Die primäre Angiitis des ZNS (PACNS)

Primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS) is a rare inflammatory disease affecting middle-aged patients. The angiitis is focal and segmental in distribution, involving small and medium-sized leptomeningeal and intracranial vessels. The most frequent presenting symptoms are headaches, focal neurologic deficits, and confusion. In addition, aphasia, neuropsychological deficits, and seizures may occur. The paper presents a review of the literature. In addition, a typical case of PACNS is presented. This case demonstrates that diagnosis of PACNS is difficult and brain biopsy is essential to confirm it.     

Changes in peripheral blood CD5 (Bla) B-cell populations and autoantibodies following blood transfusion

BACKGROUND: CD5 B cells and the natural autoantibodies they produce play a role in antigen presentation, tolerance induction, and maintenance of an idiotypic immune network. The effects of transfusion on autoantibodies and peripheral blood CD5 B cells were studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight previously transfused patients with sickle cell anemia and five patients who underwent orthopedic surgical procedures with transfusion were enrolled in the study. Patients in both groups received 1 to 2 units of allogeneic packed red cells. Ten untransfused healthy adults and five patients who underwent orthopedic surgery without transfusion were enrolled as controls. Peripheral blood CD5 B cells, serum levels of IgM, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and anticardiolipin IgM were quantitated either at the beginning of the study (baseline sample), before transfusion, or before surgery and either at 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week intervals after transfusion, after surgery, or after the baseline sample was obtained. RESULTS: IgM levels and the absolute number of B cells that coexpressed CD5 rose to twice pretransfusion levels in six of eight transfused sickle cell anemia patients and in four of five transfused orthopedic surgery patients. No comparable increases in CD5 B cells were noted in untransfused controls. Preexisting rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody levels increased in four of five transfused orthopedic surgery patients. One sickle cell anemia patient developed anti-Fya despite receiving Fya-negative blood. Increasing titers of anti-Fya paralleled the increases in IgM and CD5 B cells after transfusion. One patient who developed a positive direct antiglobulin test after transfusion had large increases in serum anticardiolipin IgM. Anticardiolipin IgM was subsequently eluted from direct antiglobulin test-positive red cells obtained after transfusion. Antibodies with anti-Fya-like activity and anticardiolipin IgM were produced in vitro by CD5 B cells and not by conventional CD5-negative B cells. CONCLUSION: An association was found between transfusion-induced increases in CD5 B cells and increased autoantibody production. These data may have implications for immunologic intervention to prevent the induction of red cell antibodies and other changes in the immune system caused by exposure to foreign antigens via blood transfusion.     

Autosomal dominant medullary cystic kidney disease: evidence of gene locus heterogeneity

Autosomal dominant medullary cystic kidney disease (ADMCKD; synonym: medullary cystic disease, MCD) is an autosomal dominant kidney disorder, sharing morphological and clinical features with recessive juvenile nephronophthisis (NPH), such as reduced urinary concentration ability and multiple renal cysts at the corticomedullary junction. While in NPH end-stage renal disease (ESRD) occurs in adolescence, ADMCKD leads to ESRD in adulthood. Recently a gene locus for ADMCKD has been localized to chromosome 1q21 in two large Cypriot families. This prompted us to examine linkage in three ADMCKD-families, using the same set of polymorphic microsatellite markers spanning the critical region on chromosome 1q21. Haplotype analysis revealed that none of the three families showed linkage to this locus, thus demonstrating evidence for genetic locus heterogeneity. Additional linkage analysis studies need to be performed in order to identify further gene loci cosegregating with this autosomal dominant kidney disorder.     

Function of von Willebrand factor in children with diarrhea-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome (D+ HUS).

Reports on von Willebrand factor (vWF) in hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) are not unequivocal. Because of potential pathogenic implications, we examined the ability of vWF to bind to collagen in vitro, which reflects its function. Plasma vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) and collagen-binding activity (vWF:CBA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in children with (1) diarrhea-associated (D+) HUS (n = 27), (2) chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) (n = 8), (3) gastroenteritis (GE) not associated with HUS (n = 15), (4) immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) (n = 40) and from controls (n = 35). Structural vWF was evaluated by multimer analysis. Children with D+ HUS had vWF:Ag of 2.53 and vWF:CBA of 1.98 U/mL. The corresponding values for patients with ITP were 1.35 and 1.82 U/mL, with CRI 1.55 and 1.55 U/mL, and with GE 1.68 and 2.10 U/mL; all values were higher than in controls (1.04 and 1.16 U/mL). The mean ratio of vWF:CBA to vWF:Ag ratio in controls was 1.13; only children with HUS had a dysfunctional vWF, as indicated by a low ratio of 0.78; the ratio was elevated in children with ITP (1.36) and GE (1.27) and was normal in those with CRI (1.06). No ultralarge molecular multimers of vWF were detected in any group, including HUS. The very high concentration of plasma vWF:Ag in HUS probably reflects endothelial cell damage or irritation. In contrast to all other groups, only children with HUS had a dysfunctional vWF, caused either by a primary (due to enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli) or secondary (due to consumption of functionally active vWF) process. This abnormality was not obvious as structural anomaly by multimer analysis.     

Acute bilateral renal vein thrombosis complicating Netherton syndrome

A 1-year old male infant suffering from Netherton syndrome with severe generalized erythroderma presented with acute renal failure due to bilateral renal vein thrombosis (RVT) after a short episode of enteritis. The imperceptible fluid loss through the skin and the additional enteric water loss had led to decompensation of the delicate fluid balance and had resulted in RVT as a sequel of haemoconcentration. Reperfusion of the left kidney could be achieved by treatment with urokinase and heparin. Prophylactic oral anticoagulation was instituted for several weeks. Conclusion In severe Netherton disease meticulous surveillance of the fluid balance is important and aggressive treatment is indicated in case of additional fluid loss. Received: 15 April 1997 / Accepted: 20 May 1997     

Zur Behandlung der Verrenkungsbrüche im Oberarmhalsgebiet

Zusammenfassung Die Einrichtung der Verrenkungsbrüche im Oberarmhalsgebiet soll zunächst stets unblutig versucht werden. Verwendung einer Extensions-schiene hat sich hierbei an der Freiburger Klinik ebenso bewährt wie das Anlegen eines gepolsterten Distraktionsgipsverbandes. Zur Behandlung der rebellischen Luxationsfraktur wird die blutige Einstellung empfohlen. Richtige Operationsanzeige, gewebsschonendes und doch übersichtliches Freilegen der Bruchstücke und restlose Befreiung des Humersushalsabschnittes von seinen Muskelansätzen, technisch einwandfreie Fixation der Fraktur in anatomisch möglichst vollkommener Stellung, sowie eine zielbewußte umsichtige Nachbehandlung gewährleisten den Erfolg im Rahmen des Möglichen.Mit 7 Textabbildungen.     

Über subcutane Muskelrisse

Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery - Entstehung, klinisches Bild und Behandlung der subcutanen Muskelrisse werden an Hand von 14 in der Freiburger Klinik behandelten Fällen besprochen. Bei...