Genetic variant in the CYP17 gene and risk of premature coronary artery disease.

Introduction: Sex hormones are well known to increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The CYP17 gene encodes the enzyme cytochrome P450c17, which functions at key steps during the process of human sex steroid hormone synthesis. A T/C polymorphism in the 5 promoter region of the CYP17 gene influences its expression and the resulting serum levels of androgens and estrogens.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Greece: clinical and laboratory characteristics.

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of a severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Greece are presented. Twenty-seven patients with serologically confirmed HFRS were studied; 10 required renal dialysis, six had hemorrhagic manifestations, and four died. In patients with hemorrhagic manifestations, the platelet counts were generally less than 100,000 cells/microL.