Several landmark studies found a relationship between elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, the association between hyperuricemia and hypertension (HTN), ...coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart failure (HF) is currently well-established. While the mechanism linking hyperuricemia and CVD is not fully known, a systemic inflammatory response by the host is believed to play a role. With the goal of decreasing the morbidity and mortality of CVD in patients with hyperuricemia, the focus has now turned to properly optimizing a medication regimen for this patient population. Recent studies have shown that controlling underlying inflammation can, in fact, lead to better cardiovascular outcomes for populations with acute and chronic coronary disease. In this paper, we will discuss the current state of understanding on the association of hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we will look into the most recent clinical trials showing the effects anti-inflammatory medications have on both decreasing and recovering from cardiovascular events. We will conclude with a discussion on, given the information mentioned above, how to properly optimize a medication regimen in patients with elevated SUA levels with a focus on decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with CVD.
A 62-year-old healthy male presents with leg weakness and fever. Imaging revealed leptomeningeal enhancement (LE). After cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures were negative, he was discharged with a ...diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, but was readmitted due to worsening symptoms. Brain biopsy suggested rheumatoid leptomeningitis associated with elevated serum rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA). Following discharge, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) reported a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on CSF and brain DNA consistent with
Naegleria fowleri
(NF). After dramatic improvement on steroids, the patient declined antimicrobial treatment. Upon prednisone taper, symptoms recurred which responded to rituximab (RTX). This case highlights a possible association between rheumatoid leptomeningitis (RM) onset and infection, in a patient without a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our goal is to assess whether this association is present in 69 RM cases reported since 2000. We also describe diagnosis and treatment of 31 new cases (January 2017 to March 2020). We did not identify evidence of active/latent infection in patients with RM and previous RA; however, patients without RA history appeared to have a significantly higher rate. This finding could demonstrate the necessity of evaluating for infection in de novo RM cases without antecedent RA history. We also describe characteristic clinical patterns for each group. More studies are needed to corroborate these results and expand into a possible distinct natural history of RM in each group, which might have an impact upon the clinical outcome.
Abstract Cytopenias in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) require clinical and laboratory workup and bone marrow (BM) examination to determine the cause and for appropriate patient management. Common ...causes include an increase in SLE activity, immune-mediated hemolysis, iron deficiency, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, infection, or the effect of medications. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with SLE and cytopenias who had undergone BM studies to determine the indicators of malignancy. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with SLE who presented with cytopenias for their disease course, medications, laboratory parameters and documented the spectrum of morphological changes in BM including CD34 expression. Twenty patients with SLE had undergone BM biopsy for evaluation of cytopenias. 14/20 (70%) of the patients had reactive BM, and the rest had hematologic malignancies involving the BM. Of these 14 patients, 8 had hypocellular marrow with loss of precursor cells (low CD34), 4 had left shift in myeloid lineage, 3 had serous atrophy, and 1had multilineage dysplasia. The 6 patients with hematologic malignancies included 2 with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and one each of natural killer/T cell lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, Hodgkin lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndrome evolving to acute myelogenous leukemia. The presence of autoantibodies, SLE activity, and lupus nephritis were comparable in patients with and without neoplasia. However, the duration of the use of multiple immunosuppressants, years since renal transplant (22 vs 10), multiple transplants, and the presence of other autoimmune diseases were greater in those with neoplasia. Two of the 14 patients with non-neoplastic BM and 1 with the neoplastic BM had nonhematological malignancy. Clinical and laboratory findings, the number of transplants, and the use of immunosuppressive agents can guide physicians to identify patients with a higher risk of developing hematologic malignancy. BM findings of cytopenia in SLE are often due to increased disease activity causing global cell death and dysmaturation. SLE patients presenting with cytopenias, with a history of long-term exposure to immunosuppressive drugs, should be regularly screened for hematologic and nonhematologic malignancies.
Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) prevents thrombotic complications associated with coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome, and stent thrombosis following the percutaneous coronary ...intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. When initiating DAPT, the risk of thrombosis must be balanced with the increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB). Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are concurrently prescribed with DAPT to reduce bleeding risk. In this review, we discuss the benefits and potential complications of DAPT/PPI co-prescription. The only large international randomized control trial (RCT), Clopidogrel and the Optimization of Gastrointestinal Events Trial (COGENT), shows robust evidence that PPIs are a safe and effective method to reduce the risk of bleeding in patients on DAPT. However, more large-scale RCTs are needed to study potential long-term effects and draw a stronger conclusion on this topic.
The coexistence of Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with other autoimmune diseases (AD-NMOSD) presents worse clinical outcomes and healthcare costs than NMOSD alone (NMOSD-only). NMOSD ...and other autoimmune diseases also have a higher prevalence and morbidity in Black. We aim to compare clinical features and treatment responses in NMOSD patients with and without overlapping autoimmunity in a predominantly Black cohort. We further identify predictors associated with each clinical subtype.
AD-NMOSD (n = 14) and NMOSD-only (n = 27) patients were identified retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, and response to treatment data were examined.
Our cohort was predominately Black (82.9%). The prevalence of grouped-comorbidities, history of infections, sensory symptoms, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) before treatment, double-stranded DNA, antinuclear, ribonucleoprotein, and antiphospholipid antibodies, spinal-cord edema, white matter occipital lesions, and the levels of C-reactive protein, urine protein/creatinine, white blood cell count in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), were higher in AD-NMOSD patients (p < 0.05 and/or Cramer's V > 30, Cohen's d > 50), whereas the age of males, visual symptoms, serum albumin, platelet count, and optic nerve enhancement were lower. EDSS after treatment improved in both groups being more evident in NMOSD-only patients (p = 0.003, SE = 0.58 vs p = 0.075, SE = 0.51). Other variables had a close to moderate SE, and others did not differ between NMOSD subtypes. A higher frequency of grouped-comorbidities, lower serum albumin, and platelet count were independently associated with a higher risk for AD-NMOSD.
