Asymptomatic bacteriuria in women with autoimmune rheumatic disease: prevalence, risk factors, and clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the prevalence and clinical significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) in women with autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) are scarce. METHODS: In this prospective, case-control study, consecutive female outpatients with ARD were screened for AB. For each patient, demographics, type, duration, and treatment of underlying ARD, and risk factors for urinary tract infection (UTI), were recorded. Age-matched women with endocrine disease, without any autoimmune disease, not receiving immunosuppressive agents were used as controls. Subjects were followed up for 1 year for the development of symptomatic UTI. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty patients with ARD (mean age, 52.4 [standard deviation {SD}, 14.6] years) and 238 controls (mean age, 51.2 [SD, 16.5] years) were enrolled. The majority of patients with ARD (93.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 89.7%-95.9%) were receiving immunosuppressive agents. AB was detected in 24 patients with ARD (9.2%; 95% CI, 6.2%-13.4%) and in 22 controls (9.2%; 95% CI, 5.5%-12.9%) (P = 1.000). The most prevalent pathogen was Escherichia coli (16/24 [66%]). Independent predictors for AB among patients were diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 6.6; P = .008) and a longer ARD duration (>84 months; OR, 4.3; P = .018). During the 1-year follow-up, 9 patients with baseline AB remained persistently bacteriuric, whereas 11 were intermittently bacteriuric. Symptomatic UTI developed in 4 of 24 patients (16.7%; 95% CI, 6.1%-36.5%) with baseline AB vs 29 of 236 (12.3%; 95% CI, 8.6%-17.1%) without AB (P = .522). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the prevalence of AB among women with ARD was not higher than that of controls, and AB was not associated with higher risk for symptomatic UTI. Risk factors for AB were longer duration of ARD and diabetes.

High (18)F-FDG uptake by the remaining adrenal gland four months after surgery and initiation of mitotane treatment in two patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

Two men, one 42 and the other 35 years old were both subjected to adrenalectomy for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Adjuvant treatment with mitotane [o,p΄-dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane, (o,p΄-DDD)], was initiated following surgery. Mitotane is the only agent available at present for treatment in ACC because of a late-onset specific adrenocortical cell toxicity. Both patients underwent a (18)F-FDG-PET/CT scan, which revealed 4 months after starting treatment with mitotane significantly high (18)F-FDG uptake in the contralateral adrenal gland. Both patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging, while one had a laparotomy, because of an abcess at the site of previous adrenalectomy. No metastasis or size increase of the remaining adrenal glands were found suggesting that their hypermetabolic state could be attributed to mitotane treatment. Beside its cytotoxic delayed-effect, mitotane has an early -onset effect on steroid metabolism. In conclusion, an abnormal high (18)F-FDG uptake was observed in the contralateral adrenal gland in both our adrenalectomized ACC patients, 4 months after starting mitotane treatment, probably related to mitotane's effect on steroid metabolism, not yet fully understood.

Association between isotretinoin use and central retinal vein occlusion in an adolescent with minor predisposition for thrombotic incidents: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: We report an adolescent boy with minimal pre-existing risk for thromboses who suffered central retinal vein occlusion associated with isotretinoin use for acne. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well documented case of this association. CASE PRESENTATION: An otherwise healthy 17-year-old white man who was treated with systemic isotretinoin for recalcitrant acne was referred with central retinal vein occlusion in one eye. Although a detailed investigation was negative, DNA testing revealed that the patient was a heterozygous carrier of the G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene. Despite the fact that this particular mutation is thought to represent only a minor risk factor for thromboses, it is probable that isotretinoin treatment greatly increased the risk of a vaso-occlusive incident in this patient. CONCLUSION: Isotretinoin use may be associated with sight- and life-threatening thrombotic adverse effects even in young patients with otherwise minimal thrombophilic risk. Physicians should be aware of such potential dangers.