Obstructive sleep apnea characteristics in patients with well-controlled acromegaly and their compliance with positive airway pressure therapy

Background/aim: Acromegaly is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with a frequency between 40% and 80%. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of acromegaly patients with sleep apnea symptoms and to identify positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence in acromegaly patients with OSAS diagnosis.Materials and methods: Twenty-eight well-controlled acromegaly patients (17 males, mean age 48.7 ± 10.1 years) with sleep apnea symptoms were included in this prospective study. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and medical history were evaluated. Full-night in-laboratory polysomnography was performed.Results: Polysomnography results showed that 25 patients (89.3%) had OSAS with a mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 37.7 ± 28.8/h. All 17 male patients were diagnosed with OSAS, whereas 8 female patients (72.7%) had OSAS (P = 0.05). Male patients also had more severe OSAS than females (AHI 48.3 ± 29.0 vs. 21.3 ± 20.1 events/h, respectively; P = 0.012). Twenty-two patients out of 28 were considered to be eligible candidates for PAP therapy. The PAP adherence rate was found to be 50% during follow-up. Conclusion: Our results confirm OSAS as a common disorder in acromegaly patients as well as PAP therapy being required for a majority of patients. Therefore, all acromegaly patients should be assessed in terms of OSAS and be followed closely for the evaluation of PAP adherence.

The influence of the lateral pharyngeal wall anatomy on snoring and sleep apnoea.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the variations of the lateral pharyngeal wall anatomy on physical examination and to assess the clinical importance of the examination of the lateral pharyngeal wall on the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey, between May 2010 and April 2011. The patients were divided into four equal groups: Group 1--snoring without apnoea (age 20-40); Group 2--snoring without apnoea (age 40-60); Group 3--apnoea-hypopnoea index < 5/hr; Group 4: apnoea-hypopnoea index > 30/hr. Calibrated oropharynx pictures were taken. Distance between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, height of palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, uvula width, uvula length and distance between tonsils were measured. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients in the study, 44 (55%) were men. Mean distance between palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 1.55 ± 0.34 cm and 2.70 ± 0.43 cm respectively. Mean height of palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 0.60 ± 0.21 cm and 1.37 ± 0.36 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean uvula width and uvula length were 0.80 ± 0.12cm and 1.25 ± 0.27 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean distance between tonsils was 2.24 ± 0.56 cm (p > 0.05). Distance between palatopharyngeal arches was significantly different between groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Palatopharyngeal arch anatomy was found to be significantly associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity, especially in patients with normal or small tonsil size. Patients with the palatopharyngeal arches, which narrow the oropharyngeal inlet more than the tonsils, should further be investigated with polysomnography.

[The role of endotracheal aspiration in the diagnosis of ventilator associated pneumonia]. / Ventilatörle iliskili pnömoni tanisinda endotrakeal aspiratin degeri.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most important causes of mortality in patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in intensive care unit (ICU). Microbiological examinations are required as clinical and radiological findings are usually insufficient in the diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four patients who were receiving IMV because of respiratory failure, had a Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) of ≥ 6 in the follow-up and died with the suspicion of VAP were enrolled in our study. Six patients were excluded as post-mortem biopsy could not be performed. The patients who had pre-mortem CPIS ≥ 6, in whom a causative organism was identified from the culture of post-mortem lung biopsy and/or histopathological examination of lung biopsy was compatible with pneumonia were diagnosed as VAP. In the 18 patients in whom a post-mortem lung biopsy was performed, quantitative culture results of endotracheal aspirate performed 48 hours prior to death were compared with microbiological and histopathological results of post-mortem lung biopsy specimens, and the role of endotracheal aspirate in the diagnosis of VAP was evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Out of 18 patients (12 men, mean age 67.0 ± 13.0 years) included in the study, 11 (61.1%) were diagnosed as VAP. The quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate was positive in 9 (81.8%) out of 11 patients diagnosed as VAP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of endotracheal aspirate culture for identifying VAP were found to be 81.8%, 14.3%, 60.0% and 33.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study shown that quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate is a practical and reliable method that can be used for the diagnosis of VAP in patients receiving IMV in ICU and having CPIS ≥ 6.

