Acute-Onset Blindness in a Patient Diagnosed With Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease (MOG-AD): A Case Report.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOG-AD) poses a diagnostic challenge, often masquerading as other neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and aquaporin-4-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The deceptive clinical similarities demand a nuanced approach to differentiate these conditions effectively. This entails an extensive evaluation encompassing a meticulous medical history, advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and serum studies. In this context, we present a compelling case involving a 28-year-old Hispanic female with a history of migraine headache. She sought medical attention due to acute peripheral vision loss, ultimately diagnosed as MOG-AD through a comprehensive clinical assessment coupled with specific diagnostic tests. This case underscores the critical importance of precision in diagnostic procedures to ensure accurate identification and subsequent tailored treatment for MOG-AD, avoiding potential pitfalls associated with its resemblance to other neurological disorders.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency and Hodgkin Lymphoma in a 50-Year-Old Male.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency with the involvement of B cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells. Patients with CVID are more susceptible to malignancies and bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. We discuss a case of a 50-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with a history of intermittent abdominal pain, diarrhea, night sweats, fever, nausea, and weight loss of 40 pounds over six months. A CT of the abdomen revealed splenomegaly with several infiltrated solid nodules as well as enlarged mediastinal, hilar, periesophageal, cervical, and left supraclavicular lymph nodes, findings suggestive of lymphoma. The diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma was confirmed by immunohistology, which revealed that CD20 and CD3 were both positive in small lymphocytes. Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were low for IgG and IgM, findings highly suggestive of CVID. We want to shed light on the importance of performing the clinical workup for CVID when Hodgkin lymphoma and recurrent infections are present, as the immunodeficiency remains underdiagnosed and underreported.

A Case of Prolonged Recovery for Post-percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor-Induced Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a 28-Year-Old.

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a rare, but clinically important, presentation that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. It has been associated with multiple etiologies, including sodium-glucose cotransport-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor use. This case report details the presentation of a 28-year-old male patient who was recently diagnosed with non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) status post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to left anterior descending (LAD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and discharged on a new medical regiment that included an SGLT2 inhibitor. The patient presented five days later with dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting. On initial evaluation, he had tachycardia and hypertension. Lab work revealed hyperkalemia, metabolic anion gap acidosis, and the presence of ketones and glucose in the urine, which led to the diagnosis of euglycemic DKA. The patient was started on intravenous (IV) insulin, bicarbonate, and D5 ½ normal saline (NS) and required five days of continuous treatment for the anion gap to close. Considering studies have shown that SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with euglycemic DKA, it is proposed that the use of an SGLT2 inhibitor in this newly diagnosed, post-PCI patient led to the development of euglycemic DKA. DKA most commonly resolves within 24 hours of treatment; however, our patient did not recover until after 120 hours of treatment. Recent studies have suggested that SGLT2-inhibitor euglycemic DKA may be associated with longer recovery time; however, there is still a need to further research the consistency of these findings and quantify the estimated duration of treatment across populations. There is also a need for investigation into how co-morbid factors, such as a recent NSTEMI and PCI, may affect recovery times or predispose patients who are taking SGLT2-inhibitors to develop euglycemic DKA as SGLT2 inhibitors are being more widely prescribed. This case report highlights the importance of creating more detailed and evidence-based guidelines for prescribing SGLT2 inhibitors for patients with diabetes and encourages more research into the expected duration of treatment for patients with SGLT2-induced euglycemic DKA and factors that may affect it.

Vancomycin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in a 35-Year-Old Female With Pneumonia: A Case Report.

Vancomycin is one of the most empirically used antibiotics in severely ill patients in hospitalized settings. Vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia (VITP) is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication that requires immediate recognition. Platelet destruction is largely immune-mediated and results in a precipitous drop in the platelet count over a short period of time. Most cases of VITP are drug-dependent, as discontinuation of the offending agent frequently results in a timely return to baseline to pre-exposure platelet levels. Here, we present a case of severe vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia in a 35-year-old female with a history of multiple comorbidities who presented with pneumonia. She was undergoing treatment with vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam and developed thrombocytopenia within 24 hours of hospitalization. The patient was on a loading dose of 1250 mg intravenous vancomycin every 24 hours and piperacillin-tazobactam 3.375 g intravenously every six hours for presumed community-acquired pneumonia. Her other medications included ondansetron, bupropion, sertraline, tamsulosin, pantoprazole, ergocalciferol, and insulin glargine. Additionally, the patient was placed on a prophylactic dose of enoxaparin while in-patient. The patient's thrombocytopenia resolved with discontinuation of vancomycin. Clinicians should be well-informed about which medications can trigger thrombocytopenia whenever starting a medication in such cases.

