Asymptomatic parasitic infections in renal transplant recipients and in haemodialysis patients.

One hundred and sixty-seven clinically asymptomatic renal transplant recipients and 119 patients on chronic haemodialysis were studied for the presence of intestinal parasites and for the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Intestinal parasitic infections were more frequently found in transplant recipients than in haemodialysis patients and in controls. Among transplant recipients, the prevalence rate of T. gondii antibodies at high titres was significantly increased, but in these subjects the positivity rate of specific IgM assays was reduced. This seems to indicate a greater occurrence of asymptomatic reactivated infections. Our findings suggest that parasitologic surveys of immunosuppressed patients should be periodically performed also in temperate climates, in order to prevent the possibility of disseminated infections.

ACTH-adrenal system and exogenous steroids.

The results obtained from a research on 100 patients of both sexes affected with bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, haematological disorders and some other pathological forms, all depending on steroid therapy, are reported in this paper. The treatment was carried out using a new chronopluricorticoid (Dutimelan 8 15). The clinical efficiency is comparable to that obtained by the traditional steroid treatment with the advantage that symptoms of hypercorticism were absent or insignificant. The authors believe that such excellent results are to be attributed to the particular chronopharmacological characteristics of this preparation.