动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病患者血脂分布及不同剂量的阿托伐他汀降脂达标情况分析

目的分析漳州地区动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病(arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,ASCVD)患者的血脂分布及他汀类药物应用情况,探讨不同剂量的阿托伐他汀对ASCVD患者的降脂达标效果。方法选择到漳州市医院就诊的ASCVD患者356例,检测其血脂[三酸甘油(triacylglyceml,TG),总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC),低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C),高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)]浓度分析血脂分布及他汀类药物应用情况。按随机数字表法分为小剂量阿托伐他汀组(n=179,10 mg睡前顿服一次)及常规剂量阿托伐他汀组(n=187,20 mg睡前顿服一次),疗程均为3个月。检测两组患者治疗后血脂浓度,同时对两组患者的血糖、肝功能、肾功能、肌酸激酶进行检测。结果漳州地区ASCVD患者治疗前TG为(1.66±0.95)mmol/L,TC为(5.76±0.68)mmol/L,LDL-C为(3.52±0.54)mmol/L,HDL-C为(1.23±0.42)mmol/L。治疗3个月后,两组患者的血清TG、TC、LDL-C浓度均比治疗前显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。以LDL-C 1.8 mmol/L为降脂目标值,小剂量阿托伐他汀组降幅36%,常规剂量阿托伐他汀组降幅为42.3%,两组达标率为38%和53%。结论漳州地区ASCVD患者的血脂处于较高水平;小剂量及常规阿托伐他汀能够显著降低LDL-C浓度,但达标率仍处于较低水平。     

漳州地区高血压患者血脂分布及不同剂量的阿托伐他汀的降脂达标情况分析

目的分析漳州地区原发性高血压(essential hypertension,EH)患者的血脂分布及他汀类药物应用情况,探讨不同剂量的阿托伐他汀对EH人群的动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病(ASCVD)一级预防降脂达标效果。方法选择到漳州市医院就诊的EH患者333例,检测血脂[三酰甘油(triacylglycerol,TG)、总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)]浓度,分析血脂分布及他汀类药物应用情况。按随机数字表法随机分为小剂量阿托伐他汀组(n=170,立普妥10 mg,睡前顿服一次)及常规剂量阿托伐他汀组(n=163,立普妥20 mg,睡前顿服一次),疗程均为3个月。检测两组治疗后血脂浓度,同时对两组血糖、肝功能、肾功能、肌酸激酶进行检测并比较。结果漳州地区高血压患者治疗前TG为(1.67±0.95)mmol/L,TC为(5.58±0.67)mmol/L,LDL-C为(3.42±0.51)mmol/L,HDL-C为(1.23±0.32)mmol/L。治疗3个月后,应用小剂量阿托伐他汀及常规剂量阿托伐他汀组血清TG、TC、LDL-C浓度均显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P均0.01)。常规剂量阿托伐他汀组在降低血清LDL-C浓度的幅度上明显高于小剂量组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);小剂量阿托伐他汀组达标率为78%,常规剂量阿托伐他汀组达标率为82%,两组达标率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论漳州地区EH患者的血脂处于较低水平;小剂量阿托伐他汀能够显著降低血清LDL-C浓度,且副作用少,值得在动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病一级预防中长期推广应用。     

他汀类药物对糖尿病合并动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病患者的治疗效果

目的:探讨他汀类药物对2型糖尿病(T2DM)合并动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病患者的治疗效果。方法:回顾性分析2013年10月至2015年12月在我院就诊的T2DM合并动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病患者103例的临床资料。根据是否使用他汀类药物,患者被分为常规治疗组(50例,不使用他汀类药物)和他汀组(53例,在常规治疗基础上加用他汀类药物),两组均治疗1年。测量比较两组治疗前后血脂水平,以及治疗期间的心脑血管事件发生情况。结果:与治疗前比较,他汀组治疗后甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)和低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(LDLC)水平显著降低,高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(HDL-C)水平显著升高(P均0.01)。与常规治疗组比较,他汀组治疗后TG[(2.13±0.37)mmol/L比(1.74±0.41)mmol/L]、TC[(5.38±0.45)mmol/L比(4.34±0.73)mmol/L]和LDL-C[(3.63±0.72)mmol/L比(2.55±0.61)mmol/L]水平降低更显著,HDL-C水平[(0.95±0.31)mmol/L比(1.34±0.35)mmol/L]升高更显著,P均0.01。治疗1年期间,他汀组心脑血管事件发生率显著低于常规治疗组(18.18%比56.67%),P=0.002。结论:他汀类药物能够有效纠正2型糖尿病合并动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病患者的脂质代谢异常,降低心脑血管事件的发生风险。     

