Two- and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of infective endocarditis of a valved pulmonary conduit.

We describe the use of a nonstandard left infraclavicular approach in making the diagnosis of an infected valved conduit with two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was an adult with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia who had undergone multiple surgical repair procedures. The initial diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made by transesophageal echocardiography. Both techniques demonstrated a single, large vegetation in the conduit. Live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, on the other hand, provided further information by demonstrating several additional vegetations in the conduit and more comprehensively assessed their size by enabling measurement of their azimuthal dimensions and volumes. The patient was treated with antibiotics with complete resolution of the vegetations.

Incremental value of live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography over two-dimensional echocardiography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mid-ventricular obstruction and apical aneurysm.

We describe a case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mid-left ventricular obstruction and apical aneurysm containing thrombi where live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography provided incremental value over two-dimensional echocardiography in assessing the findings.

Incremental value of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography over the two-dimensional technique in percutaneous closure of aortic paraprosthetic regurgitation.

We describe 2 patients with significant aortic paraprosthetic regurgitation who underwent percutaneous closure where live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography provided incremental value over two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Scrub typhus manifesting as electrocardiographic disturbance: A case report and review of literature.

Scrub typhus (ST) has wide organ system involvement, but cardiac involvement is paramount in this spectrum due to early hemodynamic compromise. Various forms of cardiac involvement have been described in the literature, but we are describing rare electrocardiographic changes in the ST infection. A young male presented in our emergency department with complaints of restlessness and vomiting of 2 days' duration. The patient was having stable vitals on presentation, but his electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated second-degree atrioventricular block type 1 (also known Mobitz 1) and Osborn wave in the precordial leads. Further, he was having thrombocytopenia and eventually diagnosed with ST. For this, appropriate antibiotic treatment was given, which led to considerable symptomatic improvement and reversal of the ECG changes.

Advances in the Treatment of Polycythemia Vera: Trends in Disease Management.

Treatment modalities for polycythemia vera (PV) have evolved over time. Phlebotomy and low-dose aspirin suffice in low-risk patients, but cytoreductive therapies are indicated in all high-risk patients (age ≥ 65 years or those with a history of PV-related thrombotic event) and may be considered for low-risk patients with progressively increasing splenomegaly, progressively increasing leucocyte and platelet counts, and for those who do not tolerate phlebotomy. Hydroxyurea/hydroxycarbamide or interferons can be used as first-line drugs. Hydroxyurea may not be tolerated by some patients, and it also carries risk of myelosuppression. Interferon alfa is especially useful for PV symptoms, and the newer preparation, ropeginterferon alfa-2b, has lesser incidence of flu-like reactions. Ruxolitinib reduces the JAK2V617F mutation burden and is used as a second-line drug. Anagrelide reduces platelet production and can be used in conjunction with hydroxyurea in patients with excessive thrombocytosis. The alkylating agent, busulfan, can also be used as a last resort in patients with a limited life expectancy. Prospective future treatments include givinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and idasanutlin, a murine double minute 2 antagonist.

Atypical mucormycosis masquerading as non-resolving cavitatory pneumonia: A frequently misdiagnosed entity.

We are reporting an unusual case of cavitatory pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus who was treated successfully. This is a unique case of pulmonary mucormycosis masquerading as cavitatory pulmonary disease. A 45-year-old female presented with fever, chest pain, cough and breathlessness. She was also found to have very high blood glucose due to previously undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common predisposing factor for mucormycosis. Our patient had uncontrolled diabetes and presented with bilateral cavitatory pulmonary lesions even in the absence of diabetic ketoacidosis. Appropriate investigations were ordered, and alternate causes of lung cavitation were diligently excluded. She was treated with amphotericin-B for three weeks followed by oral posaconazole for eight weeks with excellent outcome. A low threshold for detection as well as a differential of mucormycosis must be kept in immunocompromised patients presenting with cavitatory lung disease.

Helminthic Infection in the Background of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis: An Underreported Co-infection.

Helminthic infections are widely prevalent in resource-poor countries. Tuberculosis, a disease contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality in endemic areas, often co-exists with helminthic infections. Poor living standards predispose to both of them. Moreover, untreated helminthic infection enhances the deleterious impact of tuberculosis, largely through immunological alteration. We are reporting the case of a 22-year-old male who presented with a month-long history of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and cough complicated by hemoptysis, along with an episode of the passage of a worm in the vomitus. A thorough workup revealed active pulmonary tuberculosis co-existing with intestinal ascariasis. Anti-helminthic therapy was initiated along with anti-tubercular therapy, leading to significant improvement.

Isolated Splenic Tuberculosis: A Diagnostic Conundrum.

