[Infective endocarditis related to pacemaker leads. A review].

Infective endocarditis is a rare but serious complication of permanent cardiac pacing with high mortality ranging from 10 to 30%. Clinical symptoms are sometimes acute but more often poor and aspecific in subacute and chronic forms causing prolonged diagnostic delay. In order to make endocarditis on pacemaker leads clearer, we conducted a medline search of all published literature.

Ursodeoxycholic acid in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. A retrospective study of 19 cases.

Objective: We studied the clinical and biological effects and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

Methods: All cases of ICP treated with ursodeoxycholic acid in our department from January 1st, 1991 to May 31st, 1997 were reviewed.

Results: Forty-three patients had ICP, of whom 19 received ursodeoxycholic acid.

Concomitant rheumatoid arthritis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A puzzle illustrated by a new case.

We report a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Only three similar cases have been reported. Our case illustrates the diagnostic difficulties raised by early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis responsible for localized or unusual manifestations.