Analysis of COVID Deaths: A single Centre Experience in Mumbai Medical College.

Objectives To calculate the mortality rate of COVID 19 at our centre. To study age and sex distribution of COVID 19 deaths. To study the duration of hospital stay with mortality. To study the comorbidities associated with mortality. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study of COVID 19 deaths which have occurred from April 2020 to January 2021. Death records of patients who were Confirmed positive cases of COVID 19 infection by Antigen positivity or RT PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or CBNAAT were analysed based on the total number of admissions, total deaths, age and gender distribution; duration of hospital stay, co-morbidities. RESULTS: There were 763 deaths in our study. Total admissions were 5762. Mortality rate was 13.2%. Out of these 481 were males and 282 females. The mean age of death was in the group of 60-70 years with a median age of 64.8 years. 221 patients had ≥ 3 comorbidities, 162 had ≥ 2 comorbidities. 172 had single comorbidities and 208 no comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: COVID 19 affects people of all age groups and gender. It neither spares people with comorbidities nor those without any comorbidities. There is no specific therapy for its treatment. Hence Vaccination, and use of masks, social distancing and sanitization are the policies which will help in the long run.

Sofosbuvir-Velpatasvir Fixed Drug Combination for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Kidney Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: India is witnessing high hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection burden in patients of chronic kidney disease. Due to unavailability of costly Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes-recommended directly acting antiviral drugs, a widely available pan-genotypic combination of Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir can become an economical option. Data regarding treatment experience of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir combination in chronic kidney disease is scarce. No data from India have been published in patients on renal replacement therapies till now. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included all patients of end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis with treatment-naïve chronic HCV infection treated with sofosbuvir (400 mg) and velpatasvir (100 mg) fixed-dose combination. Pretreatment routine investigations were performed, which included HCV viral load, genotype, fibro scan, endoscopy for esophageal varices, and portal vein Doppler. The patients were followed up with HCV viral load to declare sustained virologic response. RESULT: patients were included with a mean age of 39.8 ± 10.8 years, and 77.4% were male. Genotype 1 was found to be most prevalent (67.7%), with a median viral load of 106copies/ml. Six (19.3%) patients had hepatitis B virus co-infection. Three (9.7%) patients had cirrhosis. Sustained virologic response (SVR12) was achieved in 30 (96.8%) patients, and one (3.2%) patient had relapse. Furthermore, 14 (45.2%) patients underwent renal transplantation, and none of them had relapsed. Dyspepsia (9.7%) was the most common side effect observed with no major adverse effect. CONCLUSION: Our study showed excellent efficacy with the safety profile of this drug combination in end-stage renal disease patients. However, larger prospective studies and multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed for further confirmation.

Leukocyte esterase reagent strip as a bedside tool to detect peritonitis in patients undergoing acute peritoneal dialysis.

Peritonitis is a common and life-threatening complication of acute peritoneal dialysis (PD). Diagnosis requires the presence of clinical signs of peritonitis which are nonspecific and laboratory investigations [total leukocyte count (TLC), Gram-stain, and culture of PD effluent fluid] which are time-consuming and not available at the bedside. In this study, we evaluated the use of leukocyte esterase reagent strip (LERS) as a bedside test to diagnose peritonitis in patients undergoing acute PD. Patients who underwent acute PD were monitored for signs and symptoms of peritonitis. PD effluent fluid analysis included TLC, absolute neutrophil count, Gram-stain, and culture for the diagnosis of peritonitis. LERS (Multistix 10SG) was simultaneously dipped in PD effluent fluid and read at two minutes. Reading of + was considered as indicative of peritonitis. Twenty-one out of 166 (12.6%) patients undergoing acute PD developed peritonitis. LERS detected peritonitis in 20 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (NPV) of LERS were 95.2%, 95.2%, 74.1%, and 99.3%, respectively. LERS has very high sensitivity and NPV and can be used as a rapid bedside tool to exclude peritonitis in patients undergoing acute PD.

Serotonin syndrome versus neuroleptic malignant syndrome: a challenging clinical quandary.

Serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are two drug toxidromes that have often overlapping and confusing clinical pictures. We report a case of a young man who presented with alteration of mental status, autonomic instability and neuromuscular hyperexcitability following ingestion of multiple psychiatric and antiepileptic medications. The patient satisfied criteria for serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and based on the characteristic clinical features, laboratory findings and clinical course it was concluded that the patient had both toxidromes. The patient was managed with cyproheptadine and supportive measures, and recovered over the course of 3 weeks. A brief review of literature highlighting the diagnostic clues as well as the importance of recognising and distinguishing the often missed and confounding diagnoses follows.

Atypical neuroimaging in Wilson's disease.

