Impact of ARUBA trial on trends and outcomes in symptomatic non-ruptured brain AVMs: A national sample analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The real-world evolution of management and outcomes of patients with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has not been well-delineated following the ARUBA trial findings of no general advantage of initial interventional (surgical/endovascular/radiotherapy) vs. initial conservative medical therapy. METHODS: We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample from 2009-2018, capturing 20% of all admissions in the U.S. Validated ICD-9 and -10 codes defined brain AVMs, comorbidities, and the use of interventional modalities. Analyses were performed by year and for the dichotomized periods of pre-ARUBA (2009-2013) vs. post-ARUBA (2014-2018). RESULTS: Among the national projected 88,037 AVM admissions, 72,812 (82.7%) were unruptured AVMs and 15,225 (17.3%) were ruptured AVMs. Among uAVMs, 51.4% admitted pre-ARUBA and 48.6% in post-ARUBA period. The post-ARUBA patients were mildly older (median age 53.3 vs. 51.8 (p = 0.001) and had more comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, renal impairment, and smoking. Before the first platform report of ARUBA (2009-2012), rates of use of interventional treatments during uAVM admissions trended up from 31.8% to 35.4%. Thereafter, they declined significantly to 26.4% in 2018 (p = 0.02). The decline was driven by a reduction in the frequency of endovascular treatment from 18.8% to 13.9% and inpatient stereotactic radiosurgery from 0.5% to 0.1%. No change occurred in the frequency of microsurgery or combined endovascular and surgical approaches. Adjusted multivariable model of uAVMs showed increased odds of discharge to a long-term inpatient facility or in-hospital death [OR 1.14 (1.02-1.28), p = 0.020] in post-ARUBA. A significantly increased proportion of ruptured AVMs from 17.0% to 23.3% was observed consistently in post-ARUBA. CONCLUSION: Nationwide practice in the management of unruptured AVMs changed substantially with the publication of the ARUBA trial in a durable and increasing manner. Fewer admissions with the interventional treatment of unruptured AVMs occurred, and a corresponding increase in admission for ruptured AVMs transpired, as expected with a strategy of watchful waiting and treatment only after an index bleeding event. Further studies are needed to determine whether these trends can be considered to be ARUBA trial effect or are merely coincidental.

Once myasthenic, always myasthenic? observations on the behavior and prognosis of myasthenia gravis in a cohort of 100 patients.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of myasthenia gravis [MG] is unpredictable: In the first few years the disease course is worst with subsequent gradual disease stabilization. However, some patients tend to have continued disease activity or resurgence of the disease many years into the illness. The factors correlating with disease course need further evaluation. AIMS: To study the patterns of remissions, worsening and exacerbations in patients with MG and correlate various factors affecting them. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective, Institute Review Board (IRB) approved study in tertiary referral neurology center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred patients with acquired MG confirming the inclusion criteria were studied. Pharmacological remissions, complete stable remissions, exacerbations, worsening episodes were analyzed with respect to age of onset, disease extent, disease severity at onset and worst of illness, acetyl choline receptor antibody positivity, thymectomy status, period of disease, pharmacotherapy and crisis episodes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort the percentage of new remission rates per year steadily declined after the first year. Ocular myasthenia had lesser clinical worsening episodes and high chance of complete stable remission. Generalized disease had less chance drug free remission. The risk of episodes of worsening persisted at a steady rate over a period of time, being maximum in the first year. The risk of exacerbations was unpredictable and could occur after prolonged clinical quiescence, often was related to reduction of immunosuppression. The disease course did not differ significantly in the juvenile and adult age-groups. There was a strong case for permanent immunomodulation in MG.

Pathophysiology of GHRH-growth hormone-IGF1 axis in HIV/AIDS.

Aberrations in GHRH-GH -IGF-I axis are common in the complex of HIV, HAART and AIDS. There are 2 distinct mechanisms at play in HIV and AIDS. One is primarly associated with development of lipodystrophy and results in complications such as chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, lipid and metabolic abnormalities. HIV lipodystrophy is found especially in those on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). The various processes involved in lipodystrophy result in the suppression of pituitary GH production. The mechanism of low GH levels relates to increased somatostatin tone, decreased Ghrelin, increased free fatty acids (FFA) and insulin resistance. On the other hand in AIDS wasting syndrome; elevated GH and low IGF-1 levels are seen suggesting GH resistance. The GHRH analog-Tesamorelin is the only treatment option, which is FDA approved for use in reduction of excess abdominal fat in patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Although long-term clinical trials and experience is needed to further study the benefits and risks of Tesamorelin.

