Cemiplimab-Induced Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State With Concurrent Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient Receiving Treatment for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cemiplimab is a human monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) not amenable to surgery or radiation therapy. Although cemiplimab shows excellent efficacy with a good tolerability profile, it can cause side effects, including potentially life-threatening endocrinopathies. We discuss the case of a 77-year-old Caucasian female with CSCC treated with only three cycles of cemiplimab who presented with altered mental status and was found to have severe hyperglycemia, hyperosmolarity, ketonemia, glucosuria, and ketonuria concerning for hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) with concurrent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The patient made a rapid recovery in the hospital while on standard therapies for HHS/DKA and cemiplimab was discontinued upon discharge. While there have been reports of cemiplimab-induced DKA, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of cemiplimab-induced HHS-DKA. This report aims to shed light on cemiplimab-induced HHS-DKA and to underscore the need to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ICI-induced diabetes mellitus (ICI-DM).

Laboratory test trends within 72 hours of hospital admission associated with death among COVID-19 patients.

Early identification of patients at risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for appropriate triage and determination of need for closer monitoring. Few studies have examined laboratory trends in COVID-19 infection and sought to quantify the degree to which laboratory values affect mortality. We conducted a retrospective cohort (n = 407) study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 early in the course of the pandemic, from March 16th to April 8th, 2020 and compared baseline to repeat laboratory testing 72 hours into admission. The primary outcome was death. We found that rises of 25 mg/L C-reactive protein, 50 units/L lactate dehydrogenase, and 100 ng/mL ferritin were associated with 23%, 28%, and 1% increased odds of death, respectively. In contrast, changes in fibrinogen, D-dimer, white blood cell count, and creatinine in the first few days of hospital admission were not associated with mortality. These quantitative findings may assist clinicians in determining the risk of potential clinical decline in patients with COVID-19 and influence early management.

New-Onset Heart Failure From Viral Myocarditis and Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report.

An inflammatory cardiomyopathy is a form of nonischemic cardiomyopathy that results from myocarditis associated with cardiac dysfunction and ventricular remodeling. It can be caused by a wide array of pathogens and toxins. We present a case of a 69-year-old female with a history of asthma who was admitted to our facility with recurrent asthma exacerbations, likely triggered by viral upper respiratory tract infections. In 5 months, serial echocardiograms showed a significant decline in her left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Cardiac catheterization showed no clinically significant coronary artery disease. Despite normal renal function, her troponin remained elevated. This is an interesting case of a viral upper respiratory tract infection that led to myocarditis and ultimately resulted in inflammatory cardiomyopathy.