Renin-associated hypertension after bronchial artery embolization in cystic fibrosis.

Bronchial artery embolization is the recommended therapy for massive hemoptysis in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report on two cases of multiple renal infarcts and renin-associated hypertension and hypokalemia occurring in CF adults after bronchial artery embolizations. These complications were presumably related to crossing of small calibrated microspheres through arteriovenous anastomoses.

Reduced risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria in cystic fibrosis adults receiving long-term azithromycin.

Background: Azithromycin reduces exacerbations in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Our aim was to investigate its association with nontuberculous mycobacteria isolation and macrolide susceptibility.

Methods: From 2006 to 2010, all adult CF subjects at Cochin Hospital (Paris, France) harboring at least one positive NTM isolate were identified (Cases).

Growth-arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) protein in ARDS patients: determination of plasma levels and influence of PEEP setting.

Background: Growth-arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6) is a vitamin K-dependent protein expressed by endothelial cells and leukocytes participating in cell survival, migration and proliferation and involved in many pathological situations. The aim of our study was to assess its implication in ARDS and its variation according to PEEP setting, considering that different cyclic stresses could alter GAS6 plasma levels.

Methods: Our subjects were enrolled in the ExPress study comparing a minimal alveolar distention (low-PEEP) ventilatory strategy to a maximal alveolar recruitment (high-PEEP) strategy in ARDS.

CFTR dysfunction induces vascular endothelial growth factor synthesis in airway epithelium.

Peribronchial angiogenesis may occur in cystic fibrosis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A regulates angiogenesis in airways. Peribronchial vascularity and VEGF-A expression were examined using immunocytochemistry and morphometric analysis in lung sections obtained in 10 cystic fibrosis patients at transplantation versus 10 control nonsmokers, and in two strains of Cftr-deficient mice versus wild-type littermates. Airway epithelial NCI-H292 cells and primary cultures of noncystic fibrosis human airway epithelial cells were treated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitors (CFTR-inh(172) or PPQ-102) or transfected with a CFTR small interfering (si)RNA with or without a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Sudden death related to an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery.

Nonatherosclerotic anomalies of the coronary arteries are not rare. They account for a third of sudden cardiac deaths in young patients. We report a case of resuscitated cardiac arrest due to an abnormal origin of the right coronary artery.

Plasmapheresis for the treatment of acute pancreatitis induced by hemophagocytic syndrome related to hypertriglyceridemia.

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis is an unusual form of hemophagocytic syndrome related to T-cell lymphoma that can be responsible for hypertriglyceridemia. The elevation of serum triglycerides, usually in the setting of familial lipidemia or during uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, is a well-recognized cause of pancreatitis. We report here on the treatment by plasmapheresis of a patient suffering from a T-cell lymphoma-related panniculitis who presented with an acute pancreatitis induced by hypertriglyceridemia.