Refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a 16-year-old girl: successful treatment with bortezomib.

We present a case of a 16-year-old girl with autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), refractory to plasma exchange and high-dose prednisone. Despite the additional treatment with rituximab, she developed renal and neurological complications with ongoing hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor and thereby blocking plasma cells, was added, and our patient recovered.

Bordetella holmesii meningitis in a 12-year-old anorectic girl.

We describe a 12-year-old anorectic girl with Bordetella holmesii meningitis, the techniques used for its identification, and minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics for 7 B. Holmesii strains collected in the Netherlands during the past 12 years. B.