Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunodiagnosis & Immunodiagnostics:
Abstracts
3109. Geboes K. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis--how important is it to differentiate?. [Review] [27 refs] Acta Gastroenterologica Belgica. 64(2):197-200, 2001 Apr-Jun.
Abstract
In most patients coming to the general practitioner or specialist with a history of bloody diarrhoea, bacteria or drugs are the most likely causative agents and it will be possible to make a diagnosis fairly easily. Because of differences in treatment, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) must however seriously be considered especially in younger patients, with severe symptoms and whenever the history is prolonged. A variety of colitides may indeed be clinically confused with UC and CD. Pathological mimics that should not be missed include infectious diseases such as Campylobacter colitis, yersiniosis, amoebiasis and others; drug-induced diseases (due to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs...); diverticular disease-associated colitis; intestinal endometriosis; intestinal vasculitis and Behçet's disease and iatrogenic conditions such as graft-versus-host-disease and radiation colitis. In most situations a precise diagnosis of these conditions should be possible when all data are available. The term "indeterminate colitis" is used, when a diagnosis of chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is suggested, but the differential diagnosis between UC and CD can not be solved. This occurs in approximately 5% of all patients with IBD. Diagnostic problems can occur in acute fulminant colitis, acute prolonged colitis, chronic relapsing disease and pouchitis. Indeterminate colitis is essentially a temporary diagnosis. Surgical and medical treatment of these patients can be difficult. When surgical treatment is indicated, the type of surgery must be seriously considered. The clinical course of patients with indeterminate colitis is usually more severe when compared with classical UC and these patients require often more severe medical treatment. Diagnostic problems can also arise in longstanding IBD, either UC and CD. Relapse of symptoms can be due to intercurrent infection (CMV is one of the candidates). Medical treatment can influence the microscopic features and induce a discontinuous inflammation in UC, reminiscent of CD. In cases of doubt, the original biopsies should be reviewed to ascertain the diagnosis, and orient treatment. [References: 27]
3110. Stanley SL. Pathophysiology of amoebiasis. [Review] [42 refs] Trends in Parasitology. 17(6):280-5, 2001 Jun.
Abstract
Few organisms are more aptly named than Entamoeba histolytica, an intestinal protozoan parasite that can lyse and destroy human tissue. Within the past four years, new models of E. histolytica infection have begun to illuminate how amoebic trophozoites cause intestinal disease and liver abscess, and have expanded our understanding of the remarkable killing ability of this parasite. Here, I summarize recent work on the interactions between E. histolytica and human intestine, and between E. histolytica and hepatocytes, and discuss what these studies tell us about the role of inflammation and programmed cell death in the pathogenesis of amoebiasis. [References: 42]
Apr 02
3897. Arias-Negrete S, Leon G, Anaya-Velazquez F, Tovar
R, Moreno MA, Hernandez JM, Munoz ML. Recognition of carbohydrate epitopes
specific for electron-dense granule antigens from Entamoeba histolytica by
monoclonal antibodies in the cecal content of infected hamsters. Curr
Microbiol 2001 Dec;43(6):403-7
The pathogenic trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica produce and secrete electron-dense granules (EDG) containing collagenase, considered a virulence factor. Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (L7.1 and L1.1) anti-EDG antigens were raised. MAb L7.1 has been reported to recognize proteic EDG antigens and MAb L1.1 reacted with a carbohydrate epitope. These epitopes were present in axenic and xenic amoebas. To detect EDG antigens by a enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a experimental model of early intestinal amoebiasis, both MAbs were employed. E. histolytica HM1 axenic and monoxenic trophozoites were inoculated into the cecum according to the washed-closed cecal loop technique. The cecal content was recovered at 8, 24, and 48 h post-inoculation. Antigens from EDG in whole trophozoites and cell-free supernatants were detected. Our results indicate that it is possible to detect EDG antigens in the cecal content of hamsters in the early phase of the invasive amoebiasis.
