When Ascites Is Not Ascites!

Patients presenting with ascites should be properly evaluated to differentiate potential etiologies. Then, based on the evaluation, we can tailor more accurate treatment plans for patients. Cirrhosis is the most common cause, and others include cancer, heart failure, and, in our case, rarely a visceral artery rupture. Rupture of the splenic artery aneurysm can be lethal and should be considered as a possible differential in a patient with no previous history of heart failure, cancer, or cirrhosis. Our patient was identified after an initial misdiagnosis of possible ascites secondary to cirrhosis. However, input from an interventional radiologist led to proper identification and tailored management. Early treatment is crucial to prevent complications, including death.

High prevalence of low vitamin D and musculoskeletal complaints in women with breast cancer.

Reduced vitamin D levels may play a significant role in the development of fractures and musculoskeletal pains reported in patients on aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for breast cancer. In this study, we evaluated the vitamin D status in postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer who were about to start AI therapy. This study was conducted on community dwelling postmenopausal subjects, aged 35-80 years, with early non-metastatic breast cancer (up to stage IIIA), who were about to start therapy using third generation AIs. Symptoms of joint and muscle pains were obtained using a modified Leuven menopausal questionnaire. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was evaluated by radioimmunoassay while bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and the proximal femur by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Of the 145 participants (mean age = 60.96 ± 0.88 years), 63 of 145 (43.5%) had baseline levels of 25(OH)D of < 20 ng/mL (deficient), 50 of 145 (34.5%) had levels between 20 and 29 ng/mL (insufficient), and only 32 of 145 (22%) had ≥ 30 ng/mL (sufficient); thus, 113 of 145 (78%) had low 25(OH)D levels (i.e., < 30 ng/mL). Arthralgias and myalgias were found in 61.3% and 43% of patients, respectively; and of those, 83.3% and 88.1% had 25(OH)D of < 30 ng/mL, respectively. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in breast cancer women and this may increase the risk of bone loss and fractures in those who are going to start AIs. Moreover, musculoskeletal pains are common in breast cancer women, even before the initiation of AIs and in association with low vitamin D in the majority. Future studies may be needed to establish the contribution of low vitamin D, if any, on the prevalence of musculoskeletal pains in women on AIs.