Immunologic findings in workers formerly exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and its congeners

One hundred ninety-two workers in a German pesticide factory who were exposed to polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and -furans (PCDD/PCDF) were investigated for former and present diseases and laboratory changes of the immune system. Moreover, in a subgroup of 29 highly exposed and 28 control persons, proliferation studies were performed. In addition to assays such as blood count, immunoglobulins, serum electrophoresis, monoclonal bands, surface markers, autoantibodies, and lymphocyte proliferation, two new methods, the rise of tetanus antibody concentration after vaccination and the in vitro resistance of lymphocytes to chromate, were used to diagnose the morphologic and functional state of t…

Panniculitis due to potassium bromide.

Potassium bromide again is well known to be surprisingly effective in patients with severe myoclonic epilepsy in infants (SME). Rare side effects on the skin reappeared, such as the febrile nodular panniculitis (Weber-Christian syndrome). In 1993 we described the first three cases of necrotizing panniculitis and introduced the term 'halogen panniculitis'. It is a systemic disease with crops of subcutaneous nodules, fever, elevated sedimentation rate, hepatosplenomegalia, and abdominal pain. Later severe necrosis of the skin and adipose tissue may happen with deep ulcerations. History and course of five cases, described in this paper, suggest either an allergy or toxic reason. Histologic pic…

ELISA techniques for the detection of antimitochondrial antibodies

Akute interstitielle Nephritis nach Piperacillin

A 75-year-old woman developed fever, exanthema and nonoliguric renal failure 16 days after the beginning of Piperacillin treatment. Renal biopsy revealed lympho-plasmacellular acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). A lymphocyte-transformation-test showed significant stimulation of patient's lymphocytes by Piperacillin. Corticosteroid-therapy correlated to clinical and renal improvement. Nevertheless the patient died of foudroyant septicemia caused by E. coli. Our report describes the first immunologically documented case of AIN following Piperacillin treatment.