Treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis with heterologous serum.

Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare form of chronic and recurrent bilateral conjunctivitis, in which thick membranes develop on the tarsal conjunctiva and on other mucosae. We report the case of a 55-year old female patient with bilateral ligneous conjunctivitis who was successfully treated with 50% heterologous serum. There was no recurrence or side effects after one-year follow-up. We suggest the use of 50% heterologous serum should be further studied to better determine its efficacy as a treatment option for ligneous conjunctivitis.

Treatment of ligneous conjunctivitis with heterologous serum / Tratamento de conjuntivite lenhosa com soro heterólogo

ABSTRACT Ligneous conjunctivitis is a rare form of chronic and recurrent bilateral conjunctivitis, in which thick membranes develop on the tarsal conjunctiva and on other mucosae. We report the case of a 55-year old female patient with bilateral ligneous conjunctivitis who was successfully treated with 50% heterologous serum. There was no recurrence or side effects after one-year follow-up. We suggest the use of 50% heterologous serum should be further studied to better determine its efficacy as a treatment option for ligneous conjunctivitis.

RESUMO A conjuntivite lenhosa é uma forma rara de conjuntivite bilateral crônica e recorrente, na qual há formação de membranas espessas na conjuntiva tarsal e em outras mucosas. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 55 anos com conjuntivite lenhosa bilateral, que obteve sucesso no tratamento com soro heterólogo em concentração de 50%. Não houve recorrência após um ano de seguimento e nem efeitos colaterais ao tratamento. Dessa forma, o uso de soro heterólogo a 50% poderia ser mais estudado para melhor avaliação de sua eficácia como opção de tratamento para a conjuntivite lenhosa.

Trombolisis intravenosa con rtPA en el Stroke Isquémico Agudo. Eficacia y seguridad del programa instalado en el Hospital Universitario de la Fundación Favaloro / Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in the acute ischemic stroke

The study of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) proved that the use of the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) within the first 3 hours since the beginning of the symptomatology of the acute ischemis stroke (AIS) is as well safe as effective...These preliminary data reported in our study show that a strict protocol of thrombolysis IV with rtPA in AIS is feasible to be carried on with good results in a high complexity Center.

Angiogenesis and cancer: recent advances.

Recent studies have shown the possibility to treat cancer with drugs that affect the formation of new blood vessels instead of attacking directly the malignant cell. This relatively new field in the area of oncology on angiogenesis inhibition has expanded the therapeutic option for malignant diseases. We will discuss several antiangiogenesis drugs in clinical development and their mechanism of action. Some of these drugs include: angiostatin, metalloproteinase inhibitors, thalidomide, tamoxifen, interferons and others. The use of antiangiogenic agents, both in combination with other treatment modalities in the acute setting as well as long-term maintenance or prevention of cancer, is at present one of the better promises in the war against cancer.

Angiogenesis and cancer: recent advances

Recent studies have shown the possibility to treat cancer with drugs that affect the formation of new blood vessels instead of attacking directly the malignant cell. This relatively new field in the area of oncology on angiogenesis inhibition has expanded the therapeutic option for malignant diseases. We will discuss several antiangiogenesis drugs in clinical development and their mechanism of action. Some of these drugs include: angiostatin, metalloproteinase inhibitors, thalidomide, tamoxifen, interferons and others. The use of antiangiogenic agents, both in combination with other treatment modalities in the acute setting as well as long-term maintenance or prevention of cancer, is at present one of the better promises in the war against cancer.

[Thrombolytic therapy in thrombosis of prosthesis]. / Terapêutica trombolítica nas tromboses de próteses mecânicas.

PURPOSE: To relate our experience with thrombolytic therapy in 8 patients with cardiac metal prosthesis complicated with thrombosis. METHODS: Eight patients with clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac valvar prosthesis thrombosis were treated. RESULTS: The treatment efficacy was evaluated by clinical and echocardiographic improvement. The authors recognized improvement in all 8 patients. One case of hemorrhage was observed (coxo-femoral articulation). Late death were observed twice: 24 months after, sudden death and 30 months later by hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that thrombolytic therapy is best way to treat patients with cardiac valve thrombosis, instead of surgical treatment.

Terapêutica trombolítica nas tromboses de próteses mecânicas / Trombolytic Therapy in Cardiac Metalic Prosthesis Thrombo

PURPOSE--To relate our experience with thrombolytic therapy in 8 patients with cardiac metal prosthesis complicated with thrombosis. METHODS--Eight patients with clinical and echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac valvar prosthesis thrombosis were treated. RESULTS--The treatment efficacy was evaluated by clinical and echocardiographic improvement. The authors recognized improvement in all 8 patients. One case of hemorrhage was observed (coxo-femoral articulation). Late death were observed twice: 24 months after, sudden death and 30 months later by hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSION--The results indicated that thrombolytic therapy is best way to treat patients with cardiac valve thrombosis, instead of surgical treatment

[Coronary thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction. Initial experience with an intravenous thrombolytic agent]. / Trombolisis coronaria en el infarto agudo del miocardio. Experiencia inicial con un agente trombolítico intravenoso.

Thirteen patients with less than 5 hours of the onset of symptoms of acute myocardial infarction underwent selective coronary angiography. Ten of them had angiographic signs of coronary thrombosis. In these ten patients 15 mgs of an acylated streptokinase-plasminogen complex (BRL 26921 Beecham Farmaceuticals) were administered intravenously. Total angiographic recanalization was observed in 7 patients. The coronary arteries involved were the left anterior descending in 4 cases and the right coronary artery in 3. In 8 out of the 10 patients significant diminution of injury pattern in EKG was registered, however in all of them the necrosis pattern supervened. Prolongation of the thrombin and thromboplastin times, as well as an important fibrinogen disminution were documented in all instances. There were not complications related to the administration of the drug. An increase of muscle enzimes was documented in all cases. The follow-up was uneventfull with excellent results in all the patients. This study proves that with IV trombolitic therapy coronary recanalization can be achieved in the mayority of the patients; however there is no question that myocardial infarction finally ocurred. We speculate about the possibility of avoiding infarction by the administration of the drug within the first hour after the onset of the symptoms.