Heart transplantation in end-stage heart failure secondary to cardiac sarcoidosis: an updated systematic review.

The prevalence of cardiac sarcoidosis is increasing with improved cardiac imaging and may lead to severe heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias that warrant heart transplant consideration. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of heart transplantation in sarcoidosis. We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified 15 articles that examined patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. The study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of heart transplantation in cardiac sarcoidosis. We systematically searched EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified 15 studies that examined 1075 patients with cardiac sarcoidosis who underwent heart transplantation. A total of five studies reported individual patient data. Forty-two patients have been pooled for further analysis. There were 22 male patients, 14 female patients, and 7 patients whose gender was not reported. Among these patients, 10 patients had concomitant pulmonary sarcoidosis at the time of diagnosis. The mean survival was reported for all 42 patients. The mean survival in months was 71.4 months, with a range of 2 days to 288 months. Three patients died of graft failure, 2 patients from septic shock, 2 patients from pneumonia, 1 patient from cervical cancer, and 1 patient from sudden cardiac death. One patient developed a malignant arrythmia in the setting of CMV myocarditis post-heart transplant. Sarcoidosis recurrence after heart transplant was reported in 3 of 30 patients..Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis have shown to have favorable outcomes after heart transplant. Despite these outcomes, some centers still hesitate to pursue heart transplant for CS patients. Carefully selected patients with advanced-stage heart failure due to cardiac sarcoidosis have encouraging outcomes after transplantation. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the outcomes of heart transplantation in sarcoidosis.

Outcomes of cardiac surgery with left atrial appendage occlusion versus no Occlusion, direct oral Anticoagulants, and vitamin K Antagonists: A systematic review with Meta-analysis.

Surgical left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is being used increasingly in the setting of atrial fibrillation but has been associated with procedural complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the outcomes of surgical LAAO with those of no LAAO and the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) using the PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was undertaken for relevant studies published between January 1, 2003, and August 15, 2021. Primary clinical outcomes were all-cause mortality, embolic events, and stroke. Secondary clinical outcomes included major adverse cardiac events (MACE), postoperative atrial fibrillation, postoperative complications, reoperation for bleeding, and major bleeding. There was a statistically significant 34% reduction in incidence of embolic events (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-0.77, p < 0.001) and a significant 42% reduction in risk of MACE (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.88, p = 0.01) in patients who underwent LAAO.Surgical LAAO has the potential to reduce embolic events and MACE in patients undergoing cardiac surgery for atrial fibrillation. However, complete replacement of DOACs and warfarin therapy with surgical LAAO is unlikely despite its non-inferiority in terms of minimizing all-cause mortality, embolic events, MACE, major bleeding, and stroke in patients on oral anticoagulation therapies.

Cabozantinib-Induced Severe Cardiac Dysfunction: A Case Report and a Systematic Review of the Literature.

Cabozantinib is a novel multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor commonly used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma. Cardiotoxicity is not a previously well-described adverse effect of cabozantinib. We present a rare case of a 74-year-old male with a history of renal cell carcinoma who underwent partial nephrectomy. The patient had been recently started on cabozantinib for advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma. He developed acute onset of heart failure and subclinical hypothyroidism within nine months of treatment. Our case report postulates a causal relationship between cabozantinib and the development of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Outcomes of heart transplantation in cardiac amyloidosis: an updated systematic review.

Cardiac amyloidosis is one of the most common infiltrative cardiomyopathies that is characterized by the extracellular deposition of misfolded fibrillar protein. Several studies have previously found that patients with amyloid in the past have performed poorly after heart transplantation. Recent advancements in treatments have been made that have significantly improved outcomes in these patients. The study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of heart transplantation in cardiac amyloidosis. We systematically searched EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases on 30 December 2021 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We identified 22 studies that examined 42,951 patients with cardiac amyloidosis of which only 1,329 patients underwent isolated heart transplantation. Seven studies reported individual patient data. The results of 123 patients have been pooled for analysis. There were 70 male patients, 45 female patients, and eight patients who did not report their gender. Among the types of amyloids, 63 (51%) patients were found to have light chain amyloidosis (AL) and 33 (27%) patients had transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). Only 41 patients (33.3%) reported a monoclonal component. There were 30 patients with AL that underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT). The mean survival of 24 out of 30 patients was 4.33 years. In addition, the reported data include 13 patients requiring intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), six with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and four with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). With the current advancements in treatments in combination with a multidisciplinary approach and careful patient selection, patients undergoing heart transplantation for amyloidosis may have encouraging results in the current era. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the outcomes of heart transplantation in amyloidosis patients now that several advances have been made in the field.

