Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023380 (lethargy)
 5,697 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In the present investigation, 20 patients with ET were treated with recombinant interferon alfa-2c (IFN) for up to 4 years. Initially, IFN was administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 6-45 MU/week. The dosage was adjusted according to individual tolerance and response. The median dose during induction was 20 MU/week, 10 MU/week during the remaining first year, 6 MU/week during the second year and 2 MU/week thereafter. 13 patients (65%) achieved complete remission (platelet count less than 440/nl), four patients (20%) had partial remission (greater than 440/nl but a reduction by more than 50% of the initial count). The median platelet count remained steady throughout the 4-year period of treatment, in spite of extreme dose reductions. After withdrawal of IFN, however, platelet counts again increased. The white blood cells showed a marked decrease similar to that of platelet counts, whereas the haemoglobin level remained fairly stable. In the bone marrow, a significant decrease in megakaryocyte density and size could be observed. Concurrently with the improvement of haematological parameters, clinical symptoms improved, but reappeared after withdrawal of IFN. During induction, fever, bone and/or muscle pain, fatigue, lethargy and psychological symptoms were the most prominent side-effects in the majority of patients. In three patients these symptoms led to discontinuation of the treatment. With repeated dose reductions, excellent long-term tolerance was achieved, and during late maintenance treatment the only observed side-effect was an induction of thyroid autoimmunity in three patients. IFN is an effective, well-tolerated alternative in the long-term treatment of symptomatic ET. However, since withdrawal of IFN leads to recurrence of thrombocytosis, continued treatment is to be recommended.
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PMID:Interferon in essential thrombocythaemia. 193 8

A 7-year-old male German Shepherd dog with a history of lethargy, weight loss and severe anemia was referred to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for examination. Abnormal laboratory findings included a normocytic and normochromic anemia, thrombocytosis, eosinophilia, basophilia and hyperproteinemia. An increased pulmonary density in the caudal lung lobes was observed on thoracic radiographs. Bone marrow aspiration and core biopsy revealed a hypercellular bone marrow with increased numbers of unidentified blast cells and bizarre megakaryocyte proliferation. Circulating microfilariae were not present in the blood, but serum examined by immunofluorescence was strongly positive for antibodies against Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae. A diagnosis of myeloproliferative disease with megakaryocytic predominance and occult dirofilariasis was made.
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PMID:Myeloproliferative disease with megakaryocytic predominance in a dog with occult dirofilariasis. 1531 76

A 20-month-old, entire male boxer dog was presented with lethargy and intermittent shifting limb lameness. Diagnostic tests revealed aortic valve vegetations suggestive of infective endocarditis causing severe aortic outflow obstruction, and hypertrophic osteopathy of all four limbs. The dog was treated symptomatically and euthanised four days later. The association of infective endocarditis and hypertrophic osteopathy has been poorly documented in the veterinary literature. The pathogenesis of hypertrophic osteopathy is unknown; however, four theories have been put forth to explain this disease: pulmonary shunting, vagal nerve stimulation, humoral substances produced by neoplastic cells and megakaryocyte/platelet clump hypothesis.
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PMID:Hypertrophic osteopathy associated with infective endocarditis in an adult boxer dog. 1728 63