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B Lerche

Publications and source records attributed to B Lerche.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Oral candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia correlate with HIV infection in Tanzania.

We report a detailed study on oral lesions and their association with the WHO revised provisional case definition of AIDS as well as serologic signs of HIV infection among 186 patients in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The patient material consisted of 39 hospitalized suspected AIDS patients, 44 medical nonsuspected patients, 53 dental outpatients, and 50 patients with sexually transmitted diseases. The male:female ratio was 2.1:1 on average. Oral examination was done without knowledge of the HIV status of the patients. Among 39 suspected AIDS patients 97% had WHO AIDS criteria and 90% were seropositive for HIV. Among the 147 patients not suspected of having AIDS 18 (12%) had AIDS criteria and 15% had serologic evidence of HIV infection. The presence of WHO AIDS criteria correlated significantly with the presence of HIV antibodies, but not with HIV antigen. Oral lesions were found in 54% of those with AIDS criteria and 52% of HIV-infected patients, as compared to 3% and 6% of the patients without AIDS criteria and HIV infection, respectively (p less than 0.01). Among patients with AIDS atrophic candidiasis occurred in 21%, pseudomembranous candidiasis in 23%, hairy leukoplakia in 36%, herpetic stomatitis in 2%, Kaposi's sarcoma in 4%, and nonspecific ulcer in 4%. The presence of oral lesions had a high predictive value for presence of AIDS criteria as well as for presence of HIV infection in this hospital setting. All patients should have a thorough oral examination and the presence of the aforementioned oral lesions should lead to testing for HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia relapse by aerosolised pentamidine, 60 mg biweekly, using an Acorn System 22 nebuliser.

The effectiveness of biweekly administration of 60 mg aerosolised pentamidine (AP) as secondary prophylaxis against relapse of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was investigated in 45 male AIDS patients. The nebuliser used was an Acorn System 22. In total the patients received AP for a mean period of 13.8 months (3.4-28.8). Six episodes of recurrent PCP were recorded. Relapse per full year of treatment on AP was 12%.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

[Plasmapheresis in the treatment of peripheral HIV neuropathy].

Peripheral neuropathy following HIV infection is frequently seen among HIV-positive-, ARC- and AIDS patients who often complain of debilitating paresthesias. Indirect immunofluorescence technique showed antibodies directed either to myelin and/or axons and to endothelial cells of the blood vessels within the nerve tissue. Sural nerve biopsies from five patients showed demyelination, axonal degeneration and perivascular cellular infiltration. Two of the patients had nuclear inclusions and high anti-CMV titer. Plasma exchange was undertaken on five HIV infected patients which resulted in complete disappearance of symptoms in three, incomplete remission in one and no effect in one patient. The finding of autoantibodies against different nerve tissue components, cellular infiltration, positive effect of the plasma exchange and relapse suggests that autoimmunity may play a pathogenetic role in some of the HIV infected patients with peripheral neuropathy.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1989

Independent clinical significance of HIV antigen determination and CD4 counts in anti-HIV positive patients.

HIV antigenemia was found in 52/243 HIV antibody positive individuals attending 2 AIDS-screening clinics, giving a prevalence of 13, 25 and 76% in CDC groups II, III and IV, respectively. No correlation was found to decreased CD4 lymphocyte values in the individual groups. HIV antigen therefore identified a separate subpopulation. For 138 asymptomatic patients followed prospectively both laboratory parameters predicted HIV-related events, the relative risk factor being 4 for low CD4 value and 6 for presence of HIV antigen. Individuals presenting with HIV antigen and decreased CD4 count all developed disease within 18 months, the relative risk factor being 24. Thus the 2 markers, when measured together, effectively separated asymptomatic HIV-infected patients into 1 of 3 risk categories.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1987

Total peroxidase deficiency in eosinophils: a report on twin sisters, one with a refractory anaemia.

A total lack of EPO was fortuitously discovered in a 63-yr-old woman from the north of France who had primary refractory anaemia, but without dysgranulopoiesis; MPO activity was normal. Her twin sister, whose blood count was normal, also had EPO deficiency. This familial disorder was first described in the Israeli Jewish population and is very rare in Caucasians; it seems to have no pathological consequences. Microscopic studies showed no anomaly except a negativity of Sudan Black B staining which we consider to be a sign of peroxidase deficiency. Ultrastructural studies of the granules revealed normal cristalloid, but the matrix, which contains EPO in normal eosinophils, was very thin; the nature of the relation between functional and morphological anomalies has still to be elucidated.

Anemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Difficulties with immunofixation interpretation].

Immunofixation is widely used for monoclonal gammapathies identification and Bence Jones proteinuria research. In more of cases, interpretation is easy, but some difficulties persist. Five examples are presented and their causes are analysed; in our first case, seric immunofixation shows the problem generated by additives. These components are added to optimize antigen- antibody reaction but they can induce interferences; three cases of urinary immunofixation showing Bence Jones proteinuria with/or without complete monoclonal immunoglobulin are presented. The variability of immunsera avidity is sometimes a problem; a case of light chain disease associated with monoclonal IgA illustrate difficulties of interpretation when precipitin bands have nearly the same migration. These examples underline the great importance of regular controls of immunologic reagents. The use of two antisera with the same specificity but different origin is recommended in order to resolve difficulties with interpretation of immunofixation.

Aged↗