Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 26-year-old woman presented with a high-grade fever and chills of 2 days' duration. She complained of associated joint pain, especially in the wrists and knees. One day before admission, tender skin lesions began to develop on the fingers, and subsequently spread to the more proximal extremities. The patient recalled having a sore throat and a nonproductive cough before the onset of the fever and eruption. The past medical history was significant for Gardnerella vaginitis and several urinary tract infections. The patient was taking oral contraceptive pills; her most recent menstruation was 3 weeks before admission. She reported having sexual intercourse with her boyfriend 2 weeks before admission. The patient's temperature was 40 degrees C. Dermatologic examination revealed a 6-mm, hemorrhagic pustule on an ill-defined pink base, overlying the volar aspect of the left second proximal interphalangeal joint (Fig. 1a). Scattered on the upper and lower extremities were occasional round, ill-defined pink macules with central pinpoint vesiculation (Fig. 1b). A skin biopsy of the digit revealed a dense neutrophilic infiltrate with leukocytoclasis and marked fibrin deposition in the superficial and deep dermal vessels (Fig. 2a). Gram stains demonstrated the presence of Gram-negative diplococci (Fig. 2b). Laboratory findings included leukocytosis (leukocyte count of 20 x 109/L, with 81% neutrophils). Analysis of an endocervical specimen by polymerase chain reaction was positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and negative for Chlamydia trachomatis. Throat and blood cultures grew N. gonorrhoeae. Specimen cultures obtained by skin biopsy yielded no growth. Results of serologic analysis for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, syphilis, and pregnancy were negative. Beginning on admission, intravenous ceftriaxone, 2 g, was administered every 24 h for 6 days, followed by oral cefixime, 400 mg twice daily for 4 days. Oral azithromycin, 1 g, was administered to treat possible coinfection with C. trachomatis. By treatment day 4, the patient was afebrile, with the resolution of leukocytosis and symptomatic improvement of arthralgias.
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PMID:Disseminated gonococcemia. 1265 17

Interferon (IFN)-alpha with or without ribavirin is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic HCV-related hepatitis. Cough and dyspnea during IFN therapy are often regarded as a side effect and not as a possible sign of the onset of a pulmonary interstitial disease. It may therefore be claimed that the likelihood that patients treated with IFN develop sarcoidosis is being underestimated. Although they are not conventionally classified as etiopathologic agents of sarcoidosis, the IFNs have been proven to be capable of triggering macrophages and of promoting the expression of class II HLA antigens. It is therefore possible that IFN-alpha treatment could trigger macrophages and promote the polarization of the immune response towards Th1 in the presence of particular susceptibility conditions, thus starting the series of events that lead to the onset of sarcoidosis. We describe a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis in a 33-year-old patient treated with IFN-alpha2b and ribavirin for chronic HCV-related hepatitis after 6 months of therapy. The case we report here brings forth the issue of a possible underestimation of the real incidence of sarcoidosis during IFN therapy and highlights the need for more attention to and a more careful evaluation of respiratory symptoms manifesting in treated patients.
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PMID:Pulmonary sarcoidosis during interferon therapy: a rare or underestimated event? 1517 3

The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) developed in a 15-year-old boy who presented with colitis, cough, rash, and hepatitis. Molecular analysis failed to demonstrate the Fip1-like1-Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor alpha chain (FIP1L1-PDGFRA) mutation described in adult patients with HES. There are significant clinical differences between the pediatric and adult presentations of HES.
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PMID:Pediatric hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) differs from adult HES. 1635 54

