[Spontaneous regression of an adrenal mass detected in utero]. / Risoluzione spontanea di massa surrenalica diagnosticata in utero.

The case of a left adrenal mass detected by ultrasonography in a male fetus at the 37th week of gestation is presented. After an uneventful delivery at the 38th gw, the newborn was sonographically monitored, and during the follow-up clinical evaluations were performed, in order to make a differential diagnosis between an adrenal hemorrhage and a congenital neuroblastoma. VMA and HVA were within normal levels, and MIGB scan was negative. A MR of the the abdomen performed at the age of one month was suggestive for an adrenal hemorrhage in involution. We therefore decided to keep monitoring the mass by ultrasound, avoiding any surgical approach. The sonographic complete disappearance of the disease was documented at the end of the fourth month.

[Spontaneous regression of an adrenal mass detected in utero]. / Risoluzione spontanea di massa surrenalica diagnosticata in utero.

The case of a left adrenal mass detected by ultrasonography in a male fetus at the 37th week of gestation is presented. After an uneventful delivery at the 38th gw, the newborn was sonographically monitored, and during the follow-up clinical evaluations were performed, in order to make a differential diagnosis between an adrenal hemorrhage and a congenital neuroblastoma. VMA and HVA were within normal levels, and MIGB scan was negative. A MNR of the the abdomen performed at the age of one month was suggestive for an adrenal hemorrhage in involution. We therefore decided to keep monitoring the mass by ultrasound, avoiding any surgical approach. The sonographic complete disappearance of the disease was documented at the end of the fourth month.

[HLA typing in a neonate with posttransfusional graft vs host disease (PT-GVHD)]. / Tipizzazione HLA in un neonato affetto da "graft versus host disease" post trasfusionale (PT-GVHD).

The authors report a case of post-transfusion-graft-versus-host disease (PT-GVHD) in a premature infant after parental blood donation. This disease seems to be due to the transfusion of immunocompetent T lymphocytes into an immunodeficient recipient or into an immunocompetent host who shares an HLA haplotype with HLA-homozygous blood donors (i.e. relatives or members of inbred populations) and who is therefore unable to reject the graft cells. The results of HLA typing of the patient and his family demonstrated that the infant was identical with his father for HLA class II antigens (DR, DQ) and, concerning HLA class I, he had in common the remaining paternal haplotype (A29, B44). Prevention of this disease, performed by gamma irradiation of blood components before transfusion, appears to be effective in most cases.

[Respiratory atopy and season of birth: epidemiologic considerations]. / Atopia respiratoria e stagione di nascita: considerazioni epidemiologiche.

Numerous environmental conditions have been considered factors which may favour atopic disease. 320 children (233 males and 87 females, aged from 1 year and 10 months to 16 years and 6 months) were followed at the Out-patients' Department for Allergology of the V Pediatric Clinic (University of Milano). These children were examined in order to determine possible environmental factors, which could be related to subsequent allergic sensitization in infancy. We excluded all the subjects with a high atopic risk owing to: gestational age under 36 weeks, weight at birth under 2,500 Kg, respiratory distress in infancy, bronchiolitis in the first 6 months of life, particularly unfavourable conditions of the domestic microclimate. We did not find any correlation between the length of the period of breast feeding alone and the subsequent appearance of atopic sensitization. The only factor which could be related to atopic sensitization was the season of birth: the majority of atopic subjects were born in the period of maximum exposure to their respective allergens. Our data underline the difficulty in planning any efficacious prophylactic measure against respiratory allergy, limiting our possibilities to the improvement of assistance during pregnancy and to newborns and to the realization of better hygienic and environmental conditions.