Intracardiac thrombi in extracardiac disorders: an autopsy study.

INTRODUCTION: Intracardiac thrombi (ICT), more commonly encountered at autopsy, are well documented with underlying cardiovascular disease. Occurrence of ICT in systemic diseases without an intrinsic cardiac disorder is rare. The aim of this autopsy study was to highlight such an occurrence. METHODS: From 1996 to 2010, cases with ICT unrelated to primary cardiac disorders were selected at autopsy and analyzed. Clinical and investigational data were obtained from the medical records. The location, morphology, size, and histological appearance of the thrombi were noted. The thrombi were then classified on the basis of their location, nature, and histology (fresh and/or organized); this was correlated with the clinical setting. RESULTS: Among a total of 11,724 autopsies performed in 15 years, 276 patients (2.4%) had ICT. Of these, 45 patients (0.4%) had ICT that were unrelated to primary cardiac diseases. There were 25 men and 20 women with a mean age of 46.1 years. Antemortem diagnosis was not made in any of these patients. Eight patients each (35.6%) showed isolated left-sided and multichambered involvement, while the rest of the hearts (64.4%) had thrombi in the right-sided chamber(s). The recognizable risk factors were underlying cancers (24.4%), prolonged immobilization (20%), systemic lupus erythematosus (6.7%), pregnancy (4.4%), nephropathy (4.4%), primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (2.2%), and ulcerative colitis (2.2%). However, 16 patients (35.7%) had no obvious predisposing factor, although investigations for prothrombotic markers had not been done. Diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism, and deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs had been clinically documented in some of them. The cause of death in most patients (73.3%) had been related to pulmonary and/or systemic thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: This autopsy study emphasizes the great need for a higher index of suspicion of in situ thrombosis in the heart in hypercoagulable states so as to curtail the morbidity and mortality of the primary disease process.

Isolated skin ulcers due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a renal allograft recipient.

BACKGROUND: A 27-year-old male renal allograft recipient presented to hospital with isolated skin ulcers on both lower limbs. At presentation, he also had a low-grade continuous fever, malaise and anorexia. INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, laboratory studies, histopathological examination of tissue biopsy samples from the ulcer edges and ulcer floor, culture of the biopsy tissue, chest radiograph, bone marrow biopsy, abdominal ultrasound, tuberculin skin test and examination of three early morning samples of gastric juice and urine for acid-fast bacilli. DIAGNOSIS: Isolated cutaneous ulcers caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MANAGEMENT: Four-drug antituberculosis therapy with pyrazinamide, of loxacin, ethambutol and isoniazid.