Tuberculosis is an established cause of pyrexia of unknown origin and can implicate practically any human organ system. Splenic involvement is common in disseminated or miliary tuberculosis following hematogenous spread, but isolated splenic involvement is a very rare phenomenon. We report the case of a 30-year-old immunocompetent female who presented with high-grade fever and dull aching pain in the left hypochondrium for three months. Laboratory data provided no diagnostic information. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged spleen with multiple small hypoechoic lesions that were corroborated on computed tomography. No pulmonary involvement or primary focus of infection was discernible elsewhere. Splenic fine needle aspiration cytology helped clinch a histopathological diagnosis of isolated splenic tuberculosis. Administration of anti-tubercular therapy resulted in resolution of the disease and an excellent outcome in our patient.

Idiopathic Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene: A Rare Clinical Entity.

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare disorder leading to ischemic necrosis of extremities. We present a rare case of idiopathic SPG in a 58-year-old male who did not seek any medical care, and history was elucidated only after he presented one year later for treatment of pneumonia. Extensive investigations revealed no etiology. SPG can result from a variety of conditions that cause disseminated intravascular coagulation and lead to distal hypoperfusion. The treatment is aimed at the control of the underlying disease and wound management.

Study of Liver Dysfunction in Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Introduction Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is said to occur when early pregnancy is complicated by excessive vomiting that leads to electrolyte imbalance, ketosis or loss of more than 5% of the bodyweight. It can be accompanied by deranged liver function tests (LFT), and most patients recover uneventfully with no fetal harm. Methods A retrospective study was conducted by evaluating records of 135 patients who were admitted or underwent day care for HG at our center over a period of 30 months. After excluding patients who were not investigated and those with another pre-existing or newly diagnosed liver disease, 63 patients were enrolled in the study. Their LFT were analyzed with the software Graphpad Prism version 8.4 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, California). The values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and statistical analysis was done using unpaired t test and simple linear regression. Results The mean age of the study population was 26.59 ± 5.15 years and the mean period of gestation was 13.27 ± 2.48 weeks. 60.3% (38/63) of the patients had some form of abnormality on the LFT. The mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) was 1.56 ± 0.84 mg/dL, mean aspartate transaminase (AST) was 46.63 ± 30.89 U/L and mean alanine transaminase (ALT) was 51.35 ± 42.86 U/L. ALT was higher than AST with statistical significance (p<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the LFT of primigravida and multigravida women. The study population included three diabetic and two hypertensive women, and two women had multiple pregnancy. All the patients were treated with anti-emetics. One patient required corticosteroid administration, and none required termination of pregnancy. Conclusion Mild liver dysfunction in HG can occur in over 50% of the patients. When diagnosis is not in doubt, no further intervention is required with regard to the LFT.

Haemorrhagic encephalitis in the garb of scrub typhus.

A 19-year-old girl presented with fever, headache, vomiting and drowsiness. She had grade 1 papilloedema and neck rigidity but no focal deficits or seizures. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis, slightly elevated protein and normal glucose. MRI of the brain showed a hyperintense lesion in left ganglio-capsular region on the fluid attenuation inversion recovery sequence with perilesional oedema and mild midline shift. Haemorrhage was seen in the region on susceptibility weighted imaging . The patient was thoroughly investigated for known causes of meningoencephalitis, but the diagnosis of scrub typhus was delayed till the 10th day of illness. She was treated with doxycycline for 2 weeks and had marked improvement, both clinically and radiologically. Literature review has revealed that although meningoencephalitis in scrub typhus is not uncommon, such atypical lesions on brain MRI are a rarity. Serial imaging was performed to document the disease progression and resolution on treatment.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in scrub typhus fever.

The clinical course of a 40-year-old female patient, who presented with acute febrile illness due to scrub typhus fever became complicated by seizures and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), leading to a fatal outcome. She had normal blood pressure at admission; however, she later developed hypotension and shock. PRES is a syndrome of vasogenic cerebral oedema and accompanying neurological deficits resulting from the breakdown of blood-brain barrier due to high blood pressure or radical blood pressure changes. PRES is a clinico-radiographic diagnosis of heterogeneous aetiologies and is rare in the context of infections. Although there are many neurological manifestations in scrub typhus, to the best of our knowledge, PRES has never been reported.

Acute Kidney Injury and Hyperkalemia With Precarious Electrocardiographic Changes Caused by Concurrent Use of Telmisartan and Diclofenac.

A 70-year-old hypertensive man was prescribed telmisartan for control of blood pressure. He concurrently took over-the-counter diclofenac for back pain. Few days later, he presented to the casualty after syncopal episodes. He was found to have acute kidney injury and elevated potassium of 6.6 mmol/L with junctional bradycardia on electrocardiogram (ECG). Medical measures were instituted for hyperkalemia and sinus rhythm was restored, but peaked T waves were still present in the precordial leads. Hemodialysis was done, and antihypertensive therapy was changed on discharge.

Scrub Typhus Leading to Acute Liver Failure in a Pregnant Patient.

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne rickettsial infection that presents with fever and a diverse array of complications. Lately, many epidemics have been reported from the Indian subcontinent. Data from these outbreaks suggest that liver injury in scrub typhus is common and reversible. We are reporting the case of a 27-year-old pregnant female who presented with fever, encephalopathy, jaundice and seizure. She had acute liver failure and dead fetus on admission. Despite appropriate antibiotics and supportive treatment, she continued to deteriorate and developed multiorgan dysfunction, leading to her demise.

