A patient with histologically proven coexistent Paget's disease of the bone and parathyroid adenomatosis is described. She developed coma associated with hypercalcemia and underwent successfully surgical removal of two parathyroid adenomata. The differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia in patients with this rare association is discussed and the importance of early surgical treatment is stressed. A review of similar reported case is presented.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A cytogenic evaluation of long-term colchicine therapy in the treatment of Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Thirty-eight patients suffering from Famlial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and undergoing colchicine therapy for periods varying from one week to three years were examined cytogenetically. Preparations were derived from short-term lymphocyte cultures; mitotic rate, percent tetraploidy, and chromosome breakage rates were determined. Twenty-one patients were examined prior to treatment, 22 during treatment and 5 both before and during treatment and 5 both before and during treatment. No statistically significant differences were observed in the parameters studied between ten controls and the patient groups. An in vitro experiment indicated a direct correlation between increased colchicine concentration and mitotic rate. However, tetrapoloidy or chromosome damage showed no such association with colchicine concentration. Among the patient group, pregnancy occurred in four patients while under treatment; three pregnancies resulted in the birth of normal children while the fourth has not yet been completed. In one preganancy, cultured fetal amniotic fluid cells demonstrated no effect of colchicine on the cytogenetic parameters invetigated. These results indicate no untoward effects on long-term colchicine treatment in FMF with respect to fertility, teratogenicity and chromosomal damage.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monocyte function in familial Mediterranean fever.

Monocytes derived from the peripheral blood of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) demonstrated a consistently lower phagocytic capacity (38-44%) for 125I-labelled Shigella flexneri when compared to monocytes from healthy subjects. Phagocytosis of both viable and killed Staphylococcus albus was similar in patients and controls. However, FMF monocytes had a two- to eight-fold depressed bactericidal capacity against S. albus in comparison to normal monocytes. Acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase monocyte activities were similar in patients and controls. It is suggested that the defects in monocyte function may be of importance in the pathogenesis of FMF. Colchicine had no effect on any of the indices studied.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital admissions due to adverse drug reactions.

One hundred three (4.1%) of 2,499 patients hospitalized in a general medical ward were admitted because of an adverse drug reaction (ADR). Of 60 drugs involved, the most common were cardiac, antibiotic, and antineoplastic agents. The main reactions included skin rashes, bone marrow depression, arrhythmia, bleeding, and heart failure. Five (4.9%) of the patients died and 11 (10.7%) had life-threatening reactions. Risk factors predisposing to admissions due to ADR were: female sex, decreased renal function, polypragmasia, and the underlying disease. Twenty-seven percent of the admissions could have been avoided by a more careful choice and dosage of drug.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Leukocyte chemotaxis in recurrent polyserositis (familial Mediterranean fever).

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis was investigated in 35 patients with recurrent polyserositis during attacks and during spontaneous or colchicine-induced remissions. Chemotaxis was found to be unchanged in the attack-free period in untreated patients, increased by about 50% during attacks, and decreased by about 50% during colchicine treatment.

Adolescent↗