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

Premature infants demonstrate hypoglobulinemia and are at increased risk for serious infections. Although a cause-and-effect relation between low serum IgG levels and neonatal infections has not been established, prophylaxis of such severe infections may be possible by replacement of antibody with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). For success, IVIG must provide specific antibodies to neonatal pathogens and reach therapeutic serum IgG target levels. Pilot investigations have demonstrated that IVIG reduces the incidence of bacterial sepsis among premature infants. Infants received IVIG every 2 weeks (or more frequently) until they weighed 2,000 g. Serum IgG levels were monitored after each dose so that the dose could be adjusted to achieve a target IgG level greater than 700 mg/dL. The observation that infection among placebo-treated patients occurred when the serum IgG level declined to less than 400 mg/dL suggests the importance of achieving a target level. In our preliminary analysis, the IVIG used did not reduce the incidence of infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rotavirus or of necrotizing enterocolitis. That the lot of IVIG used did not contain significant antibody to RSV or rotavirus emphasizes the importance of pathogen-specific antibody. Because of the preliminary nature of these results and the potential for undetermined short-term and long-term sequelae, we do not recommend the indiscriminant use of IVIG for prevention or treatment of neonatal infections.
 ...
PMID:Targeted immunoglobulin therapy for the prevention of neonatal infections. 211 35

A 71-year-old man who had a history of open chest surgery was admitted due to anasarca and bilateral pleural effusions. Although imaging modalities could not demonstrate any pericardial abnormalities, right-sided cardiac catheterization revealed 'dip and plateau' in diastolic pressure waveform. He was admitted frequently because of the episodic right-sided congestive heart failure and hypoproteinemia due to protein-losing enteropathy. The peripheral lymphocyte count and serum gamma-globulin concentration were gradually decreased, and finally showed lymphocytopenia and hypoglobulinemia. On the last admission, the patient showed extensive cellulitis on both legs, and he developed septicemia, and finally died due to septic shock. Post-mortem examination showed that both visceral and parietal layers of the pericardium adhered tightly with mediastinal fibrosis. This case report suggested that constrictive pericarditis should be considered even if there is a lack of typical abnormal pericardial imaging findings when patients have a history of open chest surgery and recurrent right-sided congestive heart failure. In addition, we should be aware of a serious outcome due to immune compromised conditions such as lymphocytopenia and dysglobulinemia in this disorder.
 ...
PMID:Post-operative constrictive pericarditis complicated with lymphocytopenia and hypoglobulinemia. 1549 16