Suspected Thiamine Deficiency Secondary to Chronic Gastrointestinal Illness: A Case Report.

Introduction: Thiamine deficiency, also known as beriberi, is a nutritional disorder caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the diet. It can occur in 2 forms: dry beriberi, which affects the nervous system, and wet beriberi, which affects the cardiovascular system. Gastrointestinal beriberi is a subtype that affects the digestive system and can lead to multisystem involvement. In the United States (US), thiamine deficiency often arises from chronic malnutrition secondary to alcoholism, known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Case Presentation: A 45-year-old female with no known past medical history or alcohol use disorder came to the emergency department with an altered mental status and with a history of intractable nausea and vomiting for several months prior to presentation. During intake, the medical team discovered she had bilateral lower extremity weakness and an anion gap metabolic acidosis. Her inpatient workup ruled out meningitis, encephalitis, peritonitis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and cerebrovascular accident. A thiamine deficiency was the most probable cause of her presentation, secondary to her protracted history of vomiting and poor oral medication intake. Refeeding syndrome complicated her hospitalization. After replenishing thiamine, the patient experienced significant improvement in mental status and lower extremity weakness. The healthcare team later discharged her with home physical therapy rehabilitation and nutritional counseling. Conclusion: Thiamine deficiency is not common in the US. However, this case highlights the importance of including this deficiency in the differential when a patient arrives with a history of malnourishment secondary to a gastrointestinal illness with signs of altered mental status and neurological symptoms.

Successful Treatment of Refractory Generalized Granuloma Annulare with Upadacitinib.

Granuloma annulare is a poorly understood dermatosis that, when generalized, can occur in up to 15 percent of patients. In these cases, treatment is frustrating and experimental. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman and a 41-year-old woman who demonstrated resolution of recalcitrant, generalized granuloma annulare (GA) following oral treatment with upadacitinib. After showing little to no response to other various treatments, such as steroids, antibiotic regimens, and systemic therapies, each patient was started on 15 mg of daily upadacitinib. At 2 months, one patient had complete clearance of all lesions while the other patient experienced noticeable improvement. Within 4 months, the other patient reached total resolution of her lesions. These cases provide evidence of a therapeutic option that may shorten disease duration and provide relief from cutaneous disease.

Mycotic Aneurysm of the Thoracoabdominal Aorta: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Mycotic aortic aneurysms (MAAs) are a rare form of aortic aneurysms that are associated with catastrophic outcomes if not diagnosed and treated on time. However, MAAs are a diagnostic challenge owing to their often nonspecific presentation. In this study, we present a case of a 42-year-old female with a pertinent history of intravenous drug use who presented with generalized body pain for two weeks and was found to have a mycotic thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) extensively involving adjacent structures, including lungs with pleural cavity and upper renal pole. Not only does this case highlight the difficulty in early diagnosis and complex pathology of a mycotic TAAA, but it also illustrates the multidisciplinary approach required to effectively treat them.

Ulcerated Tophaceous Gout.

Gout is a disease that occurs in response to the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals typically within joints. Patients with gout may develop a chronic deposition of monosodium urate crystals within or around joints, cartilage, tendons, peri-articular, and subcutaneous tissue. This condition is termed "tophaceous gout." Ulceration of the skin by tophi is very uncommon. Literature regarding the clinical course and the management of ulcerated tophi is limited and, therefore, treatment options are not well established. We hereby present a case of a 46-year-old male who presented to our facility with poorly controlled polyarticular tophaceous gout complicated by ulcerated tophi. Our hope is to contribute to the limited knowledge of this rare disease process and to contribute toward formulating the best management approach.

Chronic Uncontrolled Hypothyroidism Associated With Dysphonia and Concurrent Pericardial Effusion.

Hypothyroidism is a commonly encountered pathology within internal medicine. It commonly presents with symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, constipation, and dry skin. Long-standing uncontrolled hypothyroidism can manifest with atypical symptoms of dysphonia and even pericardial effusion. This constellation of findings is not often encountered concurrently. While likely a consequence of uncontrolled hypothyroidism, it is prudent to ensure appropriate protection of the patient's airway and rule out other obstructive causes of dysphonia, such as malignancy. We present the case of a patient with uncontrolled hypothyroidism who presented with dysphonia. While treating hypothyroidism, the patient was found to have pericardial effusion. Other causes of obstruction such as vocal cord dysfunction and malignancy were ruled out via imaging studies and multidisciplinary discussion with other subspecialties.

Congenital Internal Hernia: Rare Cause of Acute Abdominal Pain.

Acute abdominal pain is a common presenting symptom that possesses a wide differential. Congenital internal hernias are a rare condition that often presents with abdominal pain and can lead to obstruction. Early diagnosis is often difficult and therefore can present acutely and in an emergent setting. Prompt recognition of symptoms and evaluation are important to prevent poor prognosis. We are presenting a case of a congenital internal hernia in a patient presenting with nonspecific symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and subsequent surgical intervention allowed for appropriate management and resolution of symptoms.