Vaccination antigrippe A (H1N1) : analyse rétrospective 2009

The occurrence of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic was the opportunity to set an appropriate vaccination campaign, effective and well tolerated within the shortest period of time. Thanks to a strong experience in the development of seasonal influenza vaccines and recent experimental knowledge on potential vaccines against H5N1 strain, pharmaceutical companies developed a new vaccine suited for the pandemic A H1N1 California July 2009 strain. This vaccine was produced with and without adjuvant, taking into account safety controls and evolution of scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, this campaign got a poor reception from the general and medical population due to the concomitant spread of the pandemics, an insufficient communication program, organization that was felt as unsuited, too complex and not well understood. Despite that, effectiveness and tolerance of the vaccination campaign have been observed with may be a positive effect on the epidemic.     

Efficacity of rituximab in hemolytic anemia with cold autoantibodies case

Introduction

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia with cold autoantibodies or cold agglutinin disease is a rare chronic disorder in which no treatment has, until now, evidence of its effectiveness.

Clinical case

We report a patient who successfully responded to rituximab for a cold agglutinin disease refractory to conventional therapy with very good tolerance and a complete remission.

Conclusion

There are only few observations that have been reported in the literature regarding the efficacity of rituximab in the treatment of cold agglutinin disease. This promising therapy could, in the future, constitute a real alternative.     

Grippe A (H1N1) 2009. Revue générale

Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 is an acute contagious respiratory infection caused by influenza A virus subtype H1N1 appeared in 2009 and responsible for a pandemic. The new virus, different from the avian virus H5N1, is a variant containing genes from several known viruses from porcine, avian and human origin. Appeared originally in the northern hemisphere, the epidemic wave reached early most countries, and up to 24% of the population in metropolitan France. It is characterized by a low mortality estimated at 0.04 to 0.2%, and by a benign, or even asymptomatic presentation. However, more severe clinical expression has been observed in some subgroups, carrying or not risk factors (young, pregnant women). The preexisting immunity in a significant proportion of the population, the remarkable stability of the virus, determination of early antigenic characteristics of the virus, the development and rapid availability of suitable vaccines, the efficacy of antiviral drugs, and health care system contributed to the control the morbidity and mortality of the first pandemic wave. Other virological, clinical and epidemiological investigations, are needed to identify all potential risk factors for severity and determine the role of mutation and the diffusion of pandemic and seasonal viruses, which may alter the virulence and transmissibility of influenza A(H1N1)v 2009.     

Carbimazole can be the cause of iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia as a hematologic complication of the antithyroid medication (ATS) that has not been already described in the literature. We report on two exceptional cases: the first case concerns a 24 years old man admitted for an anemic syndrome. He was treated with carbimazole for Graves’ disease. The blood count showed a non-regenerative microcytic anemia. Serum ferritin was severely decreased. The etiologic searching for bleeding, hemolysis, malabsorption or iron deficiency was negative. Treatment with iron salts was introduced without any real improvement. Given this situation, and given the negativity of the etiologic investigations, the decision to stop carbimazole was taken. Since that, the clinical and biological evolutions have been favorable. The second observation is much more original and concerns a 35 years old woman. The clinical, laboratory, etiological and treatment data are similar to those of the first observation. The evolution after withdrawal of carbimazole was favorable. The originality of this observation is that a reintroduction test of carbimazole was performed and allowed to reproduce the same haematological effects. These findings led us to hold the diagnosis of anaemia due to carbimazole. In this occasion, and in the light of the data in the literature, we underline the exceptional character of these two cases and we raise the possibility of an etiopathogenic link between administration of ATS and the occurrence of anaemia by iron deficiency.