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Query: UMLS:C0018801 (heart failure)
 72,216 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In a non-randomized study the efficacy of itraconazole in preventing fungal infections in neutropenic patients was investigated. Forty-seven patients with acute leukemia or advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma were enrolled. Ninety-two episodes of severe neutropenia after chemotherapy were observed. Mean duration of neutropenia was 24 days. Norfloxacin was administered as prophylaxis against gram-negative infections and itraconazole 200 mg b.i.d. as antifungal prophylaxis. Surveillance cultures of throat, urine, feces and vagina or prepuce were performed regularly. Four patients died, two patients due to heart failure, two patients due to staphylococcal pneumonia. Only in one case Candida albicans was cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. No systemic mycosis or Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia was documented. In a similar group of patients treated in the preceding 18 months nystatin was used as antifungal prophylaxis. In this group of patients six cases of Aspergillus fumigatus pneumonia, two cases of Candida albicans fungemia and one case of Candida glabrata pneumonia occurred of which six patients died. Itraconazole seems to be effective in preventing fungal infections in neutropenic patients and is well tolerated.
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PMID:Safety and efficacy of itraconazole in prevention of fungal infections in neutropenic patients. 166 Jan 8

The authors investigated the effects of radiation therapy on the immune system by studying lymphocyte subsets and other parameters in 32 patients undergoing radiation therapy for solid cancer. With monoclonal antibody techniques, we studied both T- and B-lymphocytes; cell suspensions were analyzed by means of a Facs Spectrum III Ortho (Ortho-Diagnostic) unit. The first control was performed right after the beginning of radiotherapy, when the dose to the patients was 50 Gy or higher. The second control was performed at 40 Gy because all patients received this dose. 30% of the patients exhibited lymphopenia from the beginning of the study; at 40 Gy the number of T-lymphocytes was low and helper/suppressor ratio was altered. A variable response of B-cells was observed, although all patients exhibited restoration of normal values at 6 months. Four patients only suffered from side-effects: a patient with tongue cancer presented oral mycosis, and a woman--treated for breast cancer--presented vaginal mycosis. Two cases of cystitis were also observed, after 18 Gy, in patients with uterine carcinoma undergoing pelvic irradiation. Disease progression was observed in 2 patients with head and neck cancer, while 3 patients died from lung cancer progression. Another one, with head and neck cancer, died because of heart failure.
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PMID:[Influence of radiotherapy on lymphocyte subpopulations]. 202 47

Perioperative acute donor heart failure can be caused by various factors, such as recipient pulmonary hypertension, marginal donor heart function, or immunologic mismatch. Of 265 patients who underwent orthotopic transplantation, four received mechanical support for acute perioperative donor heart failure. In two patients with reactive pulmonary hypertension, right heart bypass (RHB) with a centrifugal pump was used for 53 and 36 hr, respectively. One patient who experienced biventricular donor heart failure was supported for three days with an intraarterial, transvalvular, axial-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Circulation was supported effectively with the LVAD, despite an initial absence of right ventricular function. The fourth patient, who had signs of heart failure, received intraaortic balloon pump support for 24 hr after transplantation. All four patients were weaned from circulatory support, and heart function was restored in each; the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 63% (range from 57 to 71%). One patient died of fungal infection 14 days after being weaned from pump support, another died of lymphoma two months after support was discontinued, and the remaining two patients are well 9 and 18 months after transplantation. In cases of acute donor heart dysfunction, temporary mechanical assistance is a reliable option for supporting the circulation during heart recovery.
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PMID:Mechanical circulatory support for perioperative donor heart failure. 259 27

This is the case of a woman, 49 year old, suffering from acute lymphoblastic common leukemia, who died from respiratory and cardiac insufficiency 47 days after the onset of aplasia. Autopsy revealed cardiac and cerebral dissemination of pulmonary mycosis. Absidia corymbifera (Mucoraceae, Phycomycete) was shown by culture to be the pathogen involved.
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PMID:[Generalized mucormycosis. Apropos of a case caused by Absidia corymbifera]. 317 42

Fever, anemia, pulmonary infiltrates and weight loss occurred in a 47-year-old man four weeks after a gastric operation. On echocardiography and cardiac catheterization an atrial myxoma was revealed. In removing the myxoma the tricuspid valve apparatus was destroyed, requiring insertion of a bio-prosthetic valve (Hancock). Signs of infection persisted post-operatively, together with complete A-V block and panuveitis. The Candida IGM titer was markedly increased and histological examination of the thrombus revealed massive fungal infection. Recurrent fever and massive vegetation on the prosthetic valve necessitated removal of the prosthetic valve under antimycotic treatment, which also cleared the pulmonary lesions. The patient's general condition improved. Right-heart failure was controllable by drugs.
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PMID:[Unusual course of Candida endocarditis]. 382 21

A 17-year-old male patient with aplastic anemia underwent bone marrow transplantation and succumbed 4 days after marrow infusion from sudden myocardial failure. Fever of unknown origin (FUO) had accompanied the patients course from admission until death. The cause of death was fungus myocarditis, which had escaped detection in vivo, in spite of a daily culture program for bacteria and fungi, and a close monitoring of the patients circulation and ventricular performance. Commonly applied diagnostic criteria for systemic mycosis, such as topical colonization, malfunction of invaded organs and positive fungus cultures failed to provide a timely diagnosis. With regard to the problems in diagnosing systemic mycosis, the potential stem cell toxicity of antifungal drugs and the need for immunosuppressive therapy prior to marrow infusion, we strongly recommend not to start the transplantation procedure unless FUO has been treated successfully.
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PMID:Systemic candidiasis complicating bone marrow transplantation in aplastic anemia. Case report. 680 3

