SCHISTOSOMAL MYELORADICULOPATHY IN A NON-ENDEMIC AREA.

OBJECTIVE: To report a schistosomal myeloradiculopathy case in a non-endemic area. CASE DESCRIPTION: A previously healthy 11-year-old boy, stricken by an acute loss of strength on his lower limbs, followed by a loss of strength on his upper limbs and upper body, associated with altered sensitivity of the vesical globe formation. The patient's cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed eosinophilic meningitis, in addition to peripheral eosinophilia. The investigation resulted in a positive serology for Schistosoma mansoni. The treatment included steroids and praziquantel 60mg/kg, with a new dose after a month, as well as physical therapy for rehabilitation. The patient evolved with clinical improvement in the neurological exam, with a medullary section initially at C6, but now at T6. The patient is kept at prednisolone use (30mg/day) and longterm urinary catheter dependence. COMMENTS: The schistosomiasis is endemic in many regions of Brazil; however, it has low incidence in the south of the country. Among its main manifestations, the schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe ectopic form of the disease, and should be suspected in patients with low back pain, strength and/or sensibility disorder of the lower limbs or urinary tract's disturbance. Early diagnosis and treatment should be done in order to reduce severe neurological sequelae. Treatment includes schistosomiasis drugs, corticosteroids and/or surgery.

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy in a non-endemic area / Mielorradiculopatia esquistossomótica em região não endêmica

ABSTRACT Objective: To report a schistosomal myeloradiculopathy case in a non-endemic area. Case description: A previously healthy 11-year-old boy, stricken by an acute loss of strength on his lower limbs, followed by a loss of strength on his upper limbs and upper body, associated with altered sensitivity of the vesical globe formation. The patient's cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed eosinophilic meningitis, in addition to peripheral eosinophilia. The investigation resulted in a positive serology for Schistosoma mansoni. The treatment included steroids and praziquantel 60mg/kg, with a new dose after a month, as well as physical therapy for rehabilitation. The patient evolved with clinical improvement in the neurological exam, with a medullary section initially at C6, but now at T6. The patient is kept at prednisolone use (30mg/day) and longterm urinary catheter dependence. Comments: The schistosomiasis is endemic in many regions of Brazil; however, it has low incidence in the south of the country. Among its main manifestations, the schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is the most severe ectopic form of the disease, and should be suspected in patients with low back pain, strength and/or sensibility disorder of the lower limbs or urinary tract's disturbance. Early diagnosis and treatment should be done in order to reduce severe neurological sequelae. Treatment includes schistosomiasis drugs, corticosteroids and/or surgery.

RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar um caso de mielorradiculopatia esquistossomótica em área não endêmica. Descrição do caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, 11 anos, previamente hígido, com história aguda de paresia de membros inferiores, que evoluiu para membros superiores e tronco, associada à alteração de sensibilidade e formação de globo vesical. O exame do líquor demonstrava meningite eosinofílica, além de eosinofilia periférica. A investigação resultou em sorologia positiva para Schistosoma mansoni. O tratamento foi realizado com corticoterapia e praziquantel 60 mg/kg, com nova dose após um mês, além de fisioterapia para reabilitação. Evoluiu com melhora clínica no exame neurológico, com nível de secção medular que inicialmente correspondia a C6, encontrando-se atualmente em T6. Mantém uso de prednisolona 30 mg/dia e dependência de sonda vesical de demora. Comentários: A esquistossomose é uma doença endêmica em muitas regiões do Brasil, porém com pouca incidência no Sul do país. Dentre as principais manifestações, a mielorradiculopatia esquistossomótica é a forma ectópica mais grave e deve ser suspeitada na vigência de dor lombar, alteração de força e/ ou sensibilidade de membros inferiores e distúrbio urinário. O diagnóstico e o tratamento devem ser instituídos precocemente para diminuir o risco de sequelas neurológicas graves. O tratamento pode ser realizado com esquistossomicidas, corticosteroides e/ ou cirurgia.

