A Rare Case of Concurrent New-Onset Microscopic Polyangiitis and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a 77-Year-Old Woman

Introduction: Microscopic polyangiits (MPA) is a rare ANCA-associated necrotizing vasculitis that affects the small vessels, often involving the lung or kidney. When presenting with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, this disease warrants emergent treatment, often with plasma exchange. Here, we present a rare case of a patient presenting with alveolar hemorrhage in the setting of MPA and concurrent thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with an extremely reduced ADAMTS13 activity. Case Report: A 77 y/o woman with HTN and PUD presented to outside facility with new onset anemia (Hb 6.3 g/dL). Positive Coombs test gave her a tentative diagnosis of hemolytic anemia, and she was transfused 2 U RBCs. Ten days later, she presented to our hospital with respiratory distress. Hb remained stable at 10.7 but had leukocytosis with WBC 22,000 with left shift, platelets 439. Vitals not consistent with sepsis though saturating 70-80% on room air. In the ED, she developed frank hemoptysis and was emergently intubated. CTA chest was negative for pulmonary embolus but demonstrated diffuse ground-glass opacities. COVID test negative. Bronchoscopy was consistent with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), and she received tranexamic acid, crystalloids, 1 U RBCs. Suspicious for underlying vasculitic process, she was given pulse dose IV steroids (1 g methylprednisolone daily) and started plasma exchange. Creatinine on presentation was elevated at 1.77 but she continued to have adequate urine output and appropriate volume status. Her hospital course was marked by progressive thrombocytopenia with schistocytes appreciated on peripheral smear. ADAMTS13 activity <5% with inhibitor detected, consistent with TTP. Vasculitic workup revealed positive myeloperoxidase antibodies and p-ANCA consistent with MPA. Other rheumatologic workup ANA positive 1:640 and positive IgM cardiolipin antibodies;she had no personal autoimmune history but some family autoimmune disease including one daughter with systemic lupus erythematosus and another relative with Guillian-Barre. She remained intubated for 4 days and post-extubation experienced some short-lived ICU delirium but after made a remarkable recovery. She completed 12 total sessions of of plasma exchange and 3 of 4 planned doses of rituximab, to continue on oral steroids outpatient and prophylactic TMP-SMX. She was discharged to rehab facility on hospital day 20. Discussion: With diffuse alveolar hemorrhage on presentation, initial differential remained broad including delayed presentation of transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI) given recent history of transfusion. She had recently started hydralazine outpatient. Along with positive ANA, this could suggest drug-induced lupus. However, histone antibodies were negative, but results may have been compromised by steroids and plasma exchange. Both MPA and TTP can be deadly but are managed with similar treatment. Luckily, our patient was rapidly initiated on plasma exchange following hospitalization. Although further workup including ADAMTS13 and vasculitis labs were pending at the time, it is important to not delay treatment while awaiting results. Cased of concurrent TTP and ANCA-associated vasculitis have been described in the literature, but the full relationship between these two entities remains unclear. TTP may develop after starting glucocorticoids in the setting of ANCA vasculitis, so close monitoring is recommended. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax Complicating COVID-19 Pneumonia: AMulticenter Analysis

Background: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication seen in patients of COVID-19 pneumonia. The risk factors associated with this complication and its incidence remain unknown largely. We herein, review and present the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of spontaneous pneumothorax in 1767 patients admitted in three COVID treatment tertiary care centers in Lahore. Study Design: Retrospective study Place and Duration of Study: Services Institute of Medical Sciences Lahore and Bahria International Hospital Lahore from 15th April 2020 to 15th May 2021. Methodology: One thousandseven hundred and sixty-seven patients who were diagnosed with a spontaneous pneumothorax were enrolled. Clinical characteristics of these cases were also reviewed and recorded. Results: One thousand and five hundred patients had positive RT PCR from nasopharyngeal swab. Eleven (.62%) cases of COVID-19 patients who developed spontaneous pneumothorax were identified. The initial HRCT imaging showed typical and diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidations, mainly in their peripheral, posterior and basal lung regions. Three patients had pneumothorax late in the course of disease after they were discharged home. We had only one mortality among those (11) cases and that was also not related to the pneumothorax directly but to development of sepsis and multi-organ failure. Conclusion: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication seen in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Post Tocilizumab secondary infections in Covid-19 patients - Are we doing enough?

Aim: To focus on the frequency of ICU-acquired infections in Sars Co-V2 Corona Virus disease (COVID 19) patients. Method: A retrospective observational study carried out in two tertiary care hospitals treating COVID 19 cases, Services Institute of Medical Sciences and Bahria International Hospital, Lahore. Data was collected from the medical records of the COVID 19 ICUs of both hospitals from May 1, 2020 to April30, 2021. All charts were reviewed for the evidence of positive cultures. The treatment given prior to positive cultures, after the availability of culture results and outcomes were also recorded. Results: A total of 432 records were reviewed and 400 cases were included while 32 cases were excluded because of incomplete data. The frequency of infections per 1,000 days of ICU stay was calculated in 90 (22.5%) patients. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 68 cases (75.5%) with Pseudomonas in 44 cases (48.8%), Acinetobacter in 23/90 (25.5%) while 17 cases (18.8%) had gram positive infection with Enterococcus in 14/18 (77.77%) or 14/90 (15.55%), MRSA in 4/18 (22.22%) 4/90 (4.44%), while 5/90 (5.5%) had more than 2 isolates at same time. Among these 3 had both pseudomonas and Acinetobacter while 2 patients had Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia. Conclusion: There seems to be an increase in the infection rate among critically sick COVID 19 patients admitted in ICU. Use of steroids and Tocilizumab seems to play a role through their immunomodulatory effects.