Azithromycin-Induced Liver Injury in an Asthma Exacerbation Patient With Autoimmune Features.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the leading causes of acute liver failure in the United States. Antimicrobials are the most common class of drugs implicated in this pathology. Although azithromycin has been documented as a relatively safe drug, one of its rare and potentially fatal side effects is DILI. Diagnosing DILI is difficult because it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may present similarly to DILI, and a liver biopsy may be needed to differentiate between the two conditions. We present a case of azithromycin-induced liver injury in an asthma exacerbation patient with features of AIH.

Workplace- and Residence-Associated Leptospirosis: A Case Report and Review of Current Literature.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection most commonly occurring in tropical regions through contact with water or soil contaminated with animal urine. In New York, approximately one to three cases occur annually, the majority occurring through workplace exposure to animal reservoirs. In cases of the more severe presentation of leptospirosis, Weil's disease, it is important to identify the infection promptly to allow for early antibiotic initiation as well as early initiation of daily dialysis in cases in which it is necessary. We present a case of Weil's disease in a 64-year-old male with presumed exposure through his combined workplace and residential environment. The resolution of symptoms occurred through a combination of hemodialysis, doxycycline, and meropenem antibiotic treatment. We also discuss the barriers to diagnosis, including the non-specific presentation of leptospirosis, the limitation of access to testing centers, and the limitations to antibody testing within the first week of symptom presentation due to low antibody levels.

Brown Tumor With Spine Involvement at Multiple Levels in a Hemodialysis Patient.

Brown tumor of the bone or osteitis fibrosa cystica is a rare manifestation of hyperparathyroidism, most seen nowadays in association with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are the major culprits of secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPTH). CKD is known to cause phosphate retention and a decrease in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and ionized calcium levels, which in turn trigger the PTH secretion. Brown tumor can affect the jawbones, femur, sternum, ribs, and rarely the spine. We present the case of a 60-year-old male with ESRD on hemodialysis who was found to have lytic bone lesions in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Initially, malignancy was suspected. Blood work revealed markedly elevated PTH at 3,563 pg/mL, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Biopsy of the L5-S1 lesion was consistent with reactive changes due to sHPTH. Once a diagnosis of the brown tumor was confirmed, the patient was started on cinacalcet and was referred for parathyroidectomy.

Recurrent Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Severe Hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is frequently associated with myalgias, muscle stiffness, easy fatigability, and occasionally some degree of myopathy with mildly elevated muscle enzymes. Rarely, hypothyroidism may be complicated by rhabdomyolysis, the rapid destruction of skeletal muscle with myoglobin, creatine kinase, urate, and electrolytes release into the circulation. Recurrent cases of rhabdomyolysis are uncommon as most patients experience only one episode of rhabdomyolysis in their lifetime. Most common causes of such episodes are trauma, epileptic seizures, or medication. We describe a case of a 49-year-old male with a history of hypothyroidism, who repeatedly developed severe rhabdomyolysis precipitated by deep muscle injury, seizure, and poor medication compliance. Interestingly, he never developed any of the complications of rhabdomyolysis despite high levels of serum creatine kinase. The most common and feared complication of rhabdomyolysis is acute kidney injury which can occur in 15 to 50% of patients with rhabdomyolysis. Timely and appropriate fluid resuscitation is the mainstay therapy for acute kidney injury (AKI) prevention. Recurrent rhabdomyolysis in a patient should prompt further investigation if there is a family history of a neuromuscular disorder or exercise intolerance. In a case of refractory hypothyroidism, a patient should be counseled on proper regimen and medication compliance.

A Rare Case of Vagus Nerve Schwannoma Presenting as a Neck Mass.

BACKGROUND Vagus nerve schwannoma is a benign neoplasm that usually presents as an asymptomatic slow growing mass, and its presentation as a neck mass is rare. The diagnosis can be difficult to make and complete surgical excision is challenging due to the proximity of the vagus nerve fibers from which it originates. The most common symptom associated with vagus nerve schwannoma arising in the neck is hoarseness due to vocal cord palsy. CASE REPORT We report a case of a 55-year-old woman who presented to the clinic complaining of throat irritation and feeling of something stuck in her throat for the past three months. On examination, a bulging left parapharyngeal mass was noted, displacing the left tonsil and uvula medially. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck showed a large, hypervascular soft tissue mass with splaying of the left internal carotid artery. Intraoperatively, the tumor was found to be arising from the vagus nerve. Macroscopic surgical pathology examination showed a tan-red, ovoid, and firm mass. Histopathology showed a benign spindle cell tumor with Antoni A areas with palisading cell nuclei and some degenerative change, confirming the diagnosis of vagus nerve schwannoma. CONCLUSIONS Vagus nerve schwannomas should be distinguished from other tumors that arise in the neck before planning surgery, to minimize the risk of nerve injury. Physicians need to be aware of the differential diagnosis of a neck mass, investigations required, the surgical treatment and the potential postoperative complications.