[The comparison of patients with hospitalized health-care-associated pneumonia to community-acquired pneumonia]. / Saglik bakimi ile iliskili pnömoni ve toplumkökenli pnömoni tanilari ilehastanede yatan olgularin karsilastirilmasi.

Health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is defined as pneumonia that develops in patients with a history of recent hospitalization, hemodialysis as an outpatient, residence in a nursing home, outpatient intravenous therapy and home wound care. We aimed to compare the initial demographic characteristics, causative agents and prognosis between hospitalized HCAP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. HCAP and CAP patients hospitalized between 01 September 2008-01 September 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Out of 187 patients (131 males, mean age 66.3 ± 14.3 years) who were hospitalized during one-year period, 98 were diagnosed as HCAP and 89 as CAP. Among HCAP patients, 64 (65.3%) had a history of hospitalization in the last 90 days, 26 (26.5%) received outpatient intravenous therapy, 17 (17.3%) had home wound care, 6 (6.1%) were on hemodialysis program in the last 30 days and 4 (4.1%) lived in a nursing home. The causative pathogen was detected in 39 (39.8%) HCAP and 8 (9.0%) CAP patients. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in HCAP, and Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in CAP patients. Inappropriate empiric antibiotic treatment was documented in 8 (25.8%) of 39 HCAP patients, in whom a causative agent was isolated whereas the antibiotic treatment was appropriate in all CAP patients. The duration of hospitalization (14.4 ± 11.4 vs. 10.7 ± 7.9 days, p= 0.011) and mortality rate (34.7% vs. 9.0%, p< 0.001) were higher in HCAP compared with CAP patients. As HCAP is different than CAP in terms of patients' characteristics, causative microorganisms and prognosis, it should be considered in all patients hospitalized as CAP. Potentially drug-resistant microorganisms should be taken into consideration in the empirical antibiotic treatment of these patients.

[Comparison of teicoplanin and linezolid therapies in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia acquired from respiratory intensive care unit]. / Solunumsal yogun bakim ünitesinde yatan hastalarda gelisen metisiline dirençli Staphylococcus aureus pnömonisinde teikoplanin ve linezolid tedavilerinin karsilastirilmasi

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the high-risk and potential multi-drug resistant microorganisms that leads to infection in intensive care unit (ICU). Although standard antibiotics used for its treatment are glycopeptides, linezolid is considered as an alternative treatment especially in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the results of linezolid and teicoplanin treatments in patients with MRSA isolated from their respiratory samples in ICU. In our respiratory ICU, 41 consecutive patients (28 males, mean age 66.0 ± 16.0 years) diagnosed as HAP due to MRSA were included in the study. Teicoplanin was used in 22 patients and linezolid treatment was given to 19 patients. In the linezolid group, mean age and Acute Physiology Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score were found higher (68.9 ± 12.5 vs. 63.5 ± 18.5 and 25.7 ± 6.4 vs. 23.2 ± 4.9, respectively), and PaO2/FiO2 ratio was lower (176.4 ± 58.2 vs. 191.6 ± 91.3) however, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of hospitalization indications, co-morbid diseases, other baseline findings and risk factors for development of HAP caused by MRSA. Invasive mechanical ventilation was applied to 86.4% of the patients in teicoplanin group and 84.2% in linezolid group (p> 0.05). The rates of bacteremia were found as 22.7% and 31.6% in teicoplanin and linezolid groups, respectively (p>0.05). Bacteriological eradication was achieved in all patients given linezolid, whereas this rate was 72.7% in patients on teicoplanin therapy (p= 0.048). There was no difference with regards to durations of ICU and hospital stay between the two groups. The mortality rate was found lower in the linezolid group than the teicoplanin group (42.1% vs. 63.6%), however this difference was not found statistically important (p> 0.05). In conclusion; the present study demonstrated that better microbiological eradication was achieved by linezolid therapy in pneumonia caused by MRSA in ICU, however, the clinical efficacy and survival rates were similar to teicoplanin therapy.

