Annali italiani di medicina interna : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di medicina interna最新文献

Acquired hemophilia is a rare coagulopathy in adults, associated with bleeding complications. Although the etiology of this disorder remains obscure, an autoimmune mechanism produces the development of autoantibodies against factor VIII. About half of cases are associated with other conditions, mainly post-partum, underlying cancer, autoimmune disease. An 81-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with extensive hematomas (neck, chest, arms and lower limbs). There was no family or personal history of congenital bleeding diathesis. He had chronic bronchitis and cerebrovascular disease; no drugs had been used during the month prior to noted symptoms. Laboratory parameters revealed: hemoglobin 10.9 g%, normal platelet count and white blood cells, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (98 s), with normal prothrombin time and fibrinogen concentration. An activated partial thromboplastin time mixing study did not show any correction, suggesting a coagulation inhibitor. Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were negative. Biochemical, immunological tests and tumor markers were normal. Thoracic and abdominal computed tomographic scan did not reveal pathological images or hematomas. Analysis of clotting factors revealed decreased factor VIII (< 2%) and elevated factor VIII inhibitor (55 Bethesda units). Idiopathic acquired hemophilia diagnosis was made. Red blood cell transfusion and human factor VIII (2000 U/day for 7 days) infusion were initiated, intravenously with methylprednisolone. A progressive improvement in clinical conditions and laboratory parameters was observed. After 18 days the patient was discharged and treated with prednisone. At follow-up control the clinical conditions and laboratory parameters were normal.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) occurs in 2-3% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, whereas autoimmune thrombocytopenia is very rare before the diagnosis of lymphoma. A 67-year-old patient, was admitted to our Department because of purpura on his inferior limbs. Family history revealed arterial hypertension, a previous presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, with no sign of liver damage. Physical examination showed purpura of inferior limbs. Laboratory analysis revealed: marked thrombocytopenia (platelet count 5000/microL); hypogammaglobulinemia (9%, immunoglobulin-IgG 634 mg/dL); presence of HCV antibody (negative HCV-RNA); low-titer anti-nuclear antibody and anti-smooth muscle antibody (1:80); positive cryoglobulin (polycolonal, IgG-IgM, cryocrit 0.5%). Abdomen ultrasound revealed a mild liver steatosis and bone marrow aspirate megakaryocytic hyperplasia. Platelet kinetics study showed a markedly reduced platelet half-life (<1 day) with evident splenic uptake. The patient was treated with steroids, intravenous Ig and immunosuppressive agent (cyclophosphamide) with only temporary effect; a splenectomy was therefore performed with a subsequent durable increase in the platelet count. Two years later, the patient underwent a prostatectomy for prostate cancer and within the pelvic nodal screening the histological examination unexpectedly revealed features of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, type CCL/small lymphocytic lymphoma; a bone marrow aspirate showed a monotypic CD5+, CD19+, CD23+ B-cell proliferation confirming the diagnosis of CLL. Six months later, a computed tomography scan revealed multiple pathological node enlargements (1.5-3 cm), compatible with a malignant lymphoma. The marked thrombocytopenia may have been an early expression of the lymphoproliferative disease. Otherwise, the association between CLL and ITP might reflect the underlying role of HCV infection causing an immune dysregulation responsible for both pathologies.

Long-term care is a hospital unit, designed for frail elderly people, with ongoing physical challenges and in difficult social situations who have been suffering from multiple not-yet-stabilized pathologies. These subjects need medical-nursing and continuing care and/or treatments of rehabilitation which cannot be performed in extra-hospital situations. The aim of our study was to estimate a geriatric assessment of an old population hospitalized in a long-term care unit, using psychometric scales, paying attention to clinical, cognitive, functional, nutritional and social status. Two-hundred and ninety-seven patients of both sexes (middle age 81.3 +/- 8.6 years) divided into two groups of age (> or = 80 and < 80 years) were evaluated. The most important result of our study is a high index of disability (about five daily living activities were lost). These "functional deficits" were related to age, comorbidity, dementia, institutionalization and mortality. The study group showed a multiple pathology with various pharmacology therapy and, in 23.9% of cases, pressure ulcers were found and were related to mortality, as statistically noted. A serious cognitive impairment was found in 41.4% of the group (dementia was related to aging). As for residential destination, the most significant result is that almost half of the discharged patients went back to their home with a caregiver, who often was a woman. We finally underline the importance of increasing long-term care unit and the need for a higher integration in the territorial social-sanitary system, in order to guarantee care continuity for the frail and elderly.

