Predictive role of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in Henoch-Schonlein purpura related gastrointestinal bleeding.

We read with interest the recent article 'The relationship of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with gastrointestinal bleeding in Henoch-Schonlein purpura' by Makay et al. (Rheumatol Int. doi: 10.1007/s00296-014-2986-2 , 2014). In their study, researchers aimed to evaluate the relationship between blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and gastrointestinal bleeding in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). In discussion part, the authors concluded that blood NLR may be considered as a useful marker for predicting gastrointestinal bleeding in HSP. We would like to thank Makay et al. for their valuable contribution.

[Tuberculosis and tularemia as part of the differential diagnosis in cervical lymphadenitis]. / Servikal lenfadenitlerin etiyolojisinde tüberküloz ve tularemi ayirici tanisi

We have read with interest the recently published article entitled "Investigation of the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lymph node aspirates of the suspected tularemia lymphadenitis cases" by Albayrak et al. published in Mikrobiyol Bul 2014; 48(1): 129-34. They concluded that tuberculous lymphadenitis (TCL) should be kept in mind in suspected tularemia cases and those patients should also be investigated simultaneously for the presence of TCL. With reference to data provided by the Ministry of Health in Turkey, the number of reported cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in comparison to previous years is currently on decline whereas a gradual increase in extra-pulmonary (specifically cervical TCL) cases has been observed. Besides, as one of the most common causes of cervical lymphadenitis, we are witnessing a marked increase in granulomatous infections which have been part of the evaluated cases of oropharyngeal tularemia in Turkey. In fact, differentiation of the two types of lymphadenitis can be confusing on the basis of clinical and histopathological findings. Thus, investigating the presence of M.tuberculosis in cervical lymph node aspirates of tularemia suspected cases is a vital contribution, specifically in a geographical region that is considered endemic for both diseases. We would therefore like to note the importance of this study and thank the authors for their comprehensive contribution. Contrary to what is noted in the study, cervical lymphadenitis due to acute tonsillopharyngitis unresponsive to penicillin and its derivatives, has been regarded as cervical TCL due to their histopathological appearance and have been treated unnecessarily with long-term antituberculous drugs. There are some publications from Turkey indicating the detection of Francisella tularensis antibodies and nucleic acids in the patients who were histologically diagnosed as TCL. In situations where the exact etiology of cervical lymphadenitis is not determined, treatment is delayed, disease duration is prolonged and patients are forced into visiting multiple physicians and hospitals. In this case uneccessary protocols such as lymph node excision and various surgical procedures are performed to rule out the presence of commonly encountered malignancies like lymphoma. On the other hand, lymph node suppuration is more commonly seen among these group of patients. As a conclusion, tularemia and TCL should be kept in mind as different endemic entities in widespread geographical regions such as Turkey. In particular, early serological and microbiological investigations should be performed for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment in such patients.

Surveillance and impact of occult hepatitis B virus, SEN virus, and torque teno virus in Egyptian hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVES: Egypt ranks first regarding the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Many patients have concomitant diseases like kidney disorders requiring hemodialysis, a procedure carrying the hazard of transmitting other hepatitis viruses. The purpose of this study was to investigate for occult hepatitis B virus (HBV), SEN virus (SENV), and torque teno virus (TTV) among chronic HCV patients on maintenance hemodialysis to identify their impacts. METHODS: A total of 325 hemodialysis patients were enrolled and divided into two groups based on HCV RNA testing results. Blood samples were collected before hemodialysis. Sera were tested for hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) using ELISA. HBV, SENV, and TTV DNA were detected by PCR. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was measured. RESULTS: Anti-HBc and HBV DNA were detected in 73.1% and 50.8% of group 1 versus 36.4% and 22.6% of group 2. The serum ALT level was higher in group 1 than group 2. SENV was detected in 11.5% of group 1 versus 8.2% of group 2. TTV was detected in 29% of group 1 versus 27% of group 2. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased prevalence of occult HBV in our locality among chronic HCV patients undergoing hemodialysis. The existence of SENV and TTV viremia has no clinical impact.

Changes in hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C infection patients.

PURPOSE: Identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes is very important in the selection of antiviral treatment, dose adjustment of antiviral agents, determining the treatment duration and following-up of treatment response. We aimed to determine the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have included 106 CHC patients who were positive in the anti-HCV and HCV-RNA tests performed in our hospital during the 16-month period. Anti-HCV assays were performed on device using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, while HCV-RNA tests and HCV genotyping assays were performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of the 106 cases; genotype 1b was detected in 67.0%, genotype 3 was detected in 16.0%, genotype 1a was detected in 14.2% and genotype 2 was detected in 2.8% patients. Genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were not detected in our study group. There were no statistically significant differences between the gender and age groups according to the HCV genotype distribution. The genotype 3 detection rate (16%) was the highest rate among the studies compared with the other studies in our country. CONCLUSIONS: Events that cause social changes such as war and immigration and intense commercial and touristic activities affect and alter the HCV genotype distribution in HCV-infected patients. For this reason, further multicentre studies are required reflecting all the regions in order to determine the genotype distribution in HCV-infected patients at regular intervals.

A Rare Ocular Manifestation of Adult Onset Still's Disease: Purtscher's-like Retinopathy.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare multisystemic immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology with quotidian spiking fever, evanescent rash, arthralgia, and multiple organ involvement. The few AOSD cases that have been reported developed Purtscher's-like retinopathy associated with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Here, we report Purtscher's-like retinopathy without TMA in a patient with AOSD. A 29-year-old-man who presented for evaluation of blurred vision was diagnosed with AOSD based on Yamaguchi criteria. He had Purtscher's-like retinopathy in his right eye. Lesions improved after steroid treatment. Although almost all reported AOSD cases with Purtscher's-like retinopathy are associated with TMA, in this case such a complication was not encountered.

Risk factors for recurrences in patients with hepatitis C virus after achieving a sustained virological response: a multicentre study from Turkey.

In this study, we aimed to determine the late relapse rate in hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after interferon-based regimens, and evaluated the predictors of late relapse while comparing the real-life data of our country with that of others. A multicenter retrospective study was performed to investigate the data of patients infected with HCV who obtained sustained virological response after classical or pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response was based on negative HCV RNA level by PCR at the end of six months after the therapy. The information of patients enrolled in the study was retrieved from the hospital computer operating system and outpatient follow-up archives. We evaluated the age, gender, HCV RNA levels, HCV genotype, six-month and further follow-up of patients with sustained virologic response, presence of cirrhosis, steatosis and relapse. In all, 606 out of 629 chronic hepatitis C patients (mean age was 53±12 years; 57.6% of them were female) with sustained virological response were evaluated. We excluded 23 patients who relapsed within six months after the end of treatment (EOT). The mean follow-up period of the patients was 71 months (range: 6-136) after therapy. Late relapse rate was 1.8% (n=11) in all patients. Univariate Cox proportional hazard regression models identified that cirrhosis and steatosis were associated with the late relapse [(p = 0.027; Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.328; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.309-80.418), (p = 0.021; HR 1.446; 95% CI: 1.243-14.510, respectively]. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, steatosis was the only independent risk factor for late relapse (p = 0.03; HR 3.953; 95% CI: 1.146-13.635). Although the late relapse rate was approximately 2% in our study, clinicians should consider that pretreatment steatosis may be an important risk factor for late relapse.