Indeterminate cell histiocytosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: an unusual association.

Indeterminate cell histiocytosis (ICH) is an extremely rare clonal proliferative disorder of dendritic cells which presents with skin lesions in the majority of cases. Although extra-cutaneous manifestations are very rare, ICH may involve the mucosa, cornea, and conjunctiva as well as the visceral organs. Since the clinical appearance of cutaneous lesions of ICH is not distinctive, it is diagnosed with histopathological and immunohistochemical findings after clinical suspicion. Herein, we report a 27-year-old man with a two-year history of asymptomatic reddish papules and papulonecrotic lesions on his face, arms and buttocks. He was previously diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and he had been treated with hydroxychloroquine and low-dose aspirin. Diffuse dermal infiltration of a mixture of histiocytes and lymphocytes accompanied with multinuclear giant cells, the positive CD68 and Factor XIIIa and negative Langerin immunoreactions, along with the positive staining with CD1a and S100, led us to the diagnosis of ICH. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of ICH associated with SLE and APS.

Comparison of the effectiveness of intravenous diltiazem and metoprolol in the management of rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) diltiazem and metoprolol in the management of rapid ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: This prospective, randomised study was conducted in the Emergency Department of the Uludag University Medical Faculty Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. Forty AF patients with a ventricular rate > or = 120/minute and systolic blood pressure > or = 95 mm Hg were included and randomised to receive IV diltiazem 0.25 mg/kg (maximum 25 mg) or metoprolol 0.15 mg/kg (maximum 10 mg) over 2 minutes. Blood pressures and heart rate were measured at 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes. Successful treatment was defined as fall in ventricular rate to below 100/minute or decrease in ventricular rate by 20% or return to sinus rhythm. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and July 2002, 40 patients (18 men, 22 women) met the inclusion criteria. Of these 20 (8 men, 12 women; mean age 60.2 years, range 31-82) received diltiazem and 20 (10 men, 10 women; mean age 64.0 years, range 31-82) received metoprolol. The success rate at 20 minutes for diltiazem and metoprolol was 90% (n = 18) and 80% (n = 16), respectively. The success rate at 2 minutes was higher in the diltiazem group. The percentage decrease in ventricular rate was higher in the diltiazem group at each time interval. None of the patients had hypotension. CONCLUSION: Both diltiazem and metoprolol were safe and effective for the management of rapid ventricular rate in AF. However, the rate control effect began earlier and the percentage decrease in ventricular rate was higher with diltiazem than with metoprolol.

Effect of dopamine on portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of dopamine infusion on portal blood flow were examined in 12 cirrhotic patients (seven men, five women) in a Child-B group. METHODS: Dopamine was administered as an intravenous infusion (2 micrograms kg-1 min-1). RESULTS: At 0, 30 and 60 min, portal blood flow, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated using the pulsed doppler method. No significant difference was found between heart rate, blood pressure and parameters demonstrating left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions before and after dopamine infusions. Portal blood flow decreased significantly at 30 and 60 min. Portal blood flow fell from 1802 +/- 88 to 1339 +/- 50 ml min-1 (P < 0.001) at 30 min and to 1121 +/- 60 ml min-1 (P < 0.001) at 60 min. CONCLUSION: The reducing effects of dopamine on portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients were demonstrated by the pulsed doppler method, which is a noninvasive test.

Lessons learned from the catastrophic Marmara earthquake: factors influencing the final outcome of renal victims.

BACKGROUND: During catastrophic earthquakes, crush syndrome is the second most frequent cause of death after the direct impact of trauma. The Marmara earthquake, which struck Northwestern Turkey in August 1999, was characterized by 639 crush syndrome victims with acute renal problems. The factors influencing their final outcome have been the subject of this study. PATIENTS/METHODS: Within the first week of the disaster questionnaires asking about 63 clinical and laboratory variables were sent to 35 reference hospitals that treated the victims. Information obtained by means of these questionnaires, including the factors with a potential influence on outcome, was submitted to analysis. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 15.2%. In univariate analysis, nonsurvivors were older (p = 0.048); the highest mortality rates were observed among the victims coming from the closest cities to the reference hospitals. Admission within the first 3 days of the disaster (p = 0.016), with oliguria (p = 0.042), lower figures for blood pressure (p < 0.001), platelets (p = 0.004) and serum albumin (p = 0.005) were associated with mortality. Also, higher body temperature (p = 0.013) and serum potassium (p < 0.001) as well as suffering from thoracic or abdominal traumas, extremity amputations and medical complications other than renal failure (for all 4: p < 0.0001) in addition to need of dialysis support (p = 0.015) and mechanical ventilation (p < 0.0001) indicated higher risk of death. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.030, OR = 1.02), presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (p = 0.001, OR = 4.49), abdominal trauma (p = 0.012, OR = 4.05) and amputations (p = 0.010, OR = 2.81) were predictors of mortality. Dialyzed patients were characterized by higher mortality rates than nondialyzed victims (17.2% versus 9.3%, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Outcome of the renal victims of catastrophic earthquakes is influenced by the type of trauma, comorbid events and complications observed during the clinical course as well as epidemiological features such as age, distance to reference hospitals and time lapse between disaster and admission to reference hospitals.