scholarly journals Disseminated Nocardia infection with a lesion occupying the intracranial space complicated with coma: a case report

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Hong Yu ◽  
Xiao-Xin Wu ◽  
Chun-Lei Chen ◽  
Song-Jia Tang ◽  
Jian-Di Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Disseminated Nocardia infection is a disease that is easily overlooked in patients with lesions occupying the intracranial space complicated with coma. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Case presentation A 65-year-old man was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in October 2018 with weakness in the right limbs for 3 days and altered consciousness for 1 day. Five months earlier, he had been diagnosed with membranous kidney disease and had received cyclophosphamide and prednisone. At admission, the white blood cell count was 1.37 × 1010/L (with 86.4% neutrophils), and C-reactive protein was 115.60 mg/L. Imaging examinations revealed a lesion occupying the intracranial space, lung infection, and multiple abscesses in the rhomboid muscle. The abscesses were drained. Pus culture confirmed Nocardia cyriacigeorgica infection. With antibiotics and vacuum-sealed drainage of the back wound, the patient improved and was discharged from the hospital. Conclusions This case report shows that infection should be considered during the differential diagnosis of lesions in the intracranial space, especially in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment. In patients with disseminated N. cyriacigeorgica infection, combination antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage of localised abscesses can be effective.

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Sakhaee ◽  
Morteza Masoumi ◽  
Farzam Vaziri ◽  
Seyed Davar Siadat ◽  
Abolfazl Fateh

Abstract Background Mycobacterium jacuzzii (M. jacuzzii) was first isolated in 2003 by insertion of breast implants in Tel Aviv, Israel. In this case report, we describe our experience in detection of M. jacuzzii using phenotypic and genotypic test of wrist synovial sample. Case presentation A 73-year-old woman complained of pain and swelling in the right wrist for 4 months. Her body temperature was 37–38 °C, and symptoms, such as pain, swelling, and some movement limitation, were reported. Clinical laboratory parameters showed an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cells (WBC) count. The sequences of hsp65, rpoB, 16S rDNA, and sodA genes indicated very high homology to M. jacuzzii. Conclusion We report a case of synovial infection caused by M. jacuzzii in a patient with severe wrist pain in Iran, who was treated with amikacin, levofloxacin, and ethambutol. The outcomes of treatment after 8 months were positive, and no recurrence of infection was reported in the patient.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Espen Benjaminsen ◽  
Anne Reigstad ◽  
Vanja Cengija ◽  
Vibke Lilleby ◽  
Maria Carlsson

Introduction. Takayasu arteritis is a rare disease affecting the aorta and its main branches, causing arterial claudication and end-organ ischemia, including stroke. The etiology is unknown but is believed to be autoimmune. An association between Takayasu arteritis and tuberculosis has been suggested, but the possible relation is unclear.Case Presentation. A 15-year-old Somali boy was diagnosed with latent tuberculosis. He had a lesion in the right lung, and both the tuberculin skin test by the Mantoux method and Quantiferon GOLD test turned out positive. After he suffered a cerebral infarct in the right hemisphere, childhood Takayasu arteritis was diagnosed. The diagnosis was based on diagnostic imaging showing a high-grade stenosis of the origin of the right common carotid artery, an occluded common carotid artery on the left side, a circumferential thickening of the vessel walls in the right and left common carotid artery, and laboratory findings with elevated C-reactive protein.Conclusion. Takayasu arteritis is an uncommon cause of stroke. It should however be kept in mind as a cause of cerebrovascular disease, especially in the young.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keke Song ◽  
Tingting Yang ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Jing Tan

Abstract Background: Paraganglioma not only can secrete catecholamines with vasoconstriction activity resulting in hypertension and metabolic disorders,but also cytokines which can induce inflammatory response syndrome.Case presentation: We report a 19-year-old girl with a paraganglioma that presented with fever and thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein. After paraganglioma’s resection, the little girl had no fever and the platelet, white blood cell and high sensitivity C-reactive protein recover to nomal level. Conclusion: We propose in the future we should check cytokine in patients with paroxysmal hypertension complicated with inflammatory response syndrome and thrombocytosis, and think of that it may be caused by pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Somayeh Alirezaei ◽  
Atiye Vatanchi ◽  
Leila Pourali ◽  
Behzad Aminzadeh ◽  
Robab Latifnejad Roudsari

Abstract Background In this case report, we presented a rare case of maternal death with massive vulvar edema and Covid-19 diagnosis. Case presentation The case was a 20-year-old woman who was referred to with pain and massive vulvar edema by passing 7 days from her labor. The laboratory tests showed leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and elevated C-reactive protein levels. The high-resolution computed tomography was in favor of Covid-19 changes. Finally, she died because of respiratory distress, ON the 8th day postpartum. Conclusion Given the increasing prevalence of Covid-19, it is important and vital to be aware of its potential complications and then to try prevent and manage them, especially during high-risk periods such as pregnancy and postpartum.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Jet S. Jansen ◽  
Paul M. van Schaik ◽  
Jasper M. Martens ◽  
Michel M. P. J. Reijnen

