Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) α-chain alleles 1 and 2 account for 3 phenotypes that may influence the course of inflammatory diseases via biologically important differences in their antioxidant, scavenging, and immunomodulatory properties. Hp1-1 genotype results in the production of small dimeric, Hp2-1 linear, and Hp2-2 cyclic polymeric haptoglobin molecules. We investigated the haptoglobin polymorphism in patients with celiac disease and its possible association to the presenting symptoms. Methods: We studied 712 unrelated, biopsy-proven Hungarian celiac patients (357 children, 355 adults; severe malabsorption 32.9%, minor gastrointestinal symptoms 22.8%, iron deficiency anemia 9.4%, dermatitis herpetiformis 15.6%, silent disease 7.2%, other 12.1%) and 384 healthy subjects. We determined haptoglobin phenotypes by gel electrophoresis and assigned corresponding genotypes. Results: Hp2-1 was associated with a significant risk for celiac disease (P = 0.0006, odds ratio [OR] 1.54, 95% CI 1.20–1.98; prevalence 56.9% in patients vs 46.1% in controls). It was also overrepresented among patients with mild symptoms (69.2%) or silent disease (72.5%). Hp2-2 was less frequent in patients than in controls (P = 0.0023), but patients having this phenotype were at an increased risk for severe malabsorption (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.60–3.07) and accounted for 45.3% of all malabsorption cases. Celiac and dermatitis herpetiformis patients showed similar haptoglobin phenotype distributions. Conclusions: The haptoglobin polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to celiac disease and its clinical presentations. The predominant genotype in the celiac population was Hp2-1, but Hp2-2 predisposed to a more severe clinical course. The phenotype-dependent effect of haptoglobin may result from the molecule’s structural and functional properties.

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The authors present the case of a 44-year-old man who was admitted with complete heart block and signs of severe bradycardia. After steroid administration and temporary pacemaker treatment the complete heart block resolved. During this therapy transient ST segment and T wave abnormalities occurred. The positive Borrelia burgdorferi antibody titer arrived only after therapy had been completed. This is regarded as the first case of Lyme carditis with complete heart block diagnosed in eastern Europe. Carditis resolved without antibiotic treatment and has not recurred.

Due to world-wide spread of hypervirulent and antibiotic resistant Clostridium difficile strains, the incidence of these infections are dramatically increasing in Hungary with appalling mortality and recurrence rates. Authors present a case of a 59-year-old patient who developed a severe, relapsing pseudomembranous colitis after antibiotic treatment. Life-threatening symptoms of fulminant colitis were successfully treated with prolonged administration of metronidazole and vancomycin, careful supportive therapy and weeks of intensive care. However, a well-documented, severe relapse developed within a week and this time faecal bacteriotherapy was performed. This treatment resulted in a complete cure without any further antibiotic treatment. In relation to this life-saving faecal transplantation, methodology and indications are briefly discussed. In addition, microbiological issues, epidemiological data and threats associated with antibiotic treatment of Clostridium difficile infections are also covered. Finally, relevant professional societies are urged to prepare a national protocol for faecal transplantation, which could allow introduction of this valuable, cost-effective procedure into the routine clinical practice.