Fatality in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: A rare phenomenon.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is an uncommon condition, typically characterized by lymphadenopathy and fevers. It usually has a benign course; however, it may progress to fatality in extremely rare occasions. The diagnosis is made via lymph node biopsy and histopathology. Our patient was a young female who presented with shortness of breath, fever, and malaise. Physical examination revealed significant cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. Chest X-ray displayed multilobar pneumonia. She required intubation and mechanical ventilation for progressive respiratory distress. Histopathology of lymph nodes demonstrated variable involvement of patchy areas of necrosis within the paracortex composed of karyorrhectic debris with abundant histiocytes consistent with KFD. After initial stabilization, the patient's condition quickly deteriorated with acute anemia, thrombocytopenia and elevated prothrombin time, partial prothrombin time, and D-dimer levels. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) ensued resulting in the patient's fatality. DIC in KFD is not well understood, but it is an important cause of mortality in patients with aggressive disease.

Pericardial salmonella with cardiac tamponade and ventricular wall rupture: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is mostly restricted to gastroenteritis; however, we report a case of Salmonella pericarditis complicated by tamponade and spontaneous ventricular wall rupture. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old male presents to the Emergency Department with complaints of fevers, chills and body aches. A chest radiograph displayed an infiltrate and an electrocardiogram suggested acute pericarditis. An echocardiogram revealed a small pericardial effusion without tamponade. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated until Salmonella was discovered in blood cultures. The hospital course was complicated by sudden decompensation, and a repeat echocardiogram displayed a large effusion with constrictive physiology. During a pericardial window, the tissue was noted to have a thickened appearance with a complex effusion. The following day, the patient developed increased chest tube drainage, hypotension and acidosis, requiring an emergent sternotomy. The right ventricle was friable and had spontaneously ruptured. After ventricular repair and pericardiectomy, the tissue was sent for cultures and pathology. The specimen revealed Salmonella enteriditis. Treatment with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin was initiated. On postoperative day four, the patient was successfully extubated. Repeat blood cultures were negative. DISCUSSION: In our review of literature, only 19 cases of NTS pericarditis have been reported. Prior to our case, salmonellosis resulting in ventricular rupture has been reported once. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial in minimizing morbidity and mortality. Clinical suspicion based on electrocardiogram and hemodynamic assessment is critical in suspecting pericardial effusion in a patient with nonspecific symptoms and Salmonella bacteremia. The key to recovery involves aggressive treatment, including pericardiectomy and antibiotic treatment.

Bortezomib induced hepatitis B reactivation.

Background. It has recently been reported that hepatitis B (HBV) reactivation often occurs after the use of rituximab and stem cell transplantation in patients with lymphoma who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative. However, clinical data on HBV reactivation in multiple myeloma (MM) is limited to only a few reported cases. Bortezomib and lenalidomide have remarkable activity in MM with manageable toxicity profiles, but reactivation of viral infections may emerge as a problem. We present a case of MM that developed HBV reactivation after bortezomib and lenalidomide therapy. Case Report. A 73-year-old female with a history of marginal cell lymphoma was monitored without requiring therapy. In 2009, she developed MM, presenting as a plasmacytoma requiring vertebral decompression and focal radiation. While receiving radiation she developed renal failure and was started on bortezomib and liposomal doxorubicin. After a transient response to 5 cycles, treatment was switched to lenalidomide. Preceding therapy initiation, her serology indicated resolved infection. Serial monitoring for HBV displayed seroconversion one month after change in therapy. Conclusion. Bortezomib associated late HBV reactivation appears to be a unique event that requires further confirmation and brings to discussion whether hepatitis B core positive individuals would benefit from monitoring of HBV activation while on therapy.