RESUMEN
Refeeding syndrome refers to a clinical condition whereby biochemical abnormalities such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and mainly hypophosphatemia occur upon recommencement of feeding, typically in malnourished catabolic patients. A 36-year-old female presented at 30 weeks gestation with hyperemesis gravidarum. During this admission, the patient developed transaminitis with low platelets prompting suspicion of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, but the concurrent findings of severe hypophosphatemia and rhabdomyolysis were not in favor of HELLP syndrome but that of refeeding syndrome. These clinical entities proved to be a diagnostic dilemma but, ultimately, the patient was managed under refeeding syndrome. The multidisciplinary approach amongst gastroenterology, internal medicine, obstetrics, hematology, and dietetics departments led to the slowing up of the titration of caloric feeds, which ultimately led to full recovery.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are highly prevalent in Trinidad, West Indies. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of DM in a cohort of Trinidadian patients with COPD and investigate the possible impact of diabetes on COPD using standard outcome measures, that is, lung function, exacerbations, quality of life and depression questionnaires, as well as mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional follow-up study utilizing a cohort of 105 patients from chest clinics in the three major general hospitals in Trinidad. RESULTS: Diabetes was diagnosed based on a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of ≥6.5% (or a prior self-reported history), and for pre-diabetes, of 5.7%-6.4%. Of 105 patients, 40% fulfilled the criteria for diabetes and 40% for pre-diabetes. Of those diagnosed with diabetes, 38% obtained this diagnosis de novo. A history of intravenous corticosteroid use was associated with higher HbA1c levels (p=0.043) upon diagnosis. The percentage of predicted forced vital capacity was negatively related to HbA1c (p=0.033), but those with diabetes also had a greater body mass index (p=0.001). After a 1-year follow-up, mortality was significantly greater among patients with diabetes (p=0.026). Patients with at least one exacerbation in the past year or poorer lung function parameters had worse quality of life (p≤0.040) and depression (p≤0.018) scores. Notably, 31.4% of the total cohort exhibited clinically significant depression scores. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that a high proportion of COPD patients in tertiary care had diabetes or pre-diabetes.