3898. Bhambhani S, Kashyap V. Amoebiasis: diagnosis by
aspiration and exfoliative cytology. Cytopathology 2001 Oct;12(5):329-33
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the use of fine needle aspiration and exfoliative cytology in the identification of amoebic cysts/trophozoites, and to characterize amoebiasis. The subjects consisted of 15 patients, 11 diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as amoebic abscesses (14 liver and one pulmonary) and four women whose cervical smears contained Entamoeba histolytica cysts or trophozoites. Of 128 ultrasonographically guided FNAC of hepatic lesions over a four year period, 17 were abscesses of which 10 were diagnosed as amoebic. A single case of pulmonary amoebiasis was detected in an 18-year-old male. The case was initially diagnosed as tubercular due to deceptive symptomatology. Three cases of amoebic cysts and one trophozoite were reported on routine cervical smear screening. All four cases were unsuspected for amoebic infection. The disease may easily go undetected unless meticulous screening is exercised, and the search for cysts or trophozoites is made with clear concepts of the morphological characteristics of E. histolytica in mind.
3899. Hira PR, Iqbal J, Al-Ali F, Philip R, Grover S,
D'Almeida E, Al-Eneizi AA. Invasive amebiasis: challenges in diagnosis in a
non-endemic country (Kuwait). Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001 Oct;65(4):341-5
Invasive zymodemes of the enteric protozoan Entamoeba histolytica infect the large intestine and cause extra-intestinal lesions such as amebic liver abscess (ALA). The clinical manifestations of ALA are protean, particularly in patients presenting in a non-endemic, desert country such as Kuwait, and diagnosis becomes problematic. In this study, we present cases of ALA to illustrate the clinical and diagnostic challenges. For serodiagnosis of ALA, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) with the ImmunoTab assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for this geographic region. We tested sera of 110 patients with ALA, 1,224 patients suspected of having invasive amebic infection, and 50 Europeans with no travel history to an amebic-endemic area. The IHA was simple, rapid, easy to perform, and reliable (sensitivity = 99%, specificity > 95%). The performance of the IHA in detecting ALA in suspected cases was significantly better than that of the ELISA and the ImmunoTab test. Compared with the IHA, both the ELISA and ImmunoTab assay detected relatively higher numbers of false-positive cases (4.7% and 3.6%, respectively). With the availability of ultrasound and computed tomography scans, the serology correlates excellently with the clinical presentation. In chronic cases where fibrosis may be present around the abscess, the IHA has limitations, as in the follow-up of treated patients. Pitfalls in diagnosis are highlighted by discussing the differential diagnosis of ALA from bacterial hepatic abscesses and infected hydatid cysts. Most importantly, the IHA in such cases was invariably at a titer that is considered not significant.
3900. Natarajan A, D'Souza RE, Rudresh HK. Amoebic
peritonitis. Trop Doct 2001
Oct;31(4):230-1 No abstract.
3901. Shadidi KR, Aarvak T, Jeansson S, Henriksen JE,
Natvig JB, Thompson KM. T-cell responses to viral, bacterial and protozoan
antigens in rheumatoid inflammation. Selective migration of T cells to synovial
tissue. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2001
Oct;40(10):1120-5
OBJECTIVE: To identify any preferential or selective migration of T-cell specificities to inflamed tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: Lymphocytes from peripheral blood (PB) and synovial tissue (ST) were isolated from RA patients and stimulated with a panel of crude antigen preparations from 18 bacterial, protozoan and viral sources. Proliferative responses of the T lymphocytes to each antigen and group of antigens were compared in PB and ST. Antigen-specific T-cell clones were developed and their migratory capacities towards synovial chemokines were compared. RESULTS: ST-derived T cells showed a small but significantly higher stimulation index (SI) to the group of intestinal bacteria compared with PB T cells. Conversely, responses of ST-derived T cells to Acanthamoeba polyphaga (AP) were both profoundly and significantly lower compared with PB-derived T cells. The viral antigens as a whole gave comparable reactivities in blood and ST. The migratory capacity of AP-specific T-cell clones towards chemokines produced by ST was profoundly poorer compared with Campylobacter jejuni- and herpes simplex virus-specific T-cell clones. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a selective migration of T cells of given specificities to the inflamed rheumatoid synovium.
