Pill esophagitis caused by telithromycin: a case report.

A large number of oral drugs have been reported to cause pillinduced esophagitis in the medical literature. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which telithromycin was the cause of pill-induced esophagitis. In this report, we describe a male patient who admitted to the hospital with dysphagia and retrosternal pain after taking telithromycin (Ketek for acute sinusitis.

Plasma exchange therapy in HELLP syndrome: a single-center experience.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of plasma exchange therapy in patients with various forms of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome.

Methods: During a three-year period, 13 patients with HELLP syndrome were treated with one or two sessions of plasma exchange after delivery. Diagnosis of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome was made according to Sibai's criteria, and the severity of illness was categorized according to platelet counts.

Immunomodulation therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of HBsAg vaccine and levamisole on virological indicators in naive patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and in healthy carriers of hepatitis B.

Method: Vaccination and treatment with levamisole were applied to 93 minor patients in total, 43 of them inactive CHB carriers and 50 patients suffering from CHB.

Results: 15 (30%) of 50 patients who had high ALT values in the beginning of the study had normal values after treatment.

Plummer-Vinson syndrome and dilation therapy: a report of two cases.

Plummer-Vinson syndrome is known as the association of postcricoid dysphagia, upper esophageal web, and iron deficiency anemia. Although correction of iron deficiency may result in resolution of dysphagia and sometimes disappearance of the webs, dilation therapy is usually necessary to remove webs and relieve dysphagia. We report two cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome.

Immunomodulatory effects of HBsAg vaccine and levamisole in chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B carrier children.

Background/aims: Pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B carrier status is related to deficiencies in the immune system. Thus, treatments regulating the immune system are under discussion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HBsAg vaccine and levamisole on lymphocyte subgroups and immunoglobulins in children with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B carriers.

Hydatid cyst: a rare cause of ascites.

A 26 year old woman with ascites was admitted for further investigations. A diagnosis of hydatid cyst disease was suggested on the basis of a combination of abdominal ultrasonography, computerised tomography and latex agglutination tests. This diagnosis was confirmed following surgical intervention.