ABSTRACT
Serum samples from 108 unselected Jamaican patients with homozygous sickle cell disease and 116 control subjects with normal haemoglobin were screened for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Slightly increased levels of IgG antiphospholipid antibodies were found in nine patients with sickle cell disease and in none of the control subjects. Serial control samples confirmed the increased levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. A comparison of the haematological and clinical features of patients with positive and negative antiphospholipid sickle cell disease did not highlight any differences between the groups.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/immunology , Antibodies/analysis , Homozygote , Phospholipids/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
A retrospective study of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who died at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a 14-year period is presented. The major cause of death was infection followed by renal failure. Gram-negative organisms were the major microbiological agents causing infections. Side-effects of therapy were common, in particular bone marrow depression and haemorrhage related to anticoagulants. It appears that controlling severe lupus activity without increasing the risk of lifethreatening complications remains an important goal in the treatment of SLE.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/mortality , Acute Kidney Injury/etiology , Acute Kidney Injury/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Cause of Death , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/etiology , Hemorrhage/mortality , Humans , Infections/complications , Infections/mortality , Jamaica , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
A retrospective study of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who died at the University Hospital of the West Indies over a 14-year period is presented. The major cause of death was infection followed by renal failure. Gram-negative organisms were the major microbiological agents causing infections. Side-effects of therapy were common, in particular bone marrow depression and haemorrhage related to anticoagulants. It appears that controlling severe lupus activity without increasing the risk of life-threatening complications remains an important goal in the treatment of SLE.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Female , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/mortality , Jamaica , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Cause of Death , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/etiology , Hemorrhage/mortality , Infections/complications , Infections/mortality , Acute Kidney Injury/etiology , Acute Kidney Injury/mortality , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapySubject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Rheumatic Diseases/epidemiology , Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous/epidemiology , Rheumatic Fever/epidemiology , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology , Vascular Diseases/epidemiology , Spondylitis/epidemiology , Joint Diseases/epidemiology , JamaicaABSTRACT
In a study of 270 patients with SLE at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, the overall incidence of antibodies to extractable cellular antigens detected by DIE was 61 percent. In a series of 36 West Indian SLE patients, the comparable figure was 74 percent. Of particular interest was the fact that 50 percent of the Jamaican group had anti-RO, double the frequency of the London patients. Furthermore, there was an increased occurrence of anti-Sm antibodies demonstrated in 25 percent of sera of Jamaican cases as opposed to 7.5 percent. This divergence was even more striking when the British patients were assessed according to racial origin. Only 4 percent of Caucasians had anti-Sm, but 30 percent of the small population (10 percent) of Black and Chinese patients had the antibody. This data demonstrates the valuable role which the detection of anti-ENA plays in the serology of SLE. The presence of anti-Sm antibodies is now included in the revised criteria for the diagnosis of SLE, and it is thought that anti-Ro is associated with a sub-set of lupus patients who do not have anti-ds DNA antibodies (AU)
Subject(s)
Comparative Study , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunologySubject(s)
Arsenic Poisoning , Glass , Industry , Occupational Diseases/chemically induced , Humans , Jamaica , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A case is presented of a 46-year-old labourer in Kingston glass factory who exhibited the typical manifestations of arsenic poisoning after participating in the dismantling of an old furnace in the factory. An investigation of the factory by a Ministry of Health team found the safety practices of the company to be inadequate. Measurement of 24-hour urinary arsenic content in nine workers showed that five had levels above the upper limit of the range acceptable for exposed persons. This case serves to emphasize the need for increased attention to safe industrial practices by Caribbean industries, governments, and health communities (AU)