Correlation of Warm Handoffs Versus Electronic Referrals and Engagement With Mental Health Services Co-located in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation of referral mechanism-warm handoff or electronic referral and attendance at behavioral health appointments in an outpatient pediatric primary care setting. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in an inner-city pediatric primary care clinic from January 2019 to December 2019. Adolescent patients who screened positive for depression or anxiety were referred to a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) either via a warm handoff (WH group, n = 148) or an electronic referral (EF group, n = 180). The EF group was contacted by the LMSW via telephone to schedule an appointment. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of type of referral, age, gender, race/ethnicity, primary language, and time between referral and first contact with attendance at three appointments. RESULTS: The WH group was more likely to engage with mental health services compared to the EF group (odds ratio = 3.301, 95% confidence interval = 1.850-5.902, p = .002) while age, gender, race/ethnicity, and primary language had no correlation. Within the EF group, those who were contacted by the LMSW within 3 days (1-3 days group) were more likely to attend appointments (odds ratio = 2.680, 95% confidence interval = 0.414-8.219, p = .040). There was no difference in attendance in the WH group and the 1-3 days group (p = .913) DISCUSSION: A warm handoff between primary care providers and behavioral health clinicians is significantly correlated with engagement with behavioral health services for adolescents who screen positive for depression or anxiety. Contact with the family within 3 days of referral is significantly correlated with engagement compared to a longer duration between referral and family contact.

A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Hospital-to-Home Transitions Using Discharge Televisits.

BACKGROUND: Resident-led discharge "televisits" can improve the safety of hospital-to-home transitions by increasing completed follow-up and providing patients access to their inpatient providers to troubleshoot issues. METHODS: This single-center quality improvement study was set in a pediatric unit within an academically affiliated public safety-net hospital. By August 2021, the aim was to use resident-led phone call televisits within 72 hours of discharge to increase completed follow-up from 67% to 85% among patients discharged from the general pediatric unit and compare this to patients scheduled for in person visits. Patients were preferentially scheduled for televisits based on investigator-defined criteria to maximize benefit (eg, prescribed new medications). The process measure was the proportion of televisit slots filled. The balancing measures were 7-day emergency department visits and readmissions. Topics addressed during televisits were categorized to qualitatively assess potential benefits. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifteen (44.5%) patients had televisits, 234 (33.1%) in person visits, and 159 (22.5%) unconfirmed follow-up. The available televisit appointments scheduled were 315 of 434 (72.5%). Completed follow-up was 88.3% for televisits and 63.3% for in person visits, compared with 67% during the baseline period. Completed follow-up was 4.4 (95% confidence interval 2.9 to 6.8) times more likely for televisits compared with in person visits after controlling for confounding variables. Common topics addressed during televisits were test results, medication issues, and appointment issues. Emergency department revisits and readmissions were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Resident-led discharge televisits are an innovative way to increase completeness of discharge follow-up.

Predictors of seizure outcomes of autoimmune encephalitis: A clinical and morphometric quantitative analysis study.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune encephalitis can be followed by treatment-resistant epilepsy. Understanding its predictors and mechanisms are crucial to future studies to improve autoimmune encephalitis outcomes. Our objective was to determine the clinical and imaging predictors of postencephalitic treatment-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study (2012-2017) of adults with autoimmune encephalitis, both antibody positive and seronegative but clinically definite or probable. We examined clinical and imaging (as defined by morphometric analysis) predictors of seizure freedom at long term follow-up. RESULTS: Of 37 subjects with adequate follow-up data (mean 4.3 yrs, SD 2.5), 21 (57 %) achieved seizure freedom after a mean time of 1 year (SD 2.3), and one third (13/37, 35 %) discontinued ASMs. Presence of mesial temporal hyperintensities on the initial MRI was the only independent predictor of ongoing seizures at last follow-up (OR 27.3, 95 %CI 2.48-299.5). Morphometric analysis of follow-up MRI scans (n = 20) did not reveal any statistically significant differences in hippocampal, opercular, and total brain volumes between patients with postencephalitic treatment-resistant epilepsy and those without. SIGNIFICANCE: Postencephalitic treatment-resistant epilepsy is a common complication of autoimmune encephalitis and is more likely to occur in those with mesial temporal hyperintensities on acute MRI. Volume loss in the hippocampal, opercular, and overall brain on follow-up MRI does not predict postencephalitic treatment-resistant epilepsy, so additional factors beyond structural changes may account for its development.

