Native and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis complicated by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and its diagnostic challenges and therapeutic implications.

Key Clinical Message: Concomitant native and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE) is very rare, and both can rarely be complicated by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). This diagnosis has therapeutic implications, as not all RPGN need immunosuppression therapy. Abstract: Native and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE) may be rarely complicated by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). The diagnosis of IE as a cause of RPGN may be missed, and patients may be subjected to inappropriate immune suppressive therapy. Moreover, IE involving multi-valves has rarely been described, and there are only few case reports of simultaneous native and prosthetic valve endocarditis. Here, we present a case of 34-year-old female patient who has RPGN and whose initial workup missed IE. However, further workup revealed a diagnosis of native and prosthetic valve IE and our patient, who would have been subjected to inappropriate immune suppressive therapy, was treated with intravenous antibiotics alone and discharged with improvement.

Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure in central Ethiopia: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure is the rapid onset of new or worsening symptoms and signs of heart failure. Despite the increasing burden of heart failure in developing countries like Ethiopia, there is a paucity of comprehensive data regarding the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of acute heart failure, especially in the selected study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 303 acute heart failure patients who were admitted to the medical wards and intensive care unit of Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, central Ethiopia, from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. A pretested data abstraction format was used for data extraction from electronic medical records, and SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of acute heart failure. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality. The odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to show the strength of the association. RESULTS: Of the 303 patients, 51.5% were females, and the mean age was 56.7 years. The most frequent symptom and sign were dyspnea (98.7%) and peripheral edema (79%), respectively. The commonest underlying cause and precipitating factor of acute heart failure were cor pulmonale (22.8%) and pneumonia (35.3%), respectively. The commonest anti-remodeling medications prescribed on discharge were beta-blockers (47.9%), followed by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (42.8%) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (38.6%), and the least prescribed were sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (8.3%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 8.6%, and the median length of hospital stay was 9 days. Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the most important predictors of in-hospital mortality were systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 115 mmHg (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.28; 95% CI: 1.99, 19.78), chloride level < 96 mg/dL (AOR = 4.88; 95% CI: 1.30, 18.33), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) > 20 mg/dl (AOR = 5.48; 95% CI: 1.47, 20.49), and presence of dyslipidemia (AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.15, 12.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 115 mmHg, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) > 20 mg/dL, chloride (Cl) level < 96 mg/dL, and the presence of dyslipidemia were statistically significant factors associated with in-hospital mortality among patients with acute heart failure. Hence, healthcare providers should stratify patients with acute heart failure upon admission based on their risk of in-hospital mortality and address those potential negative prognostic indicators accordingly.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in an adult male patient: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Headache is a frequent symptom in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) has been reported among patients who underwent lumbar puncture for persistent headaches. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old black man presented with dyspnea, cough, fever and headache for 05 days followed by blurring of vision associated with worsening of the headache. Physical examination was significant for tachypnea and oxygen desaturation and there were no abnormal neurologic findings. He tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with nasopharyngeal swab PCR. His CSF opening pressure appeared high with normal CSF analysis and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed prominent subarachnoid space around the optic nerves and bilateral papilledema. He had significant improvement with medical therapy alone. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) may occur in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection and should be considered when making a differential diagnosis for headache and blurring of vision. COVID-19 may play a role in the development of intracranial hypertension, even in the absence of known risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment of IIH has paramount importance to prevent vision loss and other morbidities.

Recurrent deep vein thrombosis in a young patient of African descent: challenging the prevailing stance on the significance of MTHFR C677T mutation.

Background: Although numerous gene variations, such as those in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, have been implicated in an increased risk of venous thrombosis, current recommendations do not advocate genetic testing if there is no clinically meaningful association with thrombosis. Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male patient presented with left lower limb swelling of two days with prior history of deep vein thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis. His left lower limb was grossly swollen. Doppler study showed thrombosis of left common femoral, superficial femoral and iliac veins and work up for inherited thrombophilia was negative except detection of MTHFR C677T mutation. Conclusion: In spite of the great controversy regarding the strong association between MTHFR C677T mutation and venous thromboembolism, it is worth considering genetic testing as part of work-up for inherited thrombophilia in young patients, particularly of African descent, if they have recurrent deep vein thrombosis with no obvious risk factors.

