Diagnosis and Symptomatic Treatment of Early Reactive Cardiac Amyloidosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis as a connective tissue disease could affect all internal organs of the body and could also manifest as a cutaneous lesion. Cardiac involvement leading to cardiac manifestations in systemic sclerosis patients is not rare. However, cardiac amyloidosis combined with systemic sclerosis is extremely rare. Although there were no definite treatment options in this case, symptomatic treatment is the cornerstone of the management plan. In this case report, we described a correct diagnosis and symptomatic medical care of early reactive cardiac amyloidosis with systemic sclerosis and summarize the current state of the relevant literature.

Femoral subtrochanteric insufficiency fracture after long-term bisphosphonate therapy masked from foraminal stenosis of lumbar spine: A case report

We present a case of an insufficiency fracture of the subtrochanteric region of the femur in a 78-year-old woman masked by lumbar spinal foraminal stenosis. She complained of pain and a tingling sensation in the anterior and lateral side of the right thigh, leg, and ankle. Selective transforaminal epidural (L4-5, Rt.) and caudal block were done under the diagnosis of lumbar foraminal stenosis. The tingling sensation was completely relieved, but the pain was not completely relieved. The patient had been receiving bisphosphonate therapy for 6 years under the diagnosis of osteoporosis. We performed magnetic resonance imaging, which showed a unicortical break line and marrow edema around the hypertrophied area. Surgery was done. In cases with incomplete relief of the pain in the thigh following epidural block, physicians should keep in mind the possibility of femoral insufficiency fracture in patients who have received long-term bisphosphonate therapy.