ABSTRACT
Hypophysitis is a rare pituitary gland disease primarily seen in females of reproductive age. Patients can present with various non-specific symptoms, which makes diagnosis challenging. Appropriate endocrine workup supplemented with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps establish a diagnosis. We present a case of a 22-year-old postpartum female who came with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Global endocrine insufficiency was seen in the laboratory workup, and an MRI confirmed the diagnosis of hypophysitis. She was treated with steroid and thyroid hormone supplementation.
ABSTRACT
A 58-year-old female patient presented with altered mental status, diarrhea, and fever. She was hospitalized for acute kidney injury [AKI] and a patchy right lower lobe infiltrates on chest X-ray. Subsequent testing revealed rhabdomyolysis and a positive urinary Legionella antigen test. Creatinine kinase [CK] level peaked at 512,820 U/L and was managed with aggressive intravenous hydration and appropriate antibiotic treatment. With clinical signs of resolution of pneumonia, the CK level declined rapidly, however renal function returned to baseline only after 2 months requiring hemodialysis in the meantime. The patient was also on tofacitinib which can rarely contribute to rhabdomyolysis. Legionella infection can cause severe rhabdomyolysis and AKI. Timely diagnosis of Legionella-associated rhabdomyolysis, and prompt treatment with aggressive IV hydration and appropriate antibiotics is required to prevent morbidity and mortality.
ABSTRACT
Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) is a rare, rapidly progressive, primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma. It is most commonly seen in the Asian and Hispanic populations and is usually not related to celiac disease, unlike type I enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma. The most common site of occurrence is the small intestine. Patients usually present during the advanced stage of disease with clinical features of intestinal perforation or obstruction. The late clinical presentation and lack of targeted therapy are factors contributing to its poor prognosis. Here, we are presenting the case of a patient who initially came to the hospital for a urinary tract infection. As his abdominal CT scan showed abdominal wall thickening, he underwent further workup which revealed the diagnosis of MEITL.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hydralazine is a common vasodilator which has been used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Hydralazine can induce antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis due to its auto-immunogenic capability and one of the very rare presentations is pulmonary-renal syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 64-year-old African American woman, who presented to our emergency room with shortness of breath, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, leg swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite, cough with clear sputum, and lightheadedness. On admission, she developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring intubation and acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. A serologic workup was positive for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, antinuclear antibody, anti-histone, anti-cardiolipin IgM, and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. A renal biopsy was done due to persistent deterioration in kidney function and demonstrated classic crescentic (pauci-immune) glomerulonephritis. Hydralazine was empirically discontinued early in the admission and she was started on corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide following biopsy results. She was clinically stable but remained dependent on hemodialysis after discharge. CONCLUSION: Hydralazine-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis with pulmonary-renal syndrome is a rare occurrence. In the setting of hydralazine use, multiple positive antigens, and multisystem involvement, clinicians should consider this rare condition requiring prompt cessation of offending drug, early evaluation with biopsy, and contemplate empiric immunosuppressive therapy while biopsy confirmation is pending.