3902. Tabin G, Taylor H, Snibson G, Murchison A,
Gushchin A, Rogers S. Atypical presentation of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Cornea 2001 Oct;20(7):757-9
PURPOSE: To present two cases of minimal pain Acanthamoeba keratitis to alert clinicians to remember Acanthamoeba when evaluating atypical cases of keratitis. METHODS: The histories of two cases were reviewed with attention to clinical presentation subjective complaints, treatment, and long-term outcome. RESULTS: In case 1, a 24-year-old man presented with decreased vision and an irritated feeling in his eye. He did not wear contact lenses. His initial diagnosis was adenoviral conjunctivitis. One month later, he was diagnosed with atypical herpes simplex keratitis and started on acyclovir. Two weeks later, he was referred to the Cornea Service. Further history revealed the patient to be a professional triathlete who trained by swimming in a fresh water pond. He was found to have an unusually high pain tolerance. Biopsy revealed Acanthamoeba. He was admitted for intensive therapy with neomycin, propamidine isethionate, and polyhexamethylene biguanide. Two years after diagnosis, he has best-corrected visual acuity of 20/100. In case 2, a 28-year-old man with known herpes simplex keratitis presented with decreased vision. He was started on topical trifluridine. After 6 weeks without improvement, he was referred for corneal evaluation. His eye always remained comfortable. Corneal sensation was markedly decreased. Further history revealed that he swam in fresh water. Biopsy was positive for Acanthamoeba. After 1 year of therapy with polyhexamethylene biguanide and neomycin, visual acuity was 20/200, and the patient underwent a corneal transplant. CONCLUSION: Acanthamoeba keratitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratitis, even without the classic presentation of severe pain and predisposing corneal trauma, including contact lens wear.
July 02
4481.
Bakardjiev
A, Glaser C, Schuster F, Visvesvara GS. Three-year-old girl with fever and
coma. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2002 Jan;21(1):75, 85-6. No abstract.
4482.
Dagci H,
Ustun S, Taner MS, Ersoz G, Karacasu F, Budak S. Protozoon infections and
intestinal permeability. Acta Trop. 2002 Jan;81(1):1-5.
Intestinal permeability (IP) studies using some macromolecules have been assumed to demonstrate the intactness of intestinal mucosa. The aim of the present study is to determine the changes in IP among patients with protozoan infections. Thirty nine patients with protozoan infections and ten healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Protozoa were diagnosed by Native-lugol, Richie and Trichrome staining of faeces. IP was evaluated by diethyl triamine penta acetic acid labeled with 99m Technetium (99mTc labeled DTPA) assay. The IP was found to have increased in patients with protozoan infections compared with control patients (7.20+/-5.52 vs. 4.47+/-0.65%, P=0.0017). The IP values were 9.91+/-10.05% in Giardia intestinalis group, 6.81+/-2.25% in Blastocystis hominis group, 5.78+/-2.84% in Entamoeba coli group. In comparison with the control group, the IP was significantly higher in G. intestinalis and B. hominis patients (P=0.0025, P=0.00037, respectively), but not in E. coli patients. In conclusion, the IP increases in patients with G. intestinalis and B. hominis but not with E. coli infection. This finding supports the view that IP increases during the course of protozoan infections which cause damage to the intestinal wall while non-pathogenic protozoan infections have no effect on IP. The increase in IP in patients with B. hominis brings forth the idea that B. hominis can be a pathogenic protozoan.
4483.
Kirimi E,
Caksen H, Cesur Y, Ceylan A, Demirtas I, Yilmaz H, Ugras S, Odabas D. Use of sulfasalizine in the treatment of
post amebic rectocolitis. J Emerg Med. 2002 Jan;22(1):105-6. No abstract.
4484.
Kishan ASN; Venkatraman MS; Korath
MP; Jagadeesan K. Tropical Pancreatitis in an II year old boy Bombay Hospital
Journal 2002 Jan; 44(1): 128-9
ABSTRACT: Pancreatic diseases in children compromise acute Pancreatitis, congenital anomalies that may involve pancreas, disease causing chronic pancreatic insufficiency and chronic pancreatitis. Common causes of acute pancreatitis in children are trauma, viral infections (mumps, viral hepatitis), ascariasis, pancreas divisum, choledochal cysts, hyperlipidemia and hereditary pancreatitis.1-3 Chronic pancreatic insufficiency without pancreatitis is seen in children suffering from cystic fibrosis, Shwachman syndrome, congenital enzyme deficiencies, enterokinase and lipase, Co-lipase and trypsin 1. Chronic pancreatitis in children can be due to hereditary pancreatitis; idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, tropical chronic pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, , hyperparathyroidism. 1,3-5 All these types of pancreatitis can present with repeated acute attacks and progress to chronic calcific pancreatitis. We present a case of an 11 year old boy who was diagnosed as having tropical chronic pancreatitis.