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic seroconversion to a severe symptomatic illness resembling infectious mononucleosis or other medical conditions including hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, or pneumonitis. Without clinical alertness, the illness is usually misdiagnosed or even not considered. Here we report 3 cases of acute HIV-1 infection with either a negative HIV-1 antibody assay or an indeterminate Western blot result, but high plasma levels of HIV-1 RNA. The initial presentations included fever, skin rash, sore throat, neck lymphadenopathy, cough and headache. One patient presented with infectious mononucleosis-like illness, 1 with aseptic meningitis, and 1 with acute tonsillitis. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of acute HIV-1 infection, especially in cases with unexplained fever, lymphadenopathy or rash.
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PMID:Acute human immunodeficiency virus infection. 1569 30

We retrospectively reviewed 34 consecutive patients with serologically confirmed leptospirosis admitted during years 1992-2002. Nine patients (26.5%) had respiratory symptoms on admission including cough (n = 4), shortness of breath (n = 4), cyanosis (n = 2), and hemoptysis (n = 1). Six patients had pulmonary radiographic findings including (1) diffuse, ill-defined, ground-glass density (n = 3); (2) diffuse alveolar opacities (n = 2); and (3) small nodular density (n = 1). Male/female ratio was 8/1 and mean age was 47 years. Seven patients reported their exposure source including hunting (n = 2), fishing (n = 2), fresh water swimming (n = 2), and canoeing (n = 1). All patients had fever (mean = 40.1 degrees C). Other common symptoms were headache (n = 4), vomiting (n = 3), and myalgia (n = 3). Biological abnormalities included elevated liver enzymes (n = 8), proteinuria (n = 7), lymphopenia (n = 6), hematuria (n = 5), renal failure (n = 4), anemia (n = 4), and elevated neutrophil count (n = 4). PaO(2 )was measured for 3 patients while they were breathing room air (32, 55, and 66 mmHg). Suspected diagnosis on admission included leptospirosis (n = 2), bacterial pneumonia (n = 2), intoxication, influenza, viral hepatitis, biliary tract lithiasis, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (one patient each). The first serologic testing for leptospirosis was positive for 5 patients (55%). Serovar was presumptively identified for 7 patients: Australis (n = 3), Grippotyphosa (n = 2), and Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 2). Seven patients were treated with penicillin; two patients received no antibiotics. All patients were cured. In conclusion, patients with leptospirosis may present predominantly with nonspecific pulmonary symptoms. In these patients, leptospirosis must be suspected when there is a potential exposure to rats, especially in case of high-grade fever, myalgia, hepatitis, and renal abnormalities.
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PMID:Respiratory manifestations of leptospirosis: a retrospective study. 1621 64

Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage leading to death is a syndrome which may develop in leptospirosis, but its pathophysiology is not well documented. We report an autopsy case of leptospirosis. A healthy 41-year-old man presented with low back myalgia, dry cough and fever for 4 days and a normal chest X-ray on admission. Acute respiratory failure developed hours later. Profuse bloody fluid appeared in the endotracheal tube immediately after intubation. Chest X-ray showed whiteness across all lung fields. He died of persistent shock 16 h after the onset of acute respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage with hyaline-membrane formation, myocarditis, interstitial nephritis and hepatitis. Silver stain of lung and kidney tissue demonstrated leptospires. Immunohistochemical staining showed inducible nitric oxide synthase in alveolar macrophages. Immunofluorescein staining showed immunoglobulin in alveolar septum and alveolar space. This case suggests that hemorrhagic diffuse alveolar damage with persistent shock is related to over-production of nitric oxide and immunoglobulin deposition in fatal leptospirosis.
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PMID:Nitric oxide production and immunoglobulin deposition in leptospiral hemorrhagic respiratory failure. 1638 81

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is usually the first choice for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, but it has serious side effects such as hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, splenomegaly and lupus-like syndrome, in addition to mild and common side effects like granulocytopenia, pruritus, urticaria and maculopapular or papular eruption. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis is another serious side effect. A 14-year-old female receiving PTU treatment for hyperthyroidism was referred to our clinic with fever, cough and dyspnea. The PTU dosage was first decreased but pericardial, dermal and joint involvement ascribed to PTU developed later and the drug was discontinued. ANCA-positive vasculitis due to PTU was considered when tests revealed an ANCA-positive state. We suggest that severe multisystemic vasculitis due to PTU should be considered during PTU usage.
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PMID:Propylthiouracil-induced hypersensitivity syndrome. 1684 20

