Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma with thalidomide. He had a history of an interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology two months before admission. Eight days after starting 200 mg/ day of thalidomide, he developed dyspnea and fever, followed by a macropapular rash in the trunk. The dyspnea got worse and a CT scan revealed interstitial pneumonia 16 days after the treatment. He required mechanical ventilatory support. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed eosinophilia, suggesting a thalidomide-induced interstitial pneumonia. Thalidomide was discontinued and methylprednisolone (1000 mg/d x 3 days) was started, and the pneumonia and rash markedly improved within six days. After that the patient contracted MRSA pneumonia and died of MRSA septicemia.
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PMID:[Interstitial pneumonia during treatment with thalidomide in a patient with multiple myeloma]. 1551 Aug 38

A young female with Fisher-Evans' syndrome and a previous melanoma developed acute renal failure with generalized lymphoadenopathy and fever. The appearance of renal lesions is common in the course of several hematological disorders, but is unusual in Fisher-Evans' syndrome. Fisher-Evans' syndrome, defined as Coombs' positive hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia, is more frequently associated with the other autoimmune diseases, but not with renal involvement. In our case report, having excluded amyloidosis, myeloma, interstitial nephritis and sepsis, the rapid involvement of renal function with enlarged renal size seemed to suggest renal lymphoma. However, the lack of a monoclonal T-lymphocyte population in the renal tissue and peripheral blood, along with a clinical course characterized by a rapid reversibility of acute renal failure made this diagnosis rather an unlikely one. Polyclonal lymphocyte infiltration in a patient with a persistent autoimmune disease made us suspect a hyperimmune reaction. This syndrome is a non-neoplastic proliferation of B-cells involving an exaggeration of lymphocyte transformation. However, the clinical course is progressive and fatal, and can trigger a lymphoproliferative systemic disease. In our patient, two elements led us to suspect it was not a typical hyperimmune syndrome: first, polyclonal lymphocytes had massively infiltrated the kidney and, secondly, the clinical outcome was extremely favorable. Therefore, we were faced with an "atypical" and "singular" hyperimmune reaction with renal involvement, polyclonal proliferation of T-lymphocytes that had exhausted itself over time. Infective or toxic agents or drugs such as cyprofloxacin could have triggered the phenomenon, in the presence of a favorable condition such as Fisher-Evans' syndrome.
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PMID:Acute renal failure in a young woman with Fisher-Evans' syndrome. 1559 44

Inspite the new informations about the physiology and biochemistry of pain, it remains true that pain is only partially understood. Cancer pain is often experienced as several different types of pain, with combined somatic and neuropathic types the most frequently. If the acute cancer pain does not subside with initial therapy, patients experience pain of more constant nature, the characteristics of wich vary with the cause and the involved sites. Chronic pain related to cancer can be considered as tumor-induced pain, chemotherapy-induced pain, and radiation therapy-induced pain. Certain pain mechanisms are present in cancer patients. These include inflammation due to infection, such as local sepsis or the pain of herpes zoster, and pain due to the obstruction or occlusion of a hollow organ, such as that caused by large bowel in cancer of colon. Pain also is commonly due to destruction of tissue, such as is often seen with bony metastases. Bony metastases also produce pain because of periostal irritation, medullary pressure, and fractures. Pain may be produced by the growth of tumor in a closed area richly supplied with pain receptors (nociceptors). Examples are tumors growing within the capsule of an organ such as the pancreas. Chest pain occurring after tumor of the lung or the mediastinum due to invasion of the pleura. Certain tumors produce characteristic types of pain. For example, back pain is seen with multiple myeloma, and severe shoulder pain and arm pain is seen with Pancoast tumors.
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PMID:Cancer pain (classification and pain syndromes). 1601 3

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma can prolong survival but is not curative. Maintenance therapy post transplant may prolong the disease-free interval and impact overall survival. We have conducted a phase II pilot study of 28 post transplant myeloma patients treated with a sequential, cycling maintenance regimen. The regimen was designed to include a variety of active myeloma agents chosen for ease of administration to enhance patient compliance and scheduled sequentially to minimize toxicity. The 12-month cycling schedule included dexamethasone (months 1-3); melphalan and prednisone (months 4, 5); cyclophosphamide and prednisone (months 6, 7); alpha-interferon (months 8-10); followed by a drug holiday (months 11, 12). The regimen was generally well tolerated with five patients developing reversible grade III-IV toxicity (diabetes-induced hyperglycemia in four, neutropenia in one). There was one toxic death on study due to non-neutropenic pneumonia and sepsis. Median event-free survival from transplant was 36.9 months (95% CI 23.6 - upper limit not yet reached) with median overall survival not yet reached at a median follow-up of 44 months. This concept of cycling, sequential maintenance with various agents, perhaps including newer biological, targeted agents, warrants further investigation in multiple myeloma.
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PMID:Sequential, cycling maintenance therapy for post transplant multiple myeloma. 1624 15

A 60-year-old male with lumbosacral multiple myeloma received 5100 cGy of external-beam radiation, thalidomide, and Decadron. He subsequently underwent excision of the epidural tumor, decompressive L4, L5, and S1 laminectomies, and bilateral L4-5 and L5-S1 medial facetectomies. The patient developed osteoradionecrosis, cerebrospinal fluid leak, wound infection, and sepsis. Debridement and bilateral V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement flaps failed. Pedicled omental transposition flap through a Petit triangle tunnel was successfully performed. Omental transposition provides a safe option for salvage treatment of irradiated, infected lumbosacral wounds. The plastic and trophic qualities of the omentum make it an excellent choice to fill poorly vascularized wounds. In addition to its immunologic and neoangiogenic properties, the omentum has a dense lymphatic network with tremendous absorptive potential. Its biologic advantages must be weighed against the need for celiotomy and available local options according to circumstances.
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PMID:Salvage treatment of an irradiated, infected lumbosacral wound. 1625 9

