Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the odour of fish food proteins: a causal relationship or just a mere association?

We present the case of a 15-year-old boy [HLA phenotype: A 1, 25 (10); B 18, 8; C 7; DR 17 (3), 6] with classic (type 1) autoimmune hepatitis presumably caused by a long-term exposure to the strong odour of food fed to a large number of tropical fish which that the boy kept in tanks in his bedroom. The boy presented with a history of recent symptoms of common cold, and a high cytomegalovirus-IgG titer, both known to activate proinflammatory cytokines. The patient's laboratory results and physical findings improved without specific treatment during his first stay in the hospital for several weeks, as well as when the thanks were removed from his bedroom while disease activity increased after his return home.

Furosemide: progress in understanding its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilating mechanism of action, and use in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases.

Accumulated experimental and clinical data suggest that adrenocorticosteroids and/or endogenous ouabain-like substances may play an important role in the mechanism of furosemide diuretic action. It was reported that the drug is highly bound in the adrenals, lungs, kidney, spleen, and liver. In patients with liver cirrhosis, furosemide exerted a markedly decreased natriuretic effect compared with normal subjects, and the plasma levels of circulating endothelin and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were significantly elevated.

Important role of prodromal viral infections responsible for inhibition of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in the pathomechanism of idiopathic Reye's syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, and hepatotoxicity of the therapeutic doses of acetaminophen used in genetically predisposed persons.

Upper respiratory tract febrile illnesses caused by various viruses, mycoplasma, chlamydia infections, and/or inflammatory diseases are usually observed a few days to a few (several) weeks before the onset of Reye's syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis (hepatotropic virus infections), or hepatotoxicity associated with therapeutic administration of acetaminophen in persons with varying degrees of deficits of important enzymatic activity. Activation of systemic host defense mechanisms by inflammatory component(s) results in depression of various induced and constitutive isoforms of cytochrome P-450 mixed-function oxidase system superfamily enzymes in the liver and most other tissues of the body. Because several cytochrome P-450 enzymes activities important for biotransformation of many endogenous and egzogenous substances show considerable variability between individuals, in some genetically predisposed persons, even the administration of therapeutic doses of a drug may result in serious clinical mishaps, if an important concomitant risk factor (eg, acute viral infection) is involved.

Clinical pharmacology of furosemide in children: a supplement.

Furosemide is one of the most effective and least toxic diuretics used in pediatric practice. Experimental and clinical data suggest that adrenocorticosteroids and/or endogenous ouabain-like substances may play an important role in its diuretic effect. Also, the drug appears to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Plasma proteinase inhibitor activity and hemostasis tests in children with nephrotic syndrome. Effect of prednisone alone and prednisone plus epsilon-aminocaproic acid treatment regimens: a preliminary report.

Neutrophil-derived proteinases cause glomerular injury by proteolysis of the glomerular basement membrane and alterations in glomerular metabolism. Recently, a marked elevation of the plasma elastase complex with alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) both in the acute phase and during remission of nephrotic syndrome (NS) compared with age-matched controls was reported. In experimental immune-mediated glomerulonephritis epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) significantly reduced albuminuria, and it was suggested that this may be linked with the antiproteolytic activity of the drug.

Impaired activation of the fibrinolytic system in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura: beneficial effect of hydrocortisone plus Sigma-aminocaproic acid therapy on disappearance rate of cutaneous vasculitis and fibrinolysis.

Systemic vasculitis is a predominant clinical symptom in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), and some studies suggested that decreased blood fibrinolytic activity, as well as blood platelets, is of importance in the development of cutaneous vasculitis. Although patients with HSP have normal blood coagulation, little is known about the fibrinolytic system. On the other hand, it is known that the focus of Sigma-aminocaproic acid (EACA) activity in vivo is probably the blood platelet-vessel wall interaction or a vascular component alone.

Urographic percentile charts for vertical kidney mobility in childhood.

Vertical kidney mobility was measured in excretory urograms in 492 children of both sexes, 1 to 16 years of age. The positions of the lower poles of the kidneys were compared in radiographs taken in recumbent and erect children. The mean values and standard deviations of the mobility were calculated (in mm) in 15 one-year-age subgroups, body weight subgroups (intersubgroup difference = 5 kg) and in the lumbar segment L1-L4 length subgroups (intersubgroup difference = 5 mm), establishing the limiting values including 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90 and 97% of the studied population of boys and girls.

Pharmacokinetic, biliary excretion, and metabolic studies of 14C-furosemide in the rat.

1. Partition of furosemide into organic solvents at pH 3.8 was greatest for ethyl acetate (33:1) greater than 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (10:1) greater than ethyl ether (6:1).

Diuretic effect and disposition of furosemide in cystic fibrosis.

The pharmacodynamics and kinetics of single oral and intravenous doses of furosemide were studied in 9 patients (mean age 18.5 y) with cystic fibrosis. The diuretic effect of furosemide lasted for 6 h after oral administration and 2 h following intravenous injection of the drug.

High doses of furosemide in children with acute renal failure. A preliminary retrospective study.

The diuretic effect of high doses of furosemide alone and furosemide plus mannitol was analysed retrospectively in 30 children with acute renal failure. In 10 children (Group 1) renal failure developed mainly during glomerulonephritis, and in 20 children (Group 2) the cause was gastroenteritis. The diuretic effects of furosemide and furosemide plus mannitol were evaluated measuring the 24-hour urine volume at the time of anuria, oliguria or normal diuresis.

Clinical pharmacology of antibiotics and other drugs in cystic fibrosis.

The disposition of many drugs in cystic fibrosis is abnormal. In general, changes in pharmacokinetics include: increased volume of distribution, decreased plasma concentration, and enhanced renal and sometimes non-renal elimination of drugs. Pathophysiology of the disease important for drug disposition includes: (a) hypersecretion of gastric acid and duodenal secretions which are of small volume, viscous and low in bicarbonate; (b) increased intestinal permeability to some sugars and probe substances; (c) hypergammaglobulinaemia and sometimes hypoalbuminaemia; (d) significant elevation of free fatty palmitoleic acid level and decreased low-density and high-density serum lipoproteins; (e) an average increase by 30 to 45% in plasma volume in patients with cystic fibrosis who have moderately severe pulmonary disease, right ventricle hypertrophy and dilatation, which occurs in 15 to 35% of patients with a Shwachman score of 81 to 100; (f) abnormal bile acid metabolism and enterohepatic recirculation; and (g) enlarged kidneys and glomerulomegaly with increased glomerular filtration rate, tubular clearance and urine flow rate in some patients with cystic fibrosis.

Dosage regimen of cimetidine reviewed. Possible drug accumulation after multiple oral doses.

The doses of cimetidine recommended differ in children, especially those with cystic fibrosis. These dosage regimens were derived from single-dose pharmacokinetic studies of the drug. Some authors showed, however, that after administration of repeated oral doses of cimetidine in healthy adults and children with cystic fibrosis, the elimination half-life of the drug was markedly prolonged.