Bilateral gangrene of fingers in a patient on empagliflozin: First case report.

BACKGROUND: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors use has been associated with toe amputations and non-healing ulcers and gangrene mostly of lower extremities. There are no case reports about association of Empagliflozin with finger ulcers or gangrene. This is the first case report of Empagliflozin (Jardiance) an SGLT2 inhibitor causing gangrene of fingers and second case in literature about any SGLT2 inhibitor causing gangrene of upper extremity. CASE SUMMARY: A 76-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus sustained minimal trauma to both middle fingers, which started healing. He was started on empagliflozin a week later for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and started developing gangrene to both middle finger tips along with neuropathic pain which worsened over the course of next four months. Investigations were negative for vascular insufficiency, infection and vasculitis and imaging of hand was normal. Discontinuation of empagliflozin slowed progression of gangrene and caused symptomatic improvement with reduction in neuropathic pain. CONCLUSION: This case report suggests possible association of empagliflozin and finger gangrene and recommends that more research and awareness among clinicians is needed in this area.

Histoplasmosis mimicking adrenal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of unilateral adrenal histoplasmosis in nonendemic areas is rare. This is even rarer if the host is immunocompetent. METHODS: We report a patient who was referred for unexplained weight loss who underwent a computed tomography scan of abdomen revealing a large unilateral adrenal nodule measuring 7.6 cm in size. RESULTS: Hormonal workup was negative including urine 24-hour free metanephrines, and the patient underwent unilateral adrenalectomy. The pathology showed budding yeast that stained with Gomori's methenamine silver (GMS) revealed the diagnosis of adrenal histoplasmosis. CONCLUSION: We encourage clinicians to include infection by Histoplasma capsulatum as well as other granulomatous diseases and tumors in the differential diagnosis of unilateral adrenal enlargement even in immunocompetent hosts living in nonendemic areas.

An unusual case of E coli meningitis in a patient with Marfan's syndrome.

Spontaneous non-traumatic Escherichia coli meningitis is very rare in adults. We report a case of a 48-year-old woman with Marfan's syndrome with E coli meningitis. Apparently, the relation between an increased risk of meningitis and Marfan's syndrome is not well known. This patient was discharged on intravenous antibiotic therapy after a diagnosis of E coli meningitis without looking for the cause by imaging studies previously. Her blood cultures were negative ruling out haematogenous spread. Our work-up revealed extensive dural ectasia with intrasacral meningoceles extending into the pelvis possibly acting as a portal of entry for the bacteria into the brain from the gastrointestinal tract.

Herpes zoster as a cause of viral meningitis in immunocompetent patients.

A 30-year-old Caucasian woman, without significant medical history or immunosuppression, presented with a 7-day history of severe headache and neck pain. The patient was presumed to have tension headache versus migraine, but was admitted because her symptoms did not resolve. A lumbar puncture was performed showing lymphocytic pleocytosis suggestive of aseptic meningitis and the patient was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics and acyclovir. After admission, a rash was discovered on her left lumbar region with vesicles on top of an erythematous base. Varicella PCR was conducted on the patient's cerebrospinal fluid which was positive. Upon further history, patient was found to have previous varicella infection as a child, but no prior episodes of dermatomal zoster. Therefore, this patient was found to have aseptic meningitis and cutaneous manifestation of disseminated varicella-zoster despite immunocompetence. Antibacterial treatment was discontinued and she was continued on acyclovir for 7 days with transition to valacyclovir for 2 additional weeks with good treatment response and symptom resolution.

Saddle pulmonary thromboembolism with zero Wells' score.

A retrospective cohort study of 2,218 patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism during a 25-year period from 1966-1990 in Minnesota showed an annual incidence of venous thromboembolism of 117 per 100,000 (deep vein thrombosis, 48 per 100,000; pulmonary embolism, 69 per 100,000). Higher rates were found in males than females (130 vs 110 per 100,000, respectively) after adjusting for age. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of DVT and PE have been shown to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity. Risk factors for venous thromboembolism include alterations in blood flow (surgery, injury or long-distance air travel, pregnancy, obesity), hypercoagulability (factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin mutation, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, antiphospholipid syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria) and vessel wall abnormalities. Eighty percent of deep venous thrombosis resolves spontaneously and less than 15% embolize to pulmonary arteries.