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Biomedical subjects

A M Piette

Publications and source records attributed to A M Piette.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Spontaneous resolution of hemophagocytic syndrome associated with acute parvovirus B19 infection and concomitant Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in an otherwise healthy adult.

Reported here is the case of a patient who spontaneously recovered from hemophagocytic syndrome associated with acute B19 infection and concomitant Epstein-Barr virus reactivation. The previously healthy 37-year-old-man was hospitalized after 10 days of high fever, arthralgia and arthritis and was determined to have hemophagocytic syndrome. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigen, early antigen and parvovirus B19 (B19) were found. B19 DNA and low-level EBV DNA were detected in bone marrow, serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The patient recovered spontaneously without any treatment. Two months later anti-B19 IgG antibodies were detected, while at 9-month follow-up, anti-B19 IgM antibodies were no longer detectable and B19 DNA had disappeared from serum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous resolution of hemophagocytic syndrome associated with acute B19 infection and concomitant EBV reactivation in an otherwise healthy adult.

Acute Disease↗

[Aspirin and antiphospholipid syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Antiphospholipid syndrome is the most frequent cause of acquired thrombophilia. Aspirin may have some indications. CURRENT KONWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: The usefulness of low doses of aspirin is now well demonstrated in the prevention of obstetric complications associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (especially pregnancy loss). When heparin is combined with low-dose aspirin, the recurrent rate of fetal loss is lower than 30%. In patients with arterial or venous thrombosis, there is a high rate of recurrence during the two first years except if high-dose warfarin was used (i.e., INR > or = 3). The association warfarin-aspirin in secondary prevention of thrombosis may be evaluated in prospective studies. It is not so clear in the literature and in our experience that warfarin is superior to aspirin in stroke recurrence prevention in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, except in Sneddon's syndrome. There are no guidelines in primary thrombosis prevention in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. In lupus patients, aspirin may not be sufficient after many years of follow-up in preventing a first episode of thrombosis. Prospective studies may be undertaken. Atherosclerotic patients with antiphospholipid antibodies are particularly exposed to the risk of thrombosis after revascularisation or angioplasty and stent implantation. Aspirin may have a place in those patients but these must be evaluated. FUTUR PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: Except in prevention of obstetric complications, the usefulness of aspirin in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies must be evaluated in prospective studies.

Adult↗

[Microbiological diagnosis of bacteremia from a catheter: a simple method? Results of a retrospective study].

Diagnosing catheter-related bloodstream infections is important but not always easy and a failure to make the diagnosis may have serious consequences. A high rate of unnecessary catheter removal is noted. We retrospectively compared the clinical and usual methods of microbiological diagnoses of catheter-related sepsis to the speed of detection of the catheter versus peripheral blood cultures using the Bact-Alert system. We analyzed 50 files of patients with central indwelling devices: 16 single lumen catheters and 34 implanted ports. Twenty-one catheters were classified as infected, and we observed an earlier positivity of catheter versus peripheral blood in all cases, but significant for 19 patients. According to standard diagnosis methods, 29 catheters were estimated non-infected, a more rapid detection of peripheral culture was reported for 17 specimens and, for another eight patients, the time of detection was equal to blood culture drawn from the catheter. In this group, four discrepancies were recorded with a differential time in favor of sepsis related to catheters ranging from 0.5 to 2 hours. Because of its simplicity and low cost, we believed that this method could be the first step of a diagnosis of catheter-related sepsis and could, therefore, avoid unjustified removal, in particular for the implanted ports for which the diagnostic methods are less codified than for catheters. A prospective study is ongoing; the design of the study focuses only on implanted ports.

Bacteremia↗

[Involvement of large arteries by Horton's disease].

Up to 15% of patients with temporal arteritis, may have large vessel involvement. The ascending aorta, aortic arch, subclavian and axillary arteries are most frequently involved. These localisations may be the presenting feature but usually, temporal arteritis is known or symptomatic at the time of large vessel involvement discovering. When corticosteroids are given in adequate doses, the response is favorable in most patients with limbs localisation but aortic localisation is associated with a markedly increased risk for the development of aneurysm and dissection which may cause death.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Systemic reaction induced my minocycline treatment: a report of four patients and a review of the literature].