Thalidomide represents a recent and innovative therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma. Main toxicity usually consists in somnolence, constipation, peripheral neuropathy and deep vein thrombosis, but, unlike alkylating agents, thalidomide is reported to rarely induce severe hematologic toxicity. The majority of patients developing neutropenia are heavily pretreated with three or more lines of chemotherapy. Here, we report, for the first time, clinical and laboratory data of a 66-year-old female patient with multiple myeloma at diagnosis who, after 4 weeks of thalidomide treatment, developed a grade 4 WHO neutropenia with septicemia. A brief review of the literature and suggestions for possible predictive factors of this toxicity are made.
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PMID:Low-dose thalidomide-induced agranulocytosis in a multiple myeloma patient treated at diagnosis. 1626 90

Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue with a potent antiviral activity used as prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with chronic HBV infection receiving chemotherapy. No standard guidelines exist, however, for the duration of lamivudine treatment. We report a clinical case of a 56-year-old patient with HBeAg-negative cirrhosis who developed a multiple myeloma. He was treated with lamivudine for 1 year while receiving chemotherapy and a subsequent bone marrow transplant. Complete remission from multiple myeloma was achieved. Four months after lamivudine was withdrawn, he experienced HBV reactivation with jaundice, though no YMDD mutations were detected. The patient rapidly developed fatal decompensation with septicemia and renal failure. In conclusion, this case shows that physicians should avoid discontinuing nucleoside therapy in patients with HBV infection who undergo immunosuppression for concomitant neoplastic conditions.
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PMID:Fatal hepatic decompensation in a bone marrow transplant recipient with HBV-related cirrhosis following lamivudine withdrawal. 1656 68

In vitro statins induce apoptosis in myeloma and lymphoma cells in a dose-and time-dependent way. In combination with dexamethasone and doxorubicin, statins have a chemo-sensitizing effect. Twenty-eight patients with relapsed myeloma or lymphoma were treated with a dose-escalating regimen of simvastatin for 7 days followed by VAD in myeloma patients and CHOP in lymphoma patients. The maximum tolerated dose was 15 mg/kg/day simvastatin. The most frequently reported side-effects were fatigue, gastrointestinal CTC grade 1-2 and neutropenic fever. The dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenic sepsis and grade 3 gastrointestinal side effects. High-dose simvastatin given immediately prior to chemotherapy is safe and tolerable up to a dose of 15 mg/kg/day.
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PMID:Dose-finding study of high-dose simvastatin combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma or lymphoma. 1658 18

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell tumor that is distributed at multiple sites within the bone marrow compartments. High-dose dexamethasone regimens [including vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD) chemotherapy] induce rapid responses, and have resulted in improved survival for many patients when followed by intensive therapy with autologous stem cell support early in the disease course. However, VAD have several disadvantages including the need for an intravenous indwelling catheter, which predisposes patients to catheter-related sepsis and thrombosis; most of the activity of VAD was from high-dose dexamethasone component. We enrolled all patients who fulfilled entire criteria for MM during the period between January 1997 and December 2005. The present study is a descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal, and observational one. The frequency of response (CR, VGPR/NCR, and PR) in the group of thalidomide and dexamethasone was 84.3% (CR 18.75% VGPR/NCR 18.75%, and PR 46.8%) being higher than VAD, 55% (CR 16%, VGPR/NCR 5%, and PR 34%). P = 0.0005. In summary, we conclude Thal/dex is an effective therapy in newly diagnosed MM inducing objective responses in over 84.3%.
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PMID:Vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone or thalidomide plus dexamethasone for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma? 1685 24

Gaucher disease (GD) is a progressive macrophage lipidosis capable of causing disabling and life-threatening complications. Anecdotal experiences suggest that GD may go undiagnosed for many years, leading to severe complications that are preventable or reversible by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with imiglucerase. We conducted surveys of patients and Hematology-Oncology specialists to assess the frequency of diagnostic delays. Additionally, we report a series of patients who suffered diagnostic delays and as a result developed disabilities including potentially life-threatening manifestations of GD. Of 136 patients surveyed, the average time from first appearance of GD symptoms to final diagnosis was 48.7 +/- 123.6 months. More than two-thirds were evaluated and managed by a hematologist-oncologist (Hem-Onc). A global survey of 406 Hem-Oncs found that only 20% considered GD in the differential diagnosis for all of its classic symptoms (cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, bone pain); the diagnosis considered most likely included leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. To illustrate actual consequences of diagnostic delays, we describe 14 patients with GD who suffered from symptoms for up to 10 years before correct diagnosis. Diagnostic delays led to complications that are preventable or reversible with ERT (i.e., avascular necrosis, severe bleeding, chronic bone pain, life-threatening sepsis, pathologic fractures, growth failure, liver pathology). Patients homozygous for N370S mutation in this series were vulnerable to diagnostic delays. In conclusion, prolonged diagnostic delays occur in GD and may result in severe disease manifestations. Our findings suggest that physician education will increase the likelihood of prompt detection of GD and improve its management with ERT with imiglucerase when indicated.
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PMID:Consequences of diagnostic delays in type 1 Gaucher disease: the need for greater awareness among hematologists-oncologists and an opportunity for early diagnosis and intervention. 1880 77


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