Costs of managing severe immune thrombocytopenia in adults: a retrospective analysis.

This study aims to report resource utilisation and annual cost for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients enrolled consecutively and followed for 1 year. A single-centre, single-arm, retrospective 1-year observational cohort study of adult patients with chronic ITP from a French hospital was conducted. Healthcare resource utilisation and mean cost per patient (with 95% confidence intervals) were estimated for the whole group. Patients requiring at least one hospitalisation formed subgroup 1. Patients with the most severe category of disease formed subgroup 2 [defined as hospitalised patients with ≥1 immunoglobulin (IVIg) infusion (usually reserved for those with bleeding score>8)]. Fifty-seven patients (42F/15M) with a mean age of 48 years (SD=19) at ITP diagnosis were studied. Mean platelet count at diagnosis was 28±26×109/L. Mean duration of ITP was 3.1 years (SD=2); eight patients had undergone splenectomy at baseline. Subgroup 1 included 27 patients who were hospitalised (full hospitalisation, n=23; and/or day hospitalisation, n=8). Of those, 12 patients received at least one IVIg infusion during hospitalisation (subgroup 2). Total mean cost per patient for the 1-year study period was €7,293 (95% CI=3,369-13,584) for the whole group, €15,334 (95% CI=7,876-27,459) for subgroup 1 and €26,581 (95% CI=12,241-50,578) for subgroup 2. IVIg accounted for 33% of costs for subgroup 1 and up to 43% of costs for patients with more severe disease (subgroup 2). Management of adults with chronic ITP is costly in France, especially for patients with severe disease. IVIg use was a major cost driver.

Shoulder adhesive capsulitis: diagnostic value of active and passive range of motion with volume of gleno-humeral capsule as a reference.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is currently based on restricted range of motion (ROM) but its diagnostic value has only been rarely investigated. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of active global and passive gleno-humeral ROM to diagnose shoulder adhesive capsulitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: One French center for Rehabilitation Medicine. POPULATION: Patients referred for treatment of shoulder adhesive capsulitis in our center were included. Inclusion criteria were: shoulder pain; limitation of active global ROM (abduction or flexion <180°); limitation of passive gleno-humeral ROM (abduction or flexion <90° or 25% reduction at less of lateral rotation versus the opposite shoulder); no gleno-humeral arthropathy on radiography. METHODS: The volume of the gleno-humeral capsule was assessed during a procedure of arthro-distension. The reference criterion for adhesive capsulitis was a volume <12 mL. We analyzed the correlation between the parameters of mobility and the volume of the gleno-humeral capsule; and the positive predictive value (PPV) of inclusion criteria, with the reference criterion for the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis. RESULTS: We included 38 patients. Passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction only was correlated with volume of the gleno-humeral capsule: r=0.33, P=0.043. The PPV of inclusion criteria was 82% for the diagnosis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Rather than 90°, when we considered 80°, 60° and 40° as the threshold of passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction, the PPV increased from 83% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction is correlated with volume of the gleno-humeral capsule. The PPV is high for active global and passive gleno-humeral ROM for diagnosis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Limitation of active and passive shoulder ROM, especially passive abduction gleno-humeral, is a good criterion to diagnose shoulder adhesive capsulitis, in patients with shoulder pain and no gleno-humeral arthropathy on radiography.

ZAP-70 protein expression and CD38 positivity in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course, disease progression, and survival of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) have been correlated with immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region mutation status. The biologic parameters 70-kDa zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70) and CD38 expression are easier and faster surrogate markers for mutational status. OBJECTIVE: To assess retrospectively ZAP-70 expression in B-CLL cells using flow cytometry and examine its relationship with CD38 expression and the median time from diagnosis to initial therapy. METHODS: Ninety-four unselected patients who had their follow-up in the outpatient clinic from 2004 to 2005 were reviewed for immunophenotyping ZAP-70 and CD38 expression. Direct immunolabeling with clone 2E3.2, isotype IgG2a, enabled easy quantification of ZAP-70 by flow cytometry in association with CD38 expression; in addition, the mean fluorescence intensity ratio (MFIR) of CD19+CD5+ B-CLL cells compared to an isotype control monoclonal antibody was determined. RESULTS: ZAP-70 expression levels in B-CLL cells varied widely (0.3-99%). The median time to therapy was significantly shorter for the 54 patients with 20% or more ZAP-70+ cells (30 months) than for the 40 patients with less than 20% ZAP-70+ cells (median time to treatment not reached). The optimal MFIR for classifying patients as ZAP-70+ was 2. Thirty-two patients had a threshold of ZAP-70+CD38+ greater than 30%, with a median time from diagnosis to treatment of 19 months. Regardless of CD38 expression level, CD38 and ZAP-70 expressions were significantly associated. The median interval from diagnosis to initial therapy was 16.2 months for ZAP-70+CD38+ patients, 60 months for ZAP-70+CD38- or ZAP-70-CD38+ patients, and had not yet been reached for ZAP-70-CD38- patients. CONCLUSION: The association of ZAP-70+CD19+CD5+ B-CLL cells and percentage of CD38+CD19+CD5+ B-CLL cells evaluated by flow cytometry provide reliable methods that could be introduced into a routine diagnostic B-CLL panel to predict outcome.