Relationship Between Cerebrovascular Diseases and Vasculitis: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Inpatient Study.

Objectives To evaluate the risk factors and hospitalization outcomes for cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in patients with vasculitis. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2019. We included 26,855 adults (aged 18 to 65 years, average age 48.57 ± 12.79 years) with a co-diagnosis of vasculitis, and the sample was divided by the primary diagnosis of CVD (N = 670, 2.5%). A demographic-adjusted logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of association with CVD in patients with vasculitis by comparing it to the non-CVD cohort. Results The majority of the vasculitis patients with CVD were elders (51 to 65 years, 46%), females (62%), and whites (52%). There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of CVD with vasculitis with the highest prevalence in the South Atlantic (23%) and Middle Atlantic (16%), and the lowest in the Mountain (4%) and New England (2%). Vasculitis patients with comorbid lymphoma (OR 2.46, P<0.001), peripheral vascular diseases (PVD (OR 1.54, P<0.001)), and complicated hypertension (OR 1.31, P<0.001) were associated with increasing the likelihood for CVD-related hospitalization. The mean length of stay was 13 days and the mean cost was $169,440 per CVD-related hospitalization in vasculitis patients. Cerebrovascular diseases in patients with vasculitis resulted in a major loss of body functioning (80%) leading to adverse disposition including transfer to a skilled nursing facility/intermediate care facility (22%) and requiring home health care (13%). Conclusion The prevalence of CVD-related hospitalization in vasculitis patients was 2.5% and females were observed to be at higher risk. Comorbid lymphoma, PVD, and hypertension further increase the risk for CVD with vasculitis. They have a higher loss of functioning that affects patient quality of life and require increased care after hospital discharge.

Retinal Artery Occlusion and Associated Risk of Cerebrovascular Disease Related Hospitalization: A National Inpatient Study.

Objectives To evaluate the demographic and comorbid risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and study the impact on hospitalization outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2019). We included 62,255 adults (age 18-65 years) with the primary diagnosis of CVD. The study sample was divided by the co-diagnosis of RAO (N=1,700). A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of association for risk factors leading to CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO, with the non-RAO cohort as the reference category. Results The majority of the CVD patients with RAO were elderly (51-65 years, 68%), females (54%), and whites (47%). Yet, demographics did not significantly impact the association with CVD hospitalization between RAO and non-RAO patients. There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of CVD hospitalizations with RAO, with the highest prevalence in the East North Central Atlantic (21%) and South Atlantic (18%) regions, and the lowest in the Mountain (4%) and East South Central (4%) regions. Comorbid diabetes with complications (69%), and complicated hypertension (55%) were most prevalent in patients with RAO thereby increasing the risk for CVD hospitalization by 7.8 (95% CI 6.9-8.8) and 1.8 times (95% CI 1.6-1.9), respectively. Patients with RAO and having major severity of illness were at increased risk of CVD hospitalization (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-3.9). Patients with RAO had a significant difference in adverse disposition, including transfer to the skilled nursing facility (SNF)/intermediate care facility (ICF) (32% vs. 24%) and requiring home health care (16% vs. 11%) compared to non-RAO patients. Conclusion The prevalence of RAO in CVD hospitalization was 2.7%, and demographics did not have any impact on the increasing risk of CVD. Comorbid diabetes (by 685%) and hypertension (by 78%) potentially increase the risk of CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO. These patients have a major severity of illness, leading to an adverse disposition. This calls for a collaborative care model to improve the quality of life in these at-risk patients with RAO.

Modified body mass index z-scores in children in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Determine whether the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight gain trajectories among children attending well-child visits in New York City persisted after the public health restrictions were reduced. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective chart review study of 7150 children aged 3-19 years seen for well-child care between 1 January 2018 and 4 December 2021 in the NYC Health and Hospitals system. Primary outcome was the difference in annual change of modified body mass index z-score (mBMIz) between the pre-pandemic and early- and late-pandemic periods. The mBMIz allows for tracking of a greater range of BMI values than the traditional BMI z-score. The secondary outcome was odds of overweight, obesity, or severe obesity. Multivariable analyses were conducted with each outcome as the dependent variable, and year, age category, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, NYC borough, and baseline weight category as independent variables. RESULTS: The difference in annual mBMIz change for pre-pandemic to early-pandemic = 0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15, 0.20) and for pre-pandemic to late-pandemic = 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.06). There was a statistically significant interaction between period and baseline weight category. Those with severe obesity at baseline had the greatest mBMIz increase during both pandemic periods and those with underweight at baseline had the lowest mBMIz increase during both pandemic periods. CONCLUSION: In NYC, the worsening mBMIz trajectories for children associated with COVID-19 restrictions did not reverse by 2021. Decisions about continuing restrictions, such as school closures, should carefully weigh the negative health impact of these policies.

