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Biomedical subjects

G Elinder

Publications and source records attributed to G Elinder.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and viral infections.

A retrospective study was performed in 32 children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, 16 of whom had affected siblings. Altogether 22 of these children, of whom the majority (13/22) were familial cases, had clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Laboratory analysis demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus in five children, cytomegalovirus in three and human parvovirus in two. Two siblings with onset of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis within one month of each other, both of whom demonstrated serological indications of a recent human parvoviral infection at onset, are described. It is concluded that a viral infection cannot serve as the sole criterion for distinguishing a virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome as an entity separate from familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Instead, it is suggested that viral infections may elicit a bout of the familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis disorder in genetically predisposed individuals.

Child, Preschool↗

Cerebromeningeal haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

We describe 3 children with a progressive encephalopathy that was characterised by irritability, convulsions, cranial nerve palsies, ataxia, nystagmus, walking difficulties, delayed psychomotor development, hemiplegia/tetraplegia, visual disturbance, vomiting, neck stiffness, and non-specific signs of raised intracranial pressure. A final diagnosis was made in all 3 patients from necropsy material. The clinical features were ascribed to multiple inflammatory, predominantly lymphocytic, reactions and raised intracranial pressure. This condition is an atypical form of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which normally presents with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and cytopenias. By contrast, the disease pattern in our 3 children was dominated by cerebromeningeal involvement, which can precede the typical systemic symptoms of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. An awareness of this condition is important because treatments are available.

Brain Diseases↗

Hypercytokinemia in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a frequently missed and almost uniformly fatal childhood disorder. It is characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenia, coagulopathy, and hypertriglyceridemia. The pathogenesis of FHL is not known but the above clinical and laboratory findings are compatible with reported in vitro and in vivo effects of several inflammatory cytokines. We measured circulating interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor/cachectin (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in nine children with FHL. During active disease, elevated IFN-gamma was detected in seven of seven children, TNF in six of six, and IL-6 in two of six children studied. Thus, important inflammatory cytokines are augmented in active FHL and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Soluble CD8 was also increased in seven of seven children, which suggests a pathophysiologic importance of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Because FHL appears to be associated with a systemic hypercytokinemia, our results also indicate that studies of FHL may contribute to the understanding of cytokine effects in vivo. Moreover, FHL is a hereditary disorder, suggesting that the hypercytokinemia is caused by a genetic defect in cytokine regulation.

CD8 Antigens↗

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Clinical review based on the findings in seven children.

Clinical, laboratory, and histological findings in FHL of diagnostic importance were intermittent fever, hepatosplenomegaly, peripheral blood cytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, and a lymphohistiocytic accumulation with hemophagocytosis in the mononuclear phagocytic system. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy from the spleen appeared to be a useful method for revealing hemophagocytosis. The treatment of induction and relapses, as well as the maintenance therapy, included administration of teniposide, etoposide, and corticosteroids. The regimen had to be individualized for each child since the clinical course was highly variable. Half of the children given successful induction therapy (3/6) are still alive with over a 3-year survival after diagnosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Incidence in Sweden and clinical features of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

We retrospectively studied the incidence of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) in children during the 16-year period 1971-86. First, all departments of pediatrics, pathology, and infectious diseases were enquired for children with FHL or disorders resembling FHL. Secondly, the causes of death of all children who died during the study period in Sweden (n = 19,542) were also investigated. Files and histological specimens were further studied in selected children. By using a set of inclusion/exclusion criteria, we found 32 children with FHL. The incidence was 1.2/1,000,000 children per year. One child per 50,000 live borns developed FHL during this period. The sex ratio was close to 1:1. Prominent early clinical signs were fever (91%), splenomegaly (84%), hepatomegaly (90%), rash (43%), and lymph node enlargement (42%). Neurological symptoms, which developed in 47%, could totally dominate the clinical picture and develop prior to other symptoms and signs. Common laboratory findings were pancytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, elevated serum transaminases, hyperbilirubinemia, hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia, and a moderate spinal fluid pleocytosis. Chest X-ray often revealed mostly discrete pulmonary infiltrates. FHL is an underdiagnosed disease and in only 11/32 children was diagnosis made during their lifetime. It is important to be aware of the disorder as potential therapy now exists.

Adolescent↗

Child sexual abuse. Physical examination.

Twenty-nine children were subjected to physical examination as part of a population-based study comprising 41 children, aged 0-17 years, all assumed to be victims of sexual abuse. The hymenal opening was measured with transparent test tubes of known diameters using a new, simple and reproducible method. The examination was in no case performed under anaesthesia. A dilated hymenal opening and/or other physical evidence of trauma or disease were found in 19/29 children. Examination results evaluated in the light of anamnestic information indicated that sexual abuse had occurred in 10 cases but in only 3 of these cases the suspect was convicted. Additional studies are required to shed light on age-related normal variations in genital anatomy.

Adolescent↗

Vincristine neuropathy and a Guillain-Barré syndrome: a case with acute lymphatic leukemia and quadriparesis.

A 3 1/2-yr-old boy with acute leukemia rapidly developed quadriparesis during induction treatment that included vincristine. Accompanying the paralysis, spinal fluid protein was increased. This has not previously been associated with vincristine neuropathy. In addition to leukemia, we suggest that the patient had the Guillain-Barré syndrome, potentiating the neurotoxicity of vincristine.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