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D Gilon

Publications and source records attributed to D Gilon.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Treatment of envenomation by Echis coloratus (mid-east saw scaled viper): a decision tree.

Envenomation by Echis coloratus causes a transient hemostatic failure. Systemic symptoms, hypotension and evident bleeding are rare, with only one reported fatality. In this paper, we examine the decision to treat victims of Echis coloratus by a specific horse antiserum. The decision model considers the mortality of treated and untreated envenomation, and the side effects of antiserum treatment: fatal anaphylaxis, serum sickness and increased risk of death after a possible repeated exposure to horse antiserum in the future. The results of the analysis are not sensitive to variations in the probability of side effects of antiserum treatment. They are sensitive to variations in the risk of bleeding after envenomation, in the degree of reduction of this risk by antiserum treatment and in the risk of dying after an event of bleeding. Prompt administration of antiserum appears to be the treatment of choice if it reduces the risk of bleeding from 23.6% to 20.3% and if 1.6% or more of the bleeding events are fatal. We conclude that presently available data support antiserum treatment of victims of Echis coloratus who present with hemostatic failure, even though the advantage imparted by this treatment appears to be small.

Adult↗

Cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction associated with anticardiolipin antibodies in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 26 year old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus, including malar rash, photosensitivity, and arthritis, developed a cerebrovascular accident and acute myocardial infarction. High titres to antinuclear factor, anti-DNA antibodies, positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and anticardiolipin antibodies were found in her serum. A possible association between the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and the two major thrombotic events is discussed.

Adult↗

Prolonged pyrexia and lung metastases. A rare presentation of an occult epithelioid sarcoma.

A 31-year-old patient presenting with fever of unknown origin, night sweats and weight loss, associated later with pulmonary nodules, is described. Multiple invasive diagnostic procedures, including exploratory laparotomy and open-lung biopsy, suggested a benign inflammatory granulomatous disease. Metastatic epithelioid sarcoma was ultimately diagnosed after biopsy of an enlarging groin mass. Epithelioid sarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of prolonged fever, associated with granulomas of obscure etiology.

Adult↗

Erythromycin-induced dynamic ileus?

A 39-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman developed dynamic ileus soon after erythromycin stearate was administered for a respiratory tract infection. Both had had prior uncomplicated abdominal operations: the man, vagotomy and pyloroplasty for bleeding duodenal ulcer, 3 years earlier; and the woman, an appendectomy some 44 years before. The temporal association with erythromycin therapy, resolution of signs and symptoms when the drug was stopped, an uneventful recovery, and the absence of other causes, suggest a possible role of erythromycin in the pathogenesis of dynamic ileus in these patients. Disturbed gastrointestinal motility patterns caused by erythromycin, in the presence of structural changes of the alimentary tract due to prior surgical procedures, may have contributed and we review these events.

Adult↗

Masked phenytoin-induced megaloblastic anemia in beta-thalassemia minor.

We report the occurrence of megaloblastic hematopoiesis with peripheral microcytosis in a beta-thalassemic heterozygote who developed profound anemia secondary to folate deficiency. The folate deficiency was precipitated by prolonged therapy with diphenylhydantoin. In thalassemic heterozygotes who develop anemia, the possibility of a megaloblastic pathogenesis should be pursued even when the RBC indices maintain their microcytic-hypochromic expression.

Adult↗

Age- and gender-related differences in success, major and minor complication rates and the duration of hospitalization after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

This report describes the effect of age and gender on the results of balloon angioplasty using current technique and indications. A consecutive group of 2,067 patients who underwent angioplasty at a single institution after 1990 is described. Angioplastic success was 92.2% and similar among men and women and the various age groups. Sixteen patients (0.8%) died, and mortality among women was significantly higher (1.4 vs. 0.6%, p < 0.001). There were no age or gender differences in the rate of Q-wave myocardial infarction and the need for coronary artery bypass. Minor complications such as groin complications (10.5% women, 5.0% men; p < 0.001) and infections (6.4% women, 3.7% men; p < 0.05) were more common in women, and as a result the duration of hospitalization after angioplasty was longer. The length of hospitalization after angioplasty was longer with advanced age, mainly as a result of higher groin complications (p < 0.001), infections (p < 0.01) and renal failure (p < 0.05). We conclude that using current indications and technique, angioplasty can be performed safely with a high success rate. Mortality is higher among women. The length of hospitalization after angioplasty is longer in women and, at advanced age, due to higher rate of minor complications.

Age Factors↗