No abstract

Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) consists of type I allergy to pollen and multiple food items that are cross-reactive to the pollen. PFAS typically occurs in the oral cavity and can co-occur with eosinophilic esophagitis. However, it is infrequently reported to present with symptoms of eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), such as abdominal pain and eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. We herein report a patient with a condition initially suspected of being EGE based on symptoms and pathological findings that was later diagnosed as PFAS associated with birch pollen. PFAS should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with EGE-like symptoms.

No abstract

A 68-year-old, male patient presented with a two-week history of malaise and anuria. Renal replacement therapy with hemodialysis was begun for acute kidney injury. His anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody titer was 3060 U/mL. Based on this finding, anti-GBM diseases was diagnosed. Plasmapheresis and high-dose glucocorticoid therapy were begun, but his hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia progressed. ADAMTS-13 activity decreased to 33%, but no inhibitor was detected. Secondary thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was suspected, and rituximab therapy was begun. The addition of rituximab is thought to have further reduced the anti-GBM antibodies, prevented recurrence, stabilized the platelet count, and facilitated the patient’s withdrawal from plasmapheresis and glucocorticoid therapy. Rituximab may be a viable therapeutic option for anti-GBM diseases complicated with TMA.