Clinical significance of discoid lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with particular reference to male patients with SLE.

A comparative study was made between an SLE patient group with a higher incidence of discoid lesions (65%) at our dermatologic clinic (Group A) and one with a lower incidence of discoid lesions (36.3%) in the report of the Epidemiology Committee of SLE from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan (Group B). A higher incidence of neuropsychic symptoms was noticed in Group A than in Group B, a fact considered to reflect the lower incidence of severe renal deseases. Male patients with SLE showed discoid lesions in 100% of cases and a lower incidence of positive LE-cell tests (33%); concomitantly, they showed frequent neuropsychic symptoms (50%) and a relatively high mortality. In the group of SLE patients with discoid lesions, a higher incidence of abnormal capillary nail fold features was noted than in the group without discoid lesions.     

Effect of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from gastric cancer

We performed hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy for 4 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had undergone curative resection except for liver metastasis. The main antineoplastic drugs were 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin C (MMC) and cisplatin (CDDP). A catheter was inserted into the hepatic artery by interventional radiological techniques in 3 patients and operatively in 1 patient. The response rate for 4 patients was 75% (CR2, PR1, PD1). The adverse events were Grade 3/4 nausea and/or vomiting in 2 cases. The HAI chemotherapy was effective and useful for patients with advanced gastric cancer who had no unresectable lesions except for liver metastasis.