Minocycline Pneumonitis and Eosinophilia

Noam Fink, Meir Mouallem

Dept. of Medicine E, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Pneumonitis with eosinophilia is one of the less common and severe adverse effects of minocycline. The disease evolves in days or weeks from the beginning of treatment, and is usually characterized by dyspnea, fever and bilateral infiltrates in the chest X-ray. With cessation of the antibiotic, and sometimes adding cortico-steroids, clinical and roentgenological resolution follow.

We present a case given minocycline for folliculitis and 3 weeks later fever, cough and shortness of breath developed. The clinical and roentgenological course was consistent with minocycline pneumonitis accompanied by eosinophilia.

Preflight Assessment by Hypoxic Inhalation Test in Cardio-Pulmonary Patients 

J. Lebzelter, G. Fink, E. Kleinman, I. Rosenberg, M.R. Kramer

Pulmonology Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva

Flying may expose passengers to hypoxic conditions, which may induce hypoxemia, particularly in those with chronic heart and/or lung disease. Onset of dyspnea, wheezing, chest pain, cyanosis and right heart failure can lead to urgent need for oxygen during flight. The hypoxia inhalation test (HIT) provides a safe and simple means of identifying those who may develop hypoxemia during flight.

We report our experience with 48 self-reporting patients who underwent HIT prior to pre-planned air travel. They inhaled for 15-minute periods a reduced oxygen concentration (F₁O₂ 15%) under normobaric conditions, during which O₂ saturation was monitored by pulse oximeter; electrocardiogram, blood pressure and symptoms were also monitored. O₂ saturation of 85% (PaO₂ 50 mm Hg) was considered a positive test. In the 8 cases (17%) with a positive test, 5 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 3 had cardiovascular and/or combined heart-lung disease.

We calculated predicted O₂ partial pressure in altitude (PaO₂ ALT) and compared it to actual results in the 8 patients with a positive HIT. In 5, use of the predicted formula would have under-diagnosed the hypoxemia that developed during the HIT. Thus, the results of the HIT changed treatment strategy in these patients. We recommend that patients with positive tests use O₂ (2LPM or 4LPM) during flight.

HIT is practical and of potential benefit in the objective assessment of patients with various degrees of heart, lung or combined heart-lung disease. Clinicians should be aware of the relative risk of hypoxia during flight in such patients, and of the value of HIT in identifying them, leading to increase in its use.

High Dose Endobronchial Brachy - Therapy for Malignant Airway Obstruction

Alex Yarmolovsky, Alan Katz, Eyal Fenig, G. Fink, Daniel Bendayan, Aaron Sulkes, Mordechai R. Kramer

Institutes of Pulmonology and Oncology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Brachytherapy is especially suitable for palliative treatment of endobronchial tumors adjacent to internal organs that might be damaged by intensive external beam radiation, but are easily accessed with a flexible bronchoscope. This treatment is mostly palliative.

30 patients underwent such palliative high-dose endobronchial brachytherapy to alleviate malignant airway obstruction. With the aid of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope an endobronchial catheter was inserted adjacent to the tumor and treatment delivered using a 192Ir remote afterloader for 5-10 min, in 2 or 3 sessions.

There was symptomatic improvement in 26 (86%) and objective improvement in 27 (90%). 1 patient died of hemoptysis.

Empirical Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in the Delivery Room

Peter Jakobi, Orly Goldstick, Renato Finkelstein, Joseph Itzkovitz-Eldor

Obstetrics and Gynecology Dept. and Infectious Disease Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common bacterial infection during pregnancy. In prenatal and delivery wards treatment is usually started at once in pregnant women with symptoms suggesting UTI, but there is no uniformity as to treatment. We surveyed such treatment in the delivery rooms throughout Israel, and whether the treatment differed in simple cystitis as opposed to pyelonephritis. Results of positive urine cultures from symptomatic parturients admitted here during 1995-1996 were examined.

There were 17 different empiric treatment protocols in 28 delivery rooms, whose daily cost ranged from 1-119 NIS. We present the antimicrobial sensitivity of 156 bacteria isolated from the urinary cultures from pregnant women in our prenatal ward. Based upon urinary flora, sensitivity and daily cost, we suggest a protocol for empiric treatment. We recommend first and second generation cephalosporins for treatment of simple lower (UTIs), while gentamicin is suggested for treatment of clinical pyelonephritis during pregnancy. There is no medical nor economic justification for the multiplicity of empiric treatment protocols currently used. Considering our results, our protocol is cost-effective for the empiric treatment of UTI in hospitalized parturients and in the community as well.