阿托伐他汀联合苯扎贝特对急性冠脉综合征患者的疗效

目的:探讨阿托伐他汀联合苯扎贝特对急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者调脂治疗的价值。方法:选择我院2013年4月~2013年9月收治的121例ACS患者为研究对象,根据治疗方法分为苯扎贝特组(60例,在常规治疗基础上接受苯扎贝特治疗)和联合治疗组(61例,在苯扎贝特组治疗基础上加用阿托伐他汀)。比较两组患者治疗前后总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平,血脂达标率以及不良反应发生率。结果:治疗前两组患者各血脂指标水平差异无显著性(P0.05)。与治疗前比较,治疗后两组TC,TG和LDL-C水平均显著降低,HDL-C水平显著升高(P0.05或0.01);治疗后,与苯扎贝特组比较,联合治疗组TC[(4.06±0.49)mmol/L比(3.35±0.29)mmol/L],TG[(1.60±0.33)mmol/L比(1.12±0.21)mmol/L]和LDL-C水平[(2.18±0.39)mmol/L比(1.91±0.26)mmol/L]显著降低,HDL-C水平[(1.09±0.21)mmol/L比(1.26±0.26)mmol/L]显著升高,P均0.05;达标率:TC(41.67%比67.21%),TG(61.67%比85.25%),LDL-C(36.67%比70.49%)和HDL-C(41.67%比90.16%)均显著升高,P均0.05。两组的不良反应发生率(11.48%比10.00%)无显著差异,P0.05。结论:阿托伐他汀联合苯扎贝特对急性冠脉综合征患者调脂治疗,安全、效果显著。     

强化阿托伐他汀对急性冠脉综合征C反应蛋白及血脂的影响

目的:观察不同剂量阿托伐他汀(10mg/d和40mg/d)早期干预对急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者C反应蛋白(CRP)、血总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(LDL-C)水平的影响,以了解较大剂量阿托伐他汀对ACS患者免疫炎症抑制的影响及安全性。方法:72例ACS患者被随机分为两组,A组在常规治疗基础上予阿托伐他汀10mg/d,睡前口服;B组在常规治疗基础上予阿托伐他汀40mg/d,睡前口服,均在入院48h内开始用药,治疗4周,分别予用治疗前、后监测血清CRP、血脂(TC、LDL-C)浓度,同时观察用药安全性。结果:治疗后两组患者血清CRP、血脂均有不同程度的下降(P0.05～0.01),与A组相比较,B组CRP[(16.45±6.45)mg/L:(11.48±6.83)mg/L]、TC[(5.38±0.64)mmol/L:(4.92±0.50)mmol/L]、LDL-C[(2.53±0.46)mmol/L:(1.95±0.39)mmol/L]下降更明显(P均0.05)。两组均无严重不良事件。结论:较大剂量阿托伐他汀早期干预治疗可显著降低急性冠脉综合征患者血清C反应蛋白浓度及血脂水平,并具有良好的安全性。。     

