1/66. Monocyte deactivation and its reversal in a patient with chemotherapy-induced leukopenia and severe systemic infection.BACKGROUND: Serious infections constitute a major problem for patients with cancer, and new approaches must be found in dealing with these. The pathophysiology of neutropenic infection is not well understood, although there is some evidence that, as in sepsis in the primarily immunocompetent host, a pro- and an antiinflammatory phase can be discriminated. In the recent literature is described a series of nonneutropenic patients with sepsis in whom interferon-gamma was successfully administered during the immunoparalytic phase, a concept that might possibly be extended to immunocompromised hosts. PROCEDURE: A 14-year-old patient with RAEB-T/hypoplastic M2 and chemothera py-induced neutropenia developed a severe infection and continued to deteriorate clinically despite maximum supportive measures, including broad antibacterial and antifungal coverage. On the basis of monocyte de-activation this patient was considered to be in the immunoparalytic phase of sepsis and consequently treated with 60 microg/m(2) of interferon-gamma per day for 10 days. RESULTS: The patient made a rapid clinical recovery, and biochemical markers of infection improved promptly. At the same time, the fraction of activated monocytes normalized rapidly and stably. We hypothesize that treatment with interferon-gamma effected this rapid restoral of monocyte activation and that monocyte reactivation might have contributed to the patient's prompt recovery from his severe infection. interferon-gamma treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Immunostimulation with interferon-gamma might prove to be a valuable adjuvant treatment for patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia during the rare scenario of infection with immunoparalysis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/66. A variant of myelokathexis with hypogammaglobulinemia: lymphocytes as well as neutrophils may reverse in response to infections.A 7-year-old boy with prolonged and marked leukopenia diagnosed at 6 months of age is described. The polymorphonuclear cells presented no hypersegmented nuclei or concentrated nuclear chromatin, although vacuolated myeloid cells appeared in bone marrow smears. neutrophils reversed in response to administration of G-CSF. His leukocyte counts were 400-1000/microL during afebrile periods and increased to 2000-3000/microL in response to infections. The increased leukocyte was usually neutrophils, but lymphocytes also increased at EB-virus infection. The serum IgG decreased gradually and was 364 mg/dL at 7 years of age. Antibody responses were normal and recurrent otitis media has been the patient's only problem. Granulocytopenia with hypogammaglobulinemia of this patient mimics myelokathexis with hypogammaglobulinemia, and lymphocytes also increased at viral infections.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.7keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/66. parvovirus B19 causing leucopenia and neutropenia in a healthy adult.A 27-year-old healthy female presented with a prolonged and intermittent febrile illness. She was found to have leucopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, but a normal haemoglobin. The patient recovered spontaneously and convalescent serology 1 month later was positive for specific parvovirus B19 IgM and IgG. parvovirus B19 infection was confirmed by detection of viral dna by dot blot hybridization in a specimen of blood taken during the acute illness. A review of the previously reported cases of parvovirus B19-induced leucopenia in normal adults is presented. parvovirus B19 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of leucopenia and neutropenia in healthy adults.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/66. Strong alpha beta and gamma delta TCR response in a patient with disseminated Mycobacterium avium infection and lack of NK cells and monocytopenia.Infection with atypical mycobacteria occurs mainly in patients with a compromised cellular immune system, in particular in those with a defective T cell or monocyte function. Here we analyzed the specific immune response of an adolescent hiv-negative patient with disseminated mycobacterium avium infection and fatal varizella zoster virus infection. The patient presented with dysplastic hematopoesis of all cell lineage's and a bicytopenia of erythrocytes and leukocytes, but a hematological malignancy could not be found. We found a peripheral lymphopenia and monocytopenia, as well as a lack of NK-cells and B-cells. lymphocytes consisted of 95% T cells, which contained up to 40% of TCR gammadelta CD4-CD8-T-cells (mainly TCR gamma9delta2), few monocytes and B-cells. Approximately 50% of CD3 T-cells showed a CD57 NK-like phenotype. Functional analysis of PBMC revealed a good antigen-specific T cell function if antigen-presenting cells were supplemented from a HLA-matched donor. Moreover, a strong M. avium specific cytotoxicity mediated by TCR alphabeta T-cells could be found in vitro and even ex vivo. In contrast, NK-killing was absent. No evidence for a defect in IL-12 or IFN-gamma production and signaling were found. The data indicate that a strong alphabeta and gammadelta T cell immunity tries to compensate for a deficient monocyte and NK cell function in this patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.6keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/66. Olanzapine appears haematologically safe in patients who developed blood dyscrasia on clozapine and risperidone.We report a 2-year experience with olanzapine treatment (20 mg daily) in a 65-year-old male patient with treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia, who had previously developed leucopenia and neutropenia first on clozapine and, subsequently, also on risperidone. Olanzapine seems to be safe in this patient, since no major decreases of haematological parameters were observed. The only exception was a brief decrease of leucocyte and neutrophil (but not erythrocyte or platelet) counts during influenza-like viral infection. However, the control of psychotic symptoms on olanzapine is not as good as on clozapine.