Allergic esophagitis in children: a clinicopathological entity

Infiltration of esophageal epithelium by eosinophils is seen in reflux esophagitis and allergic gastroenteritis. This study was performed to identify differences between patients with acid reflux esophagitis and those with non-acid reflux, possibly allergic, esophagitis. Intraepithelial eosinophils were demonstrated in posttherapy esophageal biopsy specimens in 28 children treated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These patients were divided into three groups based on their response to treatment and the results of esophageal pH probe monitoring. Eleven patients (Group A) had incomplete clinical response and normal pH probe monitoring results. Ten patients (Group B) had incomplete response but did not have pH probe monitoring. These two groups formed the index population. Seven patients (Group C) had clinical improvement with GERD therapy and abnormal pH probe monitoring characteristic of GERD; they constituted the control population. Clinical, laboratory, and pathologic features were evaluated to detect differences between index and control populations. Dysphagia, food impaction, failure to thrive, peripheral eosinophilia, and abnormal allergen skin test results were detected only in Group A and B patients. Biopsy specimens of the distal 9 cm of the esophagus, after GERD therapy, contained larger numbers of eosinophils in Groups A and B than in Group C as shown on high-power fields (HPF) (A: 31/HPF +/- 19.5; B: 28/HPF +/-23.7; versus C: 5/HPF +/-6.7; p = 0.009). Eosinophil aggregates were identified only in Groups A and B (p = 0.07). Eosinophils located preferentially in the superficial layers of the squamous epithelium were noted only in Groups A and B (p = 0.02). Group A and B patients demonstrated clinical improvement when given antiallergic therapy. The authors identified a group of pediatric patients characterized by an allergic history, lack of adequate response to GERD therapy, normal esophageal pH probe monitoring results, and large numbers of eosinophils in esophageal biopsy specimens obtained after GERD treatment. On the basis of these features, the authors propose that these patients represent examples of allergic esophagitis.     

Acral dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with metastases

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon cutaneous tumor that occurs rarely on the extremities. This tumor has a particular propensity for local recurrence following seemingly adequate excision. Metastases are rare, and usually follow repeated local recurrences. On rare occasions, fibrosarcomatous change may arise in a DFSP, and appears to affect adversely the prognosis. The adequacy of the initial resection is the most important prognostic factor; however, suggested margins vary between 1.5 and 5 cm. The ideal margin of resection on the foot is unknown. We report a patient with recurrent, acral DFSP with fibrosarcomatous change and pulmonary parenchymal metastases in a 48-year-old black male.     

Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis persisting into adulthood

PURPOSE: We evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of treating monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) that has persisted into adulthood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients older than 18 years with persistent monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis were treated with 20 to 40 microg. desmopressin (DDAVP) nightly for 6 months. If the patients remained incontinent on maximal pharmacotherapy or if they became incontinent after cessation of DDAVP we initiated treatment with an enuretic alarm for 6 months. Patients not responsive to DDAVP or the enuresis alarm were given a trial of 50 mg. imipramine nightly. All patients were reassessed for continence 18 months after initiation of the treatment protocol. RESULTS: We treated 29 patients of a median age of 20 years (range 18 to 33) who were enuretic more than 4 nights per week. With the initial DDAVP treatment 19 (66%) became continent (enuresis 0 or 1 night a month) but after discontinuation of DDAVP only 2 (7%) remained continent. Of the 27 patients subsequently treated with an enuretic alarm 9 (33%) became continent and 18 had persistent enuresis. Of these 18 patients 11 resumed DDAVP and became dry, while 7 nonresponsive to DDAVP were given imipramine and 2 (29%) are continent. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 83% of patients (24 of 29) achieved continence, including 38% (11 of 29) who are continent off all treatment modalities and 45% (13 of 29) who are currently continent on pharmacotherapy (11 on DDAVP and 2 on imipramine). The remaining 17% of patients (5 of 29) have persistent primary nocturnal enuresis recalcitrant to all therapeutic attempts.     

The clinical usefulness of the renal allograft biopsy in the cyclosporine era: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: The renal allograft biopsy is generally accepted as the gold standard for clarifying the cause of renal dysfunction. However, the clinical usefulness of this procedure has rarely been studied prospectively, nor have most studies included follow-up of patients to delineate the influence of the biopsy on clinical outcome. In this study, we evaluated prospectively the clinical usefulness of the allograft biopsy in renal transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine (CyA). METHODS: During a 21-month period, 82 biopsies were performed. In 54 instances (47 patients), we outlined a presumed diagnosis and tentative treatment plan before the procedure. After the biopsy, a definitive diagnosis was made and an appropriate patient management approach was instituted. We analyzed the incidence of change in patient management that resulted from histological findings. All patients were followed to monitor their response to treatment and allograft survival. In cases of biopsy-proven acute cellular rejection (ACR) or cyclosporine (CyA) toxicity, clinical and laboratory data from the day of the biopsy were reviewed to determine their diagnostic value. RESULTS: One biopsy specimen was inadequate for definitive interpretation. The biopsy findings resulted in a change in patient management in 22 (41.5%) of the remaining 53 cases (change group). The incidence of altered patient management was 38.7% in biopsy specimens taken in the first month, 55.6% between 1 and 12 months, and 38.5% after 1 year posttransplantation. A change in management was required in 2 of 2 patients with chronic allograft dysfunction, in 44.4% of the 45 patients with acute allograft dysfunction, and in none of the patients with delayed graft function (n=6). Within the first week of treatment 19 of 22 (86.4%) in the change group and 25 of 31 (80.6%) in the no change group had a positive response to therapy. The 1-year allograft survival rate was also similar between the two groups. None of the clinical and laboratory data was useful in distinguishing ACR from CyA toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Renal allograft biopsy findings alter patient management recommendations in approximately 40% of patients in whom a presumptive diagnosis had been made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. Patients who had a change in patient management because of biopsy findings demonstrated a response to therapy and allograft survival similar to those of patients who had no alteration in management plan after the biopsy.     