Omental Infarction Imitating Acute Appendicitis.

A 26-year-old male patient with no significant past history presented with a two-day illness of nausea and abdominal pain, mimicking acute appendicitis. The appendix was poorly visualized on the ultrasound scan so a CT scan was done which revealed infarction of the omentum on the right side of the abdomen. The patient was closely monitored and managed conservatively with analgesics, fluids and antibiotics. Spontaneous improvement occurred in a day, and oral feeding was resumed. The clinical course was uncomplicated, and the patient was discharged, circumventing unnecessary surgery. Literature search has revealed that omental infarction is a rare cause of acute abdomen and it can mimic acute appendicitis or cholecystitis. The treatment needs to be individualized, and surgery may or may not be required.

Type 2 Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Presenting with Hyperpigmentation and Amenorrhea.

A 36-year-old female presented with lethargy, anorexia, nausea, hyperpigmentation, weight loss and amenorrhea for six months. On examination, she had hyperpigmentation of face, hands and oral mucosa. Investigations revealed adrenal insufficiency and subclinical hyperthyroidism with elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Adrenal insufficiency in combination with Grave's disease and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus occurs in type 2 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome. It is a polygenic disorder occurring due to mutations in the human leukocyte antigen complex on chromosome 6. The patient was treated with oral hydrocortisone which led to improvement in all the symptoms.

Tubercular Retropharyngeal Abscess With Pott's Disease in an Elderly Male Patient.

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is a life-threatening emergency due to its potential to cause airway compression. It is rare in the elderly and occurs mostly in immunocompromised patients, or as a complication of instrumentation. We are reporting the case of a 70-year-old male who presented with sudden onset breathing difficulty with a history of dysphagia for three months. The clinical examination revealed a bulge in the posterior pharyngeal wall. A lateral-view radiograph of neck revealed retropharyngeal soft tissue density with carious spine. The patient was successfully treated by trans-oral incision and drainage of the abscess under local anesthesia. Diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by positive acid-fast staining and cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT). The patient improved significantly following the initiation of anti-tubercular therapy.

Hepatic and Renal Profile of Scrub Typhus Patients at a Tertiary Care Center in India.

Introduction Scrub typhus is a resurging zoonotic infection prevalent in South Asia with many recent outbreaks in India. It can mimic other tropical infections and the disease spectrum ranges from subclinical illness to life-threatening disease with multiorgan dysfunction. This study was conducted to study the pattern of hepatic and renal injury. Methods A retrospective study was done on 176 patients diagnosed by detecting IgM antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) over a period of three years at a tertiary center in Chandigarh, India. They were treated with doxycycline (azithromycin if pregnant) and supportive therapies. The patterns of hepatic and renal functions, along with the need of renal replacement therapy, were recorded and evaluated. The values were expressed as mean ± SD, and p values were calculated to establish statistical significance. Results Most of the cases were from the state of Haryana (37.5%), followed by Punjab (33.5%), Himachal Pradesh (13.6%), Uttar Pradesh (10.2%) and Chandigarh (5%). 30% of the study population was engaged in agriculture. The mean age was 32.3 ± 13.5 years with range of 13-65 years. A peak in the incidence was observed during monsoon months. Approximately 13% of the patients died. Urea, creatinine, bilirubin and aspartate transaminase were found to be higher in mortality group with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Alanine transaminase was higher and albumin was lower in the mortality group but without statistical significance. 27.8% had acute kidney injury, 90.9% had liver dysfunction and one patient had acute liver failure. All the pregnant patients had fetal loss. Conclusion Renal and liver dysfunctions are common in scrub typhus, and their occurrence adversely affects the outcome.

From Psychiatry to Neurology and Endocrinology: A Case of Hypoparathyroidism.

A 31-year-old male patient developed extrapyramidal symptoms while on treatment for depression. He was investigated and found to suffer from hypoparathyroidism. He had calcification in the brain, signs and symptoms of neuromuscular irritability, and QT prolongation on electrocardiogram. He was treated with calcium carbonate and calcitriol. Although he had marked improvement, bradykinesia persisted. This report highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for hypocalcemia, and the importance of searching for an organic basis for psychiatric symptoms.

Constrictive Pericarditis as an Initial Manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

A young female presented with new-onset rash, oral ulcers and dyspnea without overt features of heart failure. She was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus with early constrictive pericarditis, cutaneous lupus and serositis in the form of pericardial and pleural effusion. There was no renal, neurological and joint involvement. She was treated with steroid pulse and other ancillary drugs that led to remission with improvement in the symptoms and reversal of echocardiographic changes of constrictive pericarditis. Oral steroids were successfully tapered off after four months, and only hydroxychloroquine was continued. Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon feature of lupus and its occurrence as an initial manifestation, without a history of repeated episodes of acute pericarditis, is rarely reported.