不同剂量瑞舒伐他汀对短暂性脑缺血发作患者颈动脉易损斑块和脑缺血事件的影响:前瞻性随机对照研究

目的 探讨不同剂量瑞舒伐他汀对短暂性脑缺血发作(transient ischemic attack,TIA)患者颈动脉易损斑块和脑缺血事件的影响.方法 前瞻性纳入存在颈动脉易损斑块的TIA患者,随机分为瑞舒伐他汀常规剂量组和大剂量组,前者在常规治疗基础上加服瑞舒伐他汀10 mg/d,后者在常规治疗基础上加服瑞舒伐他汀20 mg/d.随访6个月.治疗前后检测血脂,颈部血管超声检测颈动脉内膜-中膜厚度(intima-media thickness,IMT)、斑块面积和Crouse斑块积分.比较治疗后6个月内的脑缺血事件发生率.结果 共纳入71例患者,常规剂量组35例,大剂量组36例,常规剂量组和大剂量组分别失访2例和1例.大剂量组基线总胆固醇(total cholesterol,TC)[(5.65±1.05)mmol/L对(5.46±0.87) mmol/L;t=0.812,P=0.419]、三酰甘油(triglyceride,TG)[(2.85±0.74) mmol/L对(2.95±0.86) mmol/L;=0.513,P=0.609]、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C)[(4.11±0.47) mmol/L对(4.08±0.33) mmol/L;t =0.304,P=0.761]和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C)[(1.27±0.22) mmol/L对(1.23±0.20) mmol/L;t=1.339,P=0.185]与常规剂量组差异无统计学意义;治疗后,大剂量组TC[(3.06±0.77) mmol/L对(4.98±0.78) mmol/L;t=10.214,P＜0.001]、TG[(2.15±0.56) mmol/L对(2.52±0.68) mmol/L;t=2.492,P=0.015]和LDL-C[(2.18±0.59) mmol/L对(3.86±0.42) mmol/L;t 13.526,P＜0.001]显著低于后组,而HDL-C[(1.43±0.20) mmol/L对(1.33±0.21) mmol/L;=2.010,P=0.048]显著高于常规剂量组.大剂量组基线IMT[(1.59±0.26)mm对(1.58±0.28)mm;t =0.152,P=0.879]、斑块面积[(0.87±0.29)mm2对(0.85±0.34)mm2;t=0.261,P=0.749]和Crouse积分[(4.26±0.31)mm对(4.18±0.25)mm;t1.171,P=0.245]与常规剂量组差异无统计学意义;治疗后大剂量组IMT[(1.26±0.25)mm对(1.44±0.27)mm;t=2.852,P=0.005]、斑块面积[(0.50±0.25) mm2对(0.70±0.25)mm2;t=3.298,P=0.001]和Crouse积分[(2.30±0.26)mm对(4.03±0.24) mm;t =28.509,P＜0.001]均较常规剂量组显著降低.大剂量组脑缺血事件发生率显著低于常规剂量组(11.76％对29.41％x2=3.202,P=0.001).结论 瑞舒伐他汀具有显著的降脂作用,能消除或稳定颈动脉易损斑块,减少缺血性卒中事件,瑞舒伐他汀20 mg/d的作用优于10 mg/d.     

依折麦布联合阿托伐他汀对冠心病患者血脂水平、心功能及IMT的影响

目的:研究依折麦布联合阿托伐他汀对冠心病患者血脂水平、心功能及颈动脉内膜-中层厚度(IMT)的影响。方法:于我院治疗的128例冠心病患者被随机均分为阿托伐他汀组(在常规治疗基础上加用阿托伐他汀)与联合治疗组(在阿托伐他汀组基础上加用依折麦布),两组均治疗60d。观察比较两组治疗前后甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)水平、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDd)、左室收缩末期内径(LVESd)、LVEF、IMT以及治疗6个月后主要不良心血管事件(MACE)发生率。结果:与阿托伐他汀组比较,联合治疗组治疗后TG[(1.43±0.14)mmol/L比(1.35±0.12)mmol/L]、TC[(5.29±0.51)mmol/L比(5.03±0.54)mmol/L]、LDL-C [(2.93±0.34)mmol/L比(2.71±0.27) mmol/L]水平、LVEDd [(55.77±5.81)mm比(53.45±5.59)mm]、LVESd [(40.52±4.33)mm比(38.91±4.13)mm]、IMT [(0.96±0.10)mm比(0.91±0.08)mm]降低更显著,HDL-C水平[(1.12±0.11) mmol/L比(1.22±0.12) mmol/L]、LVEF [(46.30±4.25)%比(50.63±5.30)%]升高更显著,P0.05或0.01。联合治疗组治疗6个月后MACE发生率显著低于阿托伐他汀组(3.13%比14.06%,P=0.028)。结论:依折麦布联合阿托伐他汀能显著改善冠心病患者血脂水平及心功能,降低颈动脉内膜-中层厚度,安全性好,值得推广。     

