[Interferon alpha in the treatment of polycythemia vera in a 13-year-old girl]. / Interferon alfa w leczeniu czerwienicy prawdziwej u 13-letniej dziewczynki.

The authors present a rare case of polycythemia vera (PV) in a 13-year-old girl initially treated with phlebotomy only and then also with interferon alpha at a dose of 3 x 10(6) U three times per week subcutaneously. The treatment outcome measure was the reduction of the number of phlebotomies required to retain a normal hematocrit value. Treatment with interferon enabled a substantial reduction of phlebotomies and caused a decrease in platelet count. These results confirm that interferon alpha may be regarded as a promising therapeutic approach in the management of PV.

[Carcinoembryonic antigen and immunoglobulin IgE in duodenal ulcer disease in children]. / Antygen karcynoembrionalny oraz immunoglobulina IgE w chorobie wrzodowej dwunastnicy u dzieci.

The aim of this study was to monitor the behaviour of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and immunoglobulin IgE level in children with duodenal ulcer disease. No sex-dependent differences were found in mean values of CEA, whereas the mean IgE level in boys was twice as high as in girls. No seasonal differences in CEA and IgE levels were found. The IgE concentration increased during exacerbations, and this difference was statistically significant. CEA levels changed according to a similar pattern during exacerbation and remission, but remained within normal limits.

Carcionoembryonic antigen and immunoglobulin IgE in coeliac disease, food allergy and dudenal ulcer disease in children.

The aim of this study was to estimate the behaviour of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and immunoglobulin IgE level in children with coeliac disease (CD), food allergy (FA) and duodenal ulcer disease (UD). In total, 390 determinations of CEA (201 for CD, 27 for FA and 162 for UD) and 558-IgE (238, 136 and 184, respectively) were carried out during disease aggravations and remissions. The analysis of CEA mean values with respect to sex revealed no differences while IgE level in boys with UD was twice as high as in girls. No differences in CEA or IgE levels were found with respect to the season of the year. The IgE concentration increased during aggravations, but only in the case of UD was the difference statistically significant. CEA behaviour was similar (statistically significant differences for CD and very significant for UD). Both values, however, were normal.

[Early results of endoscopic treatment of vesico-ureteral reflux in children]. / Frühergebnisse der endoskopischen Behandlung des vesikoureteralen Refluxes bei Kindern.

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is based on transurethral injection of Teflon paste or collagen gel into the submucosa of the bladder wall beneath the distal ureter, resulting in support of the intramural part. This endoscopic procedure was performed in 75 children with VUR of varying severity. Altogether 111 ureters were treated, 94 with injections of Teflon paste and 17 with collagen gel. Improvement of VUR in the early postoperative period was achieved in 91.5% of the ureters treated with Teflon and in 82.4% of the ureters treated with collagen. No complications were observed. Endoscopic treatment of VUR seems to be an worthwhile alternative to open surgery. However, since long-term follow-up has not been completed, the efficacy of the method cannot yet be finally assessed.