4485.
Narasimhan
S, Madhavan HN, K LT. Development and application of an in vitro susceptibility
test for Acanthamoeba species isolated from keratitis to polyhexamethylene
biguanide and chlorhexidine. Cornea. 2002 Mar;21(2):203-5.
PURPOSE: To develop a reliable in vitro drug susceptibility test against Acanthamoeba isolates and to determine the minimum cysticidal concentration (MCC) of the drug. METHODS: Doubling dilutions of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) from 3,200 microg/mL to 3.125 microg/mL and chlorhexidine from 3,200 microg/mL to 1.5625 microg/mL were made in Durham tubes and tested against cysts of 19 Acanthamoeba isolates from keratitis. After the exposure to the drugs for 48 hours, the cysts were washed free of drugs by centrifugation. The deposit (cysts) was cultured on nonnutrient agar plates seeded with heat-killed Escherichia coli. The growth of trophozoites from cysts exposed to each of the dilution was recorded by microscopy to estimate the MCC of the drug. RESULTS: The minimum cysticidal concentration of PHMB varied from 25 microg/mL to 100 microg/mL and that of chlorhexidine varied from 1.56 microg/mL to 100 microg/mL. The mean MCC value for PHMB was 55.26 microg/mL and that for chlorhexidine 32.81 microg/mL. Minimum cysticidal concentration 50 (MCC50) of PHMB and chlorhexidine on Acanthamoeba isolates was 50.0 microg/mL and 25.0 microg/mL, respectively. Anti-Acanthamoeba activity of chlorhexidine was higher than that of PHMB and this was statistically significant (p = 0.036). The end point of the results of this method was the detection of the viable cysts undergoing excystment and multiplication of trophozoites with a reproducible and clear-cut estimation of the MCC of PHMB and chlorhexidine. CONCLUSION: The in vitro method described can be used as a standard test for assay of MCC of drugs on Acanthamoeba isolates and to study the susceptibility pattern of newer water-soluble anti-Acanthamoeba drugs.
4486. Shenoy S, Wilson G, Prashanth HV,
Vidyalakshmi K, Dhanashree B, Bharath R.
Primary meningoencephalitis by Naegleria fowleri: first reported case
from Mangalore, South India.J Clin Microbiol. 2002 Jan;40(1):309-10.
A fatal case of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a 5-month-old infant is described. The disease may have been contracted during bathing. The source of water was from an artificial well. The clinical presentation, the isolation of the ameba from the cerebrospinal fluid, the poor response to amphotericin B, and the ultimate fatal outcome are all consistent with the diagnosis of PAM. On the basis of its ability to grow at temperatures above 30 degrees C, the morphology of the trophozoite, and the presence of flagellate forms, the ameba was identified as Naegleria fowleri. Pathogenic N. fowleri amebae were recovered from samples of water from the well. To our knowledge this case represents the second case of PAM in an infant in the absence of the history of swimming.
4487. Zawahry
ME. Cutaneous amoebiasis. Indian J Derm 2001, 46(2), 120-1. No abstract.
Oct
2002
5148. Abd-Alla
MD, Ravdin JI. Diagnosis of amoebic colitis by antigen capture ELISA in
patients presenting with acute diarrhoea in Cairo, Egypt. Trop Med Int Health.
2002 Apr;7(4):365-70.
We
studied 84 consecutive patients presenting with acute diarrhoea (less than 1
week in duration) at an outpatient tropical medicine clinic in Cairo, Egypt.