Impacto da vacina pneumocócica conjugada 10-valente na meningite pneumocócica na região metropolitana de Salvador, Bahia / Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 10-valent pneumococcal meningitis in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia

INTRODUÇÃO: Em 2010, a vacina conjugada 10-valente (PCV10) foi incorporada ao programa nacional de imunizações (PNI) brasileiro. Este imunobiológico confere imunização contra os dez principais tipos capsulares de Streptococcus pneumoniae, patógeno responsável por diversas manifestações clínicas e com elevada contribuição nas taxas de incidência e mortalidade por meningite, que é a condição clínica mais grave. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto da PCV10 na epidemiologia da meningite pneumocócica na região metropolitana de Salvador (RMS) Bahia, comparando o período anterior (2008-2010) e posterior (2011-2013) a sua utilização, bem como realizar uma caracterização molecular minuciosa a partir de uma série histórica (1996-2012) entre os isolados resistentes a enicilina (PNSSP com CIM≥ 0,125 μg/mL) e para os sorotipos não-vacinais (2008-2012). MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos todos casos de meningite pneumocócica confirmados laboratorialmente no período entre 1996 a 2013. Taxas de incidência para a Salvador e RMS foram calculadas com base nos dados populacionais do IBGE/2010. A determinação do tipo capsular foi realizada através da técnica de Multiplex-PCR e/ou reação de Quellung. A sensibilidade a nove antimicrobianos foi testada através das técnicas disco-difusão,microdiluição e E-test. Para caracterizar o perfil molecular foram aplicadas as técnicas de genotipagem de PFGE e MLST. RESULTADOS: Um total de 939 casos de meningite pneumocócica foram identificados no período de 1996-2013, sendo que 70 casos ocorrem entre 2011 a 2013 (período pós-vacinal). A incidência de meningite pneumocócica em todas as faixas etárias na RMS reduziu de 0,70 casos/100.000 habitantes para 0,59 casos/100.000 habitantes considerando o período de três anos antes e após a vacinação com PCV10 [p<0,05; RR IC 95%: 1,46 (1,03-2,05)]. Esta redução foi significativa na faixa etária de 0-2 anos e nos casos por sorotipos relacionados à PCV10. Não houve aumento significativo de casos por sorotipos não vacinais nesta casuística,apesar do surgimento de casos por sorotipos não-vacinais não detectados anteriormente na série histórica de MP (10F, 21, 22F, 15A e 24F). Os isolados resistentes à penicilina analisados na série histórica se restringiram a 13 sorotipos, entre os quais: 14 (45,1 %; 78/173), 23F (19,1%; 33/173), 6B (14,4 %; 25/173), 19F (9,2 %; 16/173) e 19A (5,2 %; 9/173). 94% dos casos nãosusceptíveis à penicilina (PNSSP) foram de sorotipos vacinais. Os grupos clonais caracterizados pelo PFGE/MLST predominantes ao longo dos anos foram representados pelo sorotipo 14, denominado grupo A/ST 66 [35,3 %(61/173)] e grupo GK/ST 156 [4.6 % (8/173)], este último associado com níveis elevados de resistência a penicilina e ceftriaxona. Não foram detectados grupos clonais emergentes associados a tipos capsulares não-vacinais.CONCLUSÕES: Estes achados sugerem que a introdução da PCV10 modificou a epidemiologia da meningite pneumocócica na população estudada.

INTRODUCTION: In 2010, the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) was introduced into the Brazilian national immunization program (NIP). This immunobiological provides immunization against the main ten capsular types of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pathogen responsible for different clinical manifestations and high contribution in the incidence and mortality from meningitis, which is the most severe clinical condition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PCV10 in the epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis in the metropolitan area of Salvador (RMS) Bahia, comparing the previous (2008-2010) and after (2011-2013) periods its use, as well as conduct a thorough molecular characterization from a historical series (1996-2012) among isolates resistant to penicillin (PNSSP with CIM≥ 0.125 g / ml) and nonvaccine serotypes (2008-2012). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all cases of pneumococcal meningitis laboratory confirmed for the period 1996 to 2013. Incidence rates for Salvador and RMS were calculated based on population data from IBGE/2010. The capsular type determination was performed by multiplex PCR and/or Quellung reaction. Isolates Nine antibiotics were tested by disk-diffusion test, broth micro-dilution and E-test. To characterize the molecular profiling techniques were applied genotyping PFGE and MLST...

