Spinal epidural abscess as a complication of Fournier's gangrene.

Fournier's gangrene is a rare, multi-organism infection of the perineum. The disease is most often confined to the groin area with distant spread being extremely unusual. A ase of spinal epidural abscess as a complication of Fournier's gangrene is presented. The infection appears to have spread by the hematogenous route. The patient had several symptoms, including fever, which could have provided an early diagnostic clue. Multiple fever workups were negative, however, and the diagnosis was not made until quadriplegia developed. A lumbar puncture as part of the fever workup might have allowed for an earlier diagnosis and more prompt surgery.     

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis in adults.

Twenty-one patients with pseudomembranous enterocolitis were seen over a 17 year period. Major inciting factors appeared to be an antecedent operation or a serious medical illness. The most common symptoms were fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The most commonly involved organ was the colon. The diagnosis was missed in the majority of patients. Neither conservative treatment or surgical treatment were successful. Awareness of the disease and its course will lead to earlier diagnosis and hopefully to a higher cure rate.     

Acute urinary retention as a result of a bladder diverticulum

An 11-month-old infant presented with acute urinary retention. He had presented 3 months earlier with complaints of an enlarging abdominal mass that was initially diagnosed as a mesenteric cyst on ultrasonography. Voiding cystourethrogram revealed a large bladder diverticulum. Bladder diverticulum should be a differential diagnosis in children, especially male, presenting with urinary retention, fever and an abdominal mass.     

Visceral Leishmaniasis in renal transplant recipients: is it still a challenge to the nephrologist?

A case of visceral Leishmaniasis in a renal transplant recipient is reported because of its peculiar clinical presentation: the presence of most clinical signs of the disease, such as high-grade fever, marked leucopenia, and splenomegaly, but persistent negativity of serology and of bone marrow smear. Forty days after the first bone marrow biopsy, the diagnosis was made possible by a second biopsy, and the treatment was started with antimonial compounds, which led to complete remission of symptoms. A relapse was observed 1 month after discontinuation of therapy, successfully treated with a new cycle of the same drug and allopurinol. The diagnosis of Leishmaniasis must always be considered in immunosuppressed transplant recipients with fever and leucopenia of unknown origin, even when serology and bone marrow smear are negative.     

A case of hydropneumothorax]

A 19-year-old girl was admitted because of fever, cough and suddenly occurred chest pain. One month earlier she had experienced a fever and cough, then she had felt sudden chest pain 2 weeks prior to the admission. A chest X-ray showed left pneumothorax and massive pleural effusion. A diagnosis of hydropneumothorax was made. In spite of the chest tube drainage, reexpansion of the lung was unsatisfactory. Thoracotomy and decortication of the lung resulted in good reexpansion. Histological finding revealed pleuritis due to bacterial peribronchial infection, which resulted in hydropneumothorax, namely an abscess ruptured to the pleural cavity.     

Q fever endocarditis: relapse five years after successful valve replacement for a first unrecognized episode

A 59-yr-old man presented with mitral endocarditis and negative blood cultures. Antibodies to phase 2 and phase 1 antigens of Coxiella burneti were detected and a diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis was made. Five years earlier, this patient had been successfully treated by aortic valve replacement for a first episode of endocarditis with negative blood cultures. Giemsa and Machiavello stains of the native aortic valve were made retrospectively and showed coccobacilli highly suggestive of Coxiella organisms. It is concluded that the first episode was Q fever endocarditis and that the failure to recognize this aetiology at that time, and the absence of adequate medical therapy, is the cause of the present episode.     

