Reye syndrome surveillance - United States, 1989

Article Abstract:

Reye syndrome (RS) is a sudden illness that occurs most often in children, and is associated with symptoms of profuse vomiting and impaired nerve function, which may lead to delirium, coma, and even death. Results of the national surveillance for RS between December 1, 1988 and November 20, 1989 are discussed. Although 1989 was characterized by widespread infection with influenza, only 25 cases of RS were reported by the state departments of health to the Centers for Disease Control's national Reye Syndrome Surveillance System. Nineteen patients had prior illnesses three weeks before the onset of symptoms of RS, including 13 cases of respiratory illness, three cases of varicella (chickenpox), and three cases of diarrhea. In 18 cases, RS developed in January, February, or March, when respiratory viral infections are frequent. Among 25 patients, 14 were female, 23 white and one black. Nineteen patients were five years old or younger, whereas six were older than five years. Most patients were admitted to the hospital before they had progressed into a coma, though 10 patients died. The number of cases of RS has declined with increased awareness of the relation between aspirin intake during varicella or influenza illness and the development of RS. The use of aspirin to manage viral illness in children has also decreased. In addition, the number of cases of RS is considered low for a year with high rates of influenza infections. However, the incidence of RS increased among children less than five years between 1985 to 1987 compared with the incidence between 1978 and 1984, but it decreased again in 1988 and 1989. Preliminary results for the year 1990 shows that the incidence of RS continues to decline. Despite this decline in the number of RS cases, health care agencies should continue to monitor the epidemiology of this disorder. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Pediatric diseases, Children, Demographic aspects, Diseases, Reye syndrome

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Preventing heart disease in women: another role for aspirin?

Article Abstract:

Recent controversy has centered on whether results from research studies on cardiovascular disease in men can be readily applied to women. The concern is that because women behave somewhat differently physiologically, separate studies should be performed rather than applying to women results from studies using men. In the July 24, 1991 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, a study by Manson et al. reports that women over 50 who take one to six aspirins per week have a reduced risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Similar results have been found in men, but this is the first major study to examine this issue in women. It may still be too early to recommend that women at risk should take aspirin regularly to prevent cardiovascular disease. The Manson study was an observational study, not a randomized control study, and thus other variables that may actually account for the group differences were not accounted for. The study is a very important one, but final conclusions cannot be drawn from its results. There is also the question of what risks are associated with regular aspirin usage. Gastrointestinal problems and bleeding are known side effects, and there are some indications that the risk for stroke may increase with regular aspirin use. The risk for stroke was found by another study to increase in men who took a smaller dose than that associated with an increased risk for women in this study. This highlights another problem with this study, namely that aspirin usage was self-reported and actual amounts taken may have been different. The study provides cause for further research into the beneficial effects of aspirin in preventing heart disease in women. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Surveys, Women's health services, Health status indicators, editorial

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Pregnancy-related death associated with heparin and aspirin treatment of infertility, 1996

Article Abstract:

The use of aspirin and heparin in women who have had in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be reconsidered. These anticoagulants are usually given to prevent loss of the fetus. Three-quarters of the clinics that provide this service use these drugs, according to a 1997 survey. However, the FDA has not approved the use of these drugs for this purpose. In 1996, a woman who became pregnant after IVF died from a cerebral hemorrhage during her ninth week of pregnancy. She had been taking aspirin and heparin, which are known to increase the risk of bleeding.

Patient outcomes, Mortality, Pregnant women, Brain, Brain hemorrhage, Fertilization in vitro, Human, Human fertilization in vitro, Heparin

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