[Allergy to squid and acari in a child]. / Allergie au calmar et aux acariens chez l'enfant.

UNLABELLED: Anaphylactic reactions after consumption of squid by patients sensitized to house dust mites have been reported several times. CASE REPORT: A child allergic to dust mites developed an angioneurotic edema after eating squid. An immunoallergological assessment, including the prick test, labial test and IgE RAST revealed an allergy associated to both dust mites and squid. CONCLUSIONS: In light of the potential seriousness of anaphylactic reactions, parents of children allergic to dust mites and these children should be made aware of the increased risk of allergies to squid that they may face.

[Mid-term outcome of 2 cases with maple syrup urine disease: role of liver transplantation in the treatment]. / Devenir à moyen terme de deux cas de leucinose: place de la transplantation hépatique dans le traitement.

BACKGROUND: Dietary treatment of maple syrup urine disease remains difficult; chronic nutritional support in the child does not always avoid acute crises so that liver transplantation may represent an alternate choice in some cases. CASE REPORTS: Two gypsy cousins were born by an interval of 4 days; both had maple syrup urine disease and were similarly treated from the first days of life. They were given exchange transfusions followed by diet restricted in the branched chain amino acids, maintaining normal growth and plasma leucine concentrations under 7 mg/100 ml. Laura, at 10 years, was retarded at school. Compliance to school attendance was limited by her diet problems. Helen suffered at 7 yr 3 mo from liver failure due to hepatitis A virus infection which required liver transplantation. Protein intake was normal 1 week later. At 10 years, she presented with the same degree of school retardation as her cousin, and was placed in the same class. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation may be effective for treating metabolic problems in MSVD without significative difference between outcome post classic treatment or post liver transplantation.

[Delayed severe decompensation of leucinosis. Significance of emergency blood exchange transfusion. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Décompensations sévères tardives des leucinoses. Intérêt de l'exsanguino-transfusion en urgence. A propos de deux cas.

The observations of two gypsy cousins born to consanguineous parents and exhibiting classical leucinemia are reminders that severe, life-threatening ketotic decompensations may occur at any time. Emergency exchange-transfusions in these two children aged 3 and 5 years reversed the course of extremely severe attacks. Medium term evaluations showed very satisfactory neuropsychologic development in both children. Pathogenesis and prevention of such episodes are discussed.