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Summary Background Kawasaki-like syndrome (KLS) is rare in adults; one third of these patients are infected by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our study reports cases of KLS occurring in HIV-positive adults and reviews the literature to compare their characteristics with HIV-negative adults and children with Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods Report of cases and review of the literature. Results Amongst 20 cases reviewed, including 4 who were managed at our institution, KLS was associated with severe immunosuppression and a high HIV viral load. There was frequent co-infection by hepatitis viruses. Desquamation and liver abnormalities were more frequent in HIV-negative adults whereas headaches and gastrointestinal disorders more common in HIV-positive adults. Intravenous immunoglobulin was effective therapy. Relapse was more frequent among HIV-positive patients. No cardiovascular complications or deaths occurred. Conclusions Advanced immunosuppression due to HIV may predispose to KLS. The differential diagnosis that must be considered includes drug hypersensitivity reactions and staphylococcal infections.

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) syndrome is a rare condition, generally due to lung or carcinoid tumors. 18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET) can be useful where conventional localization techniques often fail. A 50-year-old man presented with sudden diffuse oedema, hypokaliemic alkalosis, Diabetes mellitus and high serum levels of ACTH and cortisol. Ectopic ACTH syndrome was confirmed leading to ketoconazole treatment. Chest-computed tomography only revealed an aspecific anterior mediastinal nodule that was hypermetabolic on the whole body-(18)FDG-PET. A thymic tumor was suspected and the patient had a thymectomy that revealed an atypical carcinoid tumor with pleural carcinosis. The postoperative course was favorable with clinical and biochemical remission of neoplastic Cushing's syndrome.

Limitations of intensive diabetes treatment with subcutaneous insulin include achievement of only near-normoglycaemia and increased risk of hypoglycaemia. Programmable implantable pumps permit variable rates of intraperitoneal insulin infusion. The French experience represents 224 type I adult diabetic patients followed up for 353 patient-years in seven centres. Compared with pre-implantation values with intensive subcutaneous insulin, glycaemic control was significantly improved with implantable pumps: glycosylated haemoglobin fell from 7.4 (1.8)% to 6.8 (1.0)% at 6 months (mean, SD, p < 0.001). The incidence of severe episodes of hypoglycaemia decreased from 15.2 to 2.5 per 100 patient-years (p < 0.001). Intraperitoneal insulin delivery with implantable pumps improved the risk-benefit ratio of intensive insulin.