Wilson's disease is a rare metabolic disease involving copper metabolism. Neuroimaging plays an important part in evaluation of patients with a neuropsychiatric presentation. We present a case of a 14-year-old girl with atypical confluent white matter disease and cystic degeneration on MRI, with a rapidly progressive course, who succumbed to complications despite treatment with trientine. Wilson's disease should be considered as a differential for leucoencephalopathy in young patients with progressive neurological disease for its early recognition and optimum outcome.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Obesity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Limited studies have been undertaken to characterize Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in the Indian population. The main objective of our study was to document the prevalence of NAFLD amongst a cohort of obese Indian patients and demonstrate its relationship with other components of the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 60 adult obese patients were subjected to a detailed history, clinical exam, anthropometric study and laboratory workup. Focus was on liver function and components of the metabolic syndrome like blood pressure, glycemic status and lipid profile. Subjects enrolled were divided into two groups Group A (n=48), with NAFLD and Group B (n=12) without NAFLD. The two groups were then compared amongst themselves as well as with data from previous similar studies. RESULTS: A comparison of the anthropometric measurements revealed a statistically significant difference between the Body mass index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio of the two groups and in the mean triglyceride values between the two groups. Although the mean bilirubin levels measured in the serum were not statistically different the mean levels of SGOT and SGPT in the two groups was found to be statistically significant. On the contrary no significant difference in the values of alkaline phosphatase and synthetic liver functions could be discerned. A statistically highly significant difference in the mean liver span is seen. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is common in Indian obese populations and is associated with significant differences in anthropometric, clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic aspects as compared with obese individuals not affected with liver disease.

Widespread bullous fixed drug eruption.

A 53-year-old man developed a widespread erythematous eruption which rapidly evolved into fluid-filled bulla mostly involving the distal areas of all four limbs and erosions on the oral as well as anogenital mucosa. Based on clinical presentation, chronology of drug exposure, past events and histopathology as diagnosis of widespread bullous fixed drug eruption was made over Steven Johnson-toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome. Steroids were deferred and the lesions healed with minimal pigmentation within a week. Differentiating between the two entities has been historically difficult, and yet can have significant therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Lichen scrofulosorum.

Tuberculosis is a common disease. The cutaneous form of tuberculosis known as tuberculid is an uncommon disease and is easily misdiagnosed. Lichen scrofulosorum is a rare form of tuberculid seen in children and young adults with or without other manifestations of tuberculosis. We report a case of a young adult with lichen scrofulosorum along with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The skin lesions responded promptly to antitubercular therapy with complete clearance of the lesions. Identification of the skin manifestation was especially important in this case because the lymph node biopsy was inconclusive, with tissue culture proving the diagnosis only after 4 weeks.

Pseudohypoparathyroidism, rare cause of hypocalcaemia!

Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a rare disorder which is characterized by end organ parathormone resistance, which causes hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and high parathormone levels. We are reporting here case of a young male who had symptoms of chronic hypocalcaemia, with a positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's sign on examination, without any features of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy. Lab investigations revealed low calcium, high phosphate and high PTH levels. The patient was diagnosed as having Pseudohypoparathyroidism and he was treated successfully with Calcium and Vitamin D supplements.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: an unusual presentation of acromegaly.

Secondary diabetes mellitus is known to occur in acromegaly due to insulin resistance caused by growth hormone excess. However, diabetes in acromegaly usually does not lead to ketosis. We describe an unusual case of a patient that presented with diabetic ketoacidosis in the emergency room with thirst, polyuria and dyspnoea. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with a growth hormone-secreting pitutary macroadenoma as the underlying pathology; after initial stabilisation with insulin and fluids, the patient was successfully treated with trans-sphenoidal surgery.

Gangrene in cases of spotted fever: a report of three cases.

Gangrene is an uncommon complication in cases of rickettsial spotted fever. We report three cases of spotted fever from south India, presumably caused by Rickettsia conorii subspecies indica. Along with gangrene, these cases had severe manifestations of sepsis and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) like acute kidney injury, liver dysfunction, delirium and seizure. One patient died while the other two recovered well. This case series is being reported to highlight the occurrence of gangrene in spotted fever rickettsiosis and the importance of appropriate management at the earliest.

A rare case of plasma cell leukemia in a 35 year old.

Plasma cell leukemia is a rare, aggressive form of multiple myeloma. A 35-year-old male presented with backache, generalized weakness, and facial puffiness. His complete blood count showed anemia and a high WBC count with atypical cells on peripheral smear. Bone marrow examination showed more than 90% of atypical plasma cells, confirming a diagnosis of plasma cell leukemia. Patient also had azotemia, hypercalcemia, and hyperuricemia. The patient was started on chemotherapy along with supportive care. Patient improved dramatically and he was discharged on regular follow-up.