Pharmacological Therapy Optimization for Heart Failure: A Practical Guide for the Internist.

Heart failure carries significant morbidity and mortality and affects a large population of patients cared for predominantly by primary care physicians. The complexity of managing heart failure patients is increasing as new therapies continue to emerge. This review outlines important clinical pearls and proposes strategies for optimization of medical therapy.

Ocular Sarcoidosis and Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 2: A Case Report.

PURPOSE: to describe a clinical case of ocular sarcoidosis in a patient with Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 2 (APS-2). METHODS: an 86-year-old female diagnosed with APS-2 was referred to our uveitis department with rapid visual loss in her left eye during a 3-month period. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was counting fingers in her left eye (OS) and 20/40 in her right eye (OD). Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was unremarkable OD but revealed granulomatous keratic precipitates OS. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral optic disc oedema and +2 and 4+ vitritis (SUN classification) in her OD and OS, respectively. RESULTS: the patient underwent chest X-Ray which revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and fibrosis. On high-resolution computed tomography of the lungs, ground-glass opacities were visible, and a diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis was presumed. After exclusion of infectious diseases, the patient was treated with methotrexate and oral corticosteroids and there was substantial improvement of the optic nerve oedema and vitritis. At the most recent visit, 2 years later, OS BCVA was 20/50. CONCLUSION: There may be an association between ocular sarcoidosis and APS or other autoimmune disorders.

Promoting Cardiac Rehabilitation in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Quality Initiative Based on Education, Automated Referral, and Multidisciplinary Rounds.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a class 1 recommendation for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. However, only 1 in 5 ACS patients are referred for cardiac rehabilitation nationally, and even fewer at our institution. We sought to improve the number of referrals to cardiac rehabilitation for post-ACS patients admitted to our inpatient cardiology service, and ultimately their participation in the program. We designed a quality improvement initiative that included education of patients and house staff, automated referral order, and participation of cardiac rehabilitation staff members on multidisciplinary rounds. We compared the number of patients who received a referral to cardiac rehabilitation, had the first appointment scheduled before hospital discharge, and attended the program before and after our intervention. Six months after initiation of the project, the proportion of ACS patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation before hospital discharge increased from 10% to 43% (P < 0.001). The mean number of patients with a cardiac rehabilitation appointment scheduled before discharge was 2 before and 5 after the intervention (P < 0.001), and the mean number of patients who attended their scheduled appointment was 1 before and 3 after the intervention (P = 0.001). Run charts demonstrated that the number of referrals and the number of scheduled appointments remained above the median following the intervention. In conclusion, an initiative that included education, automated referrals, and direct one-on-one contact with cardiac rehabilitation staff before discharge increased the number of cardiac rehabilitation referrals, and appointments scheduled and attended in post-ACS patients.

Multiple myeloma with extensive AL amyloidosis presenting as chronic diarrhoea.

We present a 52-year-old man admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and lower extremity weakness ongoing for the past 3 months. The patient was found to have malabsorptive diarrhoea, hypoproliferative anaemia and renal insufficiency with proteinuria. Extensive workup was performed including a bone marrow biopsy with 20% plasma cells, renal and duodenal biopsies with Congo-red staining revealed amyloid deposition. The patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis with gastrointestinal, kidney and nerve involvement explaining his presentation with diarrhoea, renal insufficiency and weakness. Throughout his admission, there were incidental findings of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia (serum blood glucose <40 mg/dL), which was later found to be caused by anti-insulin monoclonal antibodies produced by the neoplastic plasma cells. This is an extremely rare manifestation of multiple myeloma with only a few cases reported in the literature.

Gout in Pregnancy: A Rare Phenomenon.

Gout is a rare phenomenon in reproductive age women due to the uricosuric effects of estrogen. Furthermore, gout in pregnancy has been reported in only a scant number of case reports. We present the case of a 21-year-old gravida-4 para-3 female at four-weeks gestation presenting with acute polyarticular gout, complicated by Haemophilus influenzae sepsis and hyperemesis gravidarum. The gout flare was likely precipitated by primary H. influenzae bacteremia, which was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics. The treatment of gout in pregnancy is challenging because of the limited number of guidelines. We demonstrate successful management of an acute gout flare in pregnancy with colchicine and steroid injection of the affected joint. Unfortunately, the patient suffered a miscarriage, but the link between gout flare and spontaneous abortion is tenuous.