Intrathecal activation as a typical immune response within the central nervous system in angiostrongyliasis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic pathogen that occasionally causes human angiostrongyliasis; its main clinical manifestation is eosinophilic meningitis. This report defines the concept of intrathecal activation of complement as evidence of intrathecal synthesis of major immunoglobulins during this disease. Details are presented of the activation of complement system components in cerebrospinal fluid, and their application to our understanding of this tropical disease, which is emerging in the Western hemisphere. Intrathecal synthesis of at least one of the major immunoglobulins and a wide spectrum of patterns may be observed. Although intrathecal synthesis of C3c is always present, C4 intrathecal synthesis does not occur in every patient. The diversity of intrathecal synthesis and activation of the different complement pathways enables their division into three variant groups (A, B, and C). Variant group A includes the classical and/or lectin pathway and involves two or more major immunoglobulins with C3 and C4 intrathecal synthesis. Variant group B involves C4 in cerebrospinal fluid that comes from blood in the intrathecal activation of the classical pathway. Variant group C includes the alternative pathway.

Neuroimmunological findings of Angiostrongylus cantonensis meningitis in Ecuadorian patients.

UNLABELLED: Meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis has recently been reported in patients resulting from the first outbreaks in subtropical regions of Ecuador. METHOD: Eight young adult patients from the two outbreaks were studied. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin in cerebrospinal fluid and serum were quantified and plotted in cerebrospinal fluid/serum quotient diagrams (Reibergrams). The anamnesis on the patients included asking about any consumption of raw snails, symptoms and harm caused. RESULTS: Mean eosinophilia of 7.5% and 26% in serum and cerebrospinal fluid respectively was observed, as well as a moderate increase in total proteins. The most frequent pattern of intrathecal synthesis was observed in three classes of immunoglobulins. Intrathecal synthesis of IgM was observed in all cases two weeks after the first symptoms appeared. CONCLUSION: The intrathecal synthesis patterns of eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis, facilitated by cerebrospinal fluid analysis, were similar to those of previous cases from abroad.

SNPs in DNA repair genes associated to meningitis and host immune response.

In vitro and in animal models, APE1, OGG1, and PARP-1 have been proposed as being involved with inflammatory response. In this work, we have investigated if the SNPs APE1 Asn148Glu, OGG1 Ser326Cys, and PARP-1 Val762Ala are associated to meningitis. The patient genotypes were investigated by PIRA-PCR or PCR-RFLP. DNA damages were detected in genomic DNA by Fpg treatment. IgG and IgA were measured from plasma and the cytokines and chemokines were measured from cerebrospinal fluid samples using Bio-Plex assays. A higher frequency (P<0.05) of APE1 Glu allele in bacterial meningitis (BM) and aseptic meningitis (AM) patients was observed. The genotypes Asn/Asn in control group and Asn/Glu in BM group was also higher. For the SNP OGG1 Ser326Cys, the genotype Cys/Cys was more frequent (P<0.05) in BM group. The frequency of PARP-1 Val/Val genotype was higher in control group (P<0.05). The occurrence of combined SNPs is significantly higher in BM patients, indicating that these SNPs may be associated to the disease. Increasing in sensitive sites to Fpg was observed in carriers of APE1 Glu allele or OGG1 Cys allele, suggesting that SNPs affect DNA repair activity. Alterations in IgG production were observed in the presence of SNPs APE1 Asn148Glu, OGG1 Ser326Cys or PARP-1 Val762Ala. Moreover, reduction in the levels of IL-6, IL-1Ra, MCP-1/CCL2 and IL-8/CXCL8 was observed in the presence of APE1 Glu allele in BM patients. In conclusion, we obtained indications of an effect of SNPs in DNA repair genes on the regulation of immune response in meningitis.

