Cardiac amyloid presenting as cardiogenic shock: case series.

BACKGROUND: Amyloidosis is a systemic infiltrative disease that can affect nearly every organ in the human body. It is characterized by the deposition of misfolded protein within various tissues and organs. Once there is cardiac involvement this portends a worse prognosis. CASE SUMMARY: We describe a case series of two patients with cardiac amyloidosis presenting as a cardiogenic shock. There were several missed opportunities in diagnosing cardiac amyloid prior to their fatal presentations. In the first case, a 65-year-old African-American male patient presented with worsening shortness of breath and signs of heart failure. Echocardiography revealed preserved ejection fraction. He was diagnosed with light chain subtype of cardiac amyloidosis, and rapidly deteriorated during his admission. Patient in the second case is a 75-year-old African-American female who presented with worsening heart failure and hypotension. Echocardiography revealed reduced ejection fraction. She was diagnosed with transthyretin cardiac amyloid. Her clinical status worsened during admission and she went into cardiogenic shock requiring multiple vasopressors. DISCUSSION: This case series discusses two incidences of cardiac amyloidosis presenting as cardiogenic shock in African-American patients. This article postulates that cardiac amyloidosis may be misdiagnosed for more common causes of heart failure especially among this demographic group. Once patients with cardiac amyloid present with cardiogenic shock their clinical course is typically rapidly fatal despite aggressive measures. Earlier detection is imperative to prevent poor outcomes.

Cryptococcal meningitis presenting with acute hearing loss.

Reversible sensorineural hearing loss is a recognised complication of cryptococcal meningitis. Cryptococcal meningitis typically presents with usual symptoms of fever, headache and neck stiffness. This case highlights acute, profound, bilateral hearing loss as the initial symptom and presentation of cryptococcal meningitis in a young woman, who was later diagnosed with AIDS.

Cardiac Amyloidosis Presenting as Biventricular Systolic Heart Failure.

A previously healthy octogenarian presented with new onset heart failure symptoms. Comprehensive multimodality imaging including complete echocardiography with longitudinal strain analysis, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), nuclear medicine pyrophosphate (99-mcTcPYP) scan along with biomarker, monoclonal protein analysis, and fat pad biopsy confirmed diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

A Complex Ventricular Septal Defect Causing Severe Aortic Insufficiency.

We report a case of a 60-year-old male with decompensated heart failure secondary to severe aortic insufficiency in the setting of a complex ventricular septal defect. The case highlights the use of multimodality imaging, including transthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, which contributed to the findings and diagnosis of the defect noted and was confirmed during surgery. The images provide an exceptional understanding of a complex ventricular septal defect and the associated pathology, which resulted in severe aortic regurgitation leading to cardiomyopathy. Although traditionally ventricular septal defects can be classified into certain types, our case highlights that some of these defects are very complex and require multimodality imaging for evaluation.

Signs of early cardiac tamponade induced by Minoxidil.

Minoxidil is an antihypertensive that works by directly dilating peripheral vessels. This medication is typically reserved for patients with resistant hypertension, whose blood pressure remains above goal despite being on multiple agents. A rare but potentially dangerous side effect of Minoxidil is drug-induced pericardial effusion. Here we report a case of a patient who was taking Minoxidil and subsequently developed a large pericardial effusion, with concerns for impending cardiac tamponade.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio as a screening marker for influenza infection.

Influenza outbreaks occur annually and account for significant morbidity and mortality. The overall burden of influenza infections, in the USA, for the 2017-2018 season, was an estimated 45 million cases, 810 000 hospitalizations and 61 000 deaths. Literature suggests that leukocyte count and differential, particularly lymphopenia and/or monocytosis, can provide diagnostic value for influenza infection. However, studies regarding these findings are limited in the adult population, particularly in the USA. The objective of this study was to determine if lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (L:M)<2 can be used as a screening marker for influenza infection. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who presented to University of Florida Health, Jacksonville, a university-affiliated tertiary care center in Jacksonville, Florida, between January 2017 and December 2018, with 'influenza-like' symptoms and who were subsequently admitted to the hospital. Patients were divided into two cohorts, based on whether they had laboratory-confirmed influenza versus another confirmed upper respiratory tract viral infection (influenza-like illness (ILI)). L:M was compared between the two groups and was found to be lower in the influenza group compared with the ILI group (p<0.0001). Results of this study demonstrate that a L:M<2 has significant diagnostic value in the acute phase of influenza and can be used for earlier detection and management of this disease, in order to improve clinical outcomes.

Two cases of spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumothorax in patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious viral illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease mainly affects the lungs manifesting as acute lung injury, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We describe two patients who developed concomitant spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 leading to acute hypoxic respiratory failure. This report adds to the increasing number of cases describing pulmonary complications of COVID-19 infection. Further studies are needed to ascertain the prognostic significance of these pulmonary complications in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Multiple myeloma with hepatic amyloid light-chain amyloidosis manifesting as progressive liver failure.

We present a case of a 45-year-old man admitted to the hospital with new-onset ascites and bilateral subconjunctival haemorrhages. He was found to have elevated liver enzymes in a hepatocellular pattern and direct hyperbilirubinemia. A diagnostic paracentesis was consistent with portal hypertension (PH). Extensive workup for acute and chronic liver disease was unremarkable. In the absence of clinical evidence of cirrhosis to explain PH, a liver biopsy with hepatic venous pressure gradient was pursued, which revealed proteinaceous material and apple-green birefringence under polarised light consistent with amyloid deposits. Bone marrow biopsy revealed plasma cell neoplasm with proteinaceous deposits consistent with concomitant multiple myeloma with AL amyloidosis. He developed rapidly progressive liver failure and passed shortly after presentation despite treatment with chemotherapy. This case illustrates how primary hepatic amyloidosis can present with a physiology that mimics cirrhosis and can easily be missed.

Topiramate causing type II renal tubular acidosis: A case and review of the mechanism.

Topiramate has a wide array of pharmacologic effects, including proximal renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Clinicians must be wary of the possibility for development of somnolence due to compensatory hyperventilation and cardiac dysrhythmias.

Neurosarcoidosis manifesting as panhypopituitarism.

Panhypopituitarism secondary to Neurosarcoidosis is a rare however serious complication. This diagnosis should remain in the differential in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. Biopsy of lesions will give definitive diagnosis.