Peak insulin drip rate associated with decreased infections post-solid organ transplant.

Infection and rejection outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in patients following liver transplant and separately following heart transplant with patients being stratified by their severity of immediate postoperative insulin resistance as measured by the peak insulin drip rate that was required to reduce glucose levels. For each group, these peak insulin drip rates were divided into quartiles (Q). In liver transplant patients (n = 207), those in Q4 (highest infusion rate) had significantly fewer infections up to 6 months post-transplant (42.3% vs. 60.0%, p = .036) and borderline fewer rejection episodes (25.0% vs. 40.0%, p = .066) compared to Q1-Q3 patients. To confirm these unexpected results, a subsequent similar analysis in heart transplant (n = 188) patients again showed that Q4 patients had significantly fewer infections up to 6 months (19.1% vs. 53.9%, p < .0001) compared to Q1-Q3 patients. Logistic regression in a subset of 103 cardiac transplant patients showed that the maximum glucose during surgery, prior MI, and hypertension were associated with severe insulin resistance (SIR) status, while the presence of pre-existing diabetes and BMI were not. We hypothesize that patients are who are able to mount a more robust counter-regulatory response that causes the insulin resistance may be healthier and thus able to mount a better response to infections.

Hemophilia B: A Pain in the Back.

This case report describes an unusual manifestation of hemophilia B, in the form of a lateral chest wall hematoma. A 27-year-old hemophiliac male was found to have a lateral chest wall hematoma after presenting with back pain associated with localized chest wall swelling. Even more unusual than the location of his hematoma was the absence of any preceding triggers such as a fall or trauma to the area. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind in a patient with inherited hemophilia B. We believe the reporting of such rare presentations increases awareness of these possibilities and thus aids in the prompt diagnosis and treatment of other similar cases when they are encountered.

Triple Jeopardy: Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Induced by Triple Seropositive Disease-A Rare Case.

The double-positive disease is the co-occurrence of antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and is an uncommon cause of renal failure. Our case of triple-positive disease is an even rarer cause of isolated renal failure, as it includes anti-GBM, antimyeloperoxidase (MPO), and antiproteinase 3 (PR3). We present a case of a 62-year-old Caucasian male with a history of multiple comorbidities, who presented to the emergency department (ED) with worsening dyspnea on exertion that started about one month prior to admission. He was found to be in renal failure secondary to triple-positive disease. We believe that the likely mechanism of our patient's triple-positive disease was a drug-induced ANCA vasculitis overlapping with Goodpasture's syndrome. We believe our case to be a valuable addition to the literature as it is a rare overlap syndrome without a previously established disease course or etiology.

A Cerebrovascular Accident Presenting With Bilateral Vocal Cord Paresis.

Diagnosing a stroke requires careful attention to clinical indicators on physical exam, especially the more subtle manifestations of cerebellar lesions. An 85-year-old male with vascular risk factors and new-onset atrial fibrillation was admitted for left upper extremity weakness, headaches, and tremors. The patient developed stridor during hospitalization and was found to have a new cerebellar infarct with hemorrhagic transformation on computed tomography (CT) of the head, with laryngoscopy showing bilateral vocal cord paresis. While strokes outside of the cerebellum are a known cause of unilateral vocal cord paresis, cerebellar strokes are a rare culprit and rarely cause bilateral cord paresis. Consideration beyond the more common pulmonary and iatrogenic causes of vocal cord paresis should be considered, with particular attention to stroke.