Pulmonary thromboembolism as a rare complication of Plasmodium vivax malaria: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Low threshold is required to suspect complications of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Pulmonary thromboembolism, though rare, should be considered as its complication in the presence of unexplained and sudden onset shortness of breath. Abstract: The hypercoagulable complications of malaria typically manifest in the microvasculature. However, there are several cases of intracranial venous thrombosis caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria, and there was one case report of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) due to P. falciparum. A 30-year-old Ethiopian male patient presented with sudden onset of shortness of breath for 3 days. He had also high-grade fever, chills, and rigors associated with loss of appetite and fatigue of similar duration. He was from malaria endemic area. He had a pulse rate of 108 beats per minutes, respiratory rate of 32 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation of 82% with atmospheric air and temperature of 38.9°C. Further examination revealed accentuation of pulmonary component of second heart sound. Complete blood count revealed mild anemia and peripheral blood film showed trophozoites of P. vivax. Pulmonary CT angiography showed filling defects in the right and left pulmonary arteries. The patient was diagnosed to have P. vivax malaria complicated by PTE. He was managed with intranasal oxygen, antimalarial agent, and anticoagulation. Upon serial evaluations on the third week and second month of follow up, he did not have complaints and physical examination was non-remarkable. Malaria is a protozoan disease with high mortality and morbidity. For a long time, severe cases of malaria were thought to be mostly caused by P. falciparum. However, recent evidences have shown a paradigm shift and we should remember that P. vivax can also cause severe malaria and this can be complicated by hypercoagulable conditions including PTE.

Coronavirus disease 2019 and malaria coinfection in a middle-aged Ethiopian woman presenting with acute febrile illness and bilateral pleural effusion: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: There could be misdiagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 for malaria and vice versa because of their similar presentations, particularly when clinicians rely mainly on symptoms for diagnosis. Coinfection with coronavirus disease 2019 and malaria is associated with increased all-cause in-hospital mortality compared with isolated infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Presentation with pleural effusion adds another challenge in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019. CASE PRESENTATION: This is a 57-year-old black Ethiopian woman who presented with symptoms of acute febrile illness associated with shortness of breath and coughing. Physical examination was remarkable for fever, hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, oxygen desaturation, decreased air entry, and dullness over bilateral lower one-third of the chest. Peripheral blood smear revealed ring-form trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum; chest X-ray showed bilateral pleural effusion and chest computed tomography revealed bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidations involving all lung zones with bilateral moderate pleural effusion. She was managed with supportive treatments, antimalarial agents, and antibiotics. Rapid antigen test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was negative at the time of her presentation to the emergency department, but polymerase chain reaction testing for coronavirus disease 2019 turned out to be positive after admission to the medical ward. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of coronavirus disease 2019 and malaria coinfection in any patient who is from malaria-endemic area and presenting with acute febrile illness symptoms such as fever and headache and respiratory complaints like shortness of breath and cough. Alhough viral etiologies such as coronavirus disease 2019 are rare causes of bilateral pleural effusion, they should be considered after ruling out other common causes.

Polyserositis caused by tuberculosis in a young female patient with hypothyroidism: A diagnostic challenge.

