Israel Medical Association Journal

Background: Erysipelas, an acute infection of the dermal and subcutaneous tissue, is normally treated with antibiotics. Previous data indicated that treatment with prednisone in combination with antibiotics results in significant acceleration of the healing phase.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of corticosteroids combined with antibiotics for the treatment of erysipelas.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on hospitalized patients diagnosed with erysipelas between 2004 and 2011 at the Department of Dermatology at Sheba Medical Center, Israel. Data included epidemiology, medical background, and course of the disease as documented at admission and during hospitalization. 

Results: Data were collected on 173 patients (66% males) who were divided into two groups: a control group treated with antibiotics only (97 patients) and a study group treated with antibiotics and prednisone (76 patients). The study group presented with a more severe form of erysipelas (bullous) and those patients were hospitalized for a longer period (8.5 vs. 7 days). Nevertheless, the study group exhibited a 71% clinical improvement shortly after being treated with prednisone, without significant side effects. Short-term follow-up revealed more edema in the study group; however, long-term follow-up revealed a higher incidence of erythema and recurrence of erysipelas in the control group. The return to full function was faster in the study group than in the control group. 

Conclusions: Combining prednisone with antibiotics for the treatment of erysipelas should be considered, especially in severe cases. In addition, a prospective double-blind study should be conducted to verify these conclusions.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is defined as thrombosis of the deep venous system (subclavian, axillary, brachial, ulnar, and radial veins), which drains the upper extremities. It can be caused by thoracic outlet anatomic obstruction, such as Paget–Schroetter syndrome, (primary) or by central intravenous catheters (secondary). UEDVT may be asymptomatic or present with acute severe pain and arm swelling. Clinical suspicion should be confirmed by diagnostic imaging procedures such as duplex ultrasound, computed tomography scan, or magnetic resonance imaging. UEDVT is managed by anticoagulant treatment. In addition to that, early thrombolysis aimed at preventing post-deep vein thrombosis syndrome and thoracic outlet decompression surgery should be given to patients with primary UEDVT. Anticoagulation without thrombolysis is the treatment of choice for patients with catheter-related thrombosis. Mandatory functioning catheters can remain in place with anticoagulant treatment. All other catheters should be immediately removed. The management of patients with UEDVT requires an experience multidisciplinary team comprised of internists, radiologists, hematologists, and vascular surgeons. Understanding the risk factors for the development of UEDVT, the diagnostic procedures, and the treatment modalities will improve the outcome of those patients.

Background: Nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) treatment is unavailable to large populations worldwide.

Objectives: To determine the bacterial contamination and electrolyte concentrations in homemade (HM-HS) vs. pharmacy made (PM-HS).

Methods: We conducted three double-blind consecutive trials: 50 boiled-water homemade 3%-HS (B-HM-HS) bottles and 50 PM-HS. The bottles were cultured after 48 hours. Electrolyte concentrations were measured in 10 bottles (5 per group). Forty bottles (20 per group) were distributed to volunteers for simulation of realistic treatment by drawing 4 ml HS three times daily. From each bottle, 4 ml samples were cultured after 1, 5, and 7 days. Volunteers prepared 108 bottles containing 3%-HS, sterilizing them using a microwave oven (1100–1850W). These bottles were cultured 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 month after preparation.

Results: Contamination rates of B-HM-HS and PM-HS after 48 hours were 56% and 14%, respectively (P = 0.008). Electrolyte concentrations were similar: 3.7% ± 0.4 and 3.5% ± 0.3, respectively (P = NS). Following a single day of simulation B-HM-HS bottles were significantly more contaminated than PM-HS bottles: 75% vs. 20%, respectively (P < 0.01). By day 7, 85% of PM-HS bottles and 100% of B-HM-HS bottles were contaminated (P = 0.23). All 108 microwave-oven prepared bottles (MICRO-HS) were sterile, which was significantly better than the contamination rate of B-HM-HS and PM-HS (P < 0.001). Calculated risk for a consecutive MICRO-HS to be infected was negligible.

Conclusion: Microwave preparation provides sterile HS with adequate electrolyte concentrations, and is a cheap, fast, and widely available method to prepare HS.

Background: During the past decades, beta thalassemia major (TM) and beta thalassemia intermedia (TI) have transformed from a universally fatal disease at a young age into a chronic disease. This advancement is attributed to improved chelation therapy as well as enhanced management strategies, with focused attention on disease and treatment-related complications.

Objectives: To describe characteristics of adults with thalassemia as well as treatment modalities, disease and treatment-related complications, and socioeconomic information of the patients.

Methods: We preformed a retrospective analysis of 14 adult patients > 35 years of age with TM and TI who were treated at our institute, a single center specializing in the care of adult thalassemia patients living in Israel, between the years 2006 and 2016.

Results: The median age of patients was 37 years and most patients were transfusion-dependent. The median number of chelation therapeutic lines was three, and 85.7% of patients were treated at one point by combination chelation therapy. Most patients suffered from at least some form of endocrine dysfunction (n=12), and four patients developed overt heart failure. Of the patients, 85% had completed at least a high school education, 78% were employed, and 64.2% were married.

Conclusions: Prolonged survival of thalassemia patients in recent years has been accompanied by a new set of challenges for both the patients and the treating staff. Further research is warranted to improve both medical management and the socioeconomic well-being of this unique group of adult thalassemia patients.

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common non-central nervous system (CNS) solid malignant tumor in children. The surgical treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma presents a challenge, and the benefits of aggressive surgical resection have been called into question.

Objectives: To examine our experience with surgical resection of neuroblastoma.