[Comparison of the patients with pandemic (H1N1) influenza A virus pneumonia and community-acquired pneumonia]. / Pandemik (H1N1) influenza A virüsü pnömonisi ve toplum kökenli pnömoni olgularinin karsilastirilmasi.

Prognosis of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus pneumonia is worse than community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), therefore it is important to know distinctive clinical features of both pneumonias. The aims of this study were to compare clinical features and prognosis of patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia and CAP due to other agents. Demographic features, symptoms and findings of 20 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia and 18 CAP patients hospitalized between October 1st and December 30th, 2009 were evaluated. One patient (5.0%) with pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia and 55.6% of CAP patients were over 65 years (p= 0.001). Symptoms of fever, dyspnea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and headache were more frequent (p< 0.05), platelet count (p= 0.024) and PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio (p= 0.006) were lower, number of thrombocytopenic patients (p= 0.024) and LDH levels (p= 0.016) were higher, duration of hospitalization was longer (p= 0.038) in patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia. There was no difference in terms of radiological findings between two groups. None of the CAP patients were followed-up in the intensive care, whereas five pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia patients (25.0%) required intensive care and three of them died despite invasive mechanical ventilation. In conclusion, in the presence of fever, dyspnea with non-pulmonary symptoms and accompanying radiological alveolar opacities should be considered as pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia should be suspected in patients admitted with findings of pneumonia during influenza season. Admission to the intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation should be considered in patients with dyspnea and diffuse radiological findings.

[Tuberculin skin test reactivity in patients with chronic renal failure]. / Kronik böbrek yetmezligi olan olgularda tüberkülin cilt testi yaniti.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of tuberculin skin test (TST) and the parameters that affect the response in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on different treatment regimens. The study population consisted of 150 patients (78 females, mean age 48.1 + or - 16.7 years, the mean disease duration 6.6 + or - 6.1 years). Of these patients, 50 were on haemodialysis (HD), 50 were renal transplant patients, 26 were on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 24 were treated medically. TST was performed to all patients, an induration with a diameter of 10 mm or more was accepted as positive response in HD, PD, medical treatment groups, whereas 5 mm or more was considered as positive in transplant group. TST was positive in 52% of the study population (56% in HD group, 54% in PD group, 44% in transplant group, 58% in medical treatment group, p> 0.05). There was a positive correlation between TST and age in patients older than 60 of transplant and medical treatment groups (p= 0.008). In HD patients with negative TST, the number of female patients was higher (p= 0.02). In transplant patients with positive TST, duration of HD was shorter (p= 0.01), the blood urea level was lower (p= 0.04), hemoglobin level was higher (p= 0.04). The ratio of negative TST was higher (p< 0.05), TST reactivity was smaller (p= 0.01) in only transplant patients with no BCG scar. The number of BCG scar was correlated positively with TST (p= 0.04). In the medical treatment group, patients with positive TST response were older (p= 0.02) and in PD group the tuberculin reactivity was not affected by any of the patient-related parameters. It must be considered that the response to TST is low in young patients with uncontrolled CRF and under immunosuppressive therapy.

[Colistin use in ventilator-associated pneumonia due to panresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii]. / Panrezistan Pseudomonas aeruginosa ve Acinetobacter baumannii ile gelisen ventilatörle iliskili pnömonilerde kolistin kullanimi.

