Staphylococcus lugdunensis Infective Endocarditis With Mitral Valve Vegetations in a Hemodialysis Patient With Recurrent Arteriovenous Fistula Cannulation: A Case Report.

Infective endocarditis is a severe medical condition that occurs when the endocardium of the heart gets infected by different microorganisms, including coagulase-negative staphylococci such as Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The source of infection is often related to procedures done in the groin area, such as femoral catheterization for cardiac catheterization, vasectomy, or central line placement in an already infected mitral or aortic valve. Herein, we are discussing a case of a 55-year-old female with a past medical history of end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis with a history of recurrent cannulation of her arteriovenous (AV) fistula. She presented with fever, myalgia, and generalized weakness, and was later found to have Staphylococcus lugdunensis bacteremia and infective endocarditis with mitral valve vegetations, for which the patient was transferred to the mitral valve specialized center for mitral valve replacement. This case acts as a reminder to consider recurrent cannulation of the AV fistula as one of the potential ports of entry of Staphylococcus lugdunensis to the body.

Tick-Borne Myopericarditis With Positive Anaplasma, Lyme, and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) Serology: A Case Report.

Myopericarditis has been reported only rarely in those with anaplasmosis and is typically difficult to diagnose. Lyme carditis can also be difficult to diagnose as it is relatively rare but potentially fatal and usually has nonspecific manifestations. We are presenting a 61-year-old male patient who presented in New Jersey, United States with unremitting fever, chills, and myalgia for two weeks along with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Investigations were suggestive of perimyocarditis as was indicated by diffuse ST segment elevation on electrocardiography (EKG) with the presence of small pericardial effusion on echocardiography. A mild troponin leakage was also seen. This progressed to septic shock that required vasopressor therapy. Further history-taking revealed recent tick exposure and prompted empirical initiation of doxycycline. This proved to be successful with fever defervescence and clinical improvement. Serological tests confirmed both acute Lyme and anaplasma infections along with positive serology of Epstein Barr virus (EBV). This case highlights an uncommon presentation of carditis in acute Lyme and anaplasma infections with the associated false-positive serology of EBV.

Prosthetic Aortic Valve Obstruction With Pannus Formation, an Approach for Diagnosis and Management: A Case Report.

Mechanical valve obstructions are critical medical and surgical emergencies that require immediate attention when patients present with new complaints and exhibit signs such as the onset of murmurs or the disappearance of mechanical valve clicks. Obstructions can arise from various causes, including pannus formation, thrombus, vegetations, or subvalvular tissue growth. While pannus formations have been previously reported for the mitral valve, they are less commonly observed in the aortic valve, and several hypotheses have been proposed to understand pannus formation. Accurate diagnosis relies on imaging techniques such as echocardiography and fluoroscopy, and surgical intervention is considered the optimal treatment approach. Here, we present the case of a 69-year-old female who had previously undergone aortic valve replacement and subsequently developed progressive dyspnea, fatigue, and a new onset murmur. Imaging modalities revealed a closed leaflet and a high transvalvular gradient over the valve. The patient underwent a prosthetic redo valve replacement, and post-surgery, she was discharged home without complications.

Wernicke Encephalopathy in a Patient With Bipolar Disorder: A Case Report.

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a combination of neurological findings including confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. It is most commonly associated with patients who have a history of alcohol abuse. This aspect leads to the majority of cases going undiagnosed in non-alcoholic patients who have other potential thiamine deficiency-causing conditions such as malignancy, chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis, hyperemesis gravidarum, and psychiatric disorders leading to starvation and malnourishment. Here we present the case of a 59-year-old female patient with decompensated bipolar disorder who came in with altered mental status and multiple syncopal episodes. On examination, she was completely confused and had a fixed gaze. She was worked up for broad differential diagnoses including stroke, arrhythmias, seizures, drug intoxication, and infections. But due to her severely malnourished appearance, Wernicke's encephalopathy was suspected early on, and she was started on thiamine therapy, to which she responded well. It was also confirmed by an MRI of the brain showing flair in the bilateral medial thalamic region. Therefore, to suspect the presence of WE in non-alcoholic patients with psychiatric disorders and to differentiate behavioral symptoms from delirium and encephalopathy is difficult and requires a high degree of clinical suspicion.

Cannabis-Induced ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Possible Coronary Artery Dissection: A Case Report.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare and commonly underdiagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome. Here, we report the case of a 36-year-old male patient who presented with an acute onset of left-sided chest pain, preceded by several hours of nausea and vomiting. Past medical history was significant for chronic marijuana use and multiple episodes of nausea and vomiting requiring multiple hospitalizations. Urinary drug screen was positive for cannabinoids only, and electrocardiography revealed an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. This was complicated by an episode of ventricular fibrillation that was successfully defibrillated and prompted cardiac catheterization, which revealed a coronary intraluminal filling defect and a segmental lesion, suggestive of coronary dissection. No evidence of atherosclerotic plaque was noticed. Stent placement and thrombectomy were pursued and the patient was stabilized. As cannabinoid use is gaining legality and becoming widespread, this case aims to enhance physicians' awareness of potentially life-threatening complications of its use.

Renal Vein Thrombosis Treated With Apixaban in a Patient With COVID-19: A Case Report.

Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a rare condition characterized by the formation of a blood clot in one or both of the renal veins. Bilateral involvement is more common, but when the condition affects only one side, it usually occurs on the left due to more extensive venous vasculature compared to the right side. RVT can be caused by various factors such as trauma, dehydration, malignancy, and a hypercoagulable state. Acute RVT is typically more severe than chronic, and it can cause symptoms such as renal infarction, acute kidney injury, renal failure, severe flank pain, and hematuria. Some cases of RVT have also been linked to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is widely recognized to induce a hypercoagulable state. The standard treatment for RVT is warfarin but in this case report, we describe a COVID-19 patient with RVT whose thrombus was successfully treated with direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) apixaban for six months.