Serum soluble Fas ligand levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with drug-induced maculopapular rashes, dress, and viral exanthemas

BACKGROUND: Fatty acid synthetase (Fas)/Fas ligand (FasL)-dependent apoptotic pathways have been reported as being involved in the pathogenesis of drug-induced maculopapular rashes. OBJECTIVE: We investigated serum soluble FasL (sFasL) levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes to discriminate maculopapular drug eruptions (MPDE) from viral exanthema (VE). Patients/methods: Children with confirmed MPDE (group I), VE (group II), and drug rashes with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) (group III) were included. Serum sFasL levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes were analyzed in groups I-III on admission, and repeated twice (only once for group IV - controls). RESULTS: There were no significant serum soluble FasL level differences among the groups for all the samples. In the initial samples, CD19+ cell numbers in group II were significantly higher than in group IV, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was higher than groups I and IV. In the second samples, CD4+ and CD19+ cell numbers were significantly higher in group II than group I. In the final samples, CD4+ cell numbers in group II were significantly higher than group I and group III. CD19+ cells numbers in group III were significantly lower than the other groups for all samples. CONCLUSION: Serum sFasL levels were not found to be useful in discriminating viral exanthemas from other drug rashes. The significant differences between MPDE, VE, and DRESS were high CD4+ and CD19+ cell-count numbers in VE but low B-cell numbers in DRESS. This might be important for discriminating VE from DRESS, and the low B-cell count in early symptoms might be a useful predictor of DRESS development

No disponible

Assessment of regular drug use and inhaler technique skills in asthmatic children

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the regular use of long-term asthma-control medication and to determine inhaler techniques in asthmatic children. METHODS: The study was conducted on asthmatic children aged 6-18 years. Information on rescue and controller medications was given and the proper inhalation technique was demonstrated. One month later, patients and parents were asked to answer a questionnaire on drug use and to demonstrate their inhaler techniques. RESULTS: One hundred children and/or their parents were interviewed for the study. All of the patients identified long-term asthma-control medications while quick-relief asthma medications were identified by 93% of the patients. Of the patients, 34% described the dose of their quick-relief medication correctly. All steps in the inhalation technique were correctly carried out by 60.6% of patients using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), 80% of patients using a Turbuhaler, and 58% of patients using a capsule-based dry-powder inhaler (DPI). Of the participants, 73% reported regular use of long-term asthma-control medications. While the mean age of the patients regularly using long-term asthma medications was 9.05 ± 2.5 years, that of patients not compliant with the regular treatment was 10.29 ± 3.26 years (p = 0.04). The most common reason for irregular drug use was forgetting to take the drug. CONCLUSION: Adherence to long-term asthma-control medications tends to be better in younger patients. Since the most common cause of irregular drug use is forgetting to take the drug, repeated training is necessary to ensure asthma control and the successful treatment of asthmatic children

No disponible

Serum soluble Fas ligand levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with drug-induced maculopapular rashes, dress, and viral exanthemas.

BACKGROUND: Fatty acid synthetase (Fas)/Fas ligand (FasL)-dependent apoptotic pathways have been reported as being involved in the pathogenesis of drug-induced maculopapular rashes. OBJECTIVE: We investigated serum soluble FasL (sFasL) levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes to discriminate maculopapular drug eruptions (MPDE) from viral exanthema (VE). PATIENTS/METHODS: Children with confirmed MPDE (group I), VE (group II), and drug rashes with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) (group III) were included. Serum sFasL levels and peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes were analyzed in groups I-III on admission, and repeated twice (only once for group IV - controls). RESULTS: There were no significant serum soluble FasL level differences among the groups for all the samples. In the initial samples, CD19+ cell numbers in group II were significantly higher than in group IV, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was higher than groups I and IV. In the second samples, CD4+ and CD19+ cell numbers were significantly higher in group II than group I. In the final samples, CD4+ cell numbers in group II were significantly higher than group I and group III. CD19+ cells numbers in group III were significantly lower than the other groups for all samples. CONCLUSION: Serum sFasL levels were not found to be useful in discriminating viral exanthemas from other drug rashes. The significant differences between MPDE, VE, and DRESS were high CD4+ and CD19+ cell-count numbers in VE but low B-cell numbers in DRESS. This might be important for discriminating VE from DRESS, and the low B-cell count in early symptoms might be a useful predictor of DRESS development.