Neuroimmunological findings of Angiostrongylus cantonensis meningitis in ecuadorian patients / Hallazgos neuroinmunologicos en meningitis por Angiostrongylus cantonesis en pacientes ecuatorianos

Meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis has recently been reported in patients resulting from the first outbreaks in subtropical regions of Ecuador. METHOD: Eight young adult patients from the two outbreaks were studied. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin in cerebrospinal fluid and serum were quantified and plotted in cerebrospinal fluid/serum quotient diagrams (Reibergrams). The anamnesis on the patients included asking about any consumption of raw snails, symptoms and harm caused. RESULTS: Mean eosinophilia of 7.5 percent and 26 percent in serum and cerebrospinal fluid respectively was observed, as well as a moderate increase in total proteins. The most frequent pattern of intrathecal synthesis was observed in three classes of immunoglobulins. Intrathecal synthesis of IgM was observed in all cases two weeks after the first symptoms appeared. CONCLUSION: The intrathecal synthesis patterns of eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis, facilitated by cerebrospinal fluid analysis, were similar to those of previous cases from abroad.

La meningitis provocada por Angiostrongylus cantonensis ha sido reportada recientemente en pacientes procedentes de los primeros brotes reportados en regiones subtropicales de Ecuador. MÉTODO: Ocho adultos jóvenes procedentes de dos brotes fueron estudiados. Se cuantificó IgA, IgM, IgG y albúmina en suero y líquido cefalorraquídeo y fueron colocados en los gráficos de las razones líquido cefalorraquídeo/suero (reibergramas). La anamnesia incluía ingestión de caracoles crudos, los síntomas y los daños provocados. RESULTADOS: Una eosinofílica promedio de 7,5 y 26 por ciento en suero y líquido cefalorraquídeo fue observada al igual que un moderado incremento en las proteínas totales. El patrón de síntesis intratecal predominante fue de tres clases de inmunoglobulinas. La síntesis intratecal de IgM se observó en todos los casos a las dos semanas después del inicio de los síntomas. CONCLUSIÓN: El patrón de síntesis intratecal de la meningitis eosinofílica por Angiostrongylus cantonensis facilitado por el análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo fue similar a los casos previos reportados fuera del país.

Comparison of major immunoglobulins intrathecal synthesis patterns in Ecuadorian and Cuban patients with angiostrongyliasis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis meningitis was first reported in Cuba in 1981, and it was recently reported in South America. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis patterns from Cuba's and Ecuador's patients with angiostrongyliasis; 8 Ecuadorian patients from two different outbreaks and 28 Cuban patients were studied. Simultaneous blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were taken. Immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, IgG, and albumin were quantified by radial immunodiffusion. Corresponding Reibergrams were applied. A three-Ig pattern was the most frequent in the two groups, but IgM was presented in all Ecuadorian young mature patients; however, in the Cuban children, only 12 of 28 patients had intrathecal IgM, but about 90% had an IgA and IgG synthesis at time of later puncture. This indicates that, with a larger amount of parasites ingested, clinical symptoms are more severe, and a higher frequency of intrathecal IgM synthesis could be observed. This is discussed as a similarity with the intrathecal IgM synthesis in African trypanosomiasis.

Detection of Cysticercus antigens and antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic meningitis.

Chronic meningitism is a less frequent manifestation of neurocysticercosis caused by Taenia solium cysticerci. In the present study we used Co-agglutination (Co-A), a simple and rapid slide agglutination test to detect specific Cysticercus antigen in the 67 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with chronic meningitis of unknown etiology. The results were compared with that of ELISA for detection of antibodies. Among these samples four (5.97%) were positive for Cysticercus antigen by Co-A test and six (8.95%) were positive for antibodies by ELISA. Two samples were positive by both Co-A and ELISA, two were positive only by Co-A and four were positive only by ELISA. In the present study, although Cysticercus antigen and antibodies were present in CSF samples from eight (11.94%) patients, we cannot affirm that all the cases of chronic meningitis are due to cysticercosis, but for any case of chronic meningitis of unknown origin, it would be useful to consider the possibility of cysticercal meningitis.

