Organising pneumonia manifesting as a late-phase complication of COVID-19

Acute COVID-19 usually lasts 4 weeks from the onset of symptoms. We report two cases of COVID-19-associated organising pneumonia (OP) occurring beyond 4 weeks from the acute onset of symptoms. Both tested positive for SARS reverse transcription–PCR 2 months before presentation with a resolution of respiratory symptoms. The first case presented with residual fatigue and worsening exertional dyspnoea. Chest CT revealed an OP pattern. The second case presented with worsening cough and new-onset pleuritic chest pain with persistent radiological consolidation. A transbronchial lung biopsy confirmed OP. Both patients responded well to 12 weeks of steroid therapy. This case illustrates the rare presentation of OP as a late sequela of COVID-19 and the good response to steroid therapy.

In Vivo Biofilm Formation of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the Vitreous Humor of Horses with Recurrent Uveitis

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) causes painful inflammatory attacks and oftentimes blindness in the affected eyes. The disease is considered a late sequela of systemic leptospirosis. The most effective therapy is the surgical removal of the vitreous (vitrectomy), which is not only therapeutic, but provides vitreous material that can be assessed diagnostically. For example, the lipL32 gene, culturable Leptospira spp., and anti-Leptospira antibodies have all been detected in vitreous samples obtained from eyes with chronic ERU. Despite this clear evidence of leptospiral involvement, the systemic administration of antibiotics in infected horses is ineffective at resolving ERU. This syndrome of chronic recurrent inflammation, which is unresponsive to antibiotic therapy, combined with apparent bacteria evading the immune response, is consistent with a biofilm-associated infection. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to detect the in vivo biofilm formation of Leptospira spp. in vitreous samples collected during vitrectomy and examined using a Warthin-Starry silver stain and immunohistochemistry. All known steps of biofilm formation were visualized in these samples, including individual Leptospira spp., leptospiral microcolonies and dense roundish accumulations of Leptospira spp. In many instances spirochetes were surrounded by an extracellular substance. Taken together, data from the present study show that ERU is a biofilm-associated intraocular leptospiral infection, which best explains the typical clinical course.

Urinary bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic spinal cord injury

Background Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is also a combat-related injury that is increasing in modern warfare. The aim of this work is to inform medical experts regarding the different course of bladder cancer in able-bodied patients compared with SCI patients based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, and to present decision-making aids for the assessment of bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic SCI. Methods A study conducted between January 1998 and December 2019 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg formed the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 40 out of 7396 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. General patient information, latency period, age at initial diagnosis, type of bladder management and survival of SCI patients with bladder cancer were collected and analysed. T category, grading and tumour entity in these patients were compared with those in the general population. Relevant bladder cancer risk factors in SCI patients were analysed. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration. Results Initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a mean age of 56.4 years (SD ± 10.7 years), i.e., approximately 20 years earlier as compared with the general population. These bladder cancers are significantly more frequently muscle invasive (i.e., T category ≥ T2) and present a higher grade at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, SCI patients show a significantly higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population in areas not endemic for the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Consequently, the survival time is extremely unfavourable. A very important finding, for practical reasons is that, in the Hamburg study as well as in the literature, urinary bladder cancer is more frequently observed after 10 years or more of SCI. Based on these findings, a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance. Conclusions The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that in able-bodied patients. The presented algorithm is an important aid in everyday clinical practice for assessing the correlation between SCI and bladder cancer.

Diabetes Insipidus and Concomitant Myocarditis: A Late Sequelae of COVID-19 Infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has become a global pandemic. Apart from the mild features of the disease, long-term complications involve many systems including both endocrine and cardiovascular systems. Myocarditis, secondary to COVID-19, has become a well-known complication of the disease. However, endocrine complications are generally not common, particularly isolated pituitary abnormalities. There is one other report of diabetes insipidus developing as a late sequela of COVID-19. In this article, we report a case of a young male who presented with features of myocarditis but developed diabetes insipidus on day 7 of admission as a long-term complication after recovery from COVID-19 infection. His laboratory test results at the time of developing the complication revealed a high serum sodium level and low urine osmolality. The patient recovered on administration of desmopressin and was discharged after 16 days of hospitalization.

Calcific Myonecrosis of the Leg: A Rare Entity

Calcific myonecrosis is a rare disease that has been shown to be a late sequela of trauma. This article presents a 68-year-old man with calcific myonecrosis of the leg 40 years after a tibial fracture complicated with peroneal nerve palsy. The soft tissue mass increased in size after another injury to the leg that occurred two years before his presentation. Physical examination at presentation showed a palpable extra-osseous mass at the anterior aspect of the left leg; the mass was not adherent to adjacent soft-tissues and bone, and it was painless but tender to palpation. Radiographs of the left leg showed extensive calcification at the soft-tissue of the anterior and posterior leg. An ultrasonography-guided trocar biopsy was done; histological findings were indicative of calcific myonecrosis. Given the benign entity of the lesion and known high rate of complications, he was recommended for no further treatment except for clinical and imaging observation. Located at the site of the biopsy, he experienced infection with drainage that eventually healed after six months with antibiotics and wound dressing changes. During the last follow-up examination, two years after diagnosis, the patient was asymptomatic without progression of the mass.

Bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis: a case series

Background Bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis is a late sequela of tricuspid valve replacement (TVR); however, detailed information regarding its clinical picture is lacking. Case summary Thirty-one patients with bioprosthetic TVR (mean age: 60.5 ± 16.6 years, male/female: 11/20) were followed-up for 79.5 ± 49.1 months (14–188 months). Eleven patients developed bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis (mean tricuspid gradient >5 mmHg) at a median interval of 96 months (interquartile range: 61–114 months). The mean tricuspid gradient at the time of tricuspid valve stenosis diagnosis was 10.9 ± 3.9 mmHg. Although the mid-term tricuspid valve stenosis-free survival was favourable (92.4% at 60 and 78.7% at 84 months), it had declined steeply to 31.5% by 120 months. Ten out of 11 tricuspid valve stenosis patients showed signs of right heart failure (RHF) as manifested by oedema and elevated jugular venous pressure, requiring moderate-to-high doses of diuretics. Diastolic rumble was audible in 10 patients. Five of the 11 tricuspid valve stenosis patients required redo TVR as a result of refractory RHF. Examination of the five excised bioprostheses showed pannus in four, fusion of the commissure in three, native valve attachment in two, and sclerosis in one. Detailed clinical pictures and pathology of the explanted valves in three cases that underwent surgery are presented in this case series. Discussion Bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis is not uncommon after 8 years. Tricuspid valve replacement performed at the second surgery was associated with a higher incidence of bioprosthetic tricuspid valve stenosis.