Nosocomial infections by resistant gram-negative microorganisms are important causes of mortality in intensive care unit (ICU)'s. The treatment choices are limited in infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially if they are panresistant. In these type of resistant infections, colistin--an old antibiotic--has become a current issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of colistin in 9 cases (6 males, mean age 75.8 +/- 9.4 years), with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by panresistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa in respiratory ICU. All cases were referred to ICU from other hospitals or clinics. It was detected that 7 of 9 cases were treated with anti-pseudomonal antibiotics before the development of VAP. Panresistant A. baumannii was isolated in 5 cases and P. aeruginosa in 4 cases. VAP by these microorganisms was detected on the 26.6 +/- 12.4th days of invasive mechanical ventilation and the cases were followed up for 54.2 +/- 25.7 days in ICU. During colistin treatment, dermatitis (one case) and nephrotoxicity (one case) were observed as side effects. Microbiological response to colistin was obtained in 6 cases. Three cases died due to non-eradication of panresistant microorganisms and three cases died due to other infections during ICU follow-up. The data presented in this study demonstrates that colistin can be considered as a safe and effective antibiotic in the treatment of panresistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa infections.

[Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in respiratory intensive care unit]. / Solunumsal yogun bakim ünitesinde çoklu antibiyotik dirençli Acinetobacter baumannii enfeksiyonu.

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter boumannii is a challenge in the treatment and control of nosocomial infections. This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of multidrug resistant A. boumannii in a respiratory intensive care unit (ICU), related risk factors and its impact on disease prognosis. Of 218 patients who were hospitalized in our ICU during the last two years; 37 (17%) patients (21 males, mean age 61.6 +/- 19.8 years) developed pneumonia and/or bacteremia due to multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. Previous antibiotic therapy was detected in 51.4% and hospitalization in 70.3% of the cases. Pneumonia (59.5%) was the most frequent cause of hospitalization and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (21.6%) was the second one; 81.1% of patients had co-morbidity. Invasive mechanical ventilation was performed in 31 (83.7%) patients during the follow-up. Ventilator-associated pneumonia developed in 22 (59.5%) patients and bacteraemia in 9 (24.3%) patients. Multidrug-resistance was observed in 23 (62.2%) of patients. Highest rates of resistance (100%) was detected against piperacillin-tazobactam, ampicillin-sulbactam and ciprofloxacin, followed by imipenem and cefepime (78%), meropenem and ceftazidime (55%), cefoperazone-sulbactam (43%) and netilmicin (35.1). The rates of re-intubation and tracheotomy were higher in patients infected with A. boumannii compared to the control group (59.5% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.0001 and 21.6% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of mortality, however, durations of ICU and hospital stays were longer in patients with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infection than without infection (24.2 +/- 18.3 vs. 8.2 +/- 8.3 days, p < 0.001 and 33.3 +/- 19.8 vs. 15.4 +/- 11.4 days, p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, due to the high rates of drug-resistance in nosocomial A.baumannii isolates, the use of invasive procedures and durations of ICU and hospital stays exhibit an increasing trend.

[Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung resembling bronchiectasis in an adult]. / Bronsektaziyi andiran eriskin konjenital kistik adenomatoid malformasyon olgusu.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a rare anomaly which is characterized by a proliferation of dilated bronchiolar-like air spaces. It is generally seen in newborns and infants. When seen in adults, which is more uncommon, it presents itself mostly with recurrent pulmonary infections. In this article, 31-year-old man with cough and purulent expectoration and a history of recurrent pulmonary infections who had cystic changes resembling bronchiectasis at the left lower lobe on the computed tomography of the chest and diagnosed CCAM-type 2 after the histopathological examination of the left lower lobectomy specimen is presented.