Methods: We report on a retrospective chart review of our preliminary surgical experience in 25 patients with neuroblastoma who underwent surgery performed by a single surgeon at two institutions over a 3 year period. Demographic data, including stage of tumor and risk stratification, were recorded. Primary outcome was total gross resection. Patients were followed for 3 years after surgery.

Results: We found that 80% of the patients, including those with high-risk neuroblastoma tumors, had total gross resection of their tumor with minimal operative morbidity and no mortality; 88% had greater than 90% resection of their tumor. Overall, 3 year survival was 84% (21/25).

Conclusions: Resection of neuroblastoma, even large, high-risk, bilateral tumors, was possible when performed by surgical teams with considerable experience.

Dupuytren’s disease is a common benign fibromatosis of the palmar and digital fascia. The exact pathophysiology and epidemiology of this condition have not been entirely identified. Pathologic fibrous bands cause a flexion contracture of the metacarpal phalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joint. Treatment includes fasciectomy, needle fasciotomy, and enzymatic fasciectomy.

Background: The goals of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are remission and low disease activity (LDA). However, many patients do not reach or maintain these targets with regard to disease control. 

Objective: To identify predictive factors of remission/LDA in a cohort of RA patients who started treatment with first line tumor necrosis factor-inhibitors (TNF-i). 

Methods: We included 308 RA patients treated with first line TNF-i for 2 years to evaluate remission/LDA based on the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28). Predictive factors considered for achievement of remission/LDA were: gender, age at the time of TNF-i treatment, early arthritis, baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels, RF/anti-citrullinated protein antibody positivity, good/moderate European League Against Rheumatism response at 6 months, co-morbidities, and concomitant disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Intention to treat, receiver operating characteristic curve, and univariate and multivariate analyses by logistic regression were performed. 

Results: Positive predictors of remission/LDA in both the univariate and the multivariate analyses were: male gender, age at the time of TNF-i treatment ≤ 54 years, negative baseline CRP, and concomitant DMARDs. The presence of any co-morbidity resulted to be a negative predictor of remission/LDA in both the univariate and the multivariate analyses. 

Conclusions: Demographic and clinical features were identified as reliable predictors of both the achievement and the maintenance of treatment targets in a cohort of RA patients treated for 2 years with first line TNF-i. 

 

Background: The evidence on the use of dexamethasone implants in the treatment of Behçet’s disease (BD)-related uveitis is limited to a few cases. 

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone implants on ocular functional, morphological, and clinical parameters in BD patients with severe refractory uveitis. 

Methods: Five eyes from five BD patients were enrolled. A single intravitreal dexamethasone injection was applied to each eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) assessed with optical coherence tomography, retinal vasculitis assessed by fluorescein angiography, vitreous haze score (Nussenblatt scale), intraocular pressure (IOP), and lens status (LOCS III, Lens Opacities Classification System III) were recorded at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 month follow-up visits.

Results: At baseline, all eyes showed marked macular edema and 4/5 had concomitant active retinal vasculitis. Mean BCVA was increased from baseline at each control visit with a mean improvement of 0.26 ± 0.18 lines at 6 months follow-up. Mean CMT decreased from baseline at each control visit with a mean improvement at 6 months follow-up of 198.80 ± 80.08 µm. At the end of the study, none of the eyes showed macular edema and the mean CMT was 276.80 ± 24.94 µm. Retinal vasculitis resolved in all eyes. One eye experienced an IOP spike during treatment that resolved spontaneously, and one eye developed a clinically significant lens opacity at 6 months follow-up. 

Conclusions: Treatment with a dexamethasone implant in BD-uveitis and inflammatory macular edema was safe and effective as an additional treatment combined with systemic immunomodulatory drugs.

 

Fevers recurring at a nearly predictable rate every 3–8 weeks are the signature symptom of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome, an acquired autoinflammatory disorder which recurs in association with at least one sign among aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and/or cervical lymph node enlargement without clinical signs related to upper respiratory airways or other localized infections. The disease usually has a rather benign course, although it might relapse during adulthood after a spontaneous or treatment-induced resolution in childhood. The number of treatment choices currently available for PFAPA syndrome has grown in recent years, but data from clinical trials dedicated to this disorder are limited to small cohorts of patients or single case reports. The response of PFAPA patients to a single dose of corticosteroids is usually striking, while little data exist for treatment with cimetidine and colchicine. Preliminary interesting results have been published with regard to vitamin D supplementation in PFAPA syndrome, while inhibition of interleukin-1 might represent an intriguing treatment for PFAPA patients who have not responded to standard therapies. Tonsillectomy has been proven curative in many studies related to PFAPA syndrome, although the evidence of its efficacy is not widely shared by different specialists, including pediatricians, rheumatologists and otorhynolaryngologists.

Obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (Obs-APS) is one of the most commonly identified causes of recurrent pregnancy loss and its accurate diagnosis is a requirement for optimal treatment. Some patients do not fulfill the revised Sapporo classification criteria, the original APS classification criteria, and are considered to be non-criteria Obs-APS. In these patients with non-criteria, there is controversy about their inclusion within the spectrum of APS and eventually their treatment as having Obs-APS. A subset of patients may also have clinical characteristics of Obs-APS even though lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin antibodies, and anti-β2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies are consistently negative. These patients are recognized as seronegative Obs-APS.

We reviewed evidence of non-criteria Obs-APS and discuss a case of a woman with a diagnosis of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and non-criteria Obs-APS with four consecutive pregnancy losses. After an accurate diagnosis the patient received prenatal counseling and benefited from the optimal treatment of Obs-APS that led to a successful pregnancy. The applicability of this successful experience about outcomes in women with non-criteria, or seronegative, Obs-APS is also evaluated.