大株红景天联合前列地尔治疗急性冠脉综合征的疗效及对血脂水平的影响

目的:研究大株红景天联合前列地尔治疗急性冠脉综合征(ACS)的疗效及对血脂水平的影响。方法:选择2016年7月～2017年9月我院收治的104例ACS患者。患者被随机均分为前列地尔组(在常规治疗基础上加用前列地尔注射液)和联合治疗组(在前列地尔组基础上加用大株红景天注射液),两组疗程均为2周。观察比较两组治疗前后LVEDd、LVEF,血脂:TC、TG、HDL-C、LDL-C、血清高敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)、白介素6 (IL-6)、单核细胞趋化蛋白-1 (MCP-1)水平,以及治疗总有效率和不良反应发生率。结果:治疗2周后,联合治疗组总有效率显著高于前列地尔组(94.23%比78.85%),P=0.022。与治疗前比较,治疗2周后两组LVEDd、TC、TG、LDL-C、血清hsCRP、IL-6及MCP-1水平均显著降低,LVEF和HDL-C水平均显著升高,P0.05或0.01。与前列地尔组比较,联合治疗组治疗2周后LVEDd [(58.07±6.14)mm比(55.12±5.06)mm]、TC [(5.63±0.94)mmol/L比(4.75±0.81)mmol/L]、TG [(2.78±0.54)mmol/L比(2.16±0.47)mmol/L]、LDL-C [(3.28±0.57)mmol/L比(2.56±0.42)mmol/L]、血清hsCRP [(6.27±1.14)mg/L比(5.39±0.96)mg/L]、IL-6 [(7.85±1.47)ng/L比(6.82±1.30)ng/L]及MCP-1 [(113.74±19.62)ng/L比(94.36±16.58)ng/L]水平降低更显著,LVEF [(45.74±8.48)%比(50.78±8.34)%]和HDL-C水平[(2.36±0.52)mmol/L比(2.93±0.57)mmol/L]升高更显著,P均0.01。治疗期间,两组不良反应发生率无显著差异,P=0.539。结论:大株红景天联合前列地尔治疗ACS疗效显著,能显著改善患者心功能,调节血脂代谢,降低体内炎症反应,值得临床推广应用。     

芹菜素对大鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝炎肝组织过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体表达的影响

目的 探讨芹菜素对非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(NASH)大鼠肝组织过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(PPARs)表达的影响. 方法 采用高脂饲料喂养的方法复制大鼠NASH模型,成模后分为正常组,模型组,多烯磷脂酰胆碱组,芹菜素低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组.实验结束后,进行胰岛素敏感性测定;腹腔静脉取血测定生物化学指标ALT、AST、总胆固醇(TC)、总甘油三酯(TG)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、空腹血糖(FBG)和空腹胰岛素(FINS);计算肝指数和胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR);提取肝组织,运用免疫组织化学和RT-PCR测定各组大鼠肝组织PPAR α 、PPAR γ蛋白和mRNA表达情况.多组间的比较采用单因素方差分析.结果 胰岛素敏感性的变化:各组之间差异均有统计学意义,两两比较结果显示,正常组明显高于其他组,而芹菜素组高于模型组,尤其是高剂量组;生物化学指标检测结果显示:与模型组ALT[(163.1±15.5) U/L、AST (284.6±23.5) U/L]活性和TC[(2.23±0.76)mmol/L]、TG[(1.94±0.33) mmol/L]、LDL-C[(2.63±0.18) mmol/L]、HDL-C[(0.77±0.51)mmol/L]、FBG[(8.64±1.02) mmol/L]和FINS[(3.48±1.41) U/L]含量相比,芹菜素组尤其是高剂量组能减少ALT [(95.4±7.3)U/L]、AST [(183.7±14.3)U/L]活性和TC [(1.61±0.25)mmol/L]、TG[(1.23土0.21) mmol/L、LDL-C[(1.86±0.13) mmol/L、FBG[(5.29±1.45)mmol/L和FINS[(0.76±0.86) U/L]的含量,升高HDL-C[(1.04±0.17) mmol/L]的含量;与模型组大鼠肝指数(3.75±0.25)和HOMA-IR (1.34±0.06)相比,芹菜素组尤其是高剂量组能够显著减低肝指数(2.90±0.17)和HOMA-IR(0.18土0.04,P＜0.05);免疫组织化学染色和RT-PCR结果显示:与模型组相比,芹菜素组PPAR α 、PPARγ蛋白和mRNA表达增加,尤其是高剂量组,PPAR α 蛋白和mRNA相对表达量分别为18.27±4.05和0.63±0.02,PPAR γ蛋白和mRNA相对表达量分别为8.48±5.05和0.39±0.02,P＜0.05. 结论 芹菜素能改善胰岛素抵抗和糖脂代谢,减轻肝脏脂肪变性和炎症坏死,降低血清TC、TG、LDL-C、FBG、FINS和HOMA-IR水平,提高HDL-C水平,推测其可能对大鼠NASH具有保护作用.     