Dynamic computed tomography in solitary pulmonary nodules.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of dynamic computed tomography (CT) imaging in the management of solitary pulmonary nodules. METHODS: We examined solitary pulmonary nodules in 45 patients. The nodules included in the study were solid, homogenous, and spherical or oval-shaped in precontrast images. Nodules that had calcification or fat density were excluded from the study. We were not able to obtain clinical or pathological diagnosis of the nodules in 23 patients, and we excluded these patients from statistical analysis. Patients were examined with 2-mm collimation and 1-mm reconstruction interval. Computed tomography examinations were done before and after injection of contrast material. Computed tomography scans of the nodule were obtained in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth minutes after contrast injection. RESULTS: The malignancy prevalence was 40%. The mean enhancement of malignant nodules were significantly higher than the benign ones. Also, the peak attenuation value obtained after the administration of contrast material was 82.44 +/- 19.56 HU in malignant lesions and 54 +/- 23.10 HU in benign ones, with statistical significance (P = 0.006). Using enhancement values greater than 15 HU as a threshold for malignancy, the calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of the dynamic CT examination were 100%, 69.2%, 69.2%, 100%, and 81%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Dynamic CT imaging demonstrates significantly greater enhancement in malignant nodules than in benign ones. Lung nodule enhancement of 15 HU or less strongly indicates benignity.

Exudative pleural effusion due to brucellosis in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pleural involvement is a rare presentation of brucellosis. We report a patient referred for the evaluation of fever, right-sided pleural effusion and hilar lymph node enlargement. The pleural fluid revealed exudative characteristics with the predominance of neutrophils. Brucella melitensis was isolated from bone marrow, pleural effusion and blood cultures. The diagnosis was also confirmed by demonstration of a high Brucella agglutinin titre. The patient was successfully treated with rifampicin and doxicycline for three months.

[T-lymphocyte subgroups and tuberculin skin test reactivity in patients with chronic renal failure]. / Kronik böbrek yetmezlikli olgularda tüberkülin cilt testi yaniti ve T-lenfosit alt gruplari.

As anergy is common in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), the use of tuberculin skin test (TST) is controversial. Therefore, determination of the factors that affect the TST reactivity would increase the diagnostic value of the test. The aim of the present study was to investigate the factors affecting TST reactivity and evaluate the relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets and TST reactivity. We thus examined 44 patients (mean age 46.6 +/- 15.6 years, 25 males, duration of CRF 5.6 +/- 5.2 years), performed TST (an induration with a diameter of 5 mm or more was considered as positive) and measured Tlymphocyte subsets and biochemical parameters. Twenty-three patients were on hemodialysis, six were on peritoneal dialysis, seven were transplant recipients, and eight were on medical treatment. Eleven patients (25%) had immunosuppressive treatment. Eleven patients (25%) had two, 29 patients (66%) had one, and four patients (9%) had no BCG scars. Five patients (11%) had low body mass index (BMI). T-lymphocyte subsets were as follows: CD4= 40.7 +/- 7.6%, CD8= 32 +/- 8.9%, CD4/CD8= 1.7 +/- 2.5%, CD3= 71.4 +/- 9.4%, CD19= 6.3 +/- 5.1%, NK= 9.7 +/- 5.9. Twenty-two patients had positive TST reactivity. No relation was found between TST reactivity and age, gender, co-morbidity, BCG vaccination, BMI, immunosuppressive therapy, duration and treatment of CRF. Similarly, TST reactivity was not related to the biochemical parameters and Tlymphocyte subsets. These data provide that tuberculin reactivity does not seem to be associated with T-lymphocyte dysfunction and clinical features in patients with chronic renal failure.

[Success of smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Kronik obstrüktif akciger hastaligi olgularinda sigarayi birakma basarisi.

Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 15 to 20% of smokers. Smoking accelerates the annual rate of FEV(1) decline, whereas it was demonstrated that smoking cessation is the major factor that reduces this decline. The aims of this prospective study were to assess the success rate and factors affecting smoking cessation, besides, to evaluate the effect of cessation on annual FEV(1) decline. Sixty-five consecutive patients with COPD and as a control group 50 ageand sex-matched healthy smokers who were admitted to our smoking cessation clinic were enrolled in the study. Intensive behavioral therapy alone or with nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion HCL was given to both groups and success rate of smoking cessation after one year was assessed. It was shown that demographic features of the subjects and the history of COPD had no effect on success of smoking cessation. At the end of one year the rate of smoking cessation was 29% in patients with COPD and 49% in the control group (p< 0.05). All different therapy interventions had similar effects on smoking cessation. The annual FEV(1) values increased 29 mL in quitters and decreased 25 mL in patients continuing smoking (p> 0.05). In this study, we concluded that the success of smoking cessation in COPD patients admitted to the smoking cessation clinic was significantly lower than healthy smokers and annual FEV(1) decline was decreased in quitters.