Testicular abscess: report of 2 cases

We report two cases of testicular abscess. The first case is in a 53-year-old man who had been suffering from diabetes mellitus. Because of cerebral infarction, he had been bedridden and a Foley catheter had been indwelt for a long period of time. The second case is in a 78-year-old man who had suffered from acute prostatitis six months earlier. In both cases, the chief complaints were high fever and painful scrotal swelling. At initial evaluation, ultrasonography revealed that the affected testes were swollen without abscess formation and an ipsilateral epididymal swelling was demonstrated in the second case but not in the first case. The urine bacterial culture (UBC) result was positive for Escherichia coli in first case and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the second case. In both cases, fever and scrotal pain subsided after antibiotic chemotherapy, and inflammatory reactions on routine blood studies were normalized within 2 weeks. Nevertheless, the swollen testes did not sigunificantly reduce in size, and testicular abscess was suspected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Orchiectomy was performed, and intratesticular abscess formations were confirmed macroscopically and microscopically. In each case, bacterial culture from the abscess was positive for the same bacterium as detected from the UBC. It is difficult to distinguish testicular abscess from acute epididymitis at the early stage because of similarities on symptoms or signs between the two. If testicular swelling lasts after appropriate chemotherapy, we believe that attention should be directed to testicular abscess, which needs orchiectomy to obtain a complete cure and MRI is useful in its diagnosis.     

Tuberculous abscess of the cerebellum. Apropos of a case

A 22-year-old Asian man developed intracranial hypertension with a 38 degrees C fever. Two months earlier, he had undergone surgery and medical treatment for tuberculous otomastoiditis and pulmonary tuberculosis. The CT scan revealed multiple tuberculous abscesses of the cerebellum. Histological, microbiological and biological proof of diagnosis was obtained. We advocate surgical treatment of intracranial tuberculous abscesses associated with antituberculosis chemotherapy for 18 months. The earlier the treatment, the better the prognosis. This pathology must be kept in mind when treating patients from countries with a high endemic rate of tuberculosis and suffering from immunodeficiency syndrome.     

肝移植术后巨细胞病毒性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法

目的 探讨肝移植术后巨细胞病毒（CMV）性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析2003年10月至2005年6月间施行肝移植的451例患者的临床资料，对肝移植术后CMV性肺炎的临床特点和治疗方法进行总结。结果 在451例患者中，发生CMV性肺炎7例，感染率为1．66％。CMV性肺炎的症状明显早于体征，7例患者均无明显诱因出现高热，约1周后逐渐出现干咳、气促、呼吸困难等；血氧饱和度降低，血气分析提示低氧血症；CMV pp65抗原检测均为阳性。CMV性肺炎患者采用更昔洛韦联合膦甲酸钠抗病毒治疗，同时采取停用免疫抑制剂、加用较大剂量的丙种球蛋白和适量的胸腺肽等的个体化免疫调节方案以及广谱抗生素等综合治疗方法，6例治愈，治愈率为85．7％。结论 CMV性肺炎的早期临床表现虽然缺乏特异性，但仍有规律可循，CMV pp65抗原检测法具有特异性和敏感性高的特点。采取联合抗病毒和个体化免疫调节等综合措施治疗CMV性肺炎效果确切。     

Familial Mediterranean fever among the autoimmune diseases

During the first attacks of familial Mediterranean fever, each of the disease symptoms can suggest a series of disorders. When the disease is older, the recurrence of symptoms may simulate some systemic diseases, but mainly suggests familial Mediterranean fever, one of a group of hereditary autoinflammatory diseases. Before the gene for familial Mediterranean fever was identified, various sets of criteria were used for diagnosis. The presence of MEFV mutations confirms the diagnosis, but the clinical criteria still determine who should undergo this genetic testing. The genotype-phenotype correlations add a prognostic dimension to the mutations identified. Genotyping can also lead to the diagnosis of the other autoinflammatory diseases, which constitute the basis of the differential diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever. The hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HIDS) is very similar to familial Mediterranean fever in its recessive transmission and abdominal and articular symptoms. It can be distinguished by the European origin of the patients, the presence of cervical lymph nodes and the increased IgD levels. Of the diseases with dominant transmission, the TNF receptor-associated periodic syndromes (TRAPS) are suggested by periorbital edema and migrating inflammatory cellulitis. Muckle and Wells syndrome is revealed by episodes of fever with urticaria and arthralgia, complicated by deafness and amyloidosis. Mutations in the same gene are responsible for two disorders, both appearing in childhood: familial cold urticaria syndrome (FCUS) and chronic infantile neurocutaneous articular syndrome (CINC). The pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever is still unclear. Pyrin/marenostrin, the protein produced by the MEFV gene, appears to hae a physiological antiinflammatory effect that inhibits proinflammatory cytokines. Mutation of the gene may eliminate this feedback mechanism and expose the patient to flares from any inflammatory stimulus, even minimal. Amyloid is produced by the serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and its occurrence is influenced by the type of MEFV mutation, but also the genotype of the gene producing SAA.     