Immune cells play an important role in atheromatous plaque formation and progression and in the phase of "active plaque" and of the consequent clinical manifestations. Endothelial dysfunction is the first determinant step in atherogenesis by inducing the alteration of vasodilating and antithrombotic properties of the endothelium and of its permeability to lipoproteins. Circulating monocytes are recruited and internalized and lipoproteins are stored in the subendothelial area where they undergo oxidation (oxidized LDL) and are removed by macrophages by means of non-autoregulated scavenger receptors (foam cells). Foam cells are able to express surface receptors and to produce soluble mediators (interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotactic protein 1) which attract other monocytes, activate endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Lymphocytes too are present in these first stages of atherogenesis. If the injurious agents are not removed or nullified by the inflammatory response and the inflammation progresses, the response changes from a protective to an injurious response. Recruitment of monocytes and lymphocytes occurs as a result of the up-regulation of adhesion molecules on both the endothelium and the leukocytes and the plaque progresses to an advanced lesion. Finally the activation of monocytes and T cells induces the plaque activation and rupture in presence of inducing agents such as oxidized LDL. CD4 lymphocytes are common components of atheroma and are mainly localized at the sites of rupture in strict contact with macrophages and smooth muscle cells which express activation surface molecules and which are able to process and to present the antigen to T cells. Activated lymphocytes produce proinflammatory cytokines as interferon-gamma which is able to amplify the inflammatory response but also interleukin-10 which seems to possess a regulatory effect. Activated macrophages release metalloproteinases and other proteolytic enzymes which cause degradation of the matrix, thinning of fibrous cap and plaque destabilization. Both T cells and macrophages produce cytotoxic factors which contribute to the apoptosis. The process may be potentiated by the activation of platelets, tissue factor, coagulation-fibrinolytic system which can contribute to thrombus formation, plaque rupture and artery occlusion.

Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and glomerulonephritis are the most important extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. MC is a non-neoplastic B cell lymphoproliferative process induced by HCV in an antigen-driven mechanism. The clinical expression of cryoglobulinemia varies from an indolent course to the development of systemic vasculitis. Glomerulonephritis is predominantly associated with MC, and almost always takes the form of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The renal manifestations may range from isolated proteinuria to overt nephritic or nephrotic syndrome with variable progression towards chronic renal insufficiency. The treatment of these virus-related diseases must be individualized on the basis of the severity of clinical symptoms. Antiviral therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin (the currently recommended treatment of HCV infection) may be successful in patients with mild-to-moderate disease, but sustained responses are uncommon. In case of severe and rapidly progressive disease, although it is capable of suppressing viremia and cryoglobulinemia, antiviral therapy is not fully effective in controlling the inflammatory and self-perpetuating reaction consequent to the deposition of cryoglobulins in the glomeruli and vessel walls. In such cases, a short course of steroids and cytotoxic drugs (with or without plasmapheresis) may be needed to improve the vascular manifestations and decrease the production of cryoglobulins. Once the acute disease flare has been controlled, antiviral therapy may be administered to eradicate HCV, the causative agent of the cryoglobulinemic syndrome. In patients in whom antiviral therapy is ineffective, contraindicated or not tolerated, rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, may be an alternative to standard immunosuppression.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a serious illness sometimes causing death due to acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Blood stasis of the pelvic vein is a major etiologic factor for DVT. Occasionally a large myomatous uterus can cause compression of the pelvic venous system leading to DVT. We describe a very rare case of massive pulmonary embolism in a 39-year-old woman with multiple uterine myomas and no other recognized risk factors for PTE and DVT. The patient was successfully treated with thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapy associated with total hysterectomy.

From May 1999 to January 2002 we observed 7 patients (4 females and 3 males, median age 55 years, range 31-81 years) with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Six patients has been previously undiagnosed and 1 patient was at second relapse. Trigger factors of TTP were identified in 6 patients: ticlopidine treatment (2 patients); an acute cutaneous infection episode immediately before the features of TTP (1 patient); presence of devices: orthodontic (1 patient) and intrauterine contraceptive (1 patient), Mycoplasma urealyticum vaginal infection (1 patient). In all the 7 patients the clinical status was mainly related to the hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and neurological events. One of these patients presented with hemolytic-uremic syndrome with acute renal failure and macrohematuria at onset, another one showed a systemic exanthema post-infection-like. Six out of 7 patients presented with different neurological events: headache, confusion, focal neurological failure. All the 7 patients were promptly treated with plasma-exchange and cryosupernatant plasma infusion. In addition they received prednisone 25-50 mg/day. All the 7 patients achieved a complete remission after plasma-exchange, one relapsed 3 months later and was treated with plasma-exchange again. All the patients are in complete remission with a median follow-up of 36.3 months (range 20-62 months). From these cases we suggest: 1) clinicians should take in mind the suspicion of TTP in every patient with hemolytic, negative direct Coombs test, anemia, thrombocytopenia, high level of lactate dehydrogenase; 2) the treatment of choice is plasma-exchange; 3) the response of treatment is good if therapy is promptly and aggressively administered; 4) the possible role of a trigger factor for removing it and to prevent relapses.