Neutrophilic myositis as an extracutaneous manifestation of neutrophilic dermatosis.

Neutrophilic dermatoses are characterized histologically by a sterile infiltration of neutrophils throughout the dermis. The condition may affect various internal organs, notably the lungs, the digestive tract, and the joints, whereas muscle impairment is considered to be extremely rare. We describe the case of a patient with pyoderma gangrenosum in whom severe sterile neutrophilic myositis developed as the first manifestation of an acute myelogenous leukemia.

Intravenous immunoglobulins as treatment of life threatening esophageal involvement in polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Esophageal involvement is considered a major cause of morbidity and an indicator of poor prognosis in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). We describe 3 patients with steroid resistant PM/DM with life threatening esophageal involvement, resulting in impossible oral feeding and enteral nutrition with a gastric tube. All patients had both dramatic and rapid improvement of all clinical manifestations after initiation of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. Swallowing disorders completely disappeared after the second infusion of IVIG, which permitted normal oral feeding and ablation of the gastric tube. Our findings suggest IVIG should be considered the treatment of choice in such cases.

[Intrapulmonary hemorrhages associated with Basedow disease]. / Hémorragies intrapulmonaires associées a une maladie de Basedow.

We report the second case of intraalveolar haemorrhage associated with an autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. While intraalveolar haemorrhage was not recurrent since 7 years with corticosteroid therapy, a relapse occurred when we began the treatment for an autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. We discuss the link between intraalveolar haemorrhage and autoimmune thyrotoxicosis or its treatment.

Pharmacokinetics of cefonicid in uraemic patients.

Eight subjects with normal renal function and 20 uraemic patients with various degrees of renal insufficiency were given a single iv dose of 1.0 g cefonicid, as a bolus injection. Five groups of subjects were studied: group I, GFR greater than 80 ml/min, group II 30 less than GFR less than 80 ml/min, group III 10 less than GFR less than 30 ml/min, group IV GFR less than or equal to 10 ml/min and group V, haemodialysis patients. Cefonicid concentrations in plasma and urine were measured by microbiological assay (MA) and HPLC method. Results were similar with the two techniques. The mean peak plasma levels were 200-300 mg/l and the apparent volume of distribution was 0.18-0.20 1/kg for all patients. The elimination half-life (T 1(2) beta) increased as renal function decreased: 5.31 +/- 1.30 h in healthy subjects and 58.92 +/- 12.38 h in patients with end-stage renal disease. Urinary elimination of cefonicid was inversely related to the degree of renal impairment: 83% of the dose in 24 h in normal subjects and 13.6% of the dose in patients with severe renal failure. Total body clearance decreased from 23.9 +/- 3.4 ml/min/1.73 m2 (group I) to 1.9 +/- 0.2 ml/min/1.73 m2 (group V). Renal clearance fell from 19.0 +/- 4.9 ml/min/1.73 m2 (group I) to 1.0 +/- 0.4 ml/min/1.73 m2 (group IV). The fractional clearance and the non renal clearance were similar in normal subjects and in uraemic patients. Cefonicid is not haemodializable because of its high protein binding. Dosage of cefonicid should be adjusted according to the degree of renal impairment. Supplemental doses are not necessary after haemodialysis.

Cross-over study of the pharmacokinetics of cefonicid administered intravenously or intramuscularly to healthy adult humans.

The pharmacokinetics of cefonicid were investigated in eight healthy adults. A one-gram dose was administered either intramuscularly or intravenously in a cross-over design study. Mean peak cefonicid plasma concentrations of 186 to 204 mcg/ml and 88 to 123 mcg/ml were achieved after intravenous and intramuscular injection, respectively, with elimination half-lives of 4.9 h and 5.3 h. Cefonicid concentrations were measured by both microbiological (M.A.) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays. Results were quite similar with the two techniques, except for the urinary recovery of cefonicid in the first 24 hours (83% of the dose with MA - vs 53% with HPLC method). The apparent volume of distribution (Vd area) was 0.18 1/kg; the total body clearance (CT) and the renal clearance (CR) were 24-26 ml/min and 15-19 ml/min, respectively. The kinetic data of cefonicid were not significantly different for the two routes of administration. A one-gram i.v. or i.m. cefonicid dose produced high and prolonged plasma concentrations with a longer half-life than obtained with commonly used cephalosporins.