Diagnostic and therapeutic problems of polyarteritis nodosa.

Eleven patients with a diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa were seen over an 8-year period in Cape Town, and evaluated as to clinical presentation, the most effective diagnostic approach, and the response to therapy. The major features of fever, abdominal pain, peripheral neuritis, myalgia/arthralgia, weight loss, proteinuria, positive urinary sediment and high white blood cell count should readily lead to the diagnosis which can be confirmed by multiple muscle biopsies. At the same time an ellipse of skin and subcutaneous fat can be taken. If the diagnosis is made early enough, an aggressive approach to therapy with steroid and immunosuppressive drugs can induce a response even in those patients who already have renal failure.     

HLA compatibility and different features of liver allograft rejection

Abstract. The influence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on acute liver allograft rejection was investigated in 48 adult patients. The diagnosis of rejection was always based on the full triad of histological Findings, clinical signs, and the required antirejection treatment. Sixty-two percent of the patients closely observed for 6 months postoperatively revealed acute rejection within the first 3 weeks, mostly on days 7–11. HLA compatibility was not observed to have any significant influence on the incidence of acute rejection. However, different histological and clinical features were revealed in conjunction with DR compatibility. Patients without DR compatibility showed a type of rejection with fever and increase of bilirubin, frequently associated with cholestasis and cholangitis, which sometimes persisted for weeks. Patients with 1 DR compatibility showed a predominant increase of transaminases, which was never associated with cholangitis. The conjunction of different DR compatibilities and various clinical signs may indicate possible pathways from immunological assault to the clinical appearance of acute rejection. A knowledge of a patient's individual compatibility and an expectation of certain rejection patterns may lead to earlier and more reliable diagnosis and treatment.     

HLA compatibility and different features of liver allograft rejection

The influence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on acute liver allograft rejection was investigated in 48 adult patients. The diagnosis of rejection was always based on the full triad of histological findings, clinical signs, and the required antirejection treatment. Sixty-two percent of the patients closely observed for 6 months postoperatively revealed acute rejection within the first 3 weeks, mostly on days 7–11. HLA compatibility was not observed to have any significant influence on the incidence of acute rejection. However, different histological and clinical features were revealed in conjunction with DR compatibility. Patients without DR compatibility showed a type of rejection with fever and increase of bilirubin, frequently associated with cholestasis and cholangitis, which sometimes persisted for weeks. Patients with 1 DR compatibility showed a predominant increase of transaminases, which was never associated with cholangitis. The conjunction of different DR compatibilities and various clinical signs may indicate possible pathways from immunological assault to the clinical appearance of acute rejection. A knowledge of a patient's individual compatibility and an expectation of certain rejection patterns may lead to earlier and more reliable diagnosis and treatment.     

Cerebellar hemorrhage secondary to cranial metastasis of prostate cancer--case report

A 77-year-old man with a 9-year history of prostate cancer presented with high fever and dysphagia. The initial diagnosis was aspiration pneumonia, but the patient became comatose 2 days after admission, and neuroradiological workup revealed cerebellar hemorrhage, obstructive hydrocephalus, and extensive destruction of the occipital bone secondary to cranial metastasis. The diagnosis was cerebellar hemorrhage secondary to cranial metastasis of prostate cancer. Tumor resection was abandoned because of the patient's poor health. Shunt surgery and palliative radiotherapy were temporarily effective in restoring his consciousness, but he died of systemic infection 3 weeks after surgery. Metastasis of prostate cancer to the cranium, particularly to the skull base, rarely causes lower cranial nerve paresis, and awareness of this sign may lead to earlier detection of the cranial metastasis and prevention of cerebellar hemorrhage.     

