scholarly journals Orbital aspergillosis: a case report and review of the literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mael Lever ◽  
Benjamin Wilde ◽  
Roman Pförtner ◽  
Cornelius Deuschl ◽  
Oliver Witzke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Orbital aspergillosis is a rare sight- and life-threatening fungal infection affecting immunocompromised or otherwise healthy patients. It is often misdiagnosed due to its unspecific clinical and radiologic appearance. Therapeutic delay can have dramatic consequences. However, progress in microbiological diagnostic techniques and therapeutic experience from case series help improve the management of this disease. Case presentation A 78-year-old immunocompetent woman presented at an eye clinic for subacute swelling, reddening, and ptosis of her left upper eyelid. Based on radiologic and histologic considerations, she was treated for idiopathic orbital inflammation, but her condition worsened. After a second biopsy of the orbital mass, aspergillosis was diagnosed. Her condition improved promptly after initiation of an oral voriconazole treatment. Additionally, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, A. fumigatus was identified on tissue of both biopsies and its azole susceptibility was examined simultaneously. Conclusions In the case described here, oral antifungal treatment was sufficient for the therapy of invasive orbital aspergillosis. Performing fungal PCR on orbital tissue can accelerate the diagnostic process and should be performed in ambiguous cases of slowly growing orbital mass. Finally, interdisciplinary management is the key to optimal treatment of orbital tumours and infections.

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anup J. Devasia ◽  
Raveen Stephen Stallon Illangeswaran ◽  
Infencia Xavier Raj ◽  
Biju George ◽  
Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian

AbstractObjectivesAzathioprine (AZA) is a commonly used immunosuppressant in patients with autoimmune diseases. The toxic side effect to AZA (myelosuppression, hair loss, and oral ulcers) are highly unpredictable which can be life threatening if not identified earlier and dose adjustments made or the drug is withdrawn.Case presentationHere we report a case series of five patients with severe toxicity while on treatment with AZA for autoimmune hemolytic anemia (n=1) and Immune thrombocytopenia (n=4). The common thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) variants (TPMT*2, *3A, *3B) were not present in these patients. However, all these patients had the NUDT15 415C>T variant that has been reported to explain serious toxicity to thioguanine in Asian patients.ConclusionsOur report suggests pre-emptive genotype-based dosing of AZA could reduce adverse toxicity and hence better outcome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tingting Xu ◽  
Xiaodong Wang ◽  
Haiyan Yu ◽  
Xinghui Liu

Abstract Background Triplet pregnancies are associated with higher fetal morbidity and mortality rates as well as life-threatening maternal complications. Monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) triplet pregnancies are very rare compared to other types of triplet pregnancies. Case presentation We report three cases of MCDA triplet pregnancies between January 2012 and December 2017. Two of these MCDA triplet pregnancies received regular and intensive prenatal care, were diagnosed by ultrasonography during the first trimester or early second trimester, and had good perinatal outcomes. The case with irregular perinatal care had poor outcomes, and the MCDA triplet pregnancy was diagnosed intrapartum. Conclusions The possibility of continuing an MCDA triplet pregnancy should be recognized. Early diagnosis, regular antenatal care, close prenatal monitoring, and sufficient communication are recommended to obtain better perinatal outcomes in MCDA triplet pregnancies.


2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei ◽  
Abdollah Karimi ◽  
Shahnaz Armin ◽  
Seyed Alireza Fahimzad ◽  
Roxana Mansour Ghanaie ◽  
...  

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known as the most recent pandemic condition declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is widely believed that this infection is less frequent and severe in children, but few mortality reports are available in this age group population. Case Presentation: We described nine pediatric patients with probable or confirmed COVID-19 who died due to disease complications. Their age ranged between seven months and 14 years. All had underlying diseases, and three of them had been hospitalized before the COVID-19 diagnosis due to their previous medical conditions. Cough and respiratory symptoms were the most common symptoms observed in these patients. Bilateral ground-glass opacities were common radiologic findings. Conclusions: Although COVID-19 is less common in the pediatric group, all ages are vulnerable to this infection, and mortality may occur, especially in patients with underlying diseases. We emphasize that children with underlying diseases and COVID-19 should be hospitalized and monitored tightly during treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford Sheckter ◽  
Arhana Chattopadhyay ◽  
John Paro ◽  
Yvonne Karanas

Abstract Background Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) sales have grown rapidly in recent years, coinciding with a public perception that they are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, there have been numerous media reports of fires associated with e-cigarette spontaneous combustion. Case Presentation Three severe burns caused by spontaneous combustion of e-cigarettes within a 6-month period were treated at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Burn Unit. Patients sustained partial and full-thickness burns. Two required hospitalization and surgical treatment. Conclusions E-cigarettes are dangerous devices and have the potential to cause significant burns. Consumers and the general public should be made aware of these life-threatening devices.


