Are anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies prognosis indicators for peripartum cardiomyopathy?

Background: The authors recently pointed out an epidemiological relation between specific anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and peripartum cardiomyopathy in Niamey (Republic of Niger).

Design: In this work, they studied the prognosis value of such specific antibodies.

Methods: The serological status for specific IgG, IgA and IgM anti-C.

[Chlamydia pneumoniae and acute respiratory tract infections in breast-feeding infants: simultaneous mother-child serological study in Niamey (Niger)].

The age and the origin of Chlamydia pneumoniae primary infection in Sahelian areas are unknown. To evaluate the prevalence of C. pneumoniae antibodies, the authors studied the serological status of C.

[Effect of stressful life events on clinical development of temporal arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica].

Objectives: To test the hypothesis of an epidemiological relationship between stressful events and the date of emergence of temporal arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica.

Methods: Thirteen patients identified with anatomo-clinical criteria and whose mental state permitted prolonged questioning where included in the survey. A list of 65 events, covering the 2-year period preceding the onset of temporal arteritis and/or polymyalgia rheumatica, was used.

[Early and lasting remission of protein-losing enteropathy with corticosteroids].

Objective: To emphasize the possibility of obtaining good quality and lasting remission of a severe idiopathic protein-loosing enteropathy with corticosteroid therapy.

Observation: A 30 year-old woman was hospitalized for edema of the lower limbs related to hypoalbuminemia due to a protein-loosing enteropathy, demonstrated by measurement of alpha-1 antitrypsin clearance. Diagnosis of lupus was evoked but not confirmed.