We describe an unusual case of unexpected dyspnoea following transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in a previously-well 72-year-old woman. Our patient was scheduled for an ultrasonographically-guided liver biopsy for work-up for autoimmune hepatitis. She was given FFP to correct a prolonged prothrombin time. Shortly after the transfusion was initiated, she started coughing and became progressively dyspnoeic. Clinically, she was tachypnoeic with diffuse bilateral crepitations, and rapidly went into respiratory failure. She was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation. Her condition improved and she was extubated by the second day, with no long-term pulmonary sequelae. A diagnosis of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) was made, based on the rapidity of onset and association with transfusion. This was confirmed by the findings of anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies in both the patient and recipient blood. Our case highlights this important but under-recognised condition. The incidence, diagnosis and management of TRALI are also discussed.
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PMID:Dyspnoea due to plasma transfusion-related acute lung injury. 1699 Sep 69

Chronic C hepatitis is a global health problem. Its treatment is still unresolved. Pegylated interferon means substantive breakthrough in therapy. The longer effect, the lasting, steady therapeutic blood level are the pharmacokinetic advances. There is no significant difference in the side effects of pegylated interferon and standard interferon. The most frequent side effects leading to dose reduction or cessation of the treatment are depression and hematologic disorders. Neutropenia is induced more frequently by pegylated interferon, than by the standard form according to the literature. Combined antiviral treatment (pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin) of a 54 years old woman, who suffered from posttransfusion chronic hepatitis C was started. The dose of the pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin was reduced at the 8th week due to leucopenia and mild anemia. Fever, cough, sore throat and weakness occurred. Agranulocytosis was detected which was accounted as a side effect of pegylated interferon treatment. Antibiotic, antimycotic therapy and filgastrim was given. Leukocyte number increased, fever stopped after 10 days of therapy. The patient returned 17 days later. She had been having high fever, weakness, sore throat for 4 days. Ciprofloxacin was given by GP before her registration because of the suspicion of urinary infection, then she took sulfamethoxazol + trimethoprim without medical advise. Agranulocytosis was detected again, Staphylococcus sepsis developed. No sign of hematologic disease was found in the bone marrow. Agranulocytosis was considered aftermath of sulfamethoxazol + trimethoprim. Antibiotics, antimycotic and antiviral treatment, and filgastrim were given, sepsis healed, leukocyte number became normal. 274 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C were treated by standard interferon, and 43 were treated by pegylated interferon. Rapid and significant decrease of leukocyte count was observed in the patients treated by pegylated interferon in the first 4 weeks of the treatment then it remained stable. Cessation of the treatment or dose-reduction was not necessary due to neutropenia among patients treated by standard interferon, while dose reduction was reasonable in two more cases in addition to this one, treated by pegylated interferon. The authors stress the importance of the exact follow-up of patients according to the protocol, which renders the early recognition of side effects, the prevention of complications, and their early and adequate treatment possible. Thus, pegylated interferon--inspite of its marked side effects and more serious suppressive effect on bone marrow--is the most effective drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
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PMID:[Side effect of pegylated-interferon treatment in chronic C hepatitis: agranulocytosis]. 1748 60

A 69-year-old man with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was admitted to hospital with high fever and cough. Chest roentgenogram and computed tomography showed pleural and pericardial effusion. Serological tests showed a high titer of antinuclear antibodies and positive anti-DNA antibody and lymphocytopenia. He fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). After administration of corticosteroids, his symptoms and liver dysfunction improved. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first male case of overlap between AIH and late-onset SLE.
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PMID:Autoimmune hepatitis complicated by late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. 1750 35


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