Haiko Nellen-Hummel

Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Extensive Caval Thrombosis Associated with the Antiphospholipid Syndrome A Case Report

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare cutaneous disorder frequently associated with systemic diseases. The authors report the case of a 28-year-old man with pyoderma gangrenosum and inferior cava vein syndrome due to thrombosis. The search for pyoderma gangrenosum-associated conditions (gastrointestinal, rheumatic, neoplasic, and infec tious diseases) was negative. A prolonged partial thromboplastin time and a positive test for circulating anticardiolipin antibodies strongly suggested the diagnosis of the antiphos pholipid syndrome. There are reports of at least three other cases of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome. This clinical case adds further evidence to the possible link between these disorders and warrants a search for anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with pyoderma gangrenosum.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A real diagnostic challenge

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare syndrome described in recent decades. There are slightly over 30 published cases in the English language literature, primarily associated with renal and hematological disease activity. Its presentation and evolution are a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. We present four cases of intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to lupus in young Mexican females. One patient had a previous diagnosis of SLE and all presented with a urinary tract infection of varying degrees of severity during their evolution. We consider that recognition of the disease is of vital importance because it allows for establishing appropriate management, leading to a better prognosis and avoiding unnecessary surgery and complications.

Familial Mediterranean fever and primary antiphospholipid syndrome, a rare association : a case report

The authors present the case of a twenty-one-year-old woman with familial Mediter ranean fever who during her first pregnancy developed a primary antiphospholipid syn drome. This is an association not reported previously.

Protease Inhibitor-Associated Hyperglycemia in Mexican Patients with HIV Infection

BACKGROUND The use of protease inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of HIV infection. These agents are well tolerated, although the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has warned U.S. doctors that protease inhibitors may precipitate hyperglycemia and diabetes (DM), based on isolated reports from physicians. METHODS Sixty-one patients with HIV infection with criterion of non-DM from the onset of the protease inhibitor therapy participated in the study. Plasma glucose levels were obtained every month during a 6-month period, with a basal determination prior to protease inhibitor therapy. RESULTS All Mexican patients enrolled in this study had the same Hispanic-American ethnic origin. Four patients (6.55%) developed hyperglycemia related with saquinavir. One had family history of DM type II. These patients were controlled with diet. CONCLUSIONS Based on present data, we believe the benefits of these drugs to patients suffering from HIV infection outweigh the various risks of taking protease inhibitors. However, physicians who use these drugs have to be on the alert for hyperglycemia in the Mexican population, while patients should know the warning symptoms of hyperglycemia and diabetes.

Differential Immune Profiles in Two Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus Waves at Pandemic Epicenter

Background and Aims Severe influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 virus infection cases are characterized by sustained immune activation during influenza pandemics. Seasonal flu data suggest that immune mediators could be modified by wave-related changes. Our aim was to determine the behavior of soluble and cell-related mediators in two waves at the epicenter of the 2009 influenza pandemic. Methods Leukocyte surface activation markers were studied in serum from peripheral blood samples, collected from the 1st (April–May, 2009) and 2nd (October 2009–February 2010) pandemic waves. Patients with confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm2009 virus infection (H1N1), influenza-like illness (ILI) or healthy donors (H) were analyzed. Results Serum IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were elevated in H1N1 patients from the 2nd pandemic wave. Additionally, the frequency of helper and cytotoxic T cells was reduced during the 1st wave, whereas CD69 expression in helper T cells was increased in the 2nd wave for both H1N1 and ILI patients. In contrast, CD62L expression in granulocytes from the ILI group was increased in both waves but in monocytes only in the 2nd wave. Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells (TREM)-1 expression was elevated only in H1N1 patients at the 1st wave. Conclusions Our results show that during the 2009 influenza pandemic a T cell activation phenotype is observed in a wave-dependent fashion, with an expanded activation in the 2nd wave, compared to the 1st wave. Conversely, granulocyte and monocyte activation is infection-dependent. This evidence collected at the pandemic epicenter in 2009 could help us understand the differences in the underlying cellular mechanisms that drive the wave-related immune profile behaviors that occur against influenza viruses during pandemics.