Comparison of PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 as Screening Tools for Depression and School Related Stress in Inner City Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in adolescents. Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality between 15 and 19 years. Both AAP and USPSTF recommend routine depression screening of adolescents. Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) are widely used in primary care practice, however, PHQ-2 does not screen for suicidality. School-related factors are known to affect adolescent mental health. PURPOSE: To compare PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 for depression screening in adolescents, with respect to age, gender, chronic illness over the course of 9 months. METHODS: As a QI initiative, we compared screening results in our inner-city pediatric practice using PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 from Jun'18 to Feb'19. EMR of 2364 patients 12 to 21 years were reviewed. We considered the PHQ-2 score of ≥2 and PHQ-9 of ≥10 as positive. Pre-existing chronic medical and mental illnesses were noted. RESULTS: Of these 61.5% of patients were females, 95% were Black/Hispanic, and 96% were insured by Medicaid. About 10.6% of PHQ-9 tests were positive whereas 7.4% PHQ2 were positive. Logistic regression was performed to ascertain the effects of age, gender, and chronic illness. Females were more likely to have a positive screen, as were patients with chronic illness. Age had no effect on the outcome. The screening yield for both tests was comparable in the summer months. PHQ9 yield increased while schools were in session while PHQ 2 remained stable. CONCLUSION: PHQ9 is superior as a screening test compared to PHQ2. Repeat screening should be targeted toward patients with chronic medical conditions and/or mental health diagnoses. PHQ9 may be better at screening for school-related stress.

Neurosyphilis presenting with a large vessel occlusion: A case report.

We describe a case of a 36-year-old man who presented with stroke in the right paramedian pons in the pontine perforator territory, manifesting as intermittent headache, slurred speech, left-sided weakness, and paresthesia. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge in identifying neurosyphilis as a cause of stroke in young individuals. Clinicians should maintain vigilance for this uncommon etiology through conducting a detailed history and investigation in susceptible patients with key risk factors. Once the diagnosis was confirmed in our case, a multidisciplinary approach was used for management with neurologists, infectious disease specialists, and the neurointerventional team. Our patient ultimately underwent successful therapy with mechanical thrombectomy for basilar artery thrombosis from meningovascular syphilis.

Burden of acute symptomatic seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: A nationwide United States analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute symptomatic seizures (ASS) are seen in one-third of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) cases either as the presenting symptom or shortly after diagnosis in the acute phase. The goal of our study was to assess the trends in recognition of ASS in CVT over the years and to determine factors predictive of ASS in the patients with CVT for early identification of candidates who would benefit from anti-seizure medications (ASM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was accessed to identify adult inpatient admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of CVT. Comorbidities, complications, risk factors, and procedures pertaining to these hospitalizations were compared between CVT patients with and without ASS. RESULTS: A total of 53,710 CVT-related hospitalizations were identified, of which 18.1% of patients had a burden of ASS at presentation or subsequently during hospitalization. CVT patients with ASS had a longer average duration of hospitalization and higher overall morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed ~one in five patients (18.1%) with CVT had ASS. ASS patients had higher odds of mortality and disability at discharge, requiring post-discharge rehabilitation care. It is crucial to identify risk factors of ASS in the CVT population to avoid future preventable revisit related to seizures. Additional research is required for risk stratification of patients with CVT for primary and secondary seizure prophylaxis and determining the appropriate choice and duration of ASM in these patients.

Readmission Trends Related to Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment.

Background and Purpose: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high mortality. Prophylactic treatment of the unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) is considered in a select group of patients thought to be at high for aneurysmal rupture. Hospital readmission rates can serve as a surrogate marker for the safety and cost-effectiveness of treatment options for UIAs; we present an analysis of the 30-day rehospitalization rates and predictors of readmission following UIA treatment with surgical and endovascular approaches. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the National Readmission Database (NRD) derived from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for the year 2014. The cohort included patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of a treated unruptured aneurysm. The primary outcome variable was the 30-day readmission rate in open surgical vs. endovascularly treated groups. The secondary outcomes included predictors of readmissions, and causes of 30-day readmissions in these two groups. Results: The 30-day readmission rate for the surgical group was 8.37% compared to 4.87% for the endovascular group. The index hospitalization duration was longer in the surgical group. A larger proportion of the patients readmitted following surgical treatment were hypertensive (76.35, vs. 63.43%), but the prevalence of other medical comorbidities was comparable in the two treatment groups. Conclusions: There is a higher likelihood for 30-day readmission, longer duration of initial hospitalization and a lower likelihood of discharge home following surgical treatment of UIAs when compared to endovascular treatment. These findings, however, do not demonstrate long-term superiority of one specific treatment modality.

