scholarly journals Cognitive Status Epilepticus: Two Case Reports

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 799
Author(s):  
Eleni Karantali ◽  
Symela Chatzikonstantinou ◽  
Ioannis Mavroudis ◽  
Constantin Trus ◽  
Dimitrios Kazis
Keyword(s):  
Status Epilepticus ◽  
Antiepileptic Drug ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Epileptic Disorder ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Focal Status Epilepticus ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

Cognitive status epilepticus is an uncommon form of focal status epilepticus presenting with a dysfunction of language, thinking or associated higher cortical functions. The absence of ictal manifestations can be misleading and delay a prompt diagnosis. Here we present two patients; one with amnesic and one with aphasic status epilepticus. Through these cases, we aim to highlight the value of EEG performance early in the diagnostic work-up and early antiepileptic drug initiation in cases where an epileptic disorder cannot be excluded.

Copeptin; utility in paediatric patients with hyponatraemia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L Boal ◽  
James Hughes ◽  
Debbie Matthews ◽  
Helen Johnstone ◽  
Christopher Boot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Range ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Vasopressin Release ◽  
Diuretic Hormone ◽  
Low Sodium ◽  
Paediatric Patients ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

Introduction Copeptin concentrations are a useful component of the diagnostic work-up of paediatric patients with polyuria and polydipsia but the value of measuring copeptin in patients with hyponatraemia is less clear. Case Reports We report 5 children with hyponatraemia in the context of different underlying pathologies. Copeptin concentrations were elevated in 4 cases (13.7, 14.4, 26.1, 233pmol/L; reference range 2.4 – 8.6pmol/L) suggesting that non-osmoregulated vasopressin release (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic diuretic hormone or SIADH) was the underlying mechanism for the low sodium levels. In one of the patients there was an underlying diagnosis of Schaaf-Yang syndrome (MAGEL 2 gene mutation) with a clinical picture suggestive of dysregulated vasopressin production with inappropriately high and then low copeptin release. In one hyponatraemic patient, low copeptin concentrations indicated that non-osmoregulated AVP release was not the cause of hyponatraemia and oliguria. Discussion Copeptin measurement did not influence management acutely but helped to clarify the mechanism leading to hyponatraemia when the result was available. Relatively high and low copeptin concentrations in association with hypo and hypernatraemia indicates dysregulated vasopressin production in Schaaf-Yang syndrome. Profound copeptin elevation may be a clue to underlying sepsis.

Diagnosis and management of urethro-cavernosal fistulas

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 398-401
Author(s):  
Jullet Han ◽  
Saum Ghodoussipour ◽  
Evgeniy I Kreydin ◽  
Leo Doumanian
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Surgical Approaches ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

Objective: To present a case series of urethro-cavernosal fistulas evaluating their diagnostic work-up and management. Methods: A literature search was performed using key words including “urethro-cavernosal fistula,” “urethral fistula,” and “cavernosal fistula.” Results: In total 10 case reports were identified and reviewed for information regarding clinical diagnosis, management, and long-term outcomes including success rates and complications. Conclusion: Urethro-cavernosal fistula is a rare urological condition. With few cases reported to date, there is considerable variation in diagnostic work-up and management. Both conservative and surgical approaches can be utilized in the management of urethro-cavernosal fistulas with good long-term outcomes. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.

scholarly journals Stroke masquerading as cardiac arrest: the artery of Percheron

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238681
Author(s):  
Megan Quetsch ◽  
Sureshkumar Nagiah ◽  
Stephen Hedger
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Altered Consciousness ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Consciousness Level ◽  
Artery Of Percheron ◽  
Conscious Level ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare arterial variant of the thalamic blood supply. Due to the densely packed collection of nuclei it supplies, an infarction of the AOP can be devastating. Here we highlight a patient who had an AOP stroke in the community, which was initially managed as cardiac arrest. AOP strokes most often present with vague symptoms such as reduced conscious level, cognitive changes and confusion without obvious focal neurology, and therefore are often missed at the initial clinical assessment. This case highlights the importance of recognising an AOP stroke as a cause of otherwise unexplained altered consciousness level and the use of MRI early in the diagnostic work-up.

scholarly journals Death of unknown cause? Post-mortem diagnosis of fulminant course of an EBV-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josia Fauser ◽  
Stefan Köck ◽  
Eberhard Gunsilius ◽  
Andreas Chott ◽  
Andreas Peer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Macrophage Activation ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Appropriate Therapy ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up ◽  
Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

SummaryHLH is a life-threatening disease, which is characterized by a dysregulated immune response with uncontrolled T cell and macrophage activation. The often fulminant course of the disease needs a fast diagnostic work-up to initiate as soon as possible the appropriate therapy. We present herein the case of a 71-year-old patient with rapidly progressive hyperinflammatory syndrome, which post mortem resulted in the diagnosis of EBV-associated HLH. With this case report, we intend to highlight the relevance of the HScore in the diagnosis of HLH, to create a greater awareness for EBV as a trigger of HLH, and to demonstrate the importance of treating EBV-associated HLH as early as possible.

scholarly journals COVID-19 lung injury as a primer for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-related pneumonia in a patient affected by squamous head and neck carcinoma treated with PD-L1 blockade: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001870
Author(s):  
Angelo Dipasquale ◽  
Pasquale Persico ◽  
Elena Lorenzi ◽  
Daoud Rahal ◽  
Armando Santoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Experimental Therapy ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

By the beginning of the global pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection has dramatically impacted on oncology daily practice. In the current oncological landscape, where immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of several malignancies, distinguishing between COVID-19 and immune-mediated pneumonitis can be hard because of shared clinical, radiological and pathological features. Indeed, their common mechanism of aberrant inflammation could lead to a mutual and amplifying interaction.We describe the case of a 65–year-old patient affected by metastatic squamous head and neck cancer and candidate to an experimental therapy including an anti-PD-L1 agent. COVID-19 ground-glass opacities under resolution were an incidental finding during screening procedures and worsened after starting immunotherapy. The diagnostic work-up was consistent with ICIs-related pneumonia and it is conceivable that lung injury by SARS-CoV-2 has acted as an inflammatory primer for the development of the immune-related adverse event.Patients recovered from COVID-19 starting ICIs could be at greater risk of recall immune-mediated pneumonitis. Nasopharyngeal swab and chest CT scan are recommended before starting immunotherapy. The awareness of the phenomenon could allow an easier interpretation of radiological changes under treatment and a faster diagnostic work-up to resume ICIs. In the presence of clinical benefit, for asymptomatic ICIs-related pneumonia a watchful-waiting approach and immunotherapy prosecution are suggested.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document