The diagnosis of amoebic colitis was established by the presence of Entamoeba
histolytica galactose-inhibitable lectin antigen and the presence of occult
blood in stool. Controls were 182 healthy regional people and 64 patients
complaining of prolonged diarrhoea lasting more than 1 week. Entamoeba
histolytica infection was found more frequently in patients with acute
diarrhoea (57.1%) than in healthy controls (21.4%) or patients with prolonged
diarrhoea (25%) (P < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of Entamoeba
dispar infection in the two control groups (24.2 and 20.3%, respectively,
P=0.004 and 0.061) compared with those with acute diarrhoea (8.3%). Of the 84
patients with acute diarrhoea 32 had amoebic colitis (38%), and of these, 31
(97%) had at least one positive assay for serum amoebic antibodies (P <
0.001 compared with control groups). In summary, as determined by
antigen-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, there is an unexpectedly
high prevalence of amoebic colitis among patients presenting with acute
diarrhoea to a tropical disease clinic in Cairo, Egypt.
5149. Chavez-Rueda
K, Agundis-Mata C, Zenteno E, Shibayama M, Tsutsumi V, Munoz O, Leanos-Miranda
A, Blanco-Favela F. Development of a diagnostic test for Entamoeba histolytica
using idiotype expression in human. J Immunol Methods 2002 Apr 1;262(1-2):29-40
The
protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the etiological agent of human
amebiasis. The pathology of the disease starts with the cytolysis of the host
target cells by amoebae. It is initiated by the adhesion of trophozoites to the
host cells, through surface lectin via specific receptors. These adherence
lectins have been demonstrated to be highly conserved, and can be recognised by
serum antibodies from patients with invasive amebiasis.Some of these molecules
have been used as antigens in serologic studies, which has been very helpful in
the diagnosis of invasive intestinal amebiasis. However, false-positive
serologic reactivity can occur using E. histolytica extracts and purified
antigens. Additional problems are because the extracts display a great
enzymatic activity. Several diagnostic methods, using different molecules and
techniques, have been described. However, the problem still remains since these
tests are not capable of differentiating between amoebic liver abscess (ALA)
and intestinal amebiasis.Here, the research has been addressed to the 66-kDa
antigen, which is a part of the outer membrane proteins from the E. histolytica
strain HM1-IMSS trophozoites. First of all, we characterized the 66-kDa antigen
in order to prove the relevance. We found that the 66-kDa antigen is a part of
the plasma membranes and is distributed rather homogeneously on the cell
surface of trophozoites. Apparently, the 66-kDa antigen is a glycoprotein.
Using a monoclonal antibody (MAb), we found 25% of inhibition in the
erythrophagocytosis by the trophozoites.Starting form one monoclonal antibody,
we prepared an anti-idiotype (anti-Id) antibody reagent, with the purpose of
searching for the different expressions of the idiotype between the sera from
ALA and the intestinal amebiasis patients. Moreover, we produced the antibody
Ab3 that is capable of recognising the 66-kDa antigen; it means that the Ab2
displays the internal image of the antigen. We found that 91.6% of the serum
from ALA patients displayed the expression of the Id. In contrast, 15.7% of the
E. histolytica asymtomatic cyst carriers displayed the Id expression, 6.6% of
the patients with another parasite infection, and 11% of the negative controls
(serum from umbilical cords of newborn babies). Our results showed that the
expression of the Id could be differentiated among the AHA patients from the
other groups with a 91.6% sensibility and 88.3% specificity.
5150. De
BK, Sen S, Biswas PK, Mandal SK, Das D, Das U, Guru S, Bandyopadhyay K. Occurrence
of hepatopulmonary syndrome in Budd-Chiari syndrome and the role of venous
decompression. Gastroenterology. 2002 Apr;122(4):897-903.
BACKGROUND
& AIMS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been predominantly detected in
cirrhotic patients and rarely in patients with noncirrhotic portal
hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of HPS in
patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (only anecdotal reports available) and
evaluate the role of venous decompression in its reversal. METHODS: Twenty-nine
consecutive cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome without primary cardiopulmonary
disease were investigated by air contrast echocardiography and arterial blood
gas analysis. Venous decompression (e.g., by balloon cavoplasty) was attempted
when feasible. RESULTS: Eight cases (27.6%) of HPS and 9 cases (31.0%) with
positive contrast echocardiography but unimpaired oxygenation were detected.