Trends in hospitalizations and epidemiological characteristics of adults Moyamoya disorder in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been an increasing prevalence of Moyamoya disorder (MMD) reported from recent US literature. There is a paucity of data available regarding trends of prevalence and epidemiological factors in the United States. To goal of this study was to test the hypotheses that racial-, sex-specific MMD hospitalizations and epidemiological factors have been increasing in the United States over the last decade. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2005 to 2016, MMD-related hospitalizations in patients aged ≥18 years were identified. Trends of epidemiological factors were analyzed over time using the linear regression model with the significance of differences in trend over time assessed using the Wald test. Sex- and race-specific burden of MMD were calculated using the annual US Census data. Joinpoint regression model was used to evaluate trends of hospitalizations over time. RESULTS: A total of 24,484 adult hospitalizations were identified from January 2005 to September 2015 after excluding <18 years. Among them, approximately ~90% were aged ≤60 years, and 73.5% were females. The most common vascular and non-vascular presentations were ischemic stroke (17.3%) and seizures (21%), respectively. The trend of antithrombotic therapy has increased, while extracranial-intracranial bypass has remained stagnant. The actual average hospitalizations of MMD was 10.4 cases/ million population/year (range 4.1-17.9) and varied significantly by sex (females 14.7 [range 6.2-23.6] and males 5.9 [range 1.8-11.9]) over the 2005 to 2016 study period. The burden of hospitalizations also differed by race (African Americans 40.6 [range 32.8-63.7], Asians 24.8 [15.4-34.8], Non-Hispanic Whites 8.1 [range 6.4-11.5], and Hispanics 8.4 [2.8-12.8]) over the 2010 to 2016 study period. Joinpoint regression analysis showed an increasing overall MMD trend across the study period (+11.7%; P < 0.001), which was higher in males (+14.5% vs. +10.7%; P < 0.001). The Hispanic group had significantly increased hospitalizations over the years (+20.2%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although overall more prevalent in females, MMD-related hospitalizations are increasing more rapidly in males. Among the racial subpopulations, African Americans had the highest MMD-related hospitalizations, even higher than Asian Americans. MMD-related hospitalizations have increased quicker in Hispanics than in any other racial group.

Respiratory complications and 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions in patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: To help mitigate the burden of health care on US economy, public policymakers and health care legislation have been focusing on reducing hospital readmissions. Respiratory complications have been identified among the commonest of adverse events in neurologic patients. The goal of our study was to better understand respiratory complications and their contribution to rehospitalizations in patients with seizures. METHODS: We used the 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database to analyze unplanned 30-day readmission rate (30RR). The study population comprised of patients with index hospital discharge diagnosis of generalized convulsive epilepsy and status epilepticus. Patients under 18 years of age, who died during hospitalization or who had missing demographic data, were excluded. Patients hospitalized in December were also excluded due to lack of 30-day follow-up. The primary outcome of interest was 30-day readmission. The causes of readmission were determined by corresponding International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. RESULTS: The 30RR was highest in patients with index hospitalization discharge diagnosis of status epilepticus, followed by generalized convulsive epilepsy (intractable), followed by generalized convulsive epilepsy (nonintractable). While seizure was the most common reason for readmission, contribution of respiratory complications to readmissions was 7.85%, 12.39%, and 6.93%, respectively. Pneumonia/aspiration pneumonitis and respiratory insufficiency accounted for the majority of the readmissions in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory complications are the leading nonseizure cause of 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients with generalized convulsive epilepsy and status epilepticus. Further research on identifying appropriate interventions to reduce readmissions from respiratory causes may improve outcomes for patients in these epilepsy subgroups.

