Yoshihiro Naito

A Case of Pemphigus Vulgaris Associated with an Abnormal Sensation on the Laryngopharynx

A 59-year-old man complained of an abnormal sensation in the laryngopharynx. The patient had received an early-stage gastrectomy on February 6, 1989. The present illness, consisting of an abnormal sensation in the laryngopharynx, mild pain on swallowing, and dysphagia, began around July 1990. Because of these symptoms, the patient visited our clinic on October 22, 1990, and was diagnosed by esophageal endoscopy as having a geographical erosion and ulcer in a region beginning approximately 35 cmfrom the incisor teeth and continuing to the inlet to the esophagus. Biopsy was performed and a diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris was made. The patient is being treated at the outpatient service with 5 mg predonine, and the clinical course is being monitored. We conclude that patients who present with intractable stomatitis or an abnormal sensation in the laryngopharynx should receive endoscopy for early histological diagnosis and treatment.

Human papillomavirus in laryngeal papilloma detected by dot blot hybridization (Vira Pap) and southern blot hybridization.

We demonstrated the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in 3 of 4 patients with laryngeal papillomas by dot blot hybridization (Vira PapTM) and Southern blot hybridization.1. The HPV was type 6 in 2 patients and type 11 in 1 patient.2. The results of this simple detection test (Vira PapTM kit) for dot blot hybridization correlated well with that of Southern blot hybridization. Therefore, this method is useful as a screening test.3. Dot blot hybridization using serial dilutions of the homogenate of a HPV-positive papilloma revealed that 0.125mg wet weight of the papilloma sample was enough for HPV detection.

Clinical effect of azelastine hydrochloride in allergic rhinitis.

Sixty-six patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were treated with azelastine hydrochloride.Based on the global improvement, two weeks after the beginning of the treatment, “moderate improvement or better” was observed in 42% of the patients, and “slight improvement or better” in 79%, and four weeks after, “moderate improvement or better” was observed in 55% of the patients, and “slight improvement or better” in 89%. On the records of diary for allergic rhinitis, sneezing, nasal discharge and nasal obstruction were improved in all patients.These results indicate that azelastine hydrochloride is highly effective in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis.