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Biomedical subjects

R Cervera

Publications and source records attributed to R Cervera.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Antiphospholipid antibodies in unselected patients with repeated abortion.

We have studied, prospectively, the incidence of several antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, anti-phosphatidylserine, anti-phosphatidic acid, anti-phosphatidylinositol and anti-thromboplastin antibodies) in 65 consecutive patients with two or more (range 2-8, mean 3.1) abortions. Lupus anticoagulant activity was detected in seven (10.7%) patients and all of them exhibited other antiphospholipid antibodies. Of the previous pregnancies in these seven women, 88% had ended in spontaneous abortion. Four of them achieved pregnancy after low-dose aspirin therapy was started, and carried successfully to term. It is concluded that antiphospholipid antibodies, namely lupus anticoagulant, should be routinely screened in the recurrent spontaneous aborter.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1990

Pure sensory neuropathy in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: clinical, immunological, and electromyographic findings.

A pure sensory neuropathy caused by lymphocytic infiltration of the dorsal root ganglia has been reported in a few patients with Sjögren's syndrome. The clinical, immunological, and electromyographic findings of five patients with this type of neuropathy and primary Sjögren's syndrome were reviewed. Typical clinical indications were the presence of a chronic asymmetrical sensory deficit, initial disease in the hands with a predominant loss of the vibratory and joint position senses, and an association with Adie's pupil syndrome or trigeminal sensory neuropathy. The simultaneous impairment of the central and peripheral evoked cortical potentials suggested that there was a lesion of the neuronal cell body. The neuropathy preceded the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome in four patients. Four patients were positive for Ro antibodies, but systemic vasculitis or malignancy was not found after a mean follow up of six years. These findings indicate that in patients with a sensory neuropathy the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome has to be considered, even if the patient denies the presence of sicca symptoms, and that appropriate tests must be carried out.

Adie Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

'Overlap' syndromes.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Connective Tissue Diseases↗
PubMed1990

Isotype distribution of anticardiolipin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: prospective analysis of a series of 100 patients.

A prospective study of IgG and IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in a series of 100 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was carried out. To determine the normal range of both isotype titres a group of 100 normal control serum samples was studied and a log-normal distribution of IgG and IgM isotypes was found. The IgG anticardiolipin antibody serum was regarded as positive if a binding index greater than 2.85 (SD 3.77) was detected and a binding index greater than 4.07 (3.90) was defined as positive for IgM anticardiolipin antibody. Twenty four patients were positive for IgG aCL, 20 for IgM aCL, and 36 for IgG or IgM aCL, or both. IgG aCL were found to have a significant association with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, and IgM aCL with haemolytic anaemia and neutropenia. Specificity and predictive value for these clinical manifestations increased at moderate and high anticardiolipin antibody titres. In addition, a significant association was found between aCL and the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Identification of these differences in the anticardiolipin antibody isotype associations may improve the clinical usefulness of these tests, and this study confirms the good specificity and predictive value of the anticardiolipin antibody titre for these clinical manifestations.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗
PubMed1989

[A community outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Barcelona: clinical and microbiological study].

In February and March 1989 a community-acquired outbreak of legionnaires' disease developed in Barcelona, involving at least 56 patients (48 males and 8 females) with a mean age of 60 years (range 22-87). 70% were smokers, 20% alcohol abusers, 50% had chronic bronchitis and 20% were immunologically depressed. The most common signs and symptoms were: fever (100%), features of lung condensation (77%), cough (51%), stupor (27%), diarrhea (18%), thoracic pain (18%, hyponatremia (53%), increased serum level of hepatic enzymes (44%) or CK (37%), and renal failure (21%). Radiological involvement was bilateral in 30% of cases. In most patients the diagnosis was made by seroconversion (70%). Late seroconversion (between 4 and 14 weeks) was seen in 20 patients, whose age was significantly higher than that of patients with early seroconversion (p less than 0.02). All cases were caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Forty-six patients (81%) were admitted to the hospital and 10 (18%) required tracheal intubation. Although all received erythromycin, seven patients died. Hypoxemia, leukopenia, hyponatremia and renal failure were associated with a higher mortality rate. However, after multivariate analysis renal failure appeared as the only independent prognostic variable. Finally, it was concluded that in the community-acquired outbreaks of pneumonia Legionella pneumophila infection should be ruled out.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases: isotype distribution and clinical associations.

A prospective study of IgG and IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) was performed in a series of 167 patients with various autoimmune diseases, including rheumatic and nonrheumatic disorders, and in a group of 100 healthy blood donors. The IgG aCL serum was regarded as positive if a binding index (BI) greater than 2.85 (3.77 SD) was detected and a BI greater than 4.07 (3.90 SD) was defined as positive for IgM aCL. Forty patients (24%) were found to be positive for IgG and/or IgM aCL. IgG aCL were detected in 23% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in 9% with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, in 7% with progressive systemic sclerosis, and in 6% with dermatomyositis-polymyositis. IgM aCL were present in 43% patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, in 33% with rheumatoid arthritis, in 22% with SLE, and in 8% with giant-cell arteritis. IgG aCL were found to have a significant association with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, and IgM and aCL with haemolytic anaemia and neutropenia, in SLE but not in the other autoimmune diseases. The identification of these differences in the aCL isotype associations, depending on the autoimmune disorder, may improve the clinical usefulness of these tests.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