Bullous pemphigoid and multiple sclerosis: a report of two cases with ELISA test.

We report two patients with longstanding multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed vesicles and bullae consistent with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP). Both patients showed linear IgG at the dermal-epidermal junction, located on the epidermal side of patients' skin previously treated with 1M NaCl. In the two cases, the ELISA test was positive for the extracellular fragment of BP 180. However, the indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) was repeatedly negative. Therapy either with prednisone plus dapsone or prednisone alone was initiated and the disease was controlled after 23 and 15 months of therapy, in patients 1 and 2, respectively. However, the first patient had a flare-up 2 months after treatment was stopped. The association of MS and BP has been described previously in 35 cases. We compare our two cases with the 25 patients previously reported in detail in the literature. We emphasize the role of the ELISA test in establishing the diagnosis of BP.

Erythroderma due to ribostamycin.

A 48-year-old man became erythrodermatous after intramuscular administration of ribostamycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic in the same family as neomycin. Patch tests were positive to ribostamycin and neomycin, as well as to mercurials. There was no mercurial preservative in the injection solution. A lymphocyte transformation test was positive for ribostamycin and tobramycin, but not for gentamycin. Diagnostic and structure-activity relationship aspects of the case are discussed.

Recombinant factor VIIa in continuous infusion during central line insertion in a child with factor VIII high-titre inhibitor.

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is a recently added new tool for the treatment of haemophilia patients with inhibitors. A major drawback in the use of rFVIIa is its short half-life, which necessitates frequent bolus injections. Thus the use of rFVIIa in continuous infusion appears to be a good alternative. We describe the use of rFVIIa, administered by continuous infusion with a minipump during the insertion of a central venous catheter in a child with a high-titre factor VIII inhibitor. rFVIIa was administered as an intravenous bolus (90 micrograms kg-1 [4.5 kIU kg-1]), 1 h prior to central line insertion, after which the continuous infusion was immediately started for 5 days. The infusion rate was based on the clearance obtained from a previous pharmacokinetic study. Effective haemostasis and normal healing of surgical incisions were achieved after central line insertion. No local thrombophlebitis nor evidence of generalized activation of the coagulation cascade was observed. Single-dose pharmacokinetic parameter values were clearance (Cl) 34.6 mL h-1 kg-1, volume of distribution (Vd) 40.6 mL kg-1 and mean residence time (MRT) 1.17 h. The recovery was 2.27% U-1 kg-1. rFVIIa showed a monophasic decay. Cl during continuous infusion was 23.4 +/- 6.9 mL h-1 kg-1. The administration of rFVIIa by continuous infusion is effective, safe and more convenient when compared to other clotting factors. Moreover, continuous infusion provides significant economic savings (77% decrease in rFVIIa requirements).