Thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction: Experience at a university hospital in Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: There is conclusive evidence from large clinical trials that thrombolytic therapy reduces mortality and morbidity in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, only a small proportion of patients receive thrombolytic treatment. Estimates have varied from 20%-50% in North America and Europe. Data from the Arab Middle East is sparse. The purpose of our study was to determine the use of thrombolytic therapy in our hospital. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 343 patients (358 incidents of AMI), who were either discharged from or died at the coronary care unit of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital during the one-year period between June 1994 and May 1995. RESULTS: Our patients were relatively younger (63% were 7lt;55 years) and had a much higher prevalence (44%) of diabetes compared to European patients. We observed a high rate (62%) of thrombolysis and a lesser shortfall (8%) when compared to that reported for European patients. The main reason for withholding thrombolytic therapy was non-diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) on initial presentation. Women were less likely to be thrombolyzed than men (38% vs. 66%, P=0.0001). Older patients (aged >65 years) were also less likely to be thrombolyzed than younger patients (42% vs. 66%; P=0.0006). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the use of thrombolytic therapy in this university hospital in Kuwait is appropriate. However, as observed in other reports as well, the underutilization of thrombolytic therapy in women and the elderly needs to be addressed in future studies.

Treatable intracranial hypertension in patients with lupus nephritis.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a disorder of intracerebral pressure regulation and patients run the risk of permanent visual loss. Intracranial hypertension (IH) has been reported rarely in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We reviewed the medical records of 127 patients with lupus nephritis (LN) who were followed up from 1987 to 1996 in our unit. There were six patients with IH which gave a disease prevalence of 4.7% in those with LN. All were females giving a disease prevalence of 5.2% for that sex, a high rate of occurrence of IH in patients with LN. Their age ranged from 22 to 34 y (27.8 +/- 3.6 y). Headache, vomiting and diplopia were the common presenting symptoms and had started 7.3 +/- 4.4 weeks prior to the diagnosis of IH. The cerebrospinal (CSF) opening pressure (413.3 +/- 77.0 mmH2O) was raised in all cases. Biochemical and cytological analyses of CSF were normal. The only abnormal radiological finding was partially empty sella in one patient on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (performed in three patients) or computed tomography (CT) (performed in all patients). All patients had serological evidences of active lupus disease at the time of diagnosis of IH. The renal histology was WHO type IV in four cases and III and V in one each indicating severe renal involvement. Laboratory evidences of procoagulant activity were found in the form of positive anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) in two patients, lupus anticoagulant (LA) in two and an otherwise unexplained isolated prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in the other two. Clinically, one or more episodes of symptomatic venous or arterial thrombosis had occurred in all subjects. In addition to symptomatic measures, all subjects were treated with prednisolone, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis according to the protocol of our unit. One patient who did not receive plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide had a relapse while all others recovered completely. None received anticoagulant therapy. Young females with serologically active lupus, severe forms of renal lesions, past history of venous or arterial thrombosis and laboratory evidences of procoagulant activity, appear to be at increased risk of IH. Thrombotic occlusion of the cerebral arteriolar or venous vascular bed eventually affecting the arachnoid villi and impeding CSF absorption is favoured compared to cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis as the pathogenic mechanism. Combined immunosuppression and plasmapheresis appeared to be beneficial in short and long term follow-up. We propose that patients with SLE and IH have definable risk and pathogenetic factors and are no more to be considered 'idiopathic'. The conditions calls for aggressive intervention which leads to an excellent outcome.

Invasive fungal infections in renal transplant recipients.

In a retrospective analysis, 18 instances of invasive fungal infections were observed in 512 (3.5%) renal transplant recipients. These included candidiasis (8), aspergillosis (5), cryptococcosis (3) and zygomycosis (2). All patients with candidiasis had Candida isolated from blood and one or more additional sites. One of them had superadded fungaemia with Torulopsis glabrata. Pulmonary disease in four and subcutaneous infection in one were encountered in the five patients with aspergillosis. Central nervous system involvement in two and cutaneous lesion in one were the findings in patients with cryptococcosis. Zygomycosis involved the lung in one and the allograft itself in the other. Prolonged fever not responding to antibacterial drugs was the most common clinical presentation. Fungal infections occurred during the first 4 months in 10 (55.5%) and 12 to 108 months in eight (44.5%) patients. Infections with cytomegalovirus and hepatitis viruses were concommitantly present in 12 (66.7%) and eight (44.5%) patients respectively. Fourteen episodes of fungal infections (77.8%) occurred in live unrelated kidney recipients who formed only 48% of our total transplant population. Nine patients were treated with systemic and/or local amphotericin B and six with amBisome. Fluconazole was administered alone in three and in combination with amphotericin B in two. Fourteen patients died but mortality was only directly attributable to fungal infection in 11. We conclude that invasive fungal infections continue to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. A high index of suspicion. prompt diagnosis and early institution of specific antifungal therapy are needed.

Liver abscess and disseminated intravascular coagulation in tuberculosis.

We report the case of a 55-year-old man with chronic renal failure, and a history of prolonged fever and jaundice. Radiological studies revealed a multiloculated irregular liver abscess. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from the abscess on smear and culture of aspirated pus. Haematological studies revealed the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. A detailed search failed to identify any reason for this other than the tuberculous infection. The treatment of tuberculous liver abscess and pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in tuberculosis are discussed.