Prevalence of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with early-onset venous and arterial occlusive disease

Article Abstract:

It may be advisable to test for hyperhomocysteinemia in patients who develop blood clot obstructions at an early age. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a condition characterized by an excess of the amino acid homocysteine in the urine. Researchers evaluated 157 patients for hyperhomocysteinemia and other inherited clotting disorders who had blood clot obstructions in either an artery or vein at an early age. They also tested selected family members for these conditions. Thirteen percent of the patients with blood clot obstructions in the veins and 18% of those with obstructions in the arteries had moderate hyperhomocysteinemia. There was an inheritance link in 8 of the 12 families tested for hyperhomocysteinemia. Other clotting disorders, including deficiencies of protein C, protein S, and plasminogen, were present in 7.4% of the patients, all of who had experienced obstructions in their veins. Patients with either hyperhomocysteinemia or clotting disorders had more recurrences of clot obstructions than those without these disorders.

Health aspects, Risk factors, Venous insufficiency, Arterial occlusions, Arterial occlusive diseases, Amino acid metabolism

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Association between DRB1*08032 histocompatibility antigen and methimazole-induced agranulocytosis in Japanese patients with Graves disease

Article Abstract:

The HLA DRB1*08032 gene in people with Graves disease may be associated with an increased risk of developing agranulocytosis in response to the drug methimazole. Graves disease is a thyroid disease often treated with methimazole and agranulocystosis is the shortage of granulocytes, resulting in disorders of the mucous membranes. Researchers analyzed granulocyte DNA from 24 people with Graves disease and agranulocytosis caused by methimazole, 68 people with Graves disease and no agranulocytosis, and 525 healthy people. HLA class II genes that were significantly associated with agranulocytosis were DRB1*08032 and DRB1*0501. Among the groups of people with Graves disease, DRB1*08032 was found in 54% of those with agranulocytosis, but only 22% of those without agranulocytosis. These results suggest that such cases of agranulocytosis are caused by an autoimmmune attack on granulocytes by native T cells.

Complications and side effects, Genetic aspects, Graves' disease, Agranulocytosis, Granulocytopenia, HLA class II antigens, Thyroid antagonists, Antithyroid agents

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Antibody responses to polysaccharide and polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines after treatment of Hodgkin disease

Article Abstract:

Patients with Hodgkin disease may develop antibodies to the Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) vaccine and to vaccines against pneumonia as efficiently as non-Hodgkin people. Immunization with HIB and pneumococcal vaccines may be especially important for Hodgkin disease patients to protect them from developing severe bacterial infections. Researchers gave vaccines to 144 Hodgkin disease patients who had finished treatment and whose disease was diagnosed at least two years earlier. The HIB-conjugate vaccine successfully increased anti-HIB antibodies. Patients responded normally to a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine and to a 4-valent vaccine for meningitis. Low responses were observed to a 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Anyone who has had Hodgkin disease should continue to receive regular immunizations.

Hodgkin's disease, Pneumococcal vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccines

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