Pseudo T-cell lymphoma with clonal expansion related to hypersensitivity to amoxicillin.

T-cell lymphoproliferation are less frequent than B-cell and have some particular clinical features. We present a patient presenting with a reversible cutaneous and blood T-lymphocyte clonal expansion this case may be closed to the drug hypersensitivity syndrome.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for treating erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A comprehensive review.

Many men have coexistent erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are effective for treating both of these conditions independently. In this review we summarise the evidence supporting a link between ED and LUTS/BPH, and the results from key clinical studies related to the use of PDE5 inhibitors for treating both conditions. The results from these studies suggest that men who have both ED and LUTS/BPH, and are concerned about their sexual dysfunction, might benefit from single-agent, holistic treatment with a PDE5 inhibitor.

Distension Arthrography in Frozen Shoulder Syndrome.

Distension arthrography under fluoroscopic control may be useful in frozen shoulder syndrome. The technique consists of an intra-articular injection of 2 to 3 mL of contrast material, 3 mL of 2% lidocaine, 1.5 mL of cortivazol, and distension of the joint capsule with 30 to 40 mL of refrigerated sterile saline solution. This injection is immediately followed by a physiotherapy program. The authors report their experience of distension arthography in 30 shoulders. Results were good to very good in 90% of cases at 40-day follow-up. No recurrence of a frozen shoulder syndrome was observed and no complications were encountered in this series.

Closure of rabbit calvarial critical-sized defects using protective composite allogeneic and alloplastic bone substitutes.

This study evaluated the repair of critical-sized cranial vault defects in thirty New Zealand white rabbits using various allogeneic and alloplastic bone substitutes designed to provide mechanical protection to the brain as well as osteoinductivity. The strategies employed included demineralized bone matrix (DBM), a putty used in combination with a rigid resorbable plating system as a protective covering and calcium phosphate cement (CPC) combined with native partially purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). Bilateral critical-sized defects measuring 15 mm in diameter were created in the parietal bones of 30 adult male New Zealand white rabbits. They were divided into three groups with ten animals in each. Group 1 had one defect left unfilled as a control while autogenous bone was placed in the defect on the other side. In Group 2 a rigid resorbable copolymer membrane, Lactosorb (Lorenz Surgical, Jacksonville, Florida), was placed over both defects to cover them and protect the underlying tissues. The pericranial aspect of one defect was left unfilled while the other defect was filled with DBM putty. Group 3 had a CPC, Mimix (Lorenz Surgical, Jacksonville, Florida), placed into one of the defects while the defect on the other side was filled with the same CPC in combination with BMP in a concentration of 25 mg/mL. Bone healing was assessed clinically, radiographically, and histomorphometrically. All unfilled controlled defects, the defects covered with the resorbable Lactosorb membrane and those filled with calcium phosphate cement alone, healed with a fibrous scar. Defects reconstructed with DBM putty in combination with the resorbable Lactosorb membrane and calcium phosphate in combination with BMP healed with bone bridging the entire defect. This was obvious radiographically where the defects appeared completely filled with a dense radiopaque tissue. Histological analysis demonstrated that specimens where DBM putty was used in combination with the resorbable Lactosorb membrane had 67.7% new bone fill at 6 weeks and 84.0% at 12 weeks. Resorption of DBM particles was evidenced by the presence of osteoclastic activity and by the significant decrease in the size of the demineralized bone particles. In the calcium phosphate groups where BMP was added to the bioimplant there was 45.8% new bone formation at 12 weeks. The utilization of a composite consisting of DBM with resorbable Lactosorb membrane or a composite of calcium phosphate cement composite with BMP promoted complete closure of critical-sized calvarial defects in New Zealand white rabbits with viable new bone at 12 weeks. The complete bone bridging observed with these composites suggests that they could be used to enhance the protection of intracranial contents following craniofacial surgical procedures.