Detection of Cysticercus antigens and antibodies in cerbrospinal fluid of patients with chronic meningitis

Chronic meningitism is a less frequent manifestation of neurocysticercosis caused by Taenia solium cysticerci. In the present study we used Co-agglutination (Co-A), a simple and rapid slide agglutination test to detect specific Cysticercus antigen in the 67 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with chronic meningitis of unknown etiology. The results were compared with that of ELISA for detection of antibodies. Among these samples four (5.97 percent) were positive for Cysticercus antigen by Co-A test and six (8.95 percent) were positive for antibodies by ELISA. Two samples were positive by both Co-A and ELISA, two were positive only by Co-A and four were positive only by ELISA. In the present study, although Cysticercus antigen and antibodies were present in CSF samples from eight (11.94 percent) patients, we cannot affirm that all the cases of chronic meningitis are due to cysticercosis, but for any case of chronic meningitis of unknown origin, it would be useful to consider the possibility of cysticercal meningitis.

Meningite crônica é manifestação pouco freqüente de neurocisticercose causada por cisticerco de Taenia solium. No presente estudo utilizamos co-aglutinação (Co-A) um teste simples e rápido de aglutinação para detectar antígeno específico de Cysticercus nas 67 amostras de fluido cerebrospinal (CSF) de pacientes com meningite crônica de etiologia desconhecida. Os resultados foram comparados com os de ELISA para detecção de anticorpos. Dentre estas amostras quatro (5,97 por cento) foram positivas para antígenos de Cysticercus pelo teste Co-A e seis (8,95 por cento) foram positivas para anticorpos por ELISA. Duas amostras foram positivas por ambos Co-A e ELISA, duas foram positivas somente por Co-A e quatro foram positivas somente por ELISA. No presente estudo embora antígenos e anticorpos de Cysticercus estivessem presentes nas amostras de CSF de oito pacientes (11,94 por cento), não podemos afirmar que todos os casos de meningite crônica sejam devidos à cisticercose, mas para qualquer caso de meningite crônica de origem desconhecida seria útil considerar a possibilidade de meningite por cisticerco.

Toxocara infection is not associated with viral or bacterial central nervous system infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Helminth infections with larvae that migrate through the tissues have been considered risk factors for CNS infections. OBJECTIVES: The present work was designed to investigate the prevalence of anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in the serum and/or in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with infectious meningitis or meningoencephalitis and of a control group, without meningitis, admitted at the Children's Hospital NS Glória, Vitória, ES, Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After adsorption with ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES antigen, serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid of 381 inpatients (201 with meningitis and 180 without meningitis) were submitted to an ELISA IgG, for anti- TOXOCARA antibodies using secretion/excretion antigens of third stage larvae of T. CANIS. RESULTS: No significant differences between the meningitis and the control groups were observed in the frequencies of positive tests for anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in the serum or CSF (respectively for the meningitis and control group: 33/103 or 32 % and 52/152 or 34.2 % for the serum, p = 0.821; 48/184 or 26.1 % and 23/121 or 19.0 % for the CSF; p = 0.196. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that TOXOCARA infection, evaluated by detection of anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in serum or CSF, is not associated with viral or bacterial meningitis or meningoencephalitis in children in our country.

Recurrent infections in partial complement factor I deficiency: evaluation of three generations of a Brazilian family.

We report here on the evaluation of a factor I-deficient Brazilian family (three generations, 39 members) with strong consanguinity. The complete factor I-deficient patients (n = 3) presented recurrent respiratory infections, skin infections and meningitis; one of them died after sepsis. They presented an impaired total haemolytic activity (CH50), low C3, low factor H and undetectable C3dg/C3d. Partial factor I deficiency was detected in 16 family members (normal low cut-off value was 25 microg/ml). Respiratory infections were the most common clinical occurrence among partial factor I-deficient relatives. Two of them were submitted to nephrectomy following recurrent urinary tract infections. An additional two heterozygous relatives presented with arthritis and rheumatic fever. Apparently, patients with partial factor I deficiency are also at higher risk for recurrent infections. Vaccination against capsulated bacteria and the eventual use of prophylactic antibiotics should be considered individually in this patient group.