Thirty-day readmissions in multiple sclerosis: An age and gender-based US national retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmission rate is an important indicator of the quality of care, healthcare economic burden, and post-discharge care. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially progressive neurological disease predominantly affecting young women. The natural history of the disease involves intermittent relapses and/or accrued baseline disability overtime especially in older patients contributing to frequent hospitalizations. The readmission metrics for patients with MS have not been studied. OBJECTIVE: To estimate nationwide 30-day readmission (30-DR) rate among patients hospitalized with MS and to study the predictors of readmission based on age and gender. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of patients hospitalized with primary discharge diagnosis of MS using 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD). The cases were identified by ICD 9-CM code (340) linked to MS diagnosis. We used patient unique identifiers 'NRD visit link' to identify MS index hospitalizations and readmissions. Age (<40 vs. >40 years) and gender-based analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression adjusting co-variables to identify the patient/system-specific factors associated with 30-DR. RESULTS: The overall 30-day readmission rate (30-DRR) was 10.2%. No gender difference was seen in the readmission rates (men 10.7% vs. women 10.1%, p = 0.56); higher readmission rates were observed in older patients (11.2% vs. 8.8%; p = 0.0055). However, readmission cost was higher in younger age group (≈ $ 12,586 vs. ≈$ 11,827; p = 0.62) and among women (≈$ 12,217 vs. ≈$ 11,746; p = 0.75). The common causes of 30-DR were MS exacerbation (42.5%), sepsis (13.7%) and respiratory complications (7.3%). The predictors of higher 30-DRR in younger patients were diabetes (OR 1.87, p = 0.02), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) use (OR 3.64, p = 0.016), and discharge to a nursing facility (OR 1.66, p = 0.03), whereas in older age group, higher Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Index (CCI) (OR 1.15, p = 0.0057), and plasma exchange (PLEX) (OR 2.38, p = 0.03) were predictive of higher readmission rate. The longer length of stay (LOS) during index admission (OR 1.81, p = 0.03) in men and higher CCI (OR 1.15, p = 0.007) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) use (OR 2.27, p = 0.04) in women increased the odds of readmission. CONCLUSION: The overall 30-day readmission rate among patients following hospitalization for MS was 10.2%. The readmission rate was higher in older (>40 years) patients. The common causes of readmission were MS exacerbation, respiratory complications, and sepsis. A higher systemic disease burden, longer length of stay, and treatment with IVIG and PLEX were associated with higher risk of readmission. The readmissions were associated with higher cost of care and longer LOS compared to index admissions highlighting the economic impact of readmissions. Future strategies to lower the risk of readmissions in patients with MS should focus on optimal management of medical co-morbidities and infections.

Non-islet-cell tumor hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis in a child with congenital HIV and Burkitt's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Non-islet-cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare cause of hypoglycemia associated with tumors of mesenchymal, epithelial, or hematopoietic origin. Lactic acidosis is likewise an uncommon complication of hematological malignancy associated mainly with leukemia and lymphoma. Most cases of NICTH and lactic acidosis have been described in the adult population. We report a child with congenital HIV and AIDS who developed Burkitt's lymphoma, lactic acidosis and NICTH. PATIENT: An 11 year-old boy with AIDS, cerebral palsy and seizure disorder presented with intractable hypoglycemia 12 days after diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma. He had persistent hypoglycemia (serum glucose 20-40 mg/dl; 1.1-2.2 mmo/l) despite glucose infusion rate of 6 mg/kg/minute and trial of diazoxide treatment. Critical sample obtained at time of hypoglycemia showed insulin at 1.78 microU/ml (normal <5 microU/ml), pro-insulin 5.6 pmol/l (<18.8 pmol/l), IGF-I <25 ng/ml (80-723 ng/ml), IGF-II 422 ng/ml (610-1,217 ng/ml), lactate 15.6 mmol/l (normal: 0.5-2.2 mmol/l), cortisol 21 microg/dl (580 nmol/l; normal >10 microg/dl; 276 nmol/l), and negative insulin antibodies. He remained alert and seizure free despite profound hypoglycemia. A 1 mg glucagon stimulation test showed a rise in serum glucose of 29 mg/dl (>1.6 mmol/l). Continuous glucagon infusion at 0.15-0.3 mg/h maintained euglycemia until the time of his demise (1 month after admission) due to complications of his underlying illness. CONCLUSION: We present a case of lactic acidosis and NICTH in an 11 year-old boy with AIDS and Burkitts's lymphoma. We review the mechanism of hyperlacticacidemia in supporting cerebral function during profound hypoglycemia. NICTH and lactic acidosis in association with malignancy carries a poor prognosis. In this patient, continuous glucagon infusion was a successful alternative to corticosteroid treatment in maintaining euglycemia.