ABSTRACT
Twenty-nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 29 control subjects matched for age and prevaccination antibody titer received 200 chick-cell agglutinin units of A/New Jersey/76 HswINI influenza virus vaccine. Serum hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies were measured before and 4 weeks after immunization. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were done before and 4 and 8 weeks after vaccination. Except for one patient with active lupus erythematosus who developed renal disease, there was no evidence of an increase in lupus erythematosus activity after immunization. Fourteen patients and 18 control subjects had a fourfold or greater increase in antibodies to influenza A/New Jersey/76. Mean postvaccination antibody titer of patients tended to be lower than that of controls (Student's t-test, t = 1.52, 0.05 less than p less than 0.10). Since patients with lupus erythematosus may have increased morbidity and mortality with influenza infections, they should receive influenza immunization even though the magnitude of their antibody response may be less than that of normal persons.
Subject(s)
Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology , Vaccination , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Female , Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests , Humans , Influenza Vaccines/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Vaccination/adverse effectsABSTRACT
We report two siblings with cystic fibrosis and systemic amyloidosis. The major clinical problem in both cases was recurrent respiratory infection with pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis prior to death at ages 20 and 22 years. Findings from postmortem examinations disclosed diffuse amyloidosis. In addition, amyloid infiltration developed in both patients, with enlargement of the thyroid gland, and one required thyroidectomy. An autopsy review of 17 additional cases of cystic fibrosis failed to disclose any other instances of systemic amyloidosis.
Subject(s)
Amyloidosis/complications , Cystic Fibrosis/complications , Adult , Amyloidosis/genetics , Cystic Fibrosis/genetics , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
In a patient with essential cryoglobulinemia with systemic, cutaneous, and neurologic manifestations and a mixed IgG-IgM cryoprotein, elimination of systemic and cutaneous disease manifestations, as well as notable reversal of neurologic impairment, followed therapy with melphalan. Levels of circulating cryoprotein decreased, but protein structure was unchanged by chemotherapy. Experience to date with alkylating agents suggests that this mode of treatment is the most effective currently available.
