Oral mini-pulse steroid therapy in severe chronic urticaria

Background: Treatment of chronic urticaria can be difficult at times. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral mini-pulse (OMP) therapy with methylprednisolone in management of severe chronic urticaria (CU). Methods and material: 100 patients with severe chronic urticaria, not controlled with maximum dose of a second generation antihistamine, were enrolled in the study after an informed written consent. All patients were treated with methylprednisolone 16 mg tablet on two consecutive days of a week for 2 months along with levocetirizine 5 mg tablet once daily. All patients were reviewed at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks with urticaria activity score (UAS). Results: The study comprised of 100 patients (33 males and 67 females) with severe chronic urticaria. 29 patients (29%) had raised TSH levels while Autologous Serum Skin Test was positive in 37 patients. Mean UAS in patients treated with OMP was 5.76 at baseline which reduced to 0.6 at the end of treatment period. Conclusion: Mean UAS showed a significant decline following OMP therapy with methylprednisolone. Most of the patients maintained the benefits of therapy at the end of follow up period of 4 months.

Severe Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction Treated with Ruxolitinib and Plasma Exchange

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction is a rare but extremely mortal condition. Even small quantities of ABO-incompatible erythrocytes, as much as 50 mL, can lead to fatality. Since there is no successful standard therapy, preventive measures are very important. In this case report, we presented a 29-year-old woman who was transfused with 2 units of AB Rh-positive instead of 0 Rh-positive red blood cells following a cesarean section. As far as we know, this is the first patient in the literature for whom ruxolitinib was used as a part of therapy. <b><i>Case Report:</i></b> The patient was referred to our center 22 h after the ABO-mismatched transfusion. On admission, she had severe hemolysis, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Massive plasma exchange, hemodialysis, and pulse steroid therapy were commenced. The patient was refractory to first-line therapies. She was intubated on day 2 due to hypoxia, respiratory failure and changes in consciousness. Ruxolitinib, 2 × 10 mg/day, was started on day 3. The patient’s clinical status improved on day 6. Ruxolitinib was withdrawn on day 15, and the patient was discharged without any complications or sequels on day 26. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Ruxolitinib may be life-saving in patients with ABO-incompatible transfusion reaction which follows a severe and catastrophic course.

Disseminated mycobacterial septicemia presented as acute abdomen: a surgeon’s perspective on Landouzy’s sepsis

A 20-year-old man presented in emergency with fever, abdominal pain and obstipation. On evaluation, he was found to have an acute abdomen with septic shock. The cross-sectional abdominal imaging revealed hepatosplenomegaly, pleural effusion and ascites with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. He was resuscitated and started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. There was no other source of infection identified elsewhere. While bacterial and fungal cultures were negative, the sputum, blood, bone marrow and ascitic fluid were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis following which he was started on antituberculosis therapy. Despite therapy, the patient’s clinical condition continued to deteriorate requiring critical care. In view of Landouzy’s sepsis, pulse steroid therapy was started. However, the patient’s clinical condition continued to deteriorate and developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. Despite the best efforts, the patient expired.

Corticosteroid associated lupus pancreatitis

SUMMARY The relationship between acute pancreatitis and the administration of glucocorticoids is unclear because most reported cases have been diagnosed with systemic vascular diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, which may be responsible for pancreatitis. A 22-year-old woman with eye involvement of a newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus was admitted to our hospital. Pulse intravenous methylprednisolone therapy was given at 1mg/kg day for 3 days, and oral prednisolone at 40 mg/day thereafter. During pulse steroid therapy, she had abdominal pain, back pain, distention, nausea, and vomiting. Her physical examination was compatible with acute abdomen and peritonitis. Abdomen Computerized Tomography scan revealed diffuse liquid perihepatic and perisplenic area with heterogeneity around the mesentery. Due to the symptoms of acute abdomen, explorative laparotomy was performed. There was diffuse free fluid in the abdomen and edematous changes were observed around the pancreas. Amylase and lipase from intraabdominal fluid were studied and found to be high. The postoperative prednol dose was reduced carefully. On the sixth postoperative day, the drain was removed, and the patient was discharged without any problem. Physicians should keep in mind that acute pancreatitis may also be a cause of differential diagnosis of newly developed abdominal pain in patients receiving pulse steroid therapy with a normal level of serum amylase and lipase.

Intravitreal dexamethasone as an adjunct for the treatment of dengue virus related maculopathy: a case report

Dengue infection related ocular pathology whether as a direct manifestation of coagulopathy or as a sequale of immunological reaction is being increasingly recognized in endemic regions and has expanded out into a spectrum with pan ocular presentation. Authors present a case of a young female from an endemic region who developed visual field abnormality and loss of vision several days after onset of fever. She was diagnosed with dengue virus infection and subsequently went on to develop thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion. Detailed ophthalmological evaluation revealed maculae edema, and changes consistent with neuroretinitis and posterior segment vasculitis. She was treated with a combination of pulse steroid therapy and intravitreal dexamethasone injection. Patient went on to have excellent visual recovery on follow up with no persisting visual field deficit.