Hypomagnesemia Among Outpatient Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Users.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are extensively prescribed drugs usually used for a long period. Recent reports linked PPI use with development of hypomagnesemia. However, there is still uncertainty regarding risk of hypomagnesemia in outpatients who were on long-term PPI use. Thus, we aimed to evaluate frequency of hypomagnesemia among a well-defined outpatient patient cohort with no other possible risk factors affecting serum magnesium levels. This was a case-control study carried out at the outpatient gastroenterology clinic of a University hospital. Patients who were on PPI therapy for at least 6 months without diuretic use and chronic kidney disease were included. Patients who were subjected to the same inclusion and exclusion criteria and not using PPI were included as control subjects. One hundred fifty-four patients and 84 control subjects were included. The mean duration of PPI use was 27.5 ± 2.5 months. Mean serum magnesium levels of PPI users and nonusers were 2.17 ± 0.20 mg/dL and 2.19 ± 0.15 mg/dL, respectively. None of the patient had a serum magnesium level below laboratory lower range of 1.7 mg/dL. Our results showed that for typical gastroenterology outpatient clinic patients with no other risk factors affecting serum magnesium levels, long-term PPI use did not affect serum magnesium levels.

[An imported case of mixed malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium ovale.]. / Plasmodium falciparum ve Plasmodium ovale'nin etken oldugu importe bir miks sitma olgusu.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium species is an important parasitic infection in Turkey as in the rest of the world. Malaria cases originating in our country are caused by P. vivax; those caused by other Plasmodium spp. are imported cases. In this article, after work-related travel to Cameroon, a patient who acquired specific clinical signs and symptoms of malaria has been evaluated. The major clinical findings of the patient were fever, chills and shaking. After examination of thin and thick blood smears prepared from the peripheral blood of the patient, a 20% rate of Plasmodium parasitemia was obtained and the case was considered to be a mixed P. falciparum and P. ovale infection. In addition, P. falciparum infection was confirmed using the Optimal Malaria Rapid Test and the presence of another Plasmodium species besides P. falciparum was confirmed. Primaquine was added to quinine and doxycycline therapy for P. ovale hypnozoites. No Plasmodium was found in control blood smears after clinical improvement. In this case, it has been emphasized that in differential diagnosis of fever seen after travel to malaria endemic areas, malaria must be considered and prophylaxis must be carried out before travel.

A case of familial Mediterranean fever and polyarteritis nodosa complicated by spontaneous perirenal and subcapsular hepatic hemorrhage requiring multiple arterial embolizations.

The association of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) has been well established. These patients have been reported to have an overall better prognosis than other PAN patients. Herein we report a patient with FMF and PAN who died of sepsis following a severe course of recurrent bleeding episodes which required multiple embolization attempts. The 39-year-old Turkish male presented with abdominal pain of 1-month duration. He had been diagnosed with FMF at the age of 24. On admission, he had pallor with general ill appearance. Rebound tenderness was obtained in the right upper abdominal quadrant. He had mild anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and hypoalbuminemia. On the 2nd day of his admission, he developed hypotension with a rapid decline in hemoglobin level. Abdominal angiography showed multiple aneurysms in the branches of renal arteries, superior mesenteