Multiple fibrotic lung nodules in a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Evaluation of bilateral lung nodules noted on imaging poses a diagnostic challenge to clinicians as it can have many differentials from benign to malignant causes. It becomes especially critical to identify them right when there are underlying autoimmune conditions and risk factors for infection. However, a thorough investigation can lead to the recognition of rare associations as described below. We present here a 57-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath. Imaging with a computed tomography (CT) scan showed that she had 8 bilateral cystic pulmonary nodules with focal areas of ground-glass opacity and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Fibrobronchoscopy and histopathological studies were done on the right middle lobe lung nodule demonstrated that the lung nodule was fibrotic with reactive inflammation but showed no malignant cells. Upon further detailed history and chart review, it was noted that the patient had a history of dry eyes leading to an autoimmune workup showing positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Ro, and anti-La antibodies with no follow-up since then. This lead to the suspicion that these nodules could be related to underlying Sjögren's syndrome. Initial inpatient management with intravenous steroids showed significant improvement in her symptomatology. Hence, we present this rare association of lung nodules with Sjögren's syndrome and its management for awareness of this condition.

Vancomycin- and piperacillin-induced acute interstitial nephritis in a patient with lupus: A case report showcasing rapid decline in renal function.

Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) presents as acute kidney injury (AKI) with the use of certain offending drugs. Antibiotics, such as ß-lactams, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and rifampin, account for up to 50% of drug-induced AIN cases. The onset of drug-induced AIN following drug exposure usually ranges from few days to several weeks or months. We present a patient with lupus who had rapid decline in renal function with a single dose of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) administration, termed as the "workhorse" regimen at many institutions. In addition, she did not exhibit many clinical and laboratory signs of AIN, making diagnosis challenging. Prompt kidney biopsy and early steroid therapy had a critical role in recovery of the patient's renal function. The median duration for renal impairment in vancomycin-induced AIN is 26 days. Onset of AKI is usually rapid from VPT, within 3 - 5 days of drug exposure. However, the severity of AKI is often low, in contrast to this patient whose AKI reached a stage 3 (AKIN/KDIGO) within 2 days from drug exposure. This study highlights the nephrotoxic potential of piperacillin, especially when used along with vancomycin, concurrent with recent evidence. Within rising antibiotic usage rates, is important to consider AIN in the differential diagnosis of rapidly declining AKI, especially with the combined use of VPT.

A Case of Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis.

Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is a very rare manifestation of glomerulonephritis characterized by the presence of deposits of randomly oriented microfibrils (10-30 nm size) in the glomeruli and visible on electron microscopy. Our patient is a 63-year-old African American male who presented with a past medical history of cirrhosis; he was initially suspected to have hepatorenal syndrome, but on kidney biopsy, and was diagnosed with FGN. Possible multiple myeloma was suspected due to its strong association with FGN and an elevated serum kappa-lambda ratio in the patient. This was confirmed by bone biopsy to be smoldering myeloma.

Nonuremic Calciphylaxis Associated With Hypercalcemia and Rheumatologic Diseases.

Calcific uremic arteriolopathy, termed calciphylaxis, was previously considered a condition that developed mostly in patients requiring dialysis. It has now been described in kidney transplant patients, in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not requiring dialysis, and in individuals with maintained kidney function. We describe an individual with CKD stage 3b with hypercalcemia who presented with features highly specific for calciphylaxis based on results of a skin biopsy. The condition has high morbidity and mortality, and thus prompts immediate cessation of the offending agents or treatment of the cause. The following case and literature review demonstrates a need for a detailed assessment of patients' risks and exposures and expanding the differential diagnosis to include calciphylaxis in nonuremic patients with necrotic ulcers with a plan for early imaging and possible biopsy.