Early manifestation of myocardial involvement in systemic sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease involving multiple organs. We present a rare case of SSc in which clinical manifestations of cardiac fibrosis occurred early in the disease course. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 40-year-old Caucasian man, previously diagnosed with SSc, who presented with decompensated heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography was remarkable for severe right ventricular systolic dysfunction, abnormal ventricular septal motion, severe functional tricuspid regurgitation and normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 45%. Right heart catheterization revealed no signs of pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed diffuse myocardial infiltration, later confirmed as myocardial fibrosis by endomyocardial biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial fibrosis is an important cause of early heart failure in SSc patients and is associated with poor prognosis. Echocardiography and CMR help establish the diagnosis and enable an appropriate therapeutic strategy to be developed in such cases.

Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection in Portugal: Experience at a tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile is the main cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea. Its incidence, severity and relapse rates increased over the past two decades. AIM: To study epidemiologic characteristics and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and compare with a previous cohort from the same hospital. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of CDI diagnosed from 2010 to 2015 and comparison with data from 2004 to 2009. RESULTS: 259 cases were diagnosed, compared to 83 in 2004-2009. There was no difference in mean annual incidence (8.66 versus 7.11 per 1000 patients; p = .116), but a dramatic increase was observed in 2009/2010 (peak incidence: 21.63 cases per 1000 admissions). Females were more affected (61.4% versus 69.9%; p = .177). Median age was 80 and 83 (p = .097). We observed an increase in median number of antibiotics previously used (2 versus 3; p = .147) and in community-associated CDI (6% versus 19.7%; p = .003). There was a continued increase in the use of carbapenems and quinolones until 2010 and a high percentage of refractory cases in 2010. Female gender (p = .043), long-term care facility (LTCF) residency (p = .022) and a higher number of previous antibiotics (median of 3; p = .025) were independent predictors for refractory and recurrent CDI. CONCLUSIONS: CDI incidence achieved a peak in 2009/2010 coinciding with the introduction of alcohol-based hand products, increase in quinolone and carbapenem prescription and a possible outbreak of an epidemic strain. Female gender, LTCF residency and exposure to three or more antibiotics are risk factors for refractory and recurrent CDI. We emphasize the need to restrict use of large spectrum antibiotics.

A Challenging Diagnosis of Ascites: A Case Report of Peritoneal Tuberculosis.

Approximately 2 billion people, which is about one third of the world's population, are infected with tuberculosis (TB). Around 10% of infected people will develop active TB at one point in their lifetime. We present a rare case of a 68-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with a 2-week progressive dyspnea. In addition, the patient complained of generalized weakness, subjective fevers, and abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. Ascites was noted on physical exam, and the patient underwent a diagnostic paracentesis with initial workup that was unrevealing for underlying etiology. Abdominal computed tomography was done, which revealed peritoneal carcinomatosis. He underwent omental biopsy which showed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with rare acid-fast bacilli. Repeat biopsy was culture positive for mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The patient was started on rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol with improvement of his symptoms days after treatment was started. This case demonstrates how the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis can be elusive. Physicians must be aware of this disease and its behavior in high risk patients, also of the current diagnostic limitations.

A case of esophageal adenocarcinoma on long-term rapamycin monotherapy.

Cancer in transplant recipients represents a therapeutic challenge even when the patient is already under mTOR inhibitors. A 78-year-old man received a deceased donor kidney transplant in 1993. After 6 months, he developed a multifocal cutaneous and nonvisceral Kaposi's Sarcoma while on cyclosporine immunosuppressant therapy. The patient was converted to sirolimus monotherapy in 2001 with subsequent complete recovery within 2 years. In 2007, the patient was diagnosed with an esophageal adenocarcinoma stage IIA. An esophagectomy was performed without requirement of further treatment. He has continued on sirolimus monotherapy ever since, with no other incidents and no recurrences of either tumor. In this report, we describe an interesting case of a second cancer while on immunosuppressive therapy with anticancer activity. Moreover, the present knowledge of the matter is discussed.

[National Post Hospital Care Project and length of hospitalization of patients with stroke 2010-2011]. / Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados e Tempo de Internamento dos Doentes com Acidente Vascular Cerebral 2010-2011.