Duration of disease was longer (P = 0.026) among those with positive contrast
echocardiography. Cavoplasty reversed 4 of 5 cases of HPS and 2 of 2 cases with
positive contrast echocardiography alone. Venous decompression by drainage of
amebic liver abscess (which was compressing hepatic venous outflow) also
reversed 1 case of HPS. HPS was relieved by venous decompression in 5 of 6
cases. CONCLUSIONS: HPS developed in a substantial fraction of our patients
with Budd-Chiari syndrome, with positive contrast echocardiography occurring
mainly in the benign, slowly progressing variety. Venous decompression showed
promise in reversing such cases.
5151. Gupta
SK, Naik S, Naik SR. Vaccine potential of 56-66 kDa protease secreted by
Entamoeba histolytica. Indian J med Res
1999 April; 109: 141-6. No abstract.
5152. Jankiewicz
R. Clinical manifestations and ultrasonography guided aspiration of amoebic
liver abscesses in St Walburg's Hospital, Nyangao, Tanzania. Trop Doct. 2002
Apr;32(2):92-3. No abstract.
5153. Radford
CF, Minassian DC, Dart JK. Acanthamoeba keratitis in England and Wales:
incidence, outcome, and risk factors. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002 May;86(5):536-42.
AIM:
To determine the incidence, regional variation in frequency, outcome, and risk
factors for acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in England and Wales. METHODS: AK cases
presenting from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2023 were identified by the
British Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit active reporting system. Clinical and
patient postal questionnaire data were analysed. RESULTS: 106 reported cases
met study criteria. The annual incidence for the 2 years was 1.26 and 1.13 per
million adults and, for contact lens (CL) wearers, 21.14 and 17.53 per million.
There was marked regional variation in incidence (0 to 85.13 per million adult
CL wearers), with CL wearers in the south having a ninefold increased risk of
AK compared with those resident in the north (95% confidence limits: 2.2-38.9,
p<0.0001), and a threefold increased risk with hard as opposed to soft
domestic water (95% confidence limits: 1.73 to 6.58, p<0.001). Treatment and
outcome data were similar to those previously reported. 93/106 (88%) patients
were CL wearers. Among these, 46/77 (60%) were disinfecting irregularly, and
20/63 (32%) had been swimming in CLs. One step hydrogen peroxide and chlorine
release soft CL (SCL) disinfection systems were significantly over-represented
among the cases. Among SCL users, one or more previously established risk
factors for AK were identified in 50/55 (91%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The
incidence was considerably higher than most previous estimates, and was static.
The geographical variation in incidence may be partly related to the increase
in risk associated with hard water. The fact that water quality can have such
an effect on the risk of AK suggests that many CL wearers must be letting
tapwater come into contact with their lenses or storage cases. Improved
education for CL wearers and practitioners about hygiene practice and the
variable efficacy of contact lens systems could be expected to reduce the
incidence of this disease.
5154. Singh
B, Moodley J, Sheik-Gafoor MH, Dhooma N, Reddi A. Conservative management of
thoracobiliary fistula. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002 Apr;73(4):1088-91.
BACKGROUND:
Thoracobiliary fistulas are rare manifestations of biliary disruption. Given
their rarity it is not surprising that there is little consensus on the optimal
management of thoracobiliary fistulas. METHODS: Patients presenting with
thoracobiliary fistulas over a 5-year period (1996 to 2001) were evaluated.
Initial management was conservative with tube thoracostomy or drainage of
sepsis when appropriate, or both; antibiotics and somatostatin were routinely
administered. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was performed when symptoms
persisted to delineate the thoracobiliary communication and undertake
sphincteroplasty. RESULTS: Eight patients with a mean age of 31.9 years (range
15 to 42) were evaluated. Biliary effusion occurred in 3 patients after hepatic
injury (n = 2) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (n = 1).
Bilioptysis occurred in 5 patients after hepatic abscess (n = 4) and hepatic
injury (n = 1) The biliary effusion (n = 3) was successfully managed by
endoscopic sphincterotomy in 2 patients; the third patient underwent urgent
surgical biliary drainage. Bilioptysis (n = 5) was successfully managed in 3
patients; persistence of symptoms in 2 patients prompted surgical intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: Thoracobiliary fistulas may be successfully managed using a
conservative approach. Surgery should be reserved for persistence of symptoms
after exhaustion of this approach.