Key Clinical Messages: The diagnosis of polyserositis due to tuberculosis (TB) is complex and challenging, which may cause delays in treatment. TB should be ruled out first before attributing polyserositis to any other cause like hypothyroidism, particularly in high TB burden countries. Abstract: Polyserositis has numerous causes and frequently occurs in neoplasia, autoimmune disorders, endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism, and infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB). The diagnosis of TB polyserositis is complex and challenging, which may cause the start of definitive therapy to be delayed. Here, we report the case of a 32-year-old female patient who presented with abdominal distension for 3 weeks associated with shortness of breath, cough, excessive fatigue, and loss of appetite. Thyroid function tests were suggestive of primary hypothyroidism, and later on, sputum GeneXpert MTB/RIF test turned out to be positive. She was initially started on oral levothyroxine and then anti-TB medications. The polyserositis resolved a month after the initiation of anti-TB drugs. TB should be ruled out first before attributing polyserositis to any other cause like hypothyroidism, particularly in high TB burden countries. Microbiologic tests, such as GeneXpert, remain the most important tools to make a diagnosis of TB and start anti-TB medications early.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome as an Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case Report with Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disorder characterized by hepatic outflow obstruction. It can be classified as primary or secondary BCS. Common causes of BCS include myeloproliferative diseases, infections, malignancies, and systemic autoimmune illnesses. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be complicated with BCS. However, only a few case reports have described the uncommon occurrence of BCS as a primary presentation of SLE. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 32-year-old female patient who presented with progressive abdominal distension of four months. On the abdominal CT scan, the left and middle hepatic veins were not visualized; the right hepatic vein and intrahepatic IVC had luminal narrowing; and there was caudate lobe enlargement suggestive of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Six months after the diagnosis of BCS, the patient developed other clinical features suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and was finally diagnosed with SLE. Conclusion: Acquired or inherited thrombotic conditions are the most common underlying causes of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common cause of secondary APS and most patients present with Budd-Chiari syndrome as a manifestation of APS after the diagnosis of SLE. In rare cases, such as the current case, Budd-Chiari syndrome can present even before the diagnosis of SLE. Hence, we would like to emphasize that Budd-Chiari syndrome can be an initial presentation of SLE.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in a 42-year-old Ethiopian man presenting with severe anemia and high-output heart failure: A case report with literature review.

Key Clinical Messages: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a rare hereditary disorder, can cause recurrent massive epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding leading to severe anemia. Early diagnosis of HHT is essential to provide timely interventional therapies. Abstract: HHT is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease that results in abnormal vasculogenesis in the skin, mucous membranes, and visceral organs such as the liver, lungs, and brain. Clinical diagnosis of HHT is made using the Curacao criteria, which include recurrent spontaneous nosebleeds, mucocutaneous telangiectasias, visceral organ involvement, and first-degree family history of HHT. Here, we report a patient with HHT from Ethiopia, who presented with recurrent epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe anemia requiring frequent blood transfusions as well as cauterization. The presented case is a 42-year-old Black Ethiopian man with frequent hospitalization for severe anemia and high-output heart failure requiring frequent blood transfusions. His mother had bilateral epistaxis since her early adulthood. Physical examination was significant for tachycardia, pale conjunctivae, and tiny erythematous lesions over his tongue, ejection systolic murmur and peripheral edema. Laboratory investigations revealed severe anemia with iron deficiency picture. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed multiple telangiectasia spots and abdominal Doppler ultrasound showed hepatic arterio-venous malformations. He received supportive management and electrocauterization of nasal, gastric, and duodenal telangiectasias. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of HHT to be reported from Ethiopia. High degree of suspicion and early diagnosis of HHT is essential to start preventive screening and surveillance and provide timely interventional therapies. HHT can cause recurrent massive epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding leading to severe anemia and high-output heart failure. In resource limited settings, selective cauterization of telangiectasia will help to control bleeding, although it does not avoid recurrent bleeding.

Rare Recurrence of Sydenham Chorea in an Adult: A Case Report.

Background: Sydenham chorea is thought to be an autoimmune condition that usually develops following a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection.The onset of Sydenham chorea in adults is rare and most of the adult cases usually are secondary to recurrence following childhood illness. Risk factors for chorea recurrence include irregular antibiotic prophylactic use, failure to reach remission within 6 months, and symptom persistence for longer than a year. Case Presentation: A 27-year-old young adult Ethiopian female patient with chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease for the last 8 years experienced repetitive uncontrollable movements of her extremities and torso for three years prior to her current visit. Physical examination was significant for holosystolic murmur at the apical area radiating to the left axilla and choreiform movements apparent on all limbs and trunk. Investigations were significant for mildly raised ESR, echocardiography findings of thickened mitral valve leaflets and severe mitral regurgitation. She was successfully treated with valproic acid and the frequency of penicillin injection was made every 3 weeks with no recurrence for the first 3 months follow-up period. Conclusion: We believe that this is the first case report of adult onset recurrent Sydenham chorea (SC) from a resource-limited setting. Though Sydenham chorea and its recurrence is rare in adults, it should be considered in adults after ruling out other competing differential diagnoses. Because of the lack of evidence on treatment of such rare cases, individualized mode of therapy is advised. Valproic acid is preferred for symptomatic treatment and more frequent benzathine penicillin G injections, for example every three weeks, may help in the prevention of recurrence of Sydenham chorea.