Cerebromeningitis in immunosuppressed recipients of renal allografts.

The experience with cerebromeningitis in recipients of 769 renal allografts occurring over a 20-year period has been reviewed. Eighteen patients developed this complication; an incidence of 2.7%. Clinical manifestations were often subtle, although fever occurred almost universally. Primary risk factors included diabetes mellitus, use of high dose steroids both as maintenance immunosuppression and as treatment for acute rejection, and coincident infections or complications. The responsible organisms were fungi; the overall mortality rate 44%. By recognizing individual patient types who are at potential high risk for this complication, earlier diagnosis and more prompt and aggressive therapy has diminished the mortality dramatically in the last several years.     

Disseminated intravascular coagulation after hepatic resection

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) after hepatic resection is a serious complication that leads to a fatal outcome unless prompt treatment is instituted. Between April 1973 and June 1988, DIC occurred postoperatively in 18 of 192 patients who underwent hepatic resection because of a variety of diseases of the liver and biliary tract. The diagnosis was made on the basis of changes in platelet count, fibrinogen level, serum level of fibrin degradation product (FDP), and protamine sulfate test. Heparin was used in an earlier series but has been discontinued because of difficulty in determining the optimal dose in patients undergoing liver resection. Instead, we now use gabexate mesilate, which blocks the coagulation cascade without the aid of antithrombin III and works as an anticoagulant. Fifteen patients had uneventful recoveries, but three died. Two died of aggravation of DIC, which was a result of reoperation performed under the diagnosis of surgical bleeding. The other patient died of liver failure after fever of unknown cause persisted for 4 months. The rationale for the diagnosis and treatment of DIC after liver resection is documented, and the problems involved are discussed.     

Protracted fever of unknown origin as the presenting symptom of Behçet's disease. Report of a case

We report a case of Beh?et's disease that presented as protracted fever of unknown origin. The diagnosis was established when a thromboembolic event and ora3l aphthous ulcers occurred simultaneously. Antibiotics had no effect on the fever, which resolved when glucocorticoid and anticoagulant therapy was given. Among causes of protracted fever of unknown origin, Beh?et's disease is exceedingly rare but should be considered together with the other vasculitides. Above all, the presence of a fever should prompt a search for a thromboembolic complication.     

A Case of Adult Onset Still's Disease Misdiagnosed as Septic Arthritis

We present a case of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) that was misdiagnosed as septic arthritis of the shoulder and knee. A forty-nine-year-old woman was admitted for pain in the left knee. The patient's medical history showed that she had undergone arthroscopic irrigation twice and an open debridement under the diagnosis of septic shoulder at another hospital. The laboratory and joint fluid analysis findings led us to suspect septic knee. Arthroscopic irrigation and antibiotics treatment were performed. At five weeks after discharge, she presented with pain in the same joint, fever, and rash. The symptoms were consistent with Yamaguchi's criteria for AOSD. We started corticosteroid therapy, and clinical remission was achieved. In conclusion, we suggest that AOSD should be considered as a diagnosis of exclusion to avoid misdiagnosis with septic arthritis.     

Post-parturition infectious endocarditis in a patient with a normal mitral valve

A 29-year-old woman with no history of heart disease was admitted for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Six months earlier, she had given birth, then 20 days later developed a fever and cardiac failure ensued. An echocardiogram demonstrated severe mitral valve regurgitation. Her blood cultures were positive, and we made a diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation due to infectious endocarditis. Despite treatment for congestive heart failure and antibiotic therapy, resulting in negative blood cultures, her congestive heart failure did not improve, and vegetation on the mitral valve was observed by echocardiography. We successfully removed the infected tissue with mitral valve plasty.