Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0042109 (urticaria)
 6,569 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To define the maximum tolerated dose and to study whether recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) reduced chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, 20 chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced ovarian cancer eligible for treatment with 6 cycles of carboplatin-cyclophosphamide every 4 weeks (day 1) were entered in a phase I/II open, single-center trial. Cohorts of five patients received during 7 days 1, 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/kg/d rhIL-3 (days 5 through 11) in cycles 1, 3, and 5 by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion or once daily subcutaneous (SC) administration. In control cycles 2, 4, and 6, no rhIL-3 was administered. rhIL-3 significantly increased the recovery of leukocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, especially at 5, 10, and 15 micrograms/kg rhIL-3. rhIL-3 also increased basophil, eosinophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts at this dose steps. Effects on reticulocytes were limited. No difference in efficacy between SC and IV rhIL-3 treatment was found. Chemotherapy postponement for insufficient bone marrow recovery was necessary in 22 of 45 control cycles versus 2 of 49 rhIL-3 cycles (P less than .001). Platelet transfusions were required in 7 of 45 control cycles versus 3 of 50 rhIL-3 cycles (P less than .5). rhIL-3 up to 10 micrograms/kg/d could be administered without severe side effects. At 15 micrograms/kg/d, rhIL-3 headache was dose-limiting. Other side effects were fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, skin rash, flushing, facial erythema, and urticaria. Liver toxicity occurred in rhIL-3 and control cycles. rhIL-3 slightly increased tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A plasma levels, whereas no effect on IL-6 plasma levels was observed. rhIL-3 administered SC appears to be an interesting hematopoietic growth factor for reduction of chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity.
 ...
PMID:Effects of interleukin-3 after chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. 151 36

The effect of treatment with a monoclonal antibody against the CD4 antigen present on T helper cells was studied in 10 patients with severe intractable rheumatoid arthritis. In an open trial, monoclonal antibody 16H5 was infused at a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg of body weight on 7 consecutive days. Studies of the kinetics demonstrated a drastic depletion of CD4+ cells, to as low as 25 cells/microliters, 1 hour after the first infusion. The subsequent recovery of the CD4+ cell numbers 24 hours after infusion did not reach initial levels, and after the full 7-day treatment cycle there was a significant reduction of the number of CD4+ cells (mean +/- SD 51 +/- 28%; P less than 0.02). There was a reduced or even inverse CD4:CD8 ratio, which generally persisted 3-4 weeks. Lymphocyte transformation assays demonstrated significantly reduced reactivity in 5 of the 9 patients who completed the 7-day course, whereas 4 individuals exhibited an unexpected elevation in the T cell response to mitogens and common antigens. Parallel laboratory studies showed a significant decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P less than 0.05), rheumatoid factor titer (P less than 0.04), and total immunoglobulin values (P less than 0.01), as well as a reduction in C-reactive protein levels, in 7 of the 9 patients. Clinically, there was a significant reduction in the Ritchie articular index (P less than 0.05) and in the number of swollen joints (P less than 0.04). Adverse effects were urticaria in 2 patients, which led to withdrawal of therapy in 1 of them, and chills with fever, suggestive of a lymphokine release syndrome, in another 2 patients. Only low levels of human anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibodies developed (not exceeding 1.7 mg/liter). It was therefore possible to repeat the treatment cycle, achieving still better efficacy, in 4 of the patients (reductions in the Ritchie index and the number of swollen joints P less than 0.02). Our findings indicate that treatment with monoclonal antibodies against the CD4 antigen leads to immunomodulation which results in clinical benefits, at least during initial observation periods (up to 6 months postinfusion). However, it remains to be determined whether long-term remission can be induced with this therapeutic approach. The use of immunosuppressive therapies or repeated antibody treatments will have to be considered.
 ...
PMID:Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with an anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. 199 9