Abstract Background This case report demonstrates the value of IMPEDE-FX plugs in an embolization procedure of a false lumen of an infrarenal post-dissection aneurysm. Case presentation A 69-year-old patient was treated with mitral valve replacement, complicated by a Stanford type-A dissection. After 9 years he presented with an enlarging infrarenal post-dissection aneurysm. The false lumen was embolized using multiple IMPEDE-FX plugs as part of the treatment in addition to embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery and overstenting of the re-entry in the right iliac artery. At 15 months the CTA showed a fully thrombosed false lumen and remodeling of the true lumen. Conclusions The false lumen of an infrarenal post-dissection aneurysm can successfully be embolized using IMPEDE-FX embolization plugs as part of the treatment strategy. Prospective trials on patients with non-thrombosed false lumina are indicated.


Author(s):  
Kotaro Matsumoto ◽  
Kentaro Kikuchi ◽  
Ayako Hara ◽  
Hiromichi Tsunashima ◽  
Koichi Tsuneyama ◽  
...  

AbstractA 25-year-old woman with fever and epigastric pain was referred to our hospital. Blood examination showed significant liver dysfunction, markedly high C-reactive protein (CRP 19.1 mg/dL) and procalcitonin (48.3 ng/mL) levels. Dynamic computed tomography showed a tumor approximately 120 mm in size in the right lobe of the liver, but with no abscess formation. The patient was hospitalized and started on antibiotics; her CRP level improved, but the procalcitonin level did not decrease. Histopathological examination of the liver tumor biopsy revealed fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC). Positive staining of the FLC with an anti-procalcitonin antibody suggested the production of procalcitonin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1610
Author(s):  
Marcin Wnuk ◽  
Justyna Derbisz ◽  
Leszek Drabik ◽  
Agnieszka Slowik

Background: Previous studies on inflammatory biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) produced divergent results. We evaluated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) measured fasting 12–24 h after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) were associated with outcome in AIS patients without concomitant infection. Methods: The study included 352 AIS patients treated with IVT. Excluded were patients with community-acquired or nosocomial infection. Outcome was measured on discharge and 90 days after stroke onset with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and defined as poor outcome (mRS 3–6) or death (mRS = 6). Results: Final analysis included 158 patients (median age 72 years (interquartile range 63-82), 53.2% (n = 84) women). Poor outcome on discharge and at day 90 was 3.8-fold and 5.8-fold higher for patients with CRP ≥ 8.65 mg/L (fifth quintile of CRP), respectively, compared with first quintile (<1.71 mg/L). These results remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratio (OR) on discharge = 10.68, 95% CI: 2.54–44.83, OR at day 90 after stroke = 7.21, 95% CI: 1.44–36.00). In-hospital death was 6.3-fold higher for patients with fifth quintile of CRP as compared with first quintile and remained independent from other variables (OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.29–17.88). Independent predictors of 90-day mortality were WBC < 6.4 × 109 /L (OR = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.49–16.78), baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (OR = 1.13 per point, 95% CI: 1.01–1.25) and bleeding brain complications (OR = 5.53, 95% CI: 1.59–19.25) but not CRP ≥ 8.65 mg/L. Conclusions: Non-infective CRP levels are an independent risk factor for poor short- and long-term outcomes and in-hospital mortality in AIS patients treated with IVT. Decreased WBC but not CRP is a predictor for 90-day mortality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola Olusegun Talabi ◽  
Tewogbade Adeoye Adedeji ◽  
Oludayo Adedapo Sowande ◽  
Olusanya Adejuyigbe

Abstract Background The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children is quite challenging as the rate of negative appendectomy varies between 15 and 57%. Increased utilization of imaging diagnostic facilities in advanced countries seems to have reduced the incidence of operating on normal appendix to a single digit. In low- and middle-income countries, the incidence remains unacceptably high (double digits). Inflammatory markers and scoring systems may be a suitable adjunct to increase diagnostic yield in most third world countries. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Alvarado score, white blood cell count, and serum C-reactive protein in children with acute appendicitis. Results The ages of patients ranged between 4 and 15 years with a mean of 11.2 ± 2.8 years. The male to female ratio was 1.4 to 1.0. Nineteen percent of patients had negative appendiceal findings on histological examination. The sensitivity and specificity of Alvarado score, C-reactive protein estimation, total white blood cell count in diagnosing acute appendicitis were 86.4% and 63.2%, 98.8% and 36.8%, and 51.9% and 89.5% respectively. Alvarado score has the highest area under ROC curve analysis 0.824, 95% CI of 0.724 to 0.924 compared with CRP, 0.769. 95% CI of = 0.647 to 0.891 and WBC count, 0.765, 95% CI of 0.643 to 0.887. Both CRP and WBC count showed higher discriminatory values between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis, p < 0.001. Conclusion Alvarado score outperformed other tests in setting the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, none of the tests can be relied on wholly for operative decision. Clinical judgement remains the bedrock for diagnosis and operative management.


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