Too Dry for Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (PAI): PAI Masked by Volume Depletion.

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare but potentially life-threatening endocrine disorder characterized by inadequate production or impaired response to adrenal hormones. Symptoms may range from acute emergent crisis presenting as hemodynamic shock or may be more chronic in presentation with a gradual onset of nonspecific symptoms. These vague symptoms are often accompanied by typical laboratory findings, such as hyponatremia, hypotension, and hyperkalemia, and point toward a diagnosis of chronic AI. In this case presentation, we demonstrate chronic AI presenting with severe hyponatremia, which was revealed after return to an euvolemic baseline. Because of an insidious presentation, AI can be both an incidental finding and easily missed. This case highlights the importance of evaluating suspected cases of AI at a baseline metabolic and hemodynamic state, including volume status. High clinical suspicion is warranted in these patients to avoid potential emergent adrenal crisis and to provide appropriate replacement therapy once etiology is established.

Primary Squamous Cell Biliary Carcinoma With Liver Metastasis Is Rare but Malicious.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the liver is quite rare, and to our knowledge, very few cases have been reported in the literature. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is unestablished; however, it is mostly reported to be associated with hepatic cyst, Caroli's disease, hepatolithiasis, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatic teratoma. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with no prior medical history initially, who presented with postprandial epigastric and right upper quadrant pain that continued to worsen and was associated with early satiety, nausea, and weight loss of 25 pounds over 2 months, which prompted further evaluation by her primary care physician. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination a month later revealed a large heterogeneous area measuring 8.5 × 2.4 × 7.4 cm in the inferior right hepatic lobe with heterogeneous enhancement and involvement of the gallbladder, concerning for cholangiocarcinoma. Given radiographic findings, she underwent a computed tomography (CT)-guided core biopsy of the liver, which showed a necrotic malignant tumor favoring adenocarcinoma and was also found to have germline BRCA mutation. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed a large partially necrotic fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid mass, possibly arising from the gallbladder fossa with an invasion of both lobes of the liver and probable involvement of a portion of the ascending colon. There was no gross evidence of distant metastatic disease. The patient underwent staging laparoscopy prior to initiating chemotherapy, and another biopsy was done, which returned in favor of SCC, with immunohistochemical stains being positive for cytokeratin (CK)19, Ber-EP4 (epithelial antigen recognized by Ber-EP4 antibody), and P40 (DeltaNp63); while negative for CK7, CK20, caudal-type homeobox 2 (CDX-2), paired box 8 (PAX-8), and mucicarmine. The patient started platinum-based chemotherapy due to germline BRCA mutation. However, due to complications associated with therapy and the progression of the disease, the patient eventually chose hospice. Primary SSC remains an unexplored aggressive malignancy that carries an overall poor prognosis. Diagnosis can be challenging and requires high clinical suspicion due to the scarcity in specific laboratory workup. Pathological diagnosis remains the gold standard; however, it also carries its own challenges. Treatment is usually case-oriented, and definitive protocols have yet to be established.

Autosensitization Triggered by Neosporin Use: A Unique Phenomenon.

Interface dermatitis is a type of dermatological insult to the dermo-epidermal skin junction. When this reaction causes secondary dermatosis that occurs distally on the body, it is known as autosensitization or autoeczematization. Here, we present the case of a middle-aged gentleman, with a medical history including human immunodeficiency virus, non-adherent to highly active antiretroviral therapy, initially presenting due to chronic recurring cellulitis on the left lower leg that had become progressively erythematous and tender to palpation. A few days later, he developed an intensely pruritic, papular rash on his face and chest. Following further investigation, he reported using Neosporin ointment on the leg rash prior to admission which had then caused allergic contact dermatitis. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with acute interface dermatitis due to Neosporin use, which led to a secondary autosensitization reaction involving his head, neck, and arms. This case illustrates the importance of thorough history taking and clinical suspicion to appropriately diagnose this phenomenon, further demonstrating the temporal association between allergic contact dermatitis and autosensitization.

Acute Profound Thrombocytopenia Induced by Eptifibatide Causing Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Eptifibatide is a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) receptor inhibitor which prevents platelet activation. The mechanism in which eptifibatide causes profound thrombocytopenia is poorly understood. One hypothesis suggests antibody-dependent pathways which cause thrombocytopenia upon subsequent reexposure to eptifibatide. This case reports acute profound thrombocytopenia (platelets < 20 × 103/mm3) within 24 hours of administration. Alveolar hemorrhage occurred during a second eptifibatide infusion 5 days after initial asymptomatic eptifibatide treatment. Case Presentation. A 50-year-old male presenting with a STEMI was treated with eptifibatide during cardiac catheterization. Twelve hours posttreatment, the patient encountered profound thrombocytopenia and hemoptysis. The patient was briefly intubated for airway protection. The patient was stabilized after receiving platelet transfusion and fully recovered. CONCLUSION: This is one of several cases reported on eptifibatide causing acute profound thrombocytopenia and subsequent alveolar hemorrhage. This case supports the theory in which antibodies contribute to eptifibatide-induced thrombocytopenia.