M A Kettrick | PubMed Health

PubMed1989

Recurrent neonatal herpes presenting initially with hoarseness.

This report describes a newborn with recurrent herpes simplex meningoencephalitis despite vigorous antiviral therapy. The course is unusual in that the presenting symptom was hoarseness. Despite probable adequate acyclovir levels in the spinal fluid, a second episode or progression of herpetic encephalitis occurred, suggesting impairment of host defenses, particularly cellular immunity. This episode was treated with both acyclovir and vidarabine. Pharmacokinetics of the antiviral therapy and immune responses are discussed.

Acyclovir↗

PubMed1980

Lymphocytic thyroiditis with spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism (silent thyroiditis).

Spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism (SRH) is a transient form of hyperthyroidism characterized by a painless, nontender, normal-sized or slightly enlarged thyroid gland, elevated levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, a depressed thyroid radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU), spontaneous resolution in two to five months, and a focal or diffuse lymphocytic thyroiditis on biopsy. Since 1962, 62 episodes of SRH were found in 56 individuals. Twelve thyroid biopsy specimens showed diffuse or focal lymphocytic thyroiditis. Testing of viral antibodies to a wide range of viruses demonstrated only one patient with notable titer change of 18 tested. Resolution of the hyperthyroidism took two to five months. Four patients were treated inappropriately. Lymphocytic thyroiditis with spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism appears to be a new syndrome that has dramatically increased in frequency in the past ten years. It is difficult to differentiate from common forms of hyperthyroidism unless RAIU is determined.

Adolescent↗