Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome masquerading as a lymphoproliferative disorder in a young adult on immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: This case reveals a novel presentation of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome that mimics a lymphoproliferative disorder. The heterogeneous clinical presentation of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome gives rise to a broad differential diagnosis that includes a multitude of infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions. This patient was diagnosed with drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome 4 weeks after starting sulfasalazine and 5 weeks after starting hydroxychloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis. Both of these medications have been shown to cause drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, albeit more rarely in the context of hydroxychloroquine. This patient's history, physical examination, and workup illuminate a case of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome that masquerades as a lymphoproliferative disorder despite its adherence to the RegiSCAR criteria. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old African-American female with an atopic history and rheumatoid arthritis presented for evaluation of a rash, unremitting fevers, and syncope. She was found to have drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome. A syncope workup was unremarkable. Computed tomography of the chest/abdomen/pelvis confirmed extensive lymphadenopathy and revealed a small right pleural effusion (Fig. 5). These imaging findings accompanied by fevers and a rash in the setting of eosinophilia, leukocytosis, and transaminitis led to the clinical suspicion for drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome. Steroids were subsequently initiated. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was implemented to cover for possible skin/soft tissue infection due to initial paradoxical worsening after discontinuation of the culprit drugs. Lymph node biopsy ruled out a lymphoproliferative disorder and instead demonstrated necrotizing lymphadenitis. An extensive infectious and autoimmune workup was noncontributory. Clinical improvement was visualized, antibiotics were discontinued, and she was discharged on a steroid taper. CONCLUSION: This case reflects how drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome can masquerade as a lymphoproliferative disorder. Additionally, it highlights the extent to which rapid identification and treatment optimized the patient's outcome. It calls into question how immunogenetics may factor into a patient's susceptibility to acquire drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome. This case is unique because of the early onset of visceral organ involvement, the type of internal organ involvement, the hematopoietic features, and the lymphadenopathy associated with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with seasonal coronavirus infection and COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Unlike SARS-CoV and MERS-C0V, SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to become a recurrent seasonal infection; hence, it is essential to compare the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 to the existent endemic coronaviruses. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with seasonal coronavirus (sCoV) infection and COVID-19 to compare their clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: A total of 190 patients hospitalized with any documented respiratory tract infection and a positive respiratory viral panel for sCoV from January 1, 2011, to March 31, 2020, were included. Those patients were compared with 190 hospitalized adult patients with molecularly confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 admitted from March 1, 2020, to May 25, 2020. RESULTS: Among 190 patients with sCoV infection, the Human Coronavirus-OC93 was the most common coronavirus with 47.4% of the cases. When comparing demographics and baseline characteristics, both groups were of similar age (sCoV: 74 years vs. COVID-19: 69 years) and presented similar proportions of two or more comorbidities (sCoV: 85.8% vs. COVID-19: 81.6%). More patients with COVID-19 presented with severe disease (78.4% vs. 67.9%), sepsis (36.3% vs. 20.5%), and developed ARDS (15.8% vs. 2.6%) compared to patients with sCoV infection. Patients with COVID-19 had an almost fourfold increased risk of in-hospital death than patients with sCoV infection (OR 3.86, CI 1.99-7.49; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had similar demographics and baseline characteristics to hospitalized patients with sCoV infection; however, patients with COVID-19 presented with higher disease severity, had a higher case-fatality rate, and increased risk of death than patients with sCoV. Clinical findings alone may not help confirm or exclude the diagnosis of COVID-19 during high acute respiratory illness seasons. The respiratory multiplex panel by PCR that includes SARS-CoV-2 in conjunction with local epidemiological data may be a valuable tool to assist clinicians with management decisions.

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis: An unexpected diagnosis in an elderly female with a destructive-appearing soft tissue mass.

We present the case of an elderly female who underwent a workup for acute blood loss anemia that incidentally led to the discovery of abdominopelvic actinomycosis. While esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were unremarkable, CT abdomen/pelvis displayed a soft tissue mass in the left sacral ala and presacral area that appeared suspicious for malignancy. MRI pelvis revealed a presacral abscess, and an IR-guided biopsy cemented the diagnosis. This case exemplifies how actinomycosis can mimic the presentation of cancer. Risk factors included a history of ischemic colitis and lumbar laminectomy, as mucosal tissue compromise and orthopedic hardware can be niduses for infection.

Development of cavitary lung disease as a long-term complication of coronavirus disease 2019 in a young previously healthy patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cavities are frequent manifestations of a wide variety of pathological processes involving the lung. There has been a growing body of evidence of coronavirus disease 2019 leading to a cavitary pulmonary disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A healthy 29-year-old Filipino male presented to the hospital a couple of months after convalescence from coronavirus disease 2019 with severe pleuritic chest pain, fever, chills, and shortness of breath, and was found to have a cavitary lung lesion on chest computed tomography. While conservative management alone failed to improve the patient's condition, he ultimately underwent left lung video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery decortication. Even though the surgical pathology revealed only necrosis with dense acute inflammation and granulation tissue with no microorganisms, he gradually improved with medical therapy adjunct with surgical therapy. CONCLUSION: Documented cases of cavitary lung disease secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 have been mostly reported in the acute or subacute phase of the infection. However, clinicians should recognize this entity as a late complication of coronavirus disease 2019, even in previously healthy individuals.

Modified Whipple on an 18-month-old with traumatic pancreatic transection and duodenal rupture.

The emergence of the Whipple procedure revolutionized operative management of pancreatic disease since its introduction (Fernandez-del Castillo et al., 2012 [1]). This operation classically involves removal of the head of the pancreas along with the duodenum, gallbladder, a portion of the bile duct, and part of the stomach (Warshaw and Thayer, 2004; Evans et al., 2007 [2,3]). We report a beneficial outcome of a modified Whipple on a paediatric trauma patient post- motor vehicle accident (MVA). After Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) was initiated and haemodynamic stability was achieved, exploratory laparotomy revealed pancreatic transection and duodenal rupture. Partial pancreaticoduodenectomy, pancreaticoduodenostomy, cholecystojejunostomy, and pyloric-sparing gastrojejunostomy were performed. Post-operative acute pancreatitis resolved with antibiotics and supportive care. While paediatric abdominal trauma does not typically warrant a Whipple, patients with severe injury to the pancreas and neighboring organs with major vascular injury may offer no other intra-operative choice (Adams, 2014; Thatte and Vaze, 2014; Debi et al., 2013 [[4], [5], [6]]). Our patient's growth was followed post-operatively. At a 20-year post-operative follow-up, he reported no further hospitalizations or complications such as diabetes, biliary stricture, gallstones, or growth retardation. We review the literature to expose the novelty of using a Whipple to treat paediatric abdominal trauma, and the advantages of a pylorus-preserving Whipple. Indications for damage control surgery and non-operative management were contrasted with those for definitive surgery to reconstruct the biliary tree to further elucidate why the latter option was chosen.