Therapeutic and Toxic Theophylline Levels in Asthma Attacks

Aliza Zeidman, Joseph Gardyn, Zinaida Fradin, Gershon Fink, Moshe Mittelman

Dept. of Medicine B, Rabin Medical Center, Golda (Hasharon) Campus and Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva; and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Although first-line therapy for bronchial asthma has changed over the past decade to anti-inflammatory medication such as inhaled corticosteroids and cromolyn with possible addition of beta-agonists, theophylline is still useful and therefor widely used. However, several studies have raised serious questions regarding its efficacy in acute asthmatic exacerbations. These studies, the narrow therapeutic range of the drug, the frequency of side effects and interactions with common drugs, and individual variation in clearance and metabolism, have prompted its reevaluation in the management of asthma. Therapeutic serum levels of theophylline are between 10 to 20 mcg/ml. Most adults achieve these concentrations with daily slow-release oral theophylline preparations, 200-400 mg (approximately 10 mg/Kg) twice a day. However, when such a patient presents to the emergency room (ER) in an asthmatic attack, immediate intravenous theophylline is often given, regardless of maintenance treatment. Since the rationale for this common therapeutic approach has been challenged, the current study was undertaken. Serum theophylline levels were measured in 23 consecutive asthmatics presenting to the ER in an acute attack. 15 (68%) had therapeutic levels (above 10 mcg/ml) and 2 had toxic levels (above 20 mcg/ml), prior to receiving the standard intravenous theophylline dose given for an attack. These data indicate that most patients with bronchial asthma on oral maintenance theophylline do not require additional intravenous theophylline when in an attack. It probably will not benefit them and may even induce serious theophylline toxicity.

Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in the Primary Care Setting

Shlomo Vinker, Sasson Nakar, Sergei Finkel, Emanuel Nir, Eitan Hyam

Family Medicine Dept., Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University; and Shaaraim Clinic, General Sick Fund, Rehovot; Central Cinical Laboratories, and District Medical Director, Central District of the General Sick Fund

The use of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) to prevent thromboembolism has been widespread in recent years. The concept of high- and low-intensity regimens has facilitated treatment for many, and has lowered the hazards of overly intense anticoagulation. However, a significant proportion of patients suited to the low intensity regimen are not being treated. It is not clear whether its wider use is limited by continued debate, lack of resources, lack of expertise, or other causes. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 32 patients treated with OAT administered in the primary care setting. The average age was 66±11 years (range 34-84). 9 were treated with high-intensity OAT: 8 due to artificial heart valves, and 1 due to a hypercoagulable syndrome with recurrent thromboembolism. 23 were treated with low-intensity OAT, 17 of whom had atrial fibrillation. 11 were also being treated continuously with other medication which interacted with OAT or interfered with other coagulation pathways. Such medication included: aspirin, dipyridamole, amiodarone, bezafibrate and allopurinol. Of 414 coagulation tests, 57% and 65% were in the therapeutic range in the high- and low-intensity OAT groups, respectively. There was no major bleeding event, but in 2 of 8 who bled, gastrointestinal bleeding led to hospitalization. Treatment was discontinued in 1 patient because of difficulties in achieving target INR, and in the 2 hospitalized for bleeding. The percentages of test results in, above and below the therapeutic range were similar to those in other large series, for both intensity regimens. We found that a significant proportion of patients were under chronic treatment with other medication which interacted with OAT. To estimate the rate of complications in primary care OAT, larger series are needed. We conclude that OAT can be given and monitored by the family physician, and that awareness of long and short term drug interactions with OAT is mandatory.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Elderly

A. Yaretzky, J. Feldman, P. Alterman, B. Finkeltov

Dept. of Geriatric Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Opinions differ as to whether late onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents a clinical subset and whether age at onset involves differences in therapy and prognosis. In this retrospective study we compared 23 patients with early onset RA (average onset 52.8 years; 91.3% of them women), with 36 with late onset (average onset 70.3 years; 67% of them women). No statistically significant differences were found as to demographic, clinical, laboratory or radiographic characteristics.