Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0014070 (encephalomyelitis)
 13,017 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In this brief review, we outline the properties of the new macrolide immunosuppressant FK-506. This selective anti-T cell agent has a similar mode of action to cyclospirin A (CSA). It is, however, more powerful, has the capacity (unlike CSA) to reverse liver allograft rejection and appears to have a higher therapeutic index than CSA in patients receiving organ transplants. Preliminary data suggest that renal function is better in recipients of liver transplants given FK-506 as primary therapy compared with those given CSA. In addition, evidence has been presented that FK-506-treated patients have shorter hospital stay than those receiving treatment with CSA. Other factors require to be taken into account, but it may be that it will prove less expensive in the future to treat patients with FK-506 than with CSA. The potential of FK-506 for the control of autoimmune diseases has been demonstrated in rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, posterior uveitis, allergic encephalomyelitis and glomerulonephritis. In the clinical field, FK-506 has been used in two cases of nephrotic syndrome resulting from glomerulonephritis; there was improvement in proteinuria and no decline in renal function. Studies to date have been restricted to one clinical centre although many hundreds of organ graft recipients have been studied. Both longer term and multi-centre investigations are urgently required, but it appears that FK-506 may offer considerable potential as an immunotherapeutic agent.
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PMID:[FK-506. A new immunosuppressive drug]. 170 17

About a third of patients with intravascular lymphoma (IVL) present to the neurologist with symptoms mimicking thromboembolic events. Diagnosis is difficult, and often made postmortem. As remission may be induced in almost half of patients with combination chemotherapy, early diagnosis of this rare disease is essential. We report two cases of IVL. A 62-year-old male presented with hyperacute myelopathy followed by cortical ischaemic events. The diagnosis was reached with frontal cortical and meningeal biopsy. A 56-year-old female had symptoms of transient ischaemic events, subacute dementia, weight loss and fever. As the disease progressed, she developed nephrotic syndrome and thrombocytopenia. Diagnosis was made postmortem. Our cases illustrate that IVL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cerebral and systemic vasculitis and subacute bacterial endocarditis. Literature suggests IVL can also mimic Creutzfeld-Jakob disease and paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis.
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PMID:Neurological presentation of intravascular lymphoma: report of two cases and discussion of diagnostic challenges. 1612 73

Intravenous supra-pharmacological doses of corticosteroids are used in various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions because they are cumulatively less toxic than sustained steroid treatment at lower quantitative dosage. Their action is supposed to be mediated through non-genomic actions within the cell. Common indications for use in children include steroid resistant and steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, systemic vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, acute renal allograft rejection, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, pemphigus, optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Methylprednisolone and dexamethasone show similar efficacy in most conditions. Therapy is associated with significant side effects including worsening of hypertension, infections, dyselectrolytemia and behavioral effects. Adequate monitoring is essential during usage.
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PMID:Pulse steroid therapy. 2009 75