The efficacy of incentive spirometry in patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVE: Although incentive spirometry (IS) is frequently used to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications, its efficacy in patients with COPD has not been documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of IS on pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, dyspnoea and health-related quality of life in patients hospitalized for COPD. METHODOLOGY: A total of 27 consecutive patients (mean age, 68.4 +/- 7.9 years; 26 males) admitted for COPD exacerbations were recruited for the study. In total, 15 (IS treatment group) used IS for 2 months, together with medical treatment. The remaining 12 (medical treatment group) were given only medical treatment. Pulmonary function and blood gases were measured. Assessment of dyspnoea by visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at admission and after 2 months of treatment. RESULTS: The activity, impact and total scores for the SGRQ improved (all P < or = 0.0001), PaCO2 values decreased (P = 0.02), PaO2 and PAO2 values increased (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively) in the IS treatment group. However, there were no significant differences between the measurements made pretreatment and after 2 months of medical therapy in the medical treatment group, with regards to pulmonary function, blood gases, SGRQ scores and VAS. CONCLUSION: The use of IS appears to improve arterial blood gases and health-related quality of life in patients with COPD exacerbations, although it does not alter pulmonary function parameters.

Chlamydia pneumoniae arthritis in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Arthritis is an important and sometimes life-threatening complication in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient with CVID and arthritis due to Chlamydia pneumoniae, which is usually regarded as a respiratory tract pathogen and has not previously been detected in the synovial fluid by cell culture technique. METHODS: Routine bacteriologic, virologic, mycologic, and tuberculosis cultures were performed. The patient's synovial fluid was examined for fastidious organisms that might be causative pathogens of arthritis, such as chlamydiae, and special cell culture methods were used. Serologic tests were performed to determine viral and bacteriologic etiology. RESULTS: The patient had a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections, and the latest exacerbation was followed by arthritis. Cytologic examination of the fluid yielded abundant lymphocytes. Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected in synovial fluid specimens by cell culture technique. Her nasopharyngeal swab and sputum culture specimens were also positive for this pathogen. She was diagnosed as having arthritis caused by C pneumoniae and was given antibiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Chlamydia pneumoniae should be kept in mind as a causative pathogen in patients with CVID and arthritis, especially when effusion fluid is full of lymphocytes rather than polymorphonuclear cells and no organism is grown on routine cultures.

Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients on various immunosuppressive regimens.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus (TAC) are more potent than conventional immunosuppressive drugs, i.e. azathioprine, cyclosporin and prednisolone, and may be associated with an increase in the incidence of infections in the post-transplantation (post-tx) period. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of either or both of MMF and TAC for immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients increases the prevalence or modifies the clinical presentation of tuberculosis (TB), when compared with conventional therapy. METHODS: The medical records of 443 adult patients who received a kidney transplant between 1994 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Comparisons were made between patients who had conventional immunosuppressive treatments (cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisolone) or an alternative regimen (including MMF, TAC or both). RESULTS: We found 20 patients (4.5%) to have post-tx TB. There were 13 cases of TB (age 38.9+/-10.6 years) among 328 patients who received conventional immunosuppressants (group I) (4.0%) and seven cases (age 24.2+/-7.4 years) among 115 (6.1%) who received an alternative immunosuppressive regimen (group II) (P>0.05). The patients in group II were younger than the patients in group I (P = 0.002). A significantly higher number of patients in group II developed TB within the first 6 months post-tx (P = 0.042). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding clinical and radiographic presentations or outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppression with TAC or MMF is associated with the development of TB earlier in the post-tx period and in younger patients.