CD40 ligand deficiency: neurologic sequelae with radiographic correlation.

Patients with CD40 ligand deficiency are susceptible to central nervous system infections, but to date the neurologic progression or long-term outcome of central nervous system complications have not been reported in detail. Characterizing the central nervous system complications of immune deficiencies can lead to the identification of new pathogens. For this study, clinical data were reviewed on patients with both CD40 ligand deficiency and neurodegeneration, identified from a larger cohort of 31 patients. Five patients had progressive neurologic and cognitive decline in the absence of clinical signs of acute fulminant encephalitis, with anatomic brain abnormalities and high mortality (60%). Despite multiple evaluations, no pathogens were identified in four patients, all of whom were on standard intravenous immunoglobulin therapy at illness presentation. This clinical phenotype of progressive decline without acute fulminant encephalitis is similar to chronic enteroviral encephalitis in X-linked agammaglobulinemia, another condition with severe humoral immune defects. Whether infection secondary to subtherapeutic levels of central nervous system immunoglobulin G (IgG), inadequately protective levels of serum IgG, or impaired CD40 ligand-dependent IgG-independent antiviral responses contributed remains undetermined. Emerging gene-chip techniques applied in patients with primary immune deficiencies may identify heretofore unknown viruses. Prospective neurocognitive and evaluation of patients with CD40 ligand deficiency may identify affected patients before overt clinical signs appear.

Antibiotic use in aesthetic surgery: a national survey and literature review.

Although much has been written regarding the use of antibiotics in surgery, no clear guidelines exist in the literature regarding the use of antibiotics in aesthetic surgery. To determine the pattern of antibiotic use in aesthetic surgery, a comprehensive survey was mailed to 6000 American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons members and candidates. A total of 1767 completed responses were returned, which represents a response rate of 30 percent. The type, route, and duration of antibiotic administration are reported for 10 common cosmetic surgical procedures. The results of the survey confirmed that there is widespread use of antibiotics in aesthetic surgery. To provide guidelines for proper antibiotic use, the current literature was extensively reviewed. The authors found little or no correlation between reported clinical practice and the literature. It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigation into this area of aesthetic surgery.