Vol. 3 No. 5

Vol. 3 No. 5
  • Senthil Chandrasekaram, Ranga H Fernando, Vikram Aaarella, Emily T Mudenha, Devaka J Fernando
    Views: 1250 HTML: 734 PDF: 468 Cover letter stating originality and not submitted elsewhere: 0 UConflict of interest formn: 0 conflict of interest file: 0 conflict of interest file: 0 conflict of interest file: 0 conflict of interest: 0 conflict of interest file: 0 conflict of interest file: 0 conflict of interest: 0 copyright transfer: 0

    Objective: To identify dysautonomia as a collection of conditions with variable presentation that may be mistaken for medically unexplained symptoms.

    Methods: Case series.

    Results: Tilt table testing and 24 h electrocardiographic monitoring provided useful diagnostic tools to confirm the diagnosis.

    Conclusion: A greater awareness and recognition of the disorders that result from dysautonomia and recognition of the disability that results from these disorders will improve patients’ quality of life.

  • Kristien Velding, Bert Mulder, Jeroen Oeben, Annelies Suurmeijer, Thiemo F Veneman
    Views: 1100 HTML: 473 PDF: 319 LP: 0

    Shigella toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is well known for its complications such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), but neurological symptoms have also been reported. While most cases of infection with STEC occur with concurrent HUS, we describe a patient with severe neurological symptoms in the absence of HUS.

  • Michele Mondoni, Paolo Carlucci, Elena Maria Parazzini, Paolo Busatto, Stefano Centanni
    Views: 1109 HTML: 446 PDF: 385 Figure 3: 0 Figure 4: 0 Figure 1: 0 Figure 2: 0

    Tracheal diverticulum is a rare benign entity. Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM), also known as Mounier-Kuhn syndrome, is a rare disorder characterized by marked dilation of the trachea and main bronchi, associated with thinning or atrophy of the elastic tissue. Because of the weakened trachea and increased intraluminal pressure related to chronic cough, some patients may develop mucosal herniation leading to tracheal diverticulosis. We report the case of a patient with TBM with a huge tracheal diverticulum, diagnosed by bronchoscopy and computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction. To our knowledge this is the largest tracheal diameter described in a patient affected by this syndrome.

  • Elena A. Kochmareva, Valentin A. Kokorin, Evgenia A. Kondrashova, Nadejda V. Khokhlova, Argishti G. Vardanyan, Ilya A. Kokorin, Dmitry A. Doroshenko
    Views: 1080 HTML: 285 PDF: 397 Image 1. MRI of the heart. Four-chambers view: 0 Image 2. Short axis view of LV at the level of the MV.NCM in the interventricular septum: 0 Image 3. Parasternal position. End-diastolic dimension of LV: 0 Table 1. Dynamic of ECHO parameters: 0 Image 4. Short axis view of LV at the level of the MV.Global deformation of the circular fibers of the myocardium: 0

    Non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium (NCM) is a genetic cardiomyopathy usually due to mutationof the G4.5 gene located in the Xq28 chromosomal region. This congenital disorder is characterized by pronounced trabeculations and intertrabecular recesses resulting from abnormal embryogenesis between the fifth and eighth fetal weeks. The reported prevalence in the general population is between 0.014% and 1.3%. The classic triad of complications includes heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias and systemic embolic events, although some patients have an asymptomatic form. NCM is commonly diagnosed by echocardiography, but contrast ventriculography, CT and MRI can also be used. Here we present a case of left ventricle NCM, manifested after respiratory infection, in a pregnant patient with congenital thrombophilia and a history of myocardial infarction.

  • Eleni Mylona, Styliani Golfinopoulou, Pelagia Sfakianaki, George Kyriakopoulos, Ioannis Tsonis, Theofanis Apostolou, Christina Vourlakou, Athanasios Skoutelis
    Views: 2696 HTML: 726 PDF: 446 Fig-1: 0 Letter: 0

    Objectives: To report a case of intravascular lymphoma (IVL) in a Caucasian patient who presented with anasarca as his sole clinical sign.

    Material and Methods: A man presented with anasarca-type oedema and fatigue. After excluding heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, AL-amyloidosis and adverse drug reaction which can all cause oedema, we turned our attention to capillary permeability disorders.

    Results: Closer review of the bone marrow aspirate demonstrated haemophagocytic histiocytosis, while core, renal and duodenal biopsies showed a B-cell IVL.

    Conclusion: The differential diagnosis of anasarca, a relatively common clinical sign, should include IVL although the diagnosis may still be challenging.

  • Manabu Kurabayashi, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Tsukasa Shimura, Yasuteru Yamauchi, Kaoru Okishige
    Views: 1386 HTML: 229 PDF: 353 Refference: 0 Cover letter: 0 Figure 1: 0 Figure 2: 0

    We describe a case of ventricular fibrillation occurring in a patient with multi-vessel coronary spasm after the initiation of an oral beta-blocker. A 56-year-old man began to experience chest discomfort and his computed tomography revealed intermediate coronary stenoses. He was administered medications including an oral beta-blocker but suddenly collapsed while walking 4 days later. An automated external defibrillator detected ventricular fibrillation and delivered successful electrical cardioversion. An acetylcholine provocation test after stabilization of the status revealed triple-vessel coronary spasm. Beta-blockers may provoke exacerbation of coronary spasm and result in lethal arrhythmia.

  • Ahmed Gabr, Khalid El Kholy, James Crotty, Margaret O’Connor, Elijah Chaila
    Views: 1180 HTML: 429 PDF: 386

    Giant cell arteritis or temporal arteritis is an inflammatory condition affecting medium to large sized vessels, particularly the cranial arteries. A 76-year-old man with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with a 3-week history of diffuse headaches associated with fever, loss of appetite, weight loss and general malaise. A CT scan of the brain showed bilateral shallow chronic low density subdural haematomas. A complete laboratory panel was unremarkable except for a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and elevated C-reactive protein. A transthoracic echocardiogram and CT scan of the body were unremarkable. MRI of the brain confirmed bilateral old subdural collections and showed marked vessel wall enhancement in the frontal branches of the left superficial temporal artery. A left temporal artery biopsy confirmed giant cell temporal arteritis. We speculate that a vasculitic process in the small subdural arteries may have contributed to our patient’s spontaneous subdural haematomas.

  • Yanet Parodis Lopez, Nery Sablon Gonzalez, Noel Lorenzo Villalba, Rafael Camacho Galvan, Jose Carlos Rodriguez Perez
    Views: 1530 HTML: 513 PDF: 638 Figures: 0

    We report a case of a 64-year-old male who, 44 days after starting treatment with prasugrel, presented with severe thrombocytopenia, anemia, renal failure, and severe ADAMTS13 activity deficiency, along with a high titer of autoantibodies to this protease.