普罗布考联合瑞舒伐他汀对ACS的抗炎和抗氧化作用

目的:观察普罗布考联合瑞舒伐他汀对急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者的血脂、高敏C反应蛋白(hsCRP)、白介素-6(IL-6)、同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)和氧化型低密度脂蛋白(ox-LDL)水平的影响。方法:选择在我院心内科住院确诊为ACS患者226例,随机分为联合治疗组(113例,普罗布考联合瑞舒伐他汀治疗)和瑞舒伐他汀组(113例);治疗时间为3个月。比较两组患者治疗前后血脂、hsCRP、IL-6、Hcy和ox-LDL水平的差异。结果:两组患者治疗3个月后血清总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇(LDL-C)、甘油三酯(TG)、hsCRP、IL-6、ox-LDL和Hcy水平均较治疗前显著降低(P0.05或0.01),且与瑞舒伐他汀组比较,联合治疗组治疗后TC[(4.81±0.62)mmol/L比(4.02±0.53)mmol/L]、LDL-C[(2.35±0.52)mmol/L比(1.82±0.48)mmol/L]、hsCRP[(4.15±1.56)mg/L比(3.27±1.74)mg/L]、IL-6[(82.15±8.02)ng/L比(75.18±7.98)ng/L]、ox-LDL[(481.21±59.21)μg/L比(402.43±45.32)μg/L]和Hcy[(13.85±4.27)μmol/L比(10.29±3.87)μmol/L]水平下降更显著(P均0.05)。结论:普罗布考联合瑞舒伐他汀较单纯瑞舒伐他汀治疗对急性冠脉综合征患者的抗炎、抗氧化作用更强。     

A patient with rectal ulcer with severe stenosis presenting with perforated peritonitis

We report a patient with rectal ulcer with severe stenosis, who underwent urgent surgical treatment for perforated peritonitis. The 54-year-old man suddenly developed cramping abdominal pain and fever while hospitalized, with signs of peritoneal irritation. An emergency laparotomy was performed, and severe stenosis of the rectum and a perforated lesion on the oral side approximately 10 cm distant from the stenosis were found, with massive abdominal purulent fluid. He was treated by rectosigmoid colon resection with transverse colon loop colostomy. Histopathologically, the stenosis was caused by ulceration extending to all muscular layers of the rectum, with inflammatory changes. Benign rectal stenosis is so rare that differential diagnosis from malignancy may be difficult when there are inflammatory changes in the surrounding tissues. However, it is necessary to keep in mind the likelihood of this disease in differentiation from rectal cancer. Received: December 21, 1998 / Accepted: May 28, 1999     

Evaluation of atrial vulnerability with transoesophageal stimulation in patients with atrioventricular junctional: Comparison with patients with ventricular pre-excitation and with normal subjects