Author(s):  
Chandramouli M.T

AbstractLife-threatening adverse reactions of antitubercular drugs are uncommon; however, thrombocytopenia is one such rare complication encountered with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Rifampicin is the most effective drug and its use in the tuberculosis treatment led to the emergence of modern and effective short-course regimens. I am reporting case series of three patients with pulmonary tuberculosis presented with rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Kato ◽  
Yoshikazu Ogawa ◽  
Teiji Tominaga

Abstract Background Pregnancy is a known risk factor for pituitary apoplexy, which is life threatening for both mother and child. However, very few clinical interventions have been proposed for managing pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy. Case presentation We describe the management of three cases of pituitary apoplexy during pregnancy and review available literature. Presenting symptoms in our case series were headache and/or visual disturbances, and the etiology in all cases was hemorrhage. Conservative therapy was followed until 34 weeks of gestation, after which babies were delivered by cesarean section with prophylactic bolus hydrocortisone supplementation. Tumor removal was only electively performed after delivery using the transsphenoidal approach. All three patients and their babies had a good clinical course, and postoperative pathological evaluation revealed that all tumors were functional and that they secreted prolactin. Conclusions Although the mechanism of pituitary apoplexy occurrence remains unknown, the most important treatment strategy for pituitary apoplexy in pregnancy remains adequate hydrocortisone supplementation and frequent hormonal investigation. Radiological follow-up should be performed only if clinical symptoms deteriorate, and optimal timing for surgical resection should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team that includes obstetricians and neonatologists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 232470962110264
Author(s):  
Taylor Warmoth ◽  
Malvika Ramesh ◽  
Kenneth Iwuji ◽  
John S. Pixley

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a form of hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis that occurs in patients with a variety of inflammatory rheumatologic conditions. Traditionally, it is noted in pediatric patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematous. It is a rapidly progressive and life-threatening syndrome of excess immune activation with an estimated mortality rate of 40% in children. It has become clear recently that MAS occurs in adult patients with underlying rheumatic inflammatory diseases. In this article, we describe 6 adult patients with likely underlying MAS. This case series will outline factors related to diagnosis, pathophysiology, and review present therapeutic strategies.


Author(s):  
Nevine El Nahas ◽  
Tamer Roushdy ◽  
Eman Hamid ◽  
Sherien Farag ◽  
Hossam Shokri ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that has been reported to have various neurological manifestations. Cerebrovascular disorders have been encountered as a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presentation in our center during the pandemic. Case presentation We are presenting 10 cases with cerebrovascular manifestations after having COVID-19 few days prior to stroke. Conclusion Cerebrovascular manifestations can occur in association with COVID-19 and may have significant implications on prognosis and management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zai-Qiang Zhang ◽  
Jia-Wang Ding

Abstract Background While the perforation of the atrial wall and aortic sinus after closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is rare, it’s life-threatening, with rapid progress and high mortality. To the best of our knowledge, 21 similar cases have been reported since 1976. Case presentation We report a 16-year-old male whose atrial septal defect (ASD) was closed using a 12-mm Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO). Atrial wall and aortic sinus perforation occurred 3 months after transcatheter closure, and the patient was discharged after emergency operation. He was discharged on the 12th postoperative day in good overall condition. Conclusions With this case report, we want to illustrate that although percutaneous closure of ASD is regarded as a routine procedure, we should not forget the potentially lethal complications, especially cardiac erosion. Therefore, we should carefully evaluate the risk of erosion before surgery, and careful lifelong follow-up is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3439
Author(s):  
Irene Motta ◽  
Juri Giannotta ◽  
Marta Ferraresi ◽  
Kordelia Barbullushi ◽  
Nicoletta Revelli ◽  
...  

Congenital anemias may be complicated by immune-mediated hemolytic crisis. Alloantibodies are usually seen in chronically transfused patients, and autoantibodies have also been described, although they are rarely associated with overt autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication. Given the lack of data on the AIHA diagnosis and management in congenital anemias, we retrospectively evaluated all clinically relevant AIHA cases occurring at a referral center for AIHA, hemoglobinopathies, and chronic hemolytic anemias, focusing on clinical management and outcome. In our cohort, AIHA had a prevalence of 1% (14/1410 patients). The majority were warm AIHA. Possible triggers were recent transfusion, infection, pregnancy, and surgery. All the patients received steroid therapy as the first line, and about 25% required further treatment, including rituximab, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulins, and cyclophosphamide. Transfusion support was required in 57% of the patients with non-transfusion-dependent anemia, and recombinant human erythropoietin was safely administered in one third of the patients. AIHA in congenital anemias may be challenging both from a diagnostic and a therapeutic point of view. A proper evaluation of hemolytic markers, bone marrow compensation, and assessment of the direct antiglobulin test is mandatory.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document