Uso de anticorpos monoclonais na seleção de antígenos lipopolissacárides (LPS) da cepa epidêmica B:4:P1 15 de neisseria meningitidis B: imunização nasal

A alta característica epidêmica

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection in a child with familial deficiency of the beta subunit of the eighth component of complement.

A child who had had meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, and then had meningococcal meningitis, was found to have familial deficiency of the beta subunit of the eighth component of complement. The child had not received the H. influenzae type b vaccine. If this deficiency is discovered, we recommend that family members be screened, regardless of their health status.

Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of a meningococcal group B (15:P1.3) outer membrane protein vaccine in Iquique, Chile. Chilean National Committee for Meningococcal Disease.

A meningococcal group B (15:P1.3) outer membrane protein vaccine was tested for efficacy in a randomized, double-blind controlled study in Iquique, Chile. A total of 40 811 volunteers, ages 1-21 years, enrolled in the study. Volunteers received two doses of vaccine six weeks apart by jet injector. Both the experimental vaccine and the control vaccine (Menomune, A, C, Y and W135 meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine) were well tolerated with minor side-effects. Active surveillance for suspected cases of meningococcal disease was conducted for 20 months in Iquique. Eighteen cases of group B meningococcal disease were confirmed during the 20 months. Efficacy was estimated to be 51% (p = 0.11) for all ages combined. In children aged 1-4 no protection was evident, but in volunteers aged 5-21 vaccine efficacy was 70% (p = 0.045). The IgG antibody response by ELISA was characterized by a large booster effect after the second dose, followed by a substantial drop in antibody levels by 6 months. The youngest children had the highest responses. The bactericidal antibody response, on the other hand, was characterized by the lack of a significant booster response, higher responses in the older children, and an increase in the geometric mean titer in the later months of the study in the older children.

Penicilin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae from patients with meningitis

Avaliou-se a susceptibilidade a antibióticos em 146 cepas de Streptococcus pneumoniae isoladas de líquido cerebroespinhal. Sete cepas (3 com o fenótipo de resistência e 4 com o fenótipo de susceptibilidade moderada) apresentaram resultados semelhantes para a oxacilina segundo o método da difusäo em disco, e para a penicilina segundo o método da concentraçäo mínima inibitória. Duas cepas tiveram comportamentos discrepantes ao comparar-se os resultados de 2 métodos. Todas as outras cepas (137) apresentaram inibiçäo de crescimento para uma concentraçäo de oxacilina de 1 mg/ml, segundo o método da difusäo em disco

[Bacterial meningitis in infants: neurological aspects]. / Meningites bacterianas no lactente. Aspectos neurológicos.

Clinical, neurologic and laboratory aspects of bacterial meningitis in the newborn infant are critically reviewed taking into account author's experience. Pathophysiologic data on acute phase phenomena in the CNS are analysed for this purpose.

[Acute infection associated with HIV: clinical and laboratory picture]. / Infecção aguda associada ao HIV: quadro clínico e laboratorial.

Very few case reports evaluate clinical and laboratory parameters of acute HIV infection. This paper describes seven such cases, four being mononucleosis like disease and one lymphocytic meningitis. Clinical manifestations were fever (7/7), lymphadenopathy (7/7), enlarged liver size (7/7) pharyngitis (6/7), malaise (4/7) and anorexia (4/7). Inversion of the normal T4/T8 ratio was present in 3/5 patients, all with normal absolute values for T4 cells. Moderate transaminase increases were found in 5/6; 5/7 had atypical lymphocytes in blood smear and 5/5 had abnormal mucoprotein levels. All patients had a total remission of clinical symptoms within two weeks. However, the abnormal lymph nodes and the enlarged liver persisted. Follow-up for ten months showed 4/7 patients with all abnormalities resolved and 3/7 still with persistent enlarged lymph nodes.