Lamivudine-induced pure red cell aplasia.

The aim of this report is to describe five patients with lamivudine-induced pure red cell aplasia, an association not previously described. We describe patients with unresponsive anemia in whom a complete study including blood cell counts, reticulocyte counts, hemolysis tests, and bone marrow aspiration was performed. Pure red cell aplasia was considered when anemia was associated with normal leukocyte and platelet counts with a corrected reticulocyte count below 1% and less than 5% bone marrow erythroid progenitors in the absence of positive hemolysis tests.

Usefulness of a low-dose intravenous immunoglobulin regimen for the treatment of thrombocytopenia associated with AIDS.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) frequently is complicated with thrombocytopenia (HIV-Thr) during all stages of the infection. The treatments for autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are used in HIV-Thr; however, their effects upon the immune status of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are unknown. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is used in patients with ITP and HIV-Thr; however, its usefulness in thrombocytopenic AIDS patients has not been directly addressed.

[Chronic diarrhea and Cryptosporidium in diabetic patients with normal lymphocyte subpopulation. 2 case reports].

Two cases of diabetic patients with normal TCD4+ cell count with chronic diarrhoea and Cryptosporidium are described herein. In both cases serologic tests for HIV were negative. The fact that these patients developed a pathology usually seen in presence of low TCD4+ cell counts suggests that some immune defect other than cellular might be involved in the pathogenesis of this infection.

[Prevention of coronary atherosclerosis. (V). Prevalence of non-stenotic atheromatous rigidity in men accidentally killed in Mexico City].

The presence of rigid coronary arterial segments was detected during a survey for coronary atherosclerosis in men who died of violent causes. These lesions which traditionally are considered of non-clinical significance, in the absence of stenosis are probably responsible of the clinical and electrocardiographical abnormalities as seen in patients with "normal" coronary arteries using coronary angiography, the best current procedure for the detection of isolated coronary atherosclerosis. We propose these lesions are to be considered as functional lesions and consequently that these lesions should be considered by both, the pathologist and the clinician.