All series of infective endocarditis had a variable proportion of cases without an etiologic agent because all cultures were negative. New microbiologic techniques have permitted the discovery of the role of many microorganisms in infective endocarditis. C. burnetii is an increasing causative agent of subacute infective endocarditis. In the diagnosis, to the detection of antiphase-I antibodies, immunohistochemical, molecular techniques and cellular cultures have been added. Total cure is difficult to obtain. The combination of doxicicline plus ciprofloxacin for at least 3 years has been proposed as the treatment of choice. Surgery must be reserved for patients with cardiac insufficiency. Less than 2% of cases of acute brucellosis are complicate with infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis produces serious and rapid valvular destruction with high mortality rates if valve surgery is not performed. For medical treatment at least 3 active agents are required. Bartonella has recently been described as an etiologic agent of infective endocarditis. It mainly affects to homeless people living in poor hygienic conditions. The aortic valve is most commonly involved and, frequently, valve insufficiency requires valve replacement. Blood culture isolation needs long incubation periods. Parenteral nutrition, immunosuppression, wide spectrum antibiotic regimens, intravenous drug addiction and cardiovascular surgery are risk factors previously described in the development of fungal endocarditis. C. albicans and Aspergillus spp. are most frequent etiologic agents. Infective endocarditis should be suspected in any patient with systemic fungal disease. Blood cultures are often negative except for Candida spp. Peripheral emboli and large vegetations are frequent. Mortality is high, antifungal therapy combined with surgery is the treatment of choice. Legionella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Mycobacteria, viruses are potential agents of infective endocarditis, and difficult to diagnose because of special culture requirements. Epidemiological clues, serologic and molecular techniques and blood cultures could identify them.
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PMID:[Infective endocarditis caused by unusual microorganisms]. 965 53

Between 1988 and 1995, 341 children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were treated on the Medical Research Council Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Trial (MRC AML10). The 5-year overall survival was 57%, much improved on previous trials. However, there were 47 deaths (13. 8%), 11 of which were associated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The treatment-related mortality was significant at 13.8%, but decreased in the latter half of the trial from 17.8% in 1998-91 to 9. 6% in 1992-95 (P = 0.03%). The main causes of death were infection (65.9%), haemorrhage (19.1%) and cardiac failure (19.1%). Fungal infection was a significant problem, causing 23% of all infective deaths. Haemorrhage occurred early in treatment, in children with initial white cell counts >100 x 109/l (P = 0.001), and was more common in those with M4 and M5 morphology. Cardiac failure only occurred from the third course of chemotherapy onwards, with 78% (7/9) in conjunction with sepsis as a terminal event. Some deaths could be prevented by identifying those most at risk, and with prompt recognition and aggressive management of complications of treatment. Future options include the prophylactic use of antifungal agents, and the use of cardioprotectants or alternatives to conventional anthracyclines to decrease cardiac toxicity.
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PMID:Treatment-related deaths during induction and first remission of acute myeloid leukaemia in children treated on the Tenth Medical Research Council acute myeloid leukaemia trial (MRC AML10). The MCR Childhood Leukaemia Working Party. 1046 Jun 4

The case of an 89 year old patient is reported, in whom an aspergillus myocarditis was unexpectedly found at autopsy. Preoperatively, the patient showed no risk factors for an invasive mycosis. 5 days after uncomplicated surgery he developed septic shock due to peritonitis. After surgery and intensive care therapy the patient recovered initially. 23 days after the first operation the patient suddenly developed catecholamin-resistant myocardial failure and died. Ten days before, aspergillus spec. was found in a specimen of bronchial secretion. This finding was interpreted as colonisation and not treated.
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PMID:[Abscess-forming and necrotizing aspergillus myocarditis in a surgical intensive care patient--a rare occurrence]. 1290 11

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous marrow or peripheral stem cell support offers the best chance of cure in some subgroups of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Less is known about the role of a second course of myeloablative chemotherapy in patients who relapse after a first autologous transplant. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the disease outcome, morbidity and mortality associated with second autologous transplantation in patients with NHL. Between 1985 and 2001, 225 patients who had received autologous transplantation for NHL in two institutions in Lyon relapsed. Of these 225 patients 18 underwent a second autologous transplantation. The median age at second transplant was 41 years. There were six indolent lymphomas and 12 aggressive lymphomas. The median follow-up from the second transplant was 42 months. The OS rate at 2 and 5 years were 58 and 27%, respectively. The PFS rate at 2 and 5 years was 36%. Five patients are alive without disease 20 to 100 months after the second transplant. Seven patients died of disease recurrence. Four (22%) toxic deaths occurred: one of pulmonary fibrosis, one of fungal infection and cardiac failure and two of acute leukaemia. A minority of patients with NHL recurrence after a first transplant can be cured by a second course of myeloablative chemotherapy at the cost however of high-risk toxic death.
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PMID:Second autologous transplantation after failure of a first autologous transplant in 18 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 1544 66


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