Polycythemia vera disease profile in an African population-experience from a tertiary facility in Ghana.

Objectives: The study describes the clinical and laboratory profile of the patients with polycythemia vera at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods and design: This was a retrospective hospital-based cohort study conducted from September 2020 to August 2022. Hematology clinic entry book was used to identify the patient's unique hospital code. Using these unique codes, retrospective data were collected using an Excel spreadsheet from the Hospital Lightwave health information management system (LHIMS) database. Results: A total of 20 participants were recruited over the period of 2 years. The overall mean age was 51.53 ± 16.39 years. The hematological profile of the male participants revealed a mean hemoglobin of 18.25 ± 1.373 g/dl, mean hematocrit of 52 ± 3.47%, and a mean platelet of 345.5 ± 180.82. Comparatively, the mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet for the female participants were higher with figures of 19.26 ± 1.43 g/dl, 53 ± 3.61%, and 816 ± 935.32, respectively. Headache, tiredness, numbness, splenomegaly, and abnormal labs were the most common reasons why participants sought medical attention. Majority (60%) of the study participants had Janus Kinase 2 mutation. New-onset hypertension was identified in 45% of the study participants during follow-up. Thromboembolism was seen in 10% of the study population. Conclusion: Polycythemia vera is an uncommon disease in Ghana mostly found in older males above 50 years. It is important to recognize it early to initiate therapy aimed at preventing common complications such as hypertension and thromboembolism. Polycythemia vera should be considered a differential diagnosis for patients with secondary hypertension.

Polymicrobial Infection in an Immigrant Female at the United States-Mexico Border.

Malaria is a highly infectious disease transmitted through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito carrying the parasite of the Plasmodium genus; it presents with cyclical fevers, myalgias, and headaches. In the United States, the vast majority of malaria cases are reported in people who travel abroad, mainly to Africa. These cases are predominantly linked to Plasmodium falciparum or ovale and can be medically treated with artemisinin, chloroquine, or atovaquone-proguanil. We discuss a case of a 38-year-old female immigrant from Venezuela living at an immigration facility who presented to a hospital located on the United States-Mexico border with a two-day history of watery diarrhea, headache, and subjective fever. She had experienced mosquito bites and likely contracted the illness in Chiapas, Mexico during her trek from Peru to the United States. Her case was unique as she tested positive for dengue fever antibodies acquired from a previous infection and also contracted rhinovirus during her clinical course. Her diagnosis of malaria was confirmed with a peripheral blood smear that revealed ring forms with no gametocytes. This in tandem with her route of travel suggested infection with Plasmodium vivax. She was treated with chloroquine while the malaria culture was pending and continued to spike fevers every 24-36 hours while on medication. Once the culture was confirmed, she was treated with atovaquone-proguanil as maintenance therapy. She was subsequently discharged on primaquine for 14 days to prevent relapse.

The Role and Efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction in a Hypertensive Male: An Interventional Study.

Introduction Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent medical condition that affects millions of men globally. A number of pharmacological and complementary options are used in the management of ED, including Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Oxidative stress has been linked to the progression of ED, and Co Q10 protects against oxidative damages and improves erectile function as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of CoQ10 in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive males. Method An open-labeled parallel arm interventional study was conducted in the cardiology unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from March 2020 to March 2021. Hypertensive male patients (n = 230) were randomly allocated to either receiving 200-gram CoQ10 daily along with their current antihypertensive therapy (n=104) or anti-hypertensive treatment only (n=105). The patient's erectile function was assessed at baseline and three months using the International Index of Erectile Function Test (IIEF-5) during the study period. Result Of the total 230, 209 (90.87%) patients were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences in demographics, history of illness, co-morbid conditions, and current medication of both groups. After three months, 21 (20.1%) participants scored more than 17 in the IIEF-5 and no longer had ED. Overall, no significant difference was found in the mean IIEF-5 score between the study group and control group (14.41 ± 4.49 Vs. 15.61 ± 4.82; p=0.06). However, in subgroup analysis, significant improvement in the study group was seen in participants with mild ED (p=0.03). Conclusion With the demonstration of its efficacy in hypertensive patients with mild ED, co-enzyme Q10 supplementation can be proposed as a potential candidate in patients with long-term hypertension and can play a role in erectile dysfunction.