An 81-year-old male with iliopsoas abscess by Streptococcus sanguis.

Iliopsoas muscle abscess is an uncommon condition, which has been growing in incidence. We describe a primary iliopsoas abscess by Streptococcus sanguis affecting an 81-year-old man cured by antibiotic therapy and aspiration procedure. The objective is to enhance the suspicion index about the iliopsoas abscess that may be mistaken for other causes of acute abdomen. The important diagnostic role of abdominal imaging studies is also emphasised.

Unsuspected tuberculosis in COPD and use of levofloxacin: diagnostic challenges.

A 92-year-old female ex-smoker with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) GOLD III, was admitted because of communitarian pneumonia in November 2013. She had been using inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators and presented five exacerbations of COPD due to pneumonia in the same year, with hospitalizations in March and September. The patient underwent the routine protocol for exacerbated COPD, and bacilloscopy for tuberculosis (TB) was negative. On admission, she had intense dyspnea and a productive cough that improved by administration of levofloxacin. Tests with Ziehll-Neelsen staining in bronchopulmonary secretions resulted negative. Notwithstanding, during actual admission, the culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium seeded in September was found positive for M. tuberculosis susceptible to isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and ethambutol. Therefore, the patient underwent the standard regimen for tuberculosis. Except in September, when she used piperacillin-tazobactam, all previous exacerbations of COPD were treated with levofloxacin. This effective drug against M. tuberculosis can hinder its growth in culture. The use of levofloxacin in unsuspected TB may constitute an additional diagnostic challenge, and risk of late diagnosis is increased in patients with COPD in use of inhaled corticosteroids. Case studies may contribute to increase the suspicion index about TB associated with COPD.

Hepatitis C and cutaneous alterations / Hepatite C e alterações cutâneas

While most of those infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are asymptomatic or only develop liver manifestations, a significant percentage evolves with autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders, resulting in a clinical condition called HCV syndrome. This work involving case studies of six patients with hepatitis C and varied skin manifestation aimed to report skin lesions occurring with HCV infection and its treatment. Skin manifestations in hepatitis C have been based on epidemiological studies. This justifies the need for studies that correlate HCV infection and its treatment with skin manifestations.

A maioria dos infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C (VHC) é assintomática ou apresenta somente manifestações hepáticas, porém uma significativa porcentagem evolui com desordens autoimunes e linfoproliferativas resultando na síndrome da hepatite C. Este trabalho envolve seis estudos de casos de pacientes com hepatite C e várias manifestações cutâneas, visando relacionar lesões dermatológicas ao VHC e ao seu tratamento. Manifestações dermatológicas na hepatite C têm sido baseadas em estudos epidemiológicos. Isto justifica a necessidade de estudos que correlacionem infecção pelo VHC e seu tratamento com as manifestações dermatológicas.

Hepatitis C and cutaneous alterations.

While most of those infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are asymptomatic or only develop liver manifestations, a significant percentage evolves with autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders, resulting in a clinical condition called HCV syndrome. This work involving case studies of six patients with hepatitis C and varied skin manifestation aimed to report skin lesions occurring with HCV infection and its treatment. Skin manifestations in hepatitis C have been based on epidemiological studies. This justifies the need for studies that correlate HCV infection and its treatment with skin manifestations.