We report four cases of the side effects of minocycline seen during the last two years in our department. There was one case of drug-related lupus and three cases of hypersensitivity reactions, including one eosinophilic pneumopathy with pericarditis, one nephropathy and one severe, pseudo-infectious episode of high fever, rash, lympadenopathy, hepatitis and eosinophilia. Minocycline is a tetracycline agent widely used for acne therapy in France and all over the world. During the last few years, there has been an increasing number of reports concerning systemic adverse reactions to minocycline, with on the one hand auto-immune disorders (lupus, autoimmune hepatitis, vascularitis with ANCA), occurring after a prolonged course of therapy and reported recently in the last few years, and on the other hand, hypersensitivity reactions (eosinophilic pneumopathies, hepatitis, nephropathies, myocarditis, serum sickness or pseudo-infectious reactions), occurring precociously in the course of therapy, and potentially severe. Although these side effects are uncommon in the context of the high number of patients who have been prescribed the drug, the first-line antibiotic therapy in acne must probably be reconsidered.

Adolescent↗

[Value of intravenous immunoglobulins during antiphospholipid syndrome].

BACKGROUND: The antiphospholipid syndrome was individualized 12 years ago. Treatment was initially based on steroids, immunosuppressive drugs and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. More recently, several retrospective studies have established that in most clinical conditions therapeutic doses of oral vitamin K antagonists (INR > or = 3) are sufficient to control the disease. THE ROLE OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN THERAPY: However, high dose immunoglobulin therapy is still indicated in a few cases, especially in life-threatening immune peripheral thrombocytopenia, and in recurrent foetal loss: in the latter indication, immunoglobulin therapy alone is efficient in 80% of cases. FUTURE PROSPECTS: Prospective studies are needed to assess the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in neurological complications occurring in spite of anticoagulant therapy, and in the context of repeated foetal losses when antithrombotic therapy with aspirin and subcutaneous heparin has failed.

Anticoagulants↗

Pregnancy in relapsing polychondritis: twenty-five pregnancies in eleven patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with relapsing polychondritis (RP). METHODS: Retrospective review of 11 records selected from among those of 116 female RP (Michet's criteria) patients. RESULTS: In these 11 women, 25 pregnancies occurred after or concomitantly with the onset of RP. The mean (+/- SD) age at RP onset was 25 +/- 5 years (range 15-31). Therapeutic abortion was performed in 1 woman because of ongoing cyclophosphamide treatment. Disease flare occurred in 7 of 24 pregnancies, requiring treatment modification in 2 cases. RP was considered stable in 16 and asymptomatic in 1 of the 24. Treatment of RP was with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (2 of 24), steroids (13 of 24), dapsone (7 of 24), or plasma exchanges (1 of 24); no treatment was given in 8 of the 24 pregnancies. In 14 pregnancies, the course was uneventful. Ten pregnancies were complicated by ectopic nidation (n = 3), spontaneous abortion (n = 3), premature birth (n = 3), and premature rupture of membranes (n = 1). Eighteen normal children were born. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy does not seem to modify the course of RP. Successful pregnancies may be achieved in women with RP. No RP was observed in the neonates.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Systemic capillary leak syndrome: report on 13 patients with special focus on course and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare condition characterized by unexplained episodic capillary hyperpermeability due to a shift of fluid and protein from the intravascular to the interstitial space. This results in diffuse swelling, weight gain, and renal shut-down. From the first publication in 1960, only 34 cases have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To collate enough patients to observe the natural history of the disease and evaluate the efficacy of empiric treatments. DESIGN: Multicentric retrospective study. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (6 women and 7 men) were collated with a mean follow-up of 6.4 years. Eight patients are still alive after a mean of 5.6 years (range 1 to 15). Three patients out of the 11 who were not lost to follow-up died; 1 during an attack and 2 because of a progression towards multiple myeloma. CONCLUSIONS: Our series shows an improvement in the prognosis of SCLS due most likely to improved management during attacks. Some patients' disease could evolve into a multiple myeloma. Treatment is still empiric and no prophylactic therapy, including terbutaline associated with aminophylline, has clearly proven its efficacy.

Acute Disease↗