INTRODUCTION: The National Post Hospital Care Project was created to provide a continuity of care after hospitalization or to functionally dependent people. Currently there is a great difficulty in the integration of patients. The objective of this paper is to compare the impact of the referral to the Project versus being discharged home, in the length of stay of stroke patients between 2010 and 2011. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients admitted to the Neurology Infirmary A and Stroke Unit of Coimbra's University Hospital, in 2010 and 2011. The cases analyzed were 1 209, featuring demographic data, length of stay, Rankin Score (mRS) and destination after discharge. The data was analyzed comparing the two years concerning the length of stay of stroke patients referred to the Project and those discharged home, given the their Rankin Score. RESULTS: In 2011, the number patients referred to the National Post Hospital Care Project was higher, 23.5% compared to 21.4%. The length of stay for the same Rankin Score of the patients referred to National Post Hospital Care Project, remained higher than those discharged home: for a Rankin Score of 1: 11, versus 26 days for the Project; Rankin Score 2: 13, versus 29 days for the project; Rankin Score 3: 13, versus 23 days for the Project; Rankin Score 4: 17, to 33 days for the Project, Rankin Score 5: 27, versus 39 days to the Project. After comparison between the length of stay of patient discharged of and those referred to the National Post Hospital Care Project, it was estimated that the referral represented an hospitalization excess of 1 718 days in 2010 and 1 198 days in 2011. CONCLUSION: The National Post Hospital Care Project is unable to meet the actual needs although the waiting time has reduced, possibly due to the increased number of beds and the possibility of patients waiting at home.

Introdução: A Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados surgiu para proporcionar a continuação de cuidados após internamento ou para pessoas funcionalmente dependentes. Actualmente há uma grande dificuldade na integração dos doentes no domicílio ou em estruturas de retaguarda. Pretende-se comparar o impacto da referenciação para a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados versus alta para domicílio, no tempo de internamento dos doentes com Acidente Vascular Cerebral, entre 2010 e 2011.Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo envolvendo os doentes internados na Neurologia A e Unidade de Acidente Vascular Cerebral dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, naquele anos. Analisaram-se 1 209 processos, incluídos 819, caracterizados demograficamente, tempo de internamento, Score de Rankin modificado e destino pós-alta. Compararam-se os dados, relativamente ao tempo de internamento dos doentes com Acidente Vascular Cerebral, referenciados para a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados e os com alta para domicílio, atendendo ao Score de Rankin final.Resultados: Em 2011, aumentaram os doentes referenciados para a Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados, 23,5% comparativamente 21,4%. Em 2011 o tempo de internamento, para um mesmo Score de Rankin, da população referenciada manteve-se superior: para um Rankin de 1: 11 dias para domicílio, 26 dias para os doentes referenciados; para um Rankin de 2: 13 dias para domicílio, 29 dias para a rede; para Rankin de 3: 13 dias para domicílio, 23 dias para referenciados; para um Rankin de 4: 17 dias para domicílio, 33 dias para Rede; e para um Rankin de 5: 27 dias para domicílio, 39 dias para Rede. Comparando com os tempos de internamento da população com alta para domicílio, estima-se que tenha representado mais 1 718 dias de internamento, em 2010 e1 198 dias, em 2011.Conclusão: A Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados é incapaz de responder às necessidades actuais, embora o tempo de espera tenha reduzido, devido ao aumento do número de camas e da possibilidade dos doentes aguardarem vaga no domicílio.

Predicting Acute Pancreatitis Severity: Comparison of Prognostic Scores.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis has a broad clinical spectrum, from mild illness to multiple organ failure and death. Prognostic scores have been developed or adapted to predict disease severity. This study aimed to compare the prognostic scores according to sensitivity and specificity, receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve. Statistical correlation with disease severity, length of hospital stay, mortality and complication rates. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the clinical data of patients admitted to an Internal Medicine ward with the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis over a ten year period. Evaluation of prognostic scores: Ranson, Glasgow-Imrie, Balthazar, APACHE II (admission and at 48 hours) and C-reactive protein (48 hours), was carried out as well as statistical analysis using Microsoft Excel 2007® and SPSS 16®. The confidence interval used was 95%. RESULTS: Data from 193 clinical files was collected. However, 67 were excluded due to lack of information. According to the Atlanta criteria, 90 cases were deemed as mild and 36 severe. The mortality rate was 6% and the local complication rate was 9.3%. Ranson, Glasgow and APACHE II scores had significant correlation with mortality. Apart from C-reactive protein levels at 48 hours, all scores had significant correlation with disease severity. The scores with best area under the curve correlation were APACHE II (48 hours): 0.892, Ranson: 0.879, and APACHE II (admission): 0.861. CONCLUSIONS: The most accurate prognostic scores in this study were APACHE II (48 hours) and Ranson. APACHE II at admission was a good indicator, impaired only by high false positive ratio.