Complement activation mediates intestinal injury after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cell injury after hemorrhage and resuscitation (HEM/RES) might contribute to intestinal hypoperfusion and mucosal ischemia. Our recent work suggests that the injury might be the result of complement activation. We hypothesized that HEM/RES causes complement-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction in the small intestine. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (195-230 g) were anesthetized and HEM to 50% of baseline mean arterial pressure for 60 minutes. Just before RES, animals received either soluble complement receptor-1 (sCR1, 15 mg/kg) to inhibit complement activation or saline vehicle. Resuscitation was with shed blood and an equal volume of saline. Two hours after RES, the small bowel was harvested to evaluate intestinal nitric oxide synthase activity (NOS), neutrophil influx, histology, and oxidant injury. RESULTS: HEM/RES induced tissue injury, increased neutrophil influx, and reduced NOS activity by 50% (vs. SHAM), all of which were completely prevented by sCR1 administration. There were no observed differences in oxidant injury between the groups. CONCLUSION: Histologic tissue injury, increased neutrophil influx, and impaired NOS activity after HEM/RES were all prevented by complement inhibition. Direct oxidant injury did not seem to be a major contributor to these alterations. Complement inhibition after HEM might ameliorate reperfusion injury in the small intestine by protecting the endothelial cell, reducing neutrophil influx and preserving NOS function.     

Eye injuries in patients with major trauma

BACKGROUND: A study was performed to determine the type and frequency of ocular injuries in patients with major trauma. METHODS: All patients with ocular and adnexal injuries (n = 178) among 1,119 patients admitted with major trauma (Injury Severity Score >15) to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from July 1990 to December 1997 were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of the major trauma cohort had ocular or orbital trauma. Fifty-five percent of patients with injuries involving the face had ocular or orbital injuries. A range of ocular injuries was seen. Analysis of the major trauma cohort showed that motor vehicle drivers, orbital and base of skull fractures, eyelid lacerations, and superficial eye injuries were strongly associated with vision-threatening injury. CONCLUSION: Patients with major trauma and facial injuries have a high risk of vision-threatening injury. Patients with orbital fractures, base of skull fracture, eyelid lacerations, and superficial eye injuries should be assessed by an ophthalmologist as part of the early management of their trauma to determine whether an ocular injury is present.     

Evolving trends in liver transplantation: an outcome and charge analysis

BACKGROUND: Due to the limited supply and increased demand for donor livers, waiting times are progressively lengthening, which may lead to transplantation at more advanced and less cost-effective stages of disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and hospital charges of liver transplantation during two recent eras to identify areas for providing more cost-effective care. METHODS: A total of 144 primary liver allografts were performed from 1991 to 1996. Patient characteristics, outcome measures, and hospital charges were compared for patients receiving allografts between 1991 and 1993 (group A) versus those receiving grafts between 1994 and 1996 (group B) using unpaired Student t tests for continuous data and chi-squared tests for categorical data. RESULTS: In comparing groups A and B, no significant differences in patient demographics, relative contraindications, or indication for transplantation existed; median waiting time from date of listing until transplant increased from 88 days to 159 days; and a shift in UNOS priority status at time of transplantation occurred, as the percentage of patients requiring inpatient care increased from 58% to 75% (P=0.034). Despite this, patient hospital and 1-year survival significantly improved from 75.0% to 90.3% (P=0.016), and from 68.1% to 88.9% (P=0.002), respectively. Total hospital charges, without correction for inflation, were $174,908+/-16,388 in A and $193,525+/-14,444 in B (P=0.288). The increased charges were associated with longer inpatient length of stay (LOS) before transplant, resulting in increased pretransplant charges from $24,088+/-4134 (A) to $39,490+/-6,196 (B) (P=0.011). Room and service (54%) was the largest pretransplant contributor to charges, while blood products (23%), room and service (21%), organ acquisition (13%), and operating room charges (11%) contributed the most after transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Longer waiting times resulting in transplantation at later stages of disease have occurred, leading to longer pretransplant LOS and its associated charges. Despite more advanced disease, patient survival rates have significantly improved with fewer infection-related deaths. LOS pretransplant, blood products, and operating room services represent potential areas for providing more cost-effective care.