Granulocyte function in the aged

22 patients (10 female, 12 male) aged between 60 and 76 were tested in vitro with regard to granulocyte function (i.e., leucotaxis, chemotaxis, capability of phagocytosis, intracellular killing of bacteria, and oxidase reaction). Most of the patients showed reduced chemotactic activity of the granulocytes, although the motility of these cells was normal. With regular phagocytosis of candida albicans cells--either active or heat-inactivated the intracellular killing rate of bacteria was clearly decreased in all cases. The intracellular oxidase activity of granulocytes always showed normal function.     

Churg-Strauss syndrome

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a systemic, granulomatous, necrotizing, and eosinophilic angiitis, associated with febrile bronchitis. The full-blown picture of the disease does not develop, however, but in the course of several years. We discuss the problems of diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome in the light of a case report concerning a 43-year-old woman suffering from Churg-Strauss syndrome.     

Enhancement of granulocyte chemotaxis in Behçet's disease

Summary The humoral and cellular immune status, the cutaneous pathergy, PMNL in vitro function tests as well as clinical and general laboratory examinations were performed and evaluated on ten patients suffering from Behçet's disease (BD) and ten other patients with benign recurrent aphthosis (RA). The same set of in vitro tests (except PMNL exposure to solutions of copper sulfate or DDT) was carried out on a control group consisting of more than 100 healthy male and female individuals of various ages. Apart from general signs of inflammatory activity (leukocytosis, elevation of ESR, increased IgG serum levels), cutaneous pathergy to mild local injuries and marked enhancement of PMNL chemotaxis proved to be highly significant symptoms in acute phases of BD in contrast to benign RA. Both Symptoms, in particular the hyperchemotaxis of PMNL, can be regarded as valuable diagnostic means in the early detection of beginning or atypical BD.Supported by grant Dj 2/2 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Evaluation of micro- and macrophage function in splenectomized patients--possible dermatologic consequences

Various micro- and macrophage functions were studied in vitro in 15 patients having previously undergone posttraumatic splenectomy as well as in 100 healthy persons. We found reduced capacity of intracellular inactivation of microorganisms by microphages (7/15) and slight impairment of chemotactic activity in both systems (8/15; 9/13). Possible dermatological consequences are discussed.     

Pseudopelade Brocq – mögliche Folge einer Borreliose Stadium III?

Zusammenfassung Die Differentialdiagnostik der vernarbenden Alopezie umfa?t ein Spektrum unterschiedlichster Erkrankungen. Wir berichten über den Fall einer 60j?hrigen Patientin mit einer progredienten, bisher therapieresistenten Pseudopelade Brocq, bei der wir im Rahmen der ?tiologischen Abkl?rung eine Borreliose Stadium III diagnostizierten. Nach 3w?chiger parenteraler Therapie mit Cefotaxim (Claforan?) zeigt die bisher über ein Jahr bestehende Nachbeobachtungszeit ein Stillstand des Effluviums und vollst?ndige Abheilung der Entzündung. Diese Erstbeschreibung eines m?glichen urs?chlichen Zusammenhangs zwischen einer vernarbenden Alopezie und einer Borreliose Stadium III erweitert das differentialdiagnostische Spektrum zur ?tiologie der Pseudopelade Brocq und bietet die M?glichkeit einer kausalen Therapie. Eingegangen am 11. Juni 1997 Angenommen am 10. Juni 1998     

Thymopentin treatment in a patient with pluriorifieial Pyoderma vegetans

Immunologic Research - This paper presents longitudinal clinical and immunological findings in a patient with a life-long history of pluriorificial pyoderma vegetans, a disease characterized by a...     

Prevention of recurrences in frequently relapsing herpes labialis with thymopentin a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study

Immunologic Research - The present randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter study included a population of 36 subjects with frequent recurrences (at least once a month) of herpes...     

Rezidivierende Gingivo- stomatitis ulcerosa bei zyklischer Neutropenie

Cyclic neutropenia is a rare hematologic disorder of unknown origin. Periodic decreases in blood leukocytes with relative neutropenia and lymphocytosis are typical. These episodes appear in regular intervals of 15-35 days and last three to seven days. They are associated with physical weakness, fever, septic complications and necrosis of mucous membranes. Between the episodes, the patients are in complete clinical and laboratory remission. We report the case of a 34 year-old patient suffering from cyclic neutropenia with ulcerous lesions of the oral mucosa.