Kevser Onbaşi | PubMed Health

PubMed2005

Raynaud's phenomenon in a healthy Turkish population.

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a vasospastic disease and is characterized by ischemia of the digits, nose, and ears. The vasospasm can be triggered by cold weather, cold water, or emotional stress and is followed by triphasic color changes. First white color (ischemia), then blue color (congestion and cyanosis), and finally red color change (reactive hyperemia) can be observed. The prevalence is reported to be between 0.5 and 20% in different studies and is dependent on genetic, occupational, and environmental factors. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of RP in an eastern part of Turkey among healthy subjects. A total of 768 people were included in the study. This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2003 and October 2003 at the University Hospital and at the State Hospital in Van, Turkey. The participants were interviewed and examined to diagnose RP and a questionnaire and color charts were used. Of these 768 patients, 25 women and 20 men were diagnosed to have RP. A female predominance (25/20) was observed. Their mean age was 24.78 +/- 5.71 years. The prevalence of RP was 5.9% in our study population.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) presenting with malabsorption due to giardiasis.

Common variable immunodeficiency is characterized with B-cell and T-cell dysfunction and hypogammaglobulinemia. Recurrent bacterial infections, such as otitis media, chronic sinusitis and recurrent pneumonia due to diminished immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and impaired antibody production are frequently observed in common variable immunodeficiency. Almost half of the patients with common variable immunodeficiency have problems related to the gastrointestinal system. A 39-year-old woman was referred to our department with the complaint of chronic diarrhea. She had experienced diarrhea without mucus or blood in the last year and had lost 30 kg. In her medical history, she had suffered from recurrent upper and lower respiratory infections like sinusitis, otitis media and pneumonia since childhood. Serum immunoglobulin levels were low. There were no parasites or ova in her stool examinations. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy detected widespread macroscopic nodular appearance on duodenum, and biopsies from the duodenum revealed giardiasis invading the tissue. She was diagnosed as common variable immunodeficiency. After metronidazole therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin infusion was started, her diarrhea attacks ceased and she regained her normal weight. Common gastrointestinal system problems in patients with common variable immunodeficiency are lactose intolerance, lymphoid hyperplasia/diffuse lymphoid infiltration, loss of villi and infection, especially with Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis may lead to severe mucosal flattening and sometimes to lymphoid hyperplasia at the lamina propria of the duodenum. Medical history should be evaluated carefully regarding recurrent respiratory infections. In such cases with chronic diarrhea, common variable immunodeficiency should be kept in mind as a possible cause.

Adult↗