Purulent Pericarditis in Sickle Cell Disease Due to Streptococcus agalactiae; a Unique Case Report and Literature Review.

Purulent pericarditis is a localized infection with a thick, fibrinous hypercellular exudate and is historically associated with a high mortality. We describe a case of purulent pericarditis due to Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) in a 30-year-old woman with sickle cell disease who presented with fever, dyspnea, and S. agalactiae septicemia. Despite timely initiation of antibiotics, she developed a large purulent pericardial effusion requiring surgical pericardiocentesis followed by a pericardial window. At 14 months follow-up, she has remained asymptomatic without sequelae. A review of the literature contained only four patients with purulent pericarditis in sickle cell patients. We discuss the unique aspects of this case in the context of purulent pericarditis in the age of modern antibiotics and hypothesize on the pathogenesis of delayed pericardial effusion after pericarditis.

Inhaled nitric oxide in acute pulmonary embolism: a systematic review.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is usually a complication secondary to migration of a deep venous clot or thrombi to lungs, but other significant etiologies include air, amniotic fluid, fat, and bone marrow. Regardless of the underlying etiology, little progress has been made in finding an effective pharmacologic intervention for this serious complication. Among the wide spectrum of PE, massive PE is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, primarily due to severely elevated pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure, hypoxemia, and cardiogenic shock. We currently have limited therapeutic options at our disposal. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic agent in cases of acute PE in which hemodynamic compromise secondary to increased pulmonary vascular resistance is present, based on iNO's selective dilation of the pulmonary vasculature and antiplatelet activity. A systematic search of studies using the PubMed database was undertaken in order to assess the available literature. Although there are currently no published randomized controlled trials on the subject, except a recently publish phase I trial involving eight patients, several case reports and case series describe and document the use of iNO in acute PE. The majority of published reports have documented improvements in oxygenation and hemodynamic variables, often within minutes of administration of iNO. These reports, when taken together, raise the possibility that iNO may be a potential therapeutic agent in acute PE. However, based on the current literature, it is not possible to conclude definitively whether iNO is safe and effective. These case reports underscore the need for randomized controlled trials to establish the safety and efficacy of iNO in the treatment of massive acute PE. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature in the use of iNO in the setting of PE given how acute PE causes acute onset of pulmonary hypertension.

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a young patient with essential thrombocythemia: a case with long-term follow-up report.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a neoplastic proliferation of mature myeloid cells - in particular, megakaryocytes - leading to persistently elevated platelet count. Usual clinical presentation is related to an increase in the risk of hemorrhage and/or thrombosis. Management of ET consists of antiplatelet therapies - mainly aspirin and cytoreductive therapies. Coronary involvement in patients with ET is rare. The optimal treatment strategies for ET patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction remains unclear. Acute interventions like intracoronary thrombolytic therapy, angioplasty, and coronary-artery bypass grafting have been reported in such patients. However, several questions remain unanswered about the acute and long-term management of these patients. Herein, we report the case of a 47-year-old female who presented with acute myocardial infarction as the first clinical sign of ET, and also present the long-term follow-up of this patient.