Altered peripheral nerve conduction in HIV-patients.

An electrophysiological study on peripheral nerves conduction was performed on HIV-seropositive patients without neurological signs on clinical examination. Eight of the 28 patients (28%) had an infraclinical neuropathy, which was myelinic or axonal and rather distal than proximal. The mechanism of these involvements is not known, but their early existence could justify an early treatment even for asymptomatic patients.

[Combination of a 3d-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime or ceftazidime) and a new quinolone (pefloxacine) in the treatment of febrile episodes in neutropenic diseases (37 cases)].

The combination of beta-lactam antibiotics and new quinolones is a form of broad spectrum antibiotic therapy rapidly bactericidal in vitro which could be an alternative to the classical combination of beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides in the first line treatment of febrile episodes in patients with neutropenia. The treatment of 37 initial febrile episodes (12 cases of septicemia, 7 infectious sites and 38 cases of fever of unknown origin) in 33 neutropenic patients (PMN leucocytes less than 500/mm3) using the combination of a third generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime or ceftazidime) and a new quinolone (pefloxacin) resulted in an 86% immediate success rate (32 cases/37). Results and course during treatment were similar in both groups (cefotaxime or ceftazidime).

[Treatment of bacterial infections by ofloxacin. 42 cases].

Fourty-two patients with 44 infective sites were treated with ofloxacin alone (22) or associated with an other antibiotic (20). Thirty-five patients (83%) and 37 infective localisations (84%) were cured. The treatment efficacy was similar for ofloxacin alone or associated, and for treatments given with first or second intent.

Immunoglobulin phenotype in 164 B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias: is there a relationship with initial clinical stage and survival?

In 164 B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias, surface membrane immunoglobulin (SmIg) phenotype has been determined on lymphocytes from 158 patients (mean age = 66 years, sex ratio = 1.43) to examine the prognostic significance of cell marker phenotype. Correlation of clinical stages of the disease according to Rai and Binet and SmIg phenotype emphasized the absence of the SmIgG phenotype, suggesting more mature cells, at stage C according to Binet (11 of 13 being stage A) and at stage III or IV according to Rai.