Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The clinical profile of cluster headache, in Italy better known as "Horton's histaminic headache" is described. The Author makes an inventory of all pathogenetic theories about this excruciating pain syndrome that strikes men more than women. On the basis of findings of the Author and his School over a ten-year period, there is a "periodic lack of immunitary oversee". The salient points of various stages of this study are: low frequency of HLA-B14 antigen with, in contrast, high frequency of the HLA-DR5 antigen of the major histocompatibility system. The HLA B18 antigen of the same major histocompatibility system has been found in patients who respond to lithium therapy. A lack of the HLA-B18 antigen has been found in cluster headache patients who are "non-responders" to lithium therapy. Low titers of antibody response in the pain free periods of these subjects, and high titers in the painful periods has also been found in the serum of cluster headache patients; the lack of alpha 1-antitrypsin in basal conditions; increase of IgE (PRIST) values in painful periods; high titers of C1qSp and KgBt circulating immuno-complexes. The cellular immunity studies of the patients showed an increase of the leukocyte subpopulations Leu7+ and Leu M3+. Besides, the natural killer function that contributes to the defense-mechanism against viral disease, was very low. High titers of anti-herpes simplex 1 and 2 viruses and anti-Epstein-Barr virus have been found in cluster headache patients and in a few observations of Burkitt's lymphoma with associated cluster headache, studied in Sahel area too.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:New findings in cluster headache. 215 Apr 89

A 20-year-old man on oral substitution of pancreatic enzymes after hemipancreatectomy injected an enzyme preparation of fungal origin intravenously after dissolving it in water. Within a few hours chills, headache, nausea and vomiting, fever of 40.8 degrees C, and shock occurred. The acute illness might have been caused by bacteremia, an anaphylactic reaction, or by direct activation of humoral or cellular mediators by the fungal enzymes. A haemostatic disturbance, particularly a drop in plasminogen, was observed. In vitro, the fungal enzyme preparation stimulated elastase release from isolated neutrophils and eliminated plasmatic inhibitors and plasminogen in normal plasma and whole blood. Human neutrophil elastase complexed to alpha 1-antitrypsin was increased in the patient's plasma, while the levels of the complexes thrombin-antithrombinIII and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin, indicating recent coagulation or fibrinolysis, respectively, were not elevated. Thus, an activation of the neutrophils with release of elastase might have contributed to the observed coagulation disturbances.
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PMID:A unique case of intravenous injection of fungal "pancreatic" enzymes causing shock and proteolysis of haemostatic proteins. 246 40

The history of illness of an eight-year-old boy is presented. Fifteen days old he had been hospitalized because of vomiting, diarrhoea and prolonged jaundice. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (genotype PiZZ) was diagnosed. At the age of nearly eight complaints started, such as headache, apathy, nausea and vomiting. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed on account of hypercalcemia (3.48-3.68 mmol/l), an elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme (60 U/l), a positive Kveim test and the fact that other diseases could be excluded. The prognosis of a combination of a serious alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and sarcoidosis is discussed. This combination, as far as we have been able to trace, has not been described before.
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PMID:[A patient with type ZZ alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and hypercalcemia caused by sarcoidosis]. 349 14

The psychological and psychosocial consequences of screening for alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (alpha 1 ATD) were investigated when the subjects were 5-7 years old. The present study was conducted when the subjects were 18-20 years old, the foci of interest being their health, psychosomatic problems, knowledge about alpha 1 ATD and the potential effect of that knowledge on their lives and future family planning. Samples of 61 PiZ and 61 demographically matched control subjects, 18-20 years old, were asked to participate. Written, structured questionnaires covered the following items: basic familial characteristics, psychosomatic symptoms, opinions on medical check-ups, information and views on future alpha 1 ATD screening, whether the knowledge about alpha 1 ATD had affected the life and family planning of alpha 1 ATD individuals. Items concerning the "alpha 1 ATD matter" were excluded in the questionnaires given to the controls. Questionnaire data were obtained from 50 alpha 1 ATD and 48 control individuals, 41 of each being matched alpha 1 ATD-control pairs. No significant differences were found in demographic or educational backgrounds, psychosomatic complaints such as headache, sleep difficulties, stomach ache, tiredness or anxiety. Lung symptoms occurred more frequently in alpha 1 ATD subjects (p = 0.05). Six per cent of the alpha 1 ATD individuals planned working careers with a high risk of air pollution. The majority (86%) of the alpha 1 ATD subjects perceived the contact with the medical services as positive; 14% as both positive and negative. The information concerning alpha 1 ATD was assessed as satisfactory by 73%, as both good and bad by 17% and as unsatisfactory by 10%. All alpha 1 ATD subjects advocated general screening for alpha 1 ATD, the neonatal period being chosen as optimal by 94%. Half of the alpha 1 ATD individuals thought that the knowledge of their high-risk condition had affected their lives, particularly their awareness of the dangers of smoking and environmental pollution. The majority, 88%, knew that they should avoid smoking to protect their lungs. In conclusion, no negative psychosocial consequences of the neonatal alpha 1 AT-screening were found in early adulthood. The alpha 1 ATD individuals were aware of the dangers of smoking and were of the opinion that alpha 1 AT-screening should be recommended.
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PMID:Young adults with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency identified neonatally: their health, knowledge about and adaptation to the high-risk condition. 911 23

Little is known about the pathophysiology of cluster headache (CH), one of the most debilitating primary headaches. Interestingly, associations of lung affecting diseases or lifestyle habits such as smoking and sleep apnoea syndrome and CH have been described. Certain genotypes for alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha(1)-AT) are considered risk factors for emphysema. Our aim was to investigate possible associations between common genotypes of the SERPINA1 gene and CH. Our study included 55 CH patients and 55 controls. alpha(1)-AT levels in serum and the genotype were analysed. Patients CH characteristics were documented. We could not detect any association between CH and a genotype that does not match the homozygous wild type for alpha(1)-AT. Interestingly, there is a significant difference of CH attack frequency in patients who are heterozygous or homozygous M allele carriers. We conclude that the presence of an S or Z allele is associated with higher attack frequency in CH.
Cephalalgia 2010 Jan
PMID:Cluster headache and Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. 1951 29