Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0242429 (sore throat)
 2,760 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion illness is a difficult diagnosis to make because of its nonspecific and protean manifestations. We present such a case in an adolescent. A 15-year-old boy presented with a 5-day history of fever, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient also reported a nonproductive cough, coryza, and fatigue. The patient's only risk factor for HIV infection was a history of unprotected intercourse with 5 girls. Physical examination was significant for fever, exudative tonsillopharyngitis, shotty cervical lymphadenopathy, and palpable purpura on both feet. Laboratory studies demonstrated lymphopenia and mild thrombocytopenia. Hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and urinalysis were normal. The following day, the patient remained febrile. Physical examination revealed oral ulcerations, conjunctivitis, and erythematous papules on the thorax; the purpura was unchanged. Serologies for hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV, and Epstein-Barr virus were negative. Bacterial cultures of blood and stool and viral cultures of throat and conjunctiva showed no pathogens. Coagulation profile and liver enzymes were normal. Within 1 week, all symptoms had resolved. The platelet count normalized. Repeat HIV serology was positive, as was HIV DNA polymerase chain reaction. Subsequent HIV viral load was 350 000, and the CD4 lymphocyte count was 351/mm3. HIV is the seventh leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 in the United States, and up to half of all new infections occur in adolescents. Our patient presented with many of the typical signs and symptoms of acute HIV infection: fever, fatigue, rash, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, oral ulcers, emesis, and diarrhea. Other symptoms commonly reported include headache, myalgias, arthralgias, aseptic meningitis, peripheral neuropathy, thrush, weight loss, night sweats, and genital ulcers. Common seroconversion laboratory findings include leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated transaminases. The suspicion of acute HIV illness should prompt virologic and serologic analysis. Initial serology is usually negative. Diagnosis therefore depends on direct detection of the virus, by assay of viral load (HIV RNA), DNA polymerase chain reaction, or p24 antigen. Both false-positive and false-negative results for these tests have been reported, further complicating early diagnosis. Pediatricians should play an active role in identifying HIV-infected patients. Our case, the first report of acute HIV illness in an adolescent, emphasizes that clinicians should consider acute HIV seroconversion in the appropriate setting. Recognition of acute HIV syndrome is especially important for improving prognosis and limiting transmission. It is imperative that we maintain a high index of suspicion as primary care physicians for adolescents who present with a viral syndrome and appropriate risk factors.
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PMID:Acute human immunodeficiency virus syndrome in an adolescent. 1452 19

In this report we focus on the importance of an accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal complications during chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. The leukemic infiltrtion of the digestive system may cause mucosal ulcers which can lead to bleeding or perforation. The immune system deficiency in this cohort of patients may result in necrotic enterocolitis (leukemic typhlitis), perianal inflammation, abscesses, and peritonitis. We describe a 37-year old male who presented in June 2004 with 2-month history of fever, weakness and sore throat, treated with antibiotic therapy. Physical examination demonstrated palor. The peripheral blood count at admittance was as follow: Hemoglobin 87 g/l, WBC 63 x 10(9)/l, and platelets 56 x 10(9)/l. The peripheral blood differential count showed: myeloblasts 4%, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) 20%, monocytes 60%, lymphocytes 16%. The diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was confirmed by bone marrow aspirate, which presented an almost total infiltration by monocytoid blasts, AML type M5 according to FAB classification. Immunophenotypic evaluation by flow cytometry showed that the blast cells reacted with antibodies to CD33, CD13, CD14, CD64, CD15, cytogenetics showed normal karyotype. Induction treatment consisting of cytarabine 2 x 200 mg intravenously in push on days 1-8, vepeside 200 mg i.v. on days 1-5, adriblastine 90 mgon days 1,3 and 5. On day 15 of chemotherapy the patient got fever 38.5 degrees C, abdominal pain and diarrhea (10 stools daily). Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and amikacin was promptly instituted but condition worsened, abdominal pain extended to all abdomen while the fever and diarrhea persisted. Ultrasonography on day 18 documented bowel wall thickness of colic tract, part of duodenum and jejunum. Owing to suspicion of neutropenic enterocolitis, antibiotic therapy intensified with teicoplanin, fluconazole, metronidazole and pipril. Patient was neutropenic and thrombocytopenic, although daily platelet transfusion from a single donor were given. We started with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) 5 g/kg, which was adiminstered for 7 days. After 7 days neutrophil value reached 1 x 10(9)/l, but fever persisted, abdominal distension and diarrhea progressively improved. The fever peristed and central venous catheter was removed on day 30. After removal of the catheter the patient was getting better: the fever disappeared. The blood count showed Hb 91 g/l, WBC 3,4 x 10(9)/l, platelet 114 x 10(9)/l and normal leukocyte differential count. We emphesize the importance of collaboration between the hematologist and the surgeon in monitoring gastrointestinal complications during and after chemotherapy for acute leukemias and value of abdominal ultrasonography evaluation.
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PMID:Neutropenic enterocolitis in acute myeloid leukemia. 1577 4