Löfgren Syndrome: A Case Report and Treatment Challenge.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory and immune-mediated multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas, impacting various organs. This indolent condition manifests with numerous nonspecific symptoms and lacks a definitive diagnostic test, typically requiring histopathologic confirmation. However, a distinct and more readily diagnosable form of sarcoidosis does exist. The Löfgren syndrome (LöS) is characterized by the triad of erythema nodosum (EN), bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, and symmetrical inflammatory arthralgias or arthritis. The simultaneous presence of these elements obviates the necessity for a biopsy. Predominantly affecting women in their second and third decades of life, this syndrome generally carries a favorable prognosis with spontaneous resolution or the requirement for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) alone. Despite its rarity, in particular cases, the treatment can be more challenging. This article presents a case study of LöS in a young woman, whose more aggressive disease course led to the need for steroidal therapy.

Incidence of Antibiotic Treatment Failure in Patients with Nursing Home-Acquired Pneumonia and Community Acquired Pneumonia.

PURPOSE: Nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP) patients are at higher risk of multi-drug resistant infection (MDR) than those with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Recent evidence suggests a single risk factor for MDR does not accurately predict the need for broad-spectrum antibiotics. The goal of this study was to compare the rate antibiotic failure between NHAP and CAP patients. METHODS: Demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, clinical and laboratory variables, antibiotic therapy, and mortality data were collected retrospectively for all patients with pneumonia admitted to an Internal Medicine Service between April 2017 and April 2018. RESULTS: In total, 313 of 556 patients had CAP and 243 had NHAP. NHAP patients were older, and were more likely to be dependent, to have recent antibiotic use, and to experience treatment failure (odds ratio (OR) 1.583; 95% CI 1.102-2.276; p = 0.013). In multivariate analysis, patient's origin did not predict treatment failure (OR 1.083; 95% CI 0.726-1.616; p = 0.696). DISCUSSION: Higher rates of antibiotic failure and mortality in NHAP patients were explained by the presence of other risk factors such as comorbidities, more severe presentation, and age. Admission from a nursing home is not a sufficient condition to start broader-spectrum antibiotics.

Hepatic Adenomatosis: A Challenging Liver Disease.

Hepatic adenomatosis is defined as the presence of 10 or more adenomas in an otherwise normal liver. Half of the cases are clinically silent and detected incidentally in imaging exams. A 42-year-old woman with previous history of arterial hypertension and mixed dyslipidemia had multiple liver nodules incidentally identified in an abdominal computed tomography scan. She was asymptomatic and her physical examination was unremarkable but laboratory analysis revealed increased alkaline phosphatase and mildly persistent elevated systemic inflammatory markers. A subsequent hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the diagnosis of hepatic adenomatosis and the liver biopsy confirmed the presence of inflammatory adenomas. The patient stopped oral contraception and, at 6 months of follow-up, laboratory inflammatory markers had normalized. She is now under biannual follow-up with MRI and alpha-fetoprotein dosing. This case provides an example of the complex management of this disease in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

A adenomatose hepática define-se pela presença de 10 ou mais adenomas num fígado normal. Cerca de metade dos casos são silenciosos e de identificação incidental em exames de imagem. Uma mulher de 42 anos, com antecedentes pessoais de hipertensão arterial e dislipidémia mista, realizou uma tomografia computorizada abdominal, com identificação incidental de múltiplos nódulos hepáticos. Apresentava-se assintomática e sem alterações ao exame objetivo mas as análises laboratoriais revelaram fosfatase alcalina elevada e aumento ligeiro mas persistente dos parâmetros inflamatórios sistémicos. A ressonância magnética hepática (RMH) subsequente sugeriu o diagnóstico de adenomatose hepática e a biópsia de nódulo confirmou a presença de adenoma do tipo inflamatório. Foi suspensa a toma de contraceptivo oral e, aos 6 meses de follow-up, observou-se normalização dos parâmetros inflamatorios. Actualmente encontra-se sob vigilância semestral com RMH e doseamento de alfa-feto-proteína. Este caso representa a complexidade inerente à abordagem do diagnòstico, tratamento e follow-up da adenomatose hepática.