[Cure of chronic hepatitis B after treatment with basic aluminum hydroxide. One case report (author's transl)]. / Guérison d'ue hépatite chronique après traitement par l'hydroxyde d'aluminium injectable. Relation d'un cas.

The authors describe a case of cure of chronic hepatitis B. This therapy chronic hepatitis B was corticotherapy dependent and the cure appeared during a treatment with basic aluminum hydroxide. This drug is an adjuvant of immunity. Clinical and biological disturbances disappeared. An improvement of the histological liver disturbances during hepatitis cure had been noticed. Three years later no recurrence was observed. After a short review of published literature, the authors discuss the mode of action of basic aluminum hydroxide.

[Diclofurime: a new antihypertensive agent. Effectiveness and kidney tolerance]. / Le diclofurime: un nouvel antihypertenseur. Efficacité et tolérance rénale.

Diclofurime is a non-inotropic arterial vasodilator and an antagonist to calcium transport. We studied its antihypertensive effect in 16 hypertensive subjects. When given alone at an average dose of 240 mg/day, it induced an overall significant diminution of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. Among the 16 subjects studied, diclofurime lowered arterial pressure below 150/90 mm Hg in seven, induced an improvement in arterial pressure in six, and showed no effect in three. When hypertension is not controlled with 450 mg diclofurime in 3 doses/day, it may be given in association with acebutolol. Diclofurime is well tolerated. The most troublesome side effects noted were headache, cardiac erethism, asthenia and edema in the lower limbs. These clinical signs were usually transient. Among these 32 patients side effects required interruption of treatment in three. Laboratory follow-up was made on day 78 and 180 after initiation of treatment. No significant change in results was noted. Renal function was studied in seven patients having normal renal function and in six chronic renal failure patients whose inulin clearance was about 30 ml min-I. It was observed that in the normal subject, the injection of a loading dose of 40 mg diclofurime followed by a maintenance dose of 80 mg during one hour induced a slight increase in glomerular filtration and a greater increase in renal blood flow; the filtered fraction was thus diminished. Diclofurime induced a clear and sustained increase in excretion of water and sodium chloride without modifying urinary excretion of potassium. In severe renal failure, no significant changes in glomerular filtration, renal blood flow or electrolyte excretion were observed with diclofurime.

[Intestinal malabsorption with a dissociated deficiency of immunoglobulins (author's transl)]. / Syndrome de malabsorption en rapport avec une carence dissociée en immunoglobulines. Relation d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

The case of a 42-year-old-man with dissociated deficiency of immunoglobulins and intestinal malabsorption is presented. The gastrointestinal symptoms included post-prandial pains and steatorrhea. Histologic and immunohistochemistry studies of small intestinal biopsies revealed subtotal villous atrophy and absence of IgA producing plasma cells. The deficiency of immunoglobulins was total for IgA and moderate for IgM. IgG was increased. HLA B8 haplotype was present Gluten-free diet gave dramatic improvement in few days on clinic symptoms. Recovery of the villi was observed within three months. The cases reported in the published literature are reviewed and the physiopathologic hypothesis and nosology limits of the syndrome are discussed.

[Mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia and glomerulonephritis (author's transl)]. / Cryoglobulinémie mixte essentielle et néphropathie glomérulaire.

Mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia may be associated with renal failure. When this occurrence appears some characteristic lesions may be observed on renal biopsies. The authors describe a case of mixed idiopathic cryoglobulinemia with nephrotic syndrome and hypertension. Histologic data and immunofluorescence study of renal biopsies are similar to those described in the published literature. If antigen-antibody complex seems to be for all authors the etiological feature of renal disease, the treatment to apply is not well known. The related case had been treated by plasmapheresis and the authors give their results to short and mean term.

[Alcoholism, colic diverticular disease and metabolic disorders (author's transl)]. / Ethylisme, diverticulose colique et troubles métaboliques. Etude comparative contrôlée.

70 patients with colic diverticular disease and 50 control subjects were compared. Sexes and ages were matched in the two groups. Significant higher frequencies of alcoholism (P < 0,00001), hyperlipidemia (P < 0,0001), impaired oral glucose tolerance test (P < 0,001), hyperuricemia (P < 0,01) and atherosclerosis (P < 0,000001) were noted in the diverticular group. Hypothesis about pathogenesis of diverticular disease are suggested.