We have prospectively evaluated the clinical and immunological features of serum sickness in 35 patients treated for bone marrow failure with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG 15 mg/kg/day) and methylprednisolone (1 to 1.5 mg/kg/day). Twenty-one patients were treated for 10 days and 14 were treated for 28 days. Clinical evidence of serum sickness developed in 30 patients (86%) and included fever and malaise (100%), cutaneous eruptions (93%), arthralgias (67%), gastrointestinal complaints (67%), cephalgia (57%), blurring of vision (37%), arthritis, (30%) and lymphadenopathy (13%). Clinical serum sickness began on day 7 +/- 1 (X +/- S.E.M.) and lasted for 10 +/- 2 days in the 18 affected patients receiving the shorter course of ATG. In the 12 affected patients receiving the longer course of ATG, serum sickness began on day 9 +/- 1. The earliest manifestations of serum sickness were fever, malaise, and cutaneous eruptions. Cutaneous findings consisted of morbilliform eruptions (n = 19) and urticaria (n = 1) or a combination (n = 8) that lasted 10 to 14 days. Twenty-one patients (75%) developed a highly characteristic serpiginous band of erythema and purpura along the sides of the fingers, toes, palms and soles 12 to 48 hours before other symptoms of serum sickness. Biopsies of lesional skin during the course of serum sickness revealed immune deposits (IgM, IgE, IgA and C3) in dermal vasculature in 7 of 9 patients. Immunological changes that occurred during the course of serum sickness included increased serum levels of IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE. Circulating immune complexes, as measured by the C1q-binding assay, increased from a mean value of 12% to 45% on day 13 +/- 1. Complement levels (C3, C4, and CH50) decreased 50 to 80% from their baseline levels on day 10 +/- 2. Acute phase reactants increased: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and beta-2 microglobulin. Abnormal urinalysis developed in 17 patients (57%) over the course of serum sickness and included proteinuria, hematuria and hemoglobinuria on day 10 +/- 3. Hematopoietic response occurred in 43%. All 5 patients who did not develop serum sickness recovered from bone marrow failure. Our data document the clinical and immunopathological findings in human serum sickness and suggest that the principles of antigen-antibody interaction, complement activation, and resultant inflammatory response as seen in the previous animal studies are directly applicable to studies of patients with serum sickness.
 ...
PMID:Human serum sickness: a prospective analysis of 35 patients treated with equine anti-thymocyte globulin for bone marrow failure. 325 88

Stool samples from 775 patients with diarrhoea referred to a hospital over an 18-month period were cultured for Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni, and in 55 patients (7.1%), infections were identified. In addition, one asymptomatic patient had a positive stool sample and serological evidence of a current infection. The patients were aged between 11 and 76 years, the majority being in the age group 15 to 39 years. The symptoms included diarrhoea (in almost 100%), fever (in 80%) and abdominal tenderness (in 35%). Almost half the patients vomited. The total leucocyte count was usually normal, but half the patients showed increased numbers of juvenile neutrophils. Eosinopenia and high serum C-reactive protein were frequently seen in the acute phase of the illness. Complications included haematemesis, pancreatic affection, carditis, reactive arthritis, urticaria, and transient malabsorption in one patient who had had a previous Billroth II operation. Invasive disease was occasionally suggested by clinical manifestations of extensive mesenteric lymphadenitis, septicaemia and focal bone necrosis.
 ...
PMID:Clinical and serological studies in patients with Campylobacter fetus ssp. jejuni infection: I. Clinical findings. 733 78

Urticaria is one of the most frequent skin disorders. Whereas for the acute form a cause is usually found, the aetiology of chronic urticaria often remains obscure. Infectious or autoimmune origin are presumed aetiologies, whereas trigger factors such as pressure, cold or food additives often induce an urticarial episode. In this study, we investigated the significance of laboratory and supplementary analysis in relation to the aetiology and classification of chronic urticaria. We also looked at a correlation of trigger factors with the aetiology and course of chronic urticaria. Out of 170 patients with chronic urticaria referred to our outpatient allergy clinic within 3 1/4 years, 95 were female (56%) and 75 male (44%). The average age was 37 years. Based on history and clinical signs, laboratory, allergo-immunological, stool and urine samples were performed, as well as allergological skin and physical tests. Of the laboratory parameters, total leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and alanine-amino-transferase (ALAT) were the findings most often out of the normal range. In 25% (43/170) chronic urticaria could be attributed to a possible cause (infection [15%], autoimmunity [8%], allergy [1%], urticaria pigmentosa [1%]). Trigger factors were found in 84/170 (49%) patients (physical [29%], pseudoallergic [12%], combination of both [8%]). Follow-up after an average of 22.3 months revealed that 84 patients (63%) no longer suffered from urticarial disorders, while 49 (37%) still complained of hives. In conclusion, laboratory and supplementary investigations were rarely helpful in identifying aetiologic agents, although in 25% chronic urticaria was classified. Trigger factors are not of predictive value either for aetiology or course of chronic urticaria. However, the longer chronic urticaria lasts, the rarer are remissions. In younger patients, chronic urticaria tends to last less long than in elderly persons.
 ...
PMID:[Importance of laboratory investigations and trigger factors in chronic urticaria]. 1051 82

Plasma concentrations of 8 proteins, including cytokines: interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), receptors: soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), p55 soluble TNF receptor (p55 sTNF-R) and acute phase proteins: alpha-2 macroglobulin (alpha-2 MG), C-reactive protein (CRP) were examined in 33 patients with drug-induced urticaria. The activity of selected proteins was measured using the immunoenzymatic ELISA method: a) in the acute stage of disease before treatment was administered, and b) after clearing of skin lesions, after treatment. In the acute stage of disease elevated concentrations of the examined proteins (p<0.001) in comparison to the control were found. After clearing of clinical symptoms the concentrations of IL-2, IL-6, p55TNF-R and alpha-2 MG were not significantly different from the control values. But despite deep decrease, slL-2R, IL-10, TNF-alpha and CRP levels were still significantly elevated (p<0.001) when compared to the control. Results of this study indicate complex character of pathogenic phenomena in drug-induced urticaria in which elevated activity of mediators acting as promotors and modulators of cellular immune response can be found.
 ...
PMID:Drug-induced urticaria--activity of selected cytokines and acute phase proteins in plasma. 1531 56