The aim of our work was to evaluate the inducibility of atrialfibrillation in a group of patients with atrioventricular junctionalreentrant tachycardia and to compare it with that of patientswith a Kent-type ventricular pre-excitation (Wolff-Parkinson-Whitesyndrome) and a control group. One hundred and twenty-five subjects were separated into groups.Group 1 comprised 49 Wolff-Parkinson-White patients, with amean age of 26.4, range 10.66 years; group 2, 51 patients withatrioventricular junctional reentrant tachycardia inducibleby transoesophageal atrial stimulation andlor clinically documented,with a mean age of 43.4, range 16–78 years; group 3, 25control subjects with a mean age of2.64, range 13–76 years. Each subject underwent atrial transoesophageal stimulation withthe following protocol: programmed atrial stimulation with 1and 2 stimuli during atrial pacing of 100. min^–1 and 150.min^–1; atrial stimulation for 10 s at a rate of 200–300–400–500–600.min^–1 with intervals of 10 s between stimulations, fivesuccessive ‘ramp-up’ atrial stimulations for 9 swith the rate increasing from 100 to 800. min^–1 with intervalsof 10 s between stimulations. The end point was the completionof the protocol or induction of sustained atrial fibrillation(>1 min). The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Our resultsshowed that in group 1 atrial fibrillation was induced in 27149patients (55.1%); this was sustained in 13149 (26.5%) and non-sustainedin 14149 (28.5%); in group 2, atrial fibrillation was inducedin 22151 patients (43.0%); it was sustained in 7151 (13.7%)and non-sustained in 15151 (29.4%); in group 3, sustained atrialfibrillation was not induced in any subject and in only onesubject was a non-sustained atrial fibrillation (4 s) induced. The chi-square test showed that group 2 vs group 1 were non-significant,while group 2 vs group 3 and group 1 vs group 3 were significant(P<0.003 and P<0.0007, respectively). Therefore group 2 patients showed a greater atrial vulnerabilityin comparison to the control subjects and a similar vulnerabilityto group 1 patients. It is possible that the greater atrialvulnerability in the patients of group 2 was due to the doublenodal pathway.     

肿瘤病人弓形虫感染分析

在肿瘤的发生和发展进程中 ,多伴有免疫功能低下或缺陷 ,从而极易遭受各种感染。弓形虫是机会感染因子 ,当患者免疫功能受损时 ,易于感染 ,还会使隐性感染激活 ,引起低热不退、淋巴结肿和脑神经系统的反应 ,此现象尚未引起临床医师的重视。近年来 ,我们对 4 0 9例肿瘤病人进行了弓形虫感染及弓形虫病的分析观察 ,报告如下 :1　材料与方法1 1　材料　 30 4例病人血清取自江西省肿瘤医院住院或门诊病人 ,随机抽样后低温保存待检 ,10 5例取自其他医院送检样品 ,有急性症状者随到随检 ,以便及时做病原学检测。1 2　弓形虫病诊断方法1 2 1　免疫…     

Infection with Rhodococcus equi in a patient with sarcoidosis treated with corticosteroids

A 51-year-old female farmer was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis. During 4 years of observation, slow radiological progression was observed. Cough then developed, necessitating treatment with corticosteroids. After 28 months of continuous treatment with prednisolone in low doses (5-7.5 mg daily), she suffered fever episodes, recurrent haemoptyses, general malaise and loss of weight. A chest roentgenogram showed a left upper lobe infiltrate, which progressed and finally cavitated, and rib destruction. Despite efforts, including a thoracotomy, 22 months passed before a diagnosis could be made. Blood and sputum cultures and cultures from the destroyed rib showed growth of Rhodococcus equi, a common soil organism which can cause infections in foals and other animals. Treatment with rifampicin and erythromycin was successful. R. equi has been reported to cause infection in patients with neoplastic disease and/or immunosuppression, but the disease might be more common than is suggested by the sparse case reports in the literature, owing to lack of familiarity with the organism, which will tend to be overlooked as a contaminant.     

Treating patients with lupus with B-cell depletion

A new era in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus has dawned with the increasing introduction of monoclonal antibodies and other approaches, that target the key molecules involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. At present the ability to block the CD20 molecule on those B cells that carry this marker has proved the most effective way to treat patients resistant to conventional immunosuppressive drugs. However, these studies have all been open label and the results of double blind controlled studies are eagerly awaited.