Some clinical features between AD-NMOSD and NMOSD-only patients were similar, while others differed. Comorbidities, serum albumin, and platelet count may be independent predictors of AD-NMOSD.
•The coexistence of NMOSD and other autoimmune diseases has worse clinical outcomes and healthcare costs than NMOSD alone.•NMOSD and other autoimmune diseases have higher prevalence and morbidity in Black populations.•We compare clinical data of NMOSD with and without another autoimmune disease in a predominantly Black population.•Grouped-comorbidities, albumin in serum, and platelet count may be independent predictors of AD-NMOSD clinical subtype.
Erythromelalgia is a rare disease with increasing incidence. It manifests as episodic painful red extremities triggered by heat. External cooling provides temporary symptomatic relief but may lead to ...complications such as cellulitis. Management includes trigger control, behavioral therapy and pain management.
A 47-year-old African American male presented to the hospital with worsening bilateral lower extremity pain for three months. It was episodic, triggered by running and associated with erythema and swelling. Patient used cold water immersion and air conditioning for pain relief. One week prior to presentation, he developed painful blisters on his feet. On presentation, vital signs were stable, patient was afebrile. Acute infection was ruled out and he was discharged with outpatient rheumatology follow up for erythromelalgia. He returned one week later with worsening symptoms. CT scan of lower extremities indicated bilateral cellulitis. Patient was managed by medicine, dermatology, rheumatology, and podiatry for cellulitis, fungal infection, trench foot and primary erythromelalgia with antibiotics, antifungals, gabapentinoids and behavioral therapy. His infection resolved and pain improved. He was discharged with outpatient rheumatology follow up.
Erythromelalgia is a highly debilitating disease with episodes of burning erythematous extremities triggered by increase in skin temperature. Patients seek pain relief by excessive external cooling. Pathophysiology involves gain of function mutation in voltage gated sodium channels causing autoregulatory dysfunction of skin. Underlying disease mechanisms are ambiguous and may involve unidentified genetic components and unknown triggers. It is a clinical diagnosis. Therapy requires a multidisciplinary approach. Complications should be promptly addressed given attention next to symptomatic relief. There is a lack of disease specific treatment and complete remission is unlikely. Our patient responded well to gabapentinoids and behavioral therapy.
Methotrexate is a disease-modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) that is often used in low dosages as the first line drug for rheumatoid arthritis patients. The chemotherapeutic agent works by ...inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase, and the primary route of clearance of the drug is via the kidneys. Kidney injury may delay this clearance and lead to toxic level accumulation of the drug- toxicity presenting as diarrhea, vomiting, mucositis, rash, transaminitis and myelosuppression. Antibiotics such as vancomycin may induce acute kidney injury (AKI) through various mechanisms include damage to the renal tubular epithelial cells. In this report, we describe a case in which an elderly female suffered AKI secondary to vancomycin induced nephrotoxicity. The AKI subsequently led to methotrexate accumulation and toxicity presenting as bleeding mouth ulcers, transaminitis and pancytopenia. The condition was managed with leucovorin rescue therapy and sodium bicarbonate to enhance methotrexate excretion. Renally dosing methotrexate in patients on other nephrotoxic drugs, and monitoring creatinine clearance are methods for preventing such a toxicity.
Objectives • To outline the key components of a pre-operative cardiac risk assessment. • To review the major guidelines utilized to assess patients' surgical risks. • To discuss the perioperative ...management of surgical patients to prevent cardiac and pulmonary complications. • To review the utility of biomarkers in the pre- and post-operative period.
Left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by increased trabeculation in one or more segments of the ventricle. LVNC presented with ...non-specific symptoms and highly variable clinical presentation ranging from asymptomatic to progressive heart failure and recurrent or life-threatening arrhythmias.
54-year-old Black man with a history of hypertension, diabetes and end-stage renal disease presented with one day palpitations and lightheadedness following a dialysis session. He denied any dyspnea or syncope. On examination, blood pressure was 175/91 mmHg with irregular pulse. No murmur, rubs or gallops were appreciated. Laboratory were unremarkable except increased creatinine and mild anemia with normal thyroid function test. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed atrial fibrillation with normal ventricular rate. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed mildly increased left ventricular (LV) wall thickness with prominent trabeculation and ejection fraction of 55-60 percent, a pseudo-normal LV filling pattern, with concomitant abnormal relaxation and increased filling pressure, suggestive of LVNC. The patient was switched to apixaban. Genetic testing was recommended for family members.
LVNC is rare congenital cardiomyopathy with non-specific symptoms and should be considered among the possible diagnosis in patients presenting with arrythmia patients. Echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to establish diagnosis.
Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a bleeding diathesis caused by auto-antibody generation against factor VIII, an essential component of the coagulation cascade. Although having many etiologies, ...pregnancy is also one of the conditions associated with AHA. It mostly presents as a raised activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and during the peripartum and postpartum period, concern for AHA should be raised as delays in diagnosis can be detrimental. Herein, we present a case of a 31-year-old female with sickle cell trait who developed venous bleeding and, later, neuraxial, musculoskeletal, and subcutaneous bleeding. She underwent an extensive course of treatment before getting into remission.
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