeks. No success was obtained with the drug in 2 patients while 4 relapsed during the observation period of 2-12 months. Significant side effects were not observed. The results are compared with similar publications.