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/66. coccidioidomycosis in compromised hosts. Experience at Stanford University Hospital.To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of infection with coccidioides immitis in immunosuppressed patients at Stanford University Hospital, clinical records of 14 years were examined. Thirteen cases met the diagnostic criteria. Half had Hodgkin's disease. In six the infection was disseminated; five of the six died early in the course of their infectious illness, frequently without diagnosis. Conclusions include: 1. The occurrence of coccidioidomycosis in immunosuppressed patients seen at institutions in or adjacent to the endemic area is not as rare as the literature suggests. 2. Dissemination is frequently explosive and the radiographic appearance of pulmonary involvement may appear late. Widespread pulmonary dissemination may occur within 24 hours after a negative x-ray. 3. Although the skin test loses its diagnostic value, the serology remains valid. Thus immunosuppressed patients with febrile illnesses (with or without radiographically evident pulmonary involvement) who have a history of travel to an endemic area should have serological examinations. 4. Lymphocytopenia correlates with risk of dissemination of coccidioidomycosis. 5. The administration of immunsuppressive chemotherapy correlates with such risk while radiotherapy and the malignant or non-malignant nature of the disease do not.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/66. Trovafloxacin-associated leukopenia.OBJECTIVE: To report a case of trovafloxacin-associated leukopenia, which occurred in a trauma patient shortly after administration and resolved following discontinuation of the drug. CASE SUMMARY: A 79-year-old white man was admitted to Yale New Haven Hospital after sustaining partial amputation of his right lower leg by an industrial lawn mower. After successful resuscitation, he underwent complete right lower amputation and was treated with intravenous alatrofloxacin mesylate. He developed leukopenia that resolved after discontinuation of the drug. DISCUSSION: Trovafloxacin is a broad-spectrum synthetic fluoroquinolone used for a wide variety of bacterial infections. We report, for the first time in the English-language literature, a case of trovafloxacin-associated leukopenia. The leukopenia resolved promptly after discontinuation of the drug. This association is further supported by the exclusion of other potential causes for this adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: leukopenia is a well-recognized adverse effect of several drugs. We report a case of trovafloxacin-associated leukopenia during treatment of a trauma patient. Healthcare personnel should be aware of this possible adverse reaction in patients treated with trovafloxacin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/66. Idiosyncratic rifabutin-induced leukopenia and SIADH: case report and review.rifabutin is increasingly critical for treatment of atypical mycobacterial infections. One of its serious adverse effects is leukopenia. When encountering rifabutin-induced leukopenia, clinicians are faced with the dilemma of whether to lower the dosage of rifabutin or discontinue it because existing literature does not indicate whether rifabutin-induced leukopenia is dose related or idiosyncratic. We report the first established case of idiosyncratic rifabutin-induced leukopenia in an immunocompetent man treated for pulmonary mycobacterium avium complex infection. The patient also developed rifabutin-induced syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), which also has not been previously reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/66. Clearance of human herpesvirus 8 from blood and regression of leukopenia-associated aggressive classic Kaposi's sarcoma during interferon-alpha therapy: a case report.A human immunodeficiency virus-negative woman with severe classic Kaposi's sarcoma, idiopathic leukopenia, and massive spread of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in circulating cells showed stable disease remission in response to systemic interferon-alpha treatment that was accompanied by increased CD3( ) and CD4( ) T cell numbers and complete clearance of HHV-8 from the circulation. These results suggest a direct relationship between HHV-8 clearance from blood and regression of Kaposi's sarcoma and are consistent with the in vitro inhibitory effects of interferon-alpha on HHV-8 infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/66. Recovery from bacillus cereus sepsis.A patient with acute leukemia developed two separate episodes of bacillus cereus septicemia during one hospitalization. leukopenia as a consequence of cytotoxic chemotherapy preceded both illnesses. The course of the infections was favorably influenced by the return of adequate numbers of circulating granulocytes and aminoglycoside therapy. Only one other compromised host is known to have recovered from this otherwise fatal disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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