Prevalence and significance of G6PD deficiency in patients of an urban HIV clinic.

The rationale to screen for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in HIV-infected individuals is their increased likelihood to receive oxidant drugs and subsequent potential of hemolytic events. However, current guidelines regarding who should be screened are conflicting. The authors examined the prevalence of G6PD deficiency and the frequency of hemolytic events in an urban HIV clinic.

Hypereosinophilic syndrome and myocardial infarction in a 15-year-old.

The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare yet frequently fatal disorder of unknown etiology characterized by markedly elevated eosinophil counts and subsequent multiple organ failure due presumably to eosinophil-derived protein toxicity. We describe the laboratory and anatomic findings in a 15-year-old female with extraordinarily high circulating levels of eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) who sustained a precipitous cardiac death secondary to a massive myocardial infarction. Postmortem examination showed marked cardiomegaly with extensive recent left ventricular infarction.

Fatal hemolysis caused by ceftriaxone.

After receiving ceftriaxone intravenously, a boy with leukemia died suddenly of massive hemolysis. The diagnosis was made retrospectively only after a similar case of sudden fatal immune hemolysis after intravenous administration of ceftriaxone was reported.

Organ preservation without extreme hypothermia using an Oxygen supplemented perfusate.

All methods of organ preservation depend upon hypothermia to depress metabolism during storage. Yet, hypothermia may represent the rate-limiting factor in organ preservation. A new perfusate has been developed which supports organ preservation without extreme hypothermia.