Urticaria is characterized by transient wheals. We report here five cases with long-lasting urticarial lesions persisting for more than 24 hours. Each lesion left purpura after fading. There was no systemic involvement. C-reactive protein and serum levels of complement were elevated or normal. Histologically, marked infiltration by eosinophils and neutrophils with karyorrhexis in the perivascular and intercollagenous spaces was observed, but there was no evidence of vasculitis (venulitis). Skin symptoms were resistant to systemic corticosteroids. In contrast, treatment of underlying bacterial infections resulted in marked improvement of skin lesions. E-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were expressed on endothelial cells. Marked deposition of C3a, C5a, neutrophil elastase and major basic protein in the dermis was observed. These urticarial lesions provoked by bacterial infections seem to lie on the continuum between urticaria and urticarial vasculitis.
 ...
PMID:Infectious urticaria with purpura: a mild subtype of urticarial vasculitis? 1582 15

Familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular syndrome are related disorders associated with mutations in the CIAS1 gene. They appear to represent a continuum of one disease characterized by IL-1-mediated inflammation. Until recently, these conditions have been difficult to treat; however, with the advent of IL-1-receptor antagonist therapy, many reports of successful treatment of patients with these autoinflammatory diseases have emerged in the past 2 years. We describe an 8-year-old girl, diagnosed with Familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome, confirmed by presence of a novel CIAS1 mutation, who was refractory to symptomatic treatment. As frequent attacks of urticaria and associated arthralgia had a debilitating effect on the child's lifestyle, a trial of IL-1-receptor antagonist (anakinra) was instituted. Dramatic sustained clinical improvement was evident within days and serum amyloid and C-reactive protein levels normalized within a month. Although several authors have reported successful use of this agent in children with chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular syndrome, we believe ours is the first report of successful treatment with anakinra in a young child with familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome.
 ...
PMID:Response to IL-1-receptor antagonist in a child with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome. 1730 Jun 60

Adult-onset Still disease (AOSD) is an uncommon disorder characterized by fever, polyarthralgia, elevated white blood cell count, and a maculopapular rash, the histologic features of which have not been well-known. A 55-year-old Asian woman presented initially with a "burning" and severely pruritic eruption on her face, hands, and arms, thought clinically to be urticaria. Within 1 month, she began spiking high fevers, developed diffuse joint pain, and had marked elevations of ferritin, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, characteristic of AOSD. The cutaneous eruption became more widespread, involving the trunk, scalp, and remainder of the extremities, with diffuse thickening of the skin with papular and linear hyperpigmentation and accentuation. Biopsies from several locations showed focal hyperkeratosis associated with dyskeratotic keratinocytes with a peculiar, distinctive distribution in the upper epidermis and cornified layers. In addition, increased dermal mucin was present, with minimal fibroblast proliferation and inflammation. This unusual combination of diffuse dermal mucinosis and a unique pattern of dyskeratosis can present a challenge in generating an accurate differential diagnosis, and may represent an unusual response to chronic scratching or be a distinctive histologic manifestation of AOSD.
 ...
PMID:Unique histopathologic findings in a patient with adult-onset Still disease. 1741 47

Decline in circulating DHEA-S concentration may be a phenomenon accompanying chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). IL-6 is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine which exerts a wide range of biological effects. A functional link between DHEA-S and IL-6 has been described. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate circulating concentration of IL-6 in patients with CIU and to study its relationship with DHEA-S and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration. IL-6 plasma concentration was determined in 18 female non-atopic patients with CIU who had negative response to autologous serum skin test and 20 non-atopic healthy controls. Plasma concentration of IL-6 was statistically higher in CIU patients than in the control group, although all the values were found within the range of the normal subjects. CIU patients showed significantly lower DHEA-S concentration in serum than the controls. CRP concentration remained within the normal range and did not differ between the two groups. We did not find a significant correlation between concentration of IL-6 and DHEA-S, or CRP. It seems that the processes associated with CIU may be accompanied by slightly elevated plasma concentration of IL-6 and substantially decreased serum concentration of DHEA-S as compared with the healthy subjects. However, no association between IL-6 and DHEA-S concentration in the peripheral circulation of CIU patients was proved, suggesting that both phenomena may not be related to each other.
 ...
PMID:Plasma concentration of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and its relationship with circulating concentration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. 1782 29


1 2 3 4 Next >>