435
rising to 3-9 and 5-0 kPa mmol-1 min on the 7th and 14th days, respectively of steroid therapy. The prednisolone dose could be reduced to 10 mg/day over the ensuing 2 months. The patient denied any exposure to budgerigars, pigeons, or hens. The sequence of events in this case strongly incriminates the influenza vaccine in the initiation of the diffuse pulmonary disease. The most likely component of the vaccine to result in an allergic reaction is the chicken embryo. Before coeliac disease developed the patient had had several similar influenza vaccines without ill-effects. Active coeliac disease, with its associated "leaky mucosa", permits the absorption of dietary antigens and the resultant development of antibodies in serum/ We suggest that this patient’s antibodies to chicken were the result of his diseased intestinal mucosa and that these antibodies may have resulted in an immune-complex reaction with the chicken embryo in the vaccine, the pulmonary microvasculature bearing the brunt of the reaction. We would be interested to hear of any other cases of similar reaction to vaccines produced in chicken embryo in patients with adult coeliac disease, childhood coeliac disease, or other "leaky mucosa" diseases.
Glasgow G21 3UW
K. E. L. MCCOLL G. J. ADDIS T. J. THOMSON
Department of Immunology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow
E. M. KIRKWOOD
University Department of Materia Medica, Stobhill General Hospital,
Correlation of mean daily barometric pressure (mm Hg) with daily percentage of cases of premature rupture of the membranes in spontaneous labour.
n=23; r=-0.444;p24 weeks) resident in Athensand its environs who were seen at our clinic between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1977, because of spontaneous rupture of the membranes and who had no signs of onset of labour. The lowest mean daily barometric pressure and relative humidity in the area of Athens and environs for 1977 (the National Observatory of Athens Meteorological Institute) were748 mm Hg and 27% respectively, and the highest were 772 mm Hg and 90%. There were 4494 spontaneous labours during the year (labours induced by oxytocin and csesarean sections were excluded). Cases of premature rupture of the membranes numbered 1593. The daily percentage of cases of premature rupture in spontaneous labours was compared with the daily mean barometric pressure and relative humidity. There was no significant correlation with humidity (r=0-110; p>0-4) but there was a significant correlation with barometric
p
rising to 3-9 and 5-0 kPa mmol-1 min on the 7th and 14th days, respectively of steroid therapy. The prednisolone dose could be reduced to 10 mg/day over the ensuing 2 months. The patient denied any exposure to budgerigars, pigeons, or hens. The sequence of events in this case strongly incriminates the influenza vaccine in the initiation of the diffuse pulmonary disease. The most likely component of the vaccine to result in an allergic reaction is the chicken embryo. Before coeliac disease developed the patient had had several similar influenza vaccines without ill-effects. Active coeliac disease, with its associated "leaky mucosa", permits the absorption of dietary antigens and the resultant development of antibodies in serum/ We suggest that this patient’s antibodies to chicken were the result of his diseased intestinal mucosa and that these antibodies may have resulted in an immune-complex reaction with the chicken embryo in the vaccine, the pulmonary microvasculature bearing the brunt of the reaction. We would be interested to hear of any other cases of similar reaction to vaccines produced in chicken embryo in patients with adult coeliac disease, childhood coeliac disease, or other "leaky mucosa" diseases.
Glasgow G21 3UW
K. E. L. MCCOLL G. J. ADDIS T. J. THOMSON
Department of Immunology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow
E. M. KIRKWOOD
University Department of Materia Medica, Stobhill General Hospital,
Correlation of mean daily barometric pressure (mm Hg) with daily percentage of cases of premature rupture of the membranes in spontaneous labour.
n=23; r=-0.444;p24 weeks) resident in Athensand its environs who were seen at our clinic between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1977, because of spontaneous rupture of the membranes and who had no signs of onset of labour. The lowest mean daily barometric pressure and relative humidity in the area of Athens and environs for 1977 (the National Observatory of Athens Meteorological Institute) were748 mm Hg and 27% respectively, and the highest were 772 mm Hg and 90%. There were 4494 spontaneous labours during the year (labours induced by oxytocin and csesarean sections were excluded). Cases of premature rupture of the membranes numbered 1593. The daily percentage of cases of premature rupture in spontaneous labours was compared with the daily mean barometric pressure and relative humidity. There was no significant correlation with humidity (r=0-110; p>0-4) but there was a significant correlation with barometric
p
