Sickle cell-like crisis and bone marrow necrosis associated with parvovirus B19 infection and heterozygosity for haemoglobins S and E.

In the literature, heterozygosity for haemoglobins S and E is known as a clinically benign condition. Nevertheless, we present a case of double heterozygosity manifesting as an infarctive sickle cell-like crisis with acute chest syndrome and reversible bone marrow necrosis. Importantly, these complications were associated with serologically documented parvovirus B19 infection. Reviewing the literature, this case emphasizes a specific role of parvovirus B19 as a precipitating cause. Furthermore, it demonstrates how important the consideration of haemoglobin disorders can be even outside of the historically known areas.

Carbamazepine-associated acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.

The case history of a patient developing tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) during carbamazepine therapy is described. After withdrawal of the drug and introduction of prednisone renal function normalised. TIN is a rare side-effect of carbamazepine of which only a few cases have been described. There seems to be a remarkable time interval of 2 months between the onset of therapy with carbamazepine and the development of TIN.

Enterococcus faecalis colonisation and endocarditis in five intensive care patients as late sequelae of selective decontamination.

OBJECTIVE: To describe Enterococcus faecalis colonisation and endocarditis in 5 intensive care patients after treatment with selective decontamination (SDD). SETTING: Intensive care unit (ICU) in a general hospital. PATIENTS: The patients were admitted to the ICU because of adult respiratory distress syndrome, polytrauma (2 patients), abdominal aortic surgery and gastrointestinal surgery. Because these patients needed mechanical ventilation they received systemic cefotaxime and SDD (polymyxin E, amphotericin B and norfloxacin). RESULTS: Colonisation with E. faecalis was documented in all patients. Intravascular catheter-related infection with E. faecalis occurred in 4 patients. None of the patients received antibiotics active against, E. faecalis, because body temperature normalised after catheter removal. In the course of his ICU stay one patient died. Autopsy showed E. faecalis endocarditis. The other 4 patients recovered from their primary illness, but had to be readmitted after several months because of E. faecalis endocarditis. One of these patients died. One patient recovered of endocarditis, but one year later valve surgery was necessary. The other 2 patients needed acute valve replacement. The latter 3 patients survived. CONCLUSION: We observed 5 patients with E. faecalis endocarditis as a late and severe sequela of SDD during their ICU stay.

[A patient with Salmonella aortitis]. / Een patiënt met Salmonella-aortitis.

Bacterial aortitis is a rare but serious condition. Even when treated surgically, the prognosis is poor. Prompt diagnosis is mandatory. In the absence of specific clinical signs, radiological assessment by means of ultrasound and CT is most valuable. The treatment of choice is early surgical drainage, debridement and arterial reconstruction, preferably through uncontaminated tissue combined with antibiotic therapy. We report the case of a man aged 80 with Salmonella aortitis in whom the diagnosis of bacterial aortitis was made by means of ultrasound and CT, following which successful intervention was carried out.

Pheochromocytoma-induced hypertensive encephalopathy revealing MEN-IIa syndrome in a 13-year old boy. Implications for screening procedures and surgery.

In the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II syndrome, pheochromocytomas become manifest at a later age than medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) do. The present report concerns a 13-year-old boy, belonging to a MEN-IIA kindred, who was admitted because of convulsive seizures related to hypertensive encephalopathy. A pheochromocytoma was suspected immediately and appropriate medical therapy was initiated. A right adrenal pheochromocytoma was removed, as well as a pheochromocytoma of an accessory right adrenal gland. Today, three years later our patient is still asymptomatic and the results of the thyroid C-cell provocative tests remain normal. This case clearly justifies the conclusion that periodic investigation of MEN-II family members to detect both medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma should begin early in life, as the latter may be the initial life-threatening expression of the disease. Long-term follow-up of patients treated with unilateral adrenalectomy will permit better definition of the risk of contralateral recurrence in such cases.