When the adrenals alert us to a systemic fungal disease.

We present a patient referred for investigation of adrenal insufficiency, confirmed due to disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), with abdominal and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Establishing the pathogenesis and immunological processes involved in chronic or latent infections by PCM has been challenging. Medical doctors caring for patients with immunodeficiencies should learn about these fungal infections to properly guide travel planning and have this possibility in the diagnostic arsenal when the patient returns from endemic areas. After 13 months of treatment, the patient showed good clinical evolution, and we repeated imaging exams, showing partial improvement of the preview lesions. Diagnosis and treatment can prevent catastrophic events.

Is There a Link Between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Idiopathic Overactive Bladder Among Women with Metabolic Syndrome?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between increased intima-media thickness (IMT) and atherosclerotic carotid plaque (CP) with idiopathic overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, which included consecutive women aged 40-75 years with MetS, seeking medical assistance at a reference center between April and December 2016. OAB-V8 questionnaire was used to estimate the prevalence of OAB symptoms, which were defined by a score ≥8 points. All patients underwent bilateral carotid artery ultrasound to assess IMT and CP. Atherosclerosis was defined by the identification of CP during ultrasound, which was diagnosed according to the Mannheim carotid intima-media thickness and plaque consensus. RESULTS: Forty-five women were prospectively included. Mean age was 60±9.3 years (range 40-75 ys). Eighteen (40%) patients were diagnosed with OAB. IMT in the general population was 0.72 mm (SD = 0.20). Overall prevalence of atherosclerosis, defined by the presence of the carotid artery plaque, was 51%. OAB prevalence among women with atherosclerosis was higher than in those without atherosclerosis (56.52% versus 22.73%), with a prevalence ratio of 2.49 (p=0.04). Additionally, OAB was associated with degree of carotid stenosis (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of female patients with MetS, there was an association between carotid atherosclerosis and OAB. Identification of carotid ultrasound abnormalities may lead to refined treatment decision-making among OAB patients.