Hypersensitivity syndrome (DRESS) and meningoencephalitis associated with nevirapine therapy.

The DRESS (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) syndrome is a serious condition that has been reported in association with various drugs, such as allopurinol, sulfonamides and aromatic anticonvulsants. Recently the condition has been described in HIV-infected patients taking antiretroviral agents. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of DRESS syndrome complicated by meningoencephalitis associated with nevirapine therapy.

Malignant tumors other than lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma in association with HIV infection.

Since 1981 there has been a constant rise in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and the anorectum among homosexual men in the United States. In addition, lung cancer, testicular cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, cervical cancer, and multiple myeloma have been recently reported in persons at risk for AIDS with HIV infection, with some peculiar clinicopathological features, including age, histological type, and clinical aggressiveness. Within the GICAT (Gruppo Italiano Cooperativo AIDS & Tumori) framework, we have identified four cases of testicular cancer, two cases of leukemia, and 1 case each of cervical cancer, carcinoma of the oral cavity, lung cancer, brain tumor, and multiple myeloma in persons at risk for AIDS, mainly i.v. drug abusers, with HIV infection, diagnosed in different Italian institutions. Work is in progress in order to collect histological and clinical data on these tumors. Although these data are preliminary and are not indicative of an actual increase in the incidence of malignancies other than malignant lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma in the AIDS setting, clinicians should be aware of the possible association of these tumors with HIV infection.

Case report of a Burkitt-like lymphoma in a bisexual HIV-positive man.

The clinical and pathologic features of a Burkitt-like lymphoma in a bisexual HIV-sero-positive man are reported. Emphasis is placed on some histologic characteristics present in a hyperplastic lymph node removed 2 years before the development of the B-cell lymphoma.

Diffuse pulmonary changes caused by gold salt therapy. Report of a case.

A case of diffuse reversible pulmonary injury, developed during gold salt therapy, is presented. The discussion deals with the difficulty of excluding other diseases capable of mimicking this clinical and radiological picture. The pathogenesis and evolution of this interstitial pneumonitis-like entity is discussed and the related literature is reviewed.

Clinical evaluation of labetalol alone and combined with chlorthalidone in essential hypertension: a double-blind multicentre controlled study.

In a multicentre, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, the antihypertensive effect of labetalol 100 mg and chlorthalidone 10 mg, given alone or in combination, has been assessed in 32 hypertensive patients. The combination had a greater effect in reducing blood pressure than did its separate components. This was particularly evident after exercise. Heart rate increased during chlorthalidone therapy, decreased during labetalol therapy, and a summation effect was observed during treatment with the combination. In most cases additivity was observed, as no interaction between the single components was observed, except for heart rate after exercise, and for diastolic blood pressure in the upright position. No interaction was observed either in the biochemical indices or in the clinical side-effects.