ABSTRACT
Intermittent high-dose methylprednisolone therapy is widely used for various autoimmune conditions treatment. Common side effects are well known and monitored carefully during therapy. Although cardiovascular adverse events are uncommon, they have been increasingly reported in the literature. This is a case of a 30-year-old female who developed symptomatic sinus bradycardia after receiving three grams of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy for multiple sclerosis flare-ups. Her pulse rate reached 40bpm, together with lightheadedness and chest tightness. An electrocardiogram confirmed sinus bradycardia, for which she was initially managed by splitting the methylprednisolone dose in half; however, 12 hours later, the heart rate decreased further to 35bpm, and her symptoms worsened. Subsequently, the medicine was omitted, and the patient shifted to the intensive care unit for close observation and monitoring. She was treated conservatively with close observation resulted in a gradual normalization of the heart rate. The diagnosis of methylprednisolone pulse-induced bradycardia was made after excluding other common etiologies of sinus bradycardia. This case report aims for careful cardiovascular monitoring in patients receiving high doses of methylprednisolone due to the dose-dependent cardiovascular risks.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 disease has infected millions of people worldwide during the pandemic; hence, the need for an effective and safe vaccine was urgently required. A two-dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was reported to have 95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19. The short-term safety profile recorded mild to moderate pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. The critical adverse effects were low and similar in the placebo group. However, we report the case of an 18-year-old male who developed acute central crushing chest pain four days following administration of the second dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. After extensive cardiac workup, including coronary arteries diagnostic angiography, myocarditis was suspected and confirmed by a cardiac MRI. Fortunately, the patient's clinical condition gradually improved in the form of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. He was discharged after one week of stay in hospital with regular follow-up in the cardiac clinic.
ABSTRACT
We report a case of a 57-year-old African American male patient with standard risk (IIIA) IgA kappa multiple myeloma. This patient presented with neurologic complaints (manifesting as generalized muscle weakness and swallowing dysfunction associated with a poor cough reflex) 10 months after achieving a very good partial remission and without evidence of systemic progression. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed leptomeningeal involvement. Very little is known about the mechanisms of myelomatous spread to the leptomeninges, a very rare event, and the presentation of this case could raise awareness of this rare complication in those involved in caring for patients with multiple myeloma.