PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Vallina Alvarez

Publications and source records attributed to E Vallina Alvarez.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

[Pulmonary Langerhans'-cell histiocytosis].

Pulmonary Langerhans'-cell histiocytosis belongs to a spectrum of diseases characterized by monoclonal proliferation and infiltration of organs by Langerhans' cells. It is an uncommon interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology occurring almost exclusively in cigarette smokers. It s course in adults is variable and unpredictable, ranging from benign self-limiting types with spontaneous regression to slowly progressive malignant disease that leads to respiratory failure and death. We report one patient diagnoses of pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis who experimented an objective radiographic improvement and disappearance of symptoms after smoking cessation.

Adult↗

[Whipple's disease. Two new cases of an underdiagnosed disease].

Whipple's disease is a rare systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whippelii. Early diagnosis is essential. Whipple's disease is potentially fatal but responds dramatically to antibiotic treatment. The diagnosis is confirmed by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. This analysis may be useful for monitoring the efficacy of therapy. The recommended treatment al present is administration of cotrimoxazole twice daily for one year. When CNS involvement occurs, it is recommended initial treatment with daily parenteral administration of streptomycin 1 g and 1.2 million units of benzyl penicillin (Penicillin G) over a period of 14 days.

Aged↗

[Rhabdomyolysis syndrome and hyperthermia secondary to cocaine and/or ecstasy consumption. Report of 2 new cases and review of the problem].

We describe two cases of hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysis related to cocaine and/or ecstasy consumption. The clinical and laboratory findings are characteristic of hyperthermia syndrome in both cases. The first patient consumed cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol and afterwards suffers from hyperthermia and rhabdomyolysis associated with decreased conscious level, labile blood pressure, severe renal insufficiency (needing hemodialysis) and important liver failure. The second patient consumed ecstasy and alcohol with intense physical activity and shows the same but moderate clinical picture rapidly responding to intravenous fluid therapy. The incidence of this drug-induced hyperthermia is low compared to the important use of these illicit drugs. Nevertheless its increasing consumption will lead physicians to attend more patients with this syndrome and other related complications. For this reason we have reviewed and up-dated this problematic subject.

Adult↗

[Hypophysio-adrenal axis in patients with chronic alcoholism].

OBJECTIVES: To study the situation of the hypophyso-adrenal axis in patients with chronic alcoholism. METHOD: 24 patients with chronic alcoholism admitted in our Institution with acute delirium were studied. Cortisol am and pm und (ACTH levels, along with hemogram with Wintrobe indexes, patelets number, triglicerides, total and HDL cholesterol, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyltranspeptidase were measured in serum. RESULTS: The mean values of ACTH am were 41.2 pcg/ml (normal values 10-80 pcg/ml), of plasma cortisol am 22 mcg/ml (normal values 10-24 mcg/ml) and plasmo cortisol pm 12.3 mcg/ml (normal values 5-12 mcg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: The amount of alcohol consumed by alcoholic patients ist not comparable to that used in animal models, which induced adrenal hyperfunction. Blood ACTH and cortisol levels are not useful as indirect markers of alcoholism. The Wintrobe indexes and serum gammaglutamyltranspeptidase levels are more useful for that purpose.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

[Epidemic parotitis and Reiter's syndrome].

A case of epidemic parotiditis in an adult male affected by Reiter's syndrome, is presented. The symptoms of Reiter's syndrome lasting 3 months after the recovery from epidemic parotiditis. Although descriptions of Reiter's syndrome of viral origin (adenovirus or hepatitis virus) exist, we have not found references of a relation to epidemic parotiditis. The diagnosis criteria of this syndrome is discussed, as well as the study of the epidemic parotiditis. We review the existing theories in order to justify the multiple etiology of this interesting syndrome.

Adult↗