[Ischemic stroke and TIA]. / Der ischämische Schlaganfall und die TIA.

Ischemic stroke is an important disease with high morbidity and mortality. Systemic fibrinolysis is well studied and has become the accepted international standard of acute therapy. Intraarterial lysis and intravascular mechanical treatment options are becoming increasingly important. The time window for acute therapies is limited to a few hours after the onset of symptoms. A substantial proportion of stroke is preceeded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The immediate identification of the cause of such a TIA and initiation of treatment can prevent as much as 80% of subsequent strokes. Recent clinical trials attempt to treat more patients with more individualized strategies.

[Diarrhea and weight loss in common variable immunodeficiency]. / Häufiges Symptom -- seltene Ursache: Diarrhö bei Immundefizienzsyndrom.

A 25-year-old male was hospitalized for diarrhea and weight loss. Since childhood he had experienced recurrent episodes of pneumonia and diarrhea. Physical and laboratory findings were compatible with malabsorption. On endoscopy, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) of the small intestine was found. Common variable immunodeficiency syndrome (CVID) was suspected and diagnosis was established by demonstrating a significant reduction of plasma gamma-globulin levels. Immediately after starting immunoglobulin treatment diarrhea stopped, and both incidence and severity of pulmonary infections were significantly reduced, while recurrent gastrointestinal infections (notably lambliasis and Campylobacter infections) continued to occur and both bronchiectases and splenomegaly were progressive over years. This case report focuses on CVID as a potential underlying cause of diarrhea. The most important complications of the disease are presented. Therapeutical options are discussed in the light of recently published data.

Sterility and quality of blood dispensed in syringes for infants.

A unit-dose system was designed to dispense precise quantities of blood in a form ready for immediate transfusion into neonatal patients. The principles were similar to those used by pharmacies to dispense individual doses of drugs. In the blood center, the precise volume of blood ordered for a neonatal patient was aspirated through a microaggregate filter into a labeled plastic syringe for dispensing to the nursery in a correspondingly labeled zip-lock plastic bag. In the nursery, the premeasured and prefiltered blood was ready for immediate infusion, and the syringe was attached directly to a mechanical infusion pump. Several experiments were performed to ensure sterility and quality of whole blood dispensed by this system. Over 300 aerobic and anaerobic cultures were performed, and it was concluded that the extra handling required to prepare syringes of blood did not lead to bacterial contamination. In addition, the quality of whole blood was maintained, for at least 6 hours, equally well in syringes as it was in blood bags stored under standard blood bank conditions when assessed by hematocrit, blood pH, and measurements of plasma potassium, glucose, lactic dehydrogenase, and free hemoglobin. Thus, unit dose dispensing offers a precise and convenient method to prepare small, accurately measured quantities of filtered, sterile, and quality blood products for neonatal patients.

Immune hemolytic anemia associated with sulindac.

A number of adverse reactions have been associated with sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but acute hemolytic anemia associated with sulindac has not yet been reported, to our knowledge. We encountered two cases of severe immune hemolytic anemia, one fatal, which appear to have been related to sulindac. In vitro studies provided evidence that antibodies to sulindac and its metabolites were present in the serum of both patients.

Pathogenesis of Rh immunization in primigravidas. Fetomaternal versus maternofetal bleeding.

Rh immunization occurring during a first pregnancy with no history of preceding abortion or transfusion may result when Rh incompatible fetal to maternal bleeding ensues early enough in the gestation to initiate a maternal immune response before parturition. Alternatively, the initial antigenic stimulus could be the consequence of maternal to fetal transfer of Rh-incompatible erythrocytes while the patient herself was in utero or at the time of her own delivery. These hypotheses were tested by 1) analysis of the blood group and Rh of 22 Rh-immunized primigravidas, their infants, and their own mothers; 2) comparison of the number of fetal cells in the maternal circulation during the antepartum period in 20 women at high risk for fetal to maternal bleeding with their matched controls; and 3) Rho (D) antibody determinations in 70 Rh-negative infants born to Rh-positive mothers. The results indicate that antepartum fetal to maternal bleeding is the usual cause of Rh immunization in primigravidas, and the Rh-negative woman with blood group A, B, or AB who gestates an ABO-compatible Rh-positive male is at highest risk. The antepartum use of anti-Rho (D) immune globulin has potential prophylactic value in this situation.