An Unusual Case of Severe Cystic Lung Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Cystic lung diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying presentations and pathophysiology. They present as air-filled lung cysts that are prone to rupture and result in spontaneous pneumothoraxes. While pulmonary cysts are not uncommon, cysts presenting later in life with unclear etiology are rare and result in both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In this report, we present a case of an 82-year-old female presenting with shortness of breath and hemoptysis. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram showed multiple pulmonary cysts with one of the cysts containing an air-fluid level suspicious of superimposed infection. Pulmonary cysts are characteristic of different diseases that include but are not limited to Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome. The differential diagnosis of cystic lung disease over the years has become more complex. Clinical context and radiological findings are essential for diagnosis.

Current systematic reviews and meta-analyses of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has left a significant impact on the world's health, economic and political systems; as of November 20, 2020, more than 57 million people have been infected worldwide, with over 1.3 million deaths. While the global spotlight is currently focused on combating this pandemic through means ranging from finding a treatment among existing therapeutic agents to inventing a vaccine that can aid in halting the further loss of life. AIM: To collect all systematic reviews and meta-analyses published related to COVID-19 to better identify available evidence, highlight gaps in knowledge, and elucidate further meta-analyses and umbrella reviews that are yet to be performed. METHODS: We explored studies based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses with the key-terms, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), SARS virus, coronavirus disease, COVID-19, and SARS coronavirus-2. The included studies were extracted from Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases. The publication timeframe of included studies ranged between January 01, 2020, to October 30, 2020. Studies that were published in languages other than English were not considered for this systematic review. The finalized full-text articles are freely accessible in the public domain. RESULTS: Searching Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases resulted in 1906, 669, and 19 results, respectively, that comprised 2594 studies. 515 duplicates were subsequently removed, leaving 2079 studies. The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews or meta-analyses. 860 results were excluded for being a review article, scope review, rapid review, panel review, or guideline that produced a total of 1219 studies. After screening articles were categorized, the included articles were put into main groups of clinical presentation, epidemiology, screening and diagnosis, severity assessment, special populations, and treatment. Subsequently, there was a second subclassification into the following groups: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological, stroke, thrombosis, anosmia and dysgeusia, ocular manifestations, nephrology, cutaneous manifestations, D-dimer, lymphocyte, anticoagulation, antivirals, convalescent plasma, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, technology, diabetes mellitus, obesity, pregnancy, children, mental health, smoking, cancer, and transplant. CONCLUSION: Among the included articles, it is clear that further research is needed regarding treatment options and vaccines. With more studies, data will be less heterogeneous, and statistical analysis can be better applied to provide more robust clinical evidence. This study was not designed to give recommendations regarding the management of COVID-19.

Thrombocytopenia Secondary to Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Infection Successfully Treated by Acyclovir.

Thrombocytopenia is a common clinical condition associated with a wide variety of clinical conditions including infections, malignancy, medications, liver disorder, and autoimmune conditions, etc. The association between thrombocytopenia and herpes simplex virus (HSV) is reported only once in a case report dating back to 1978. We report a case of a 66-year-old female with generalized weakness, mechanical fall, genital ulcerations, and breast fold and genital area skin redness, warmth, and mild tenderness. Initial labs showed mild leukocytosis, normal platelet count, mild lactic acidosis, and urine analysis suggestive of urinary tract infection. The patient was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. During the course of hospitalization, the patient developed severe thrombocytopenia with platelet counts dropping less than 40000/µL (normal range: 150,000-450,000/µL), and genital pain and ulceration worsened. The genital swab was sent which came back positive for the HSV-2 virus. Soon after the start of acyclovir for HSV-2 infection, the genital pain and ulceration improved and platelet counts gradually increased to 157,000/µL. Other causes of thrombocytopenia such as sepsis, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, consumptive coagulopathy, medication-induced thrombocytopenia, immune thrombocytopenia, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura were ruled out.