Churg-strauss syndrome in patients treated with omalizumab.

Background: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare systemic vasculitis associated with asthma, eosinophilia, sinusitis, and pulmonary infiltrates. CSS has been reported in association with asthma therapies.

Materials And Methods: The objective is to describe the characteristics of CSS in patients treated with the anti-IgE antibody omalizumab (Xolair; Genentech Inc; South San Francisco, CA).

Anterior discectomy and fusion for the management of neck pain.

Study Design: Data were collected prospectively on 38 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain with no symptoms or signs of radiculopathy or myelopathy.

Objectives: To determine the changes in pain and function after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for nonradicular neck pain.

Summary Of Background Data: There is considerable controversy regarding the role of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for neck pain in the absence of radiculopathy or myelopathy.

Viral and immunologic aspects of Epstein-Barr virus infection in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Pediatric allograft recipients in particular are at increased risk for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated disorders. Early identification and diagnosis of EBV-associated disorders is critical, since disease progression can often be halted by reduction of immunosuppression. In this study we examined viral and immunologic parameters of EBV infection in the circulation of pediatric liver recipients to identify factors associated with disease.

An increased incidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection and lymphoproliferative disorder in young children on FK506 after liver transplantation.

The incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) was determined in a pediatric liver transplant population consisting of 51 children treated with FK506 and 91 treated with cyclosporine. The incidence of symptomatic EBV infection was 21.9% (23 of 105 cases) in children < 5 yr old and 10.