Pathogenesis :
5155. Cooter
R. The history of the discovery of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Aust
Fam Physician 2002 Apr;31(4):399-400
BACKGROUND:
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was first recognised by a South Australian
pathologist. The histopathological appearances indicated that the organism,
Naegleria fowleri, entered the central nervous system from the nasal cavity via
the cribriform plate. But the mode of transmission remained unknown. AIMS: To
describe how the pathogenesis of this condition was discovered, and correct
misinformation about the events and persons involved in this process.
HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesised that pipeline water supplying northern centres in
South Australia was responsible for transmitting thermophilic amoebae during
the summer months. EVIDENCE: The evidence supporting our hypothesis was:
domestic water pipelines were exposed to sunlight and became heated to 35-45
degrees C in summer which promoted the formation of vegetative forms of the
amoebae; some patients described using tap water to flush their nasal cavities;
and Naegleri fowleri were eventually recovered from domestic tap water
supplies. CONCLUSION: A successful collaboration between general practitioners
and laboratory scientists elucidated the pathogenesis of primary amoebic
encephalomyelitis, a serious public health hazard in South Australia from 1947
until the early 1970s.
5156. Lee
GA, Gray TB, Dart JK, Pavesio CE, Ficker LA, Larkin DF, Matheson MM.
Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis: treatment with systemic immunosuppression.
Ophthalmology 2002 Jun;109(6):1178-82
OBJECTIVE:
This study describes the clinical features, management, and outcome of 19
patients who had severe Acanthamoeba sclerokeratitis (ASK) unresponsive to
conventional management, requiring systemic immunosuppression to control
disease. DESIGN: Retrospective, non-comparative, interventional case series.
PARTICIPANTS: Records of all patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis treated at
Moorfields Eye Hospital between 1989 and 2000 were reviewed. From more than 200
patients, 19 who developed ASK treated with systemic immunosuppression were
identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity, level of pain, and degree of
inflammation were recorded after immunosuppressive treatment. RESULTS: ASK
requiring immunosuppression occurred in 20 eyes of 19 patients (11 males and 8
females). The mean age (mean +/- standard deviation) at onset was 38.6 +/- 13.2
years. On presentation, best-corrected visual acuity was counting fingers or
worse in 11 eyes (55%), 6/18 to 6/60 in 5 eyes (25%), and 6/12 or better in 4
eyes (20%). The mean time between onset of initial symptoms of Acanthamoeba
keratitis and commencement of systemic immunosuppression was 4.8 +/- 3.5
months. The mean duration of immunosuppression required to control inflammation
was 7.2 +/- 3.9 months. Severe scleritic pain remained uncontrolled in two
patients and resulted in enucleation. Best-corrected visual acuity at final
follow-up was counting fingers or worse in eight eyes (40%), 6/18 to 6/60 in
six eyes (30%), and 20/40 or better in six eyes (30%). The mean follow-up
period after resolution of inflammation was 24.3 +/- 20.9 months (range,
0.2-59.7 months). CONCLUSIONS: ASK is an uncommon complication of Acanthamoeba
keratitis. The scleritis associated with this infection seems to be an
immune-mediated response. After topical amebicidal treatment, systemic
immunosuppression may be required to control the pain and tissue destruction
associated with ASK.
Vaccines :
5157. White
Jr AC, Atmar RL. Infections in Hispanic immigrants. Clin Infect Dis 2002 Jun 15;34(12):1627-32
Hispanic immigrants are an increasing portion of the United States (US) population. In addition to being at risk for diseases common in the US-born population, Hispanic immigrants also are at risk for infections that do not usually occur in the US-born population. Thus, such diseases as tuberculosis, neurocysticercosis, brucellosis, typhoid fever, malaria, amebiasis, viral exanthems, and hepatitis need to be considered in Hispanics who present with fever or focal lesions. When included in the differential diagnosis, most of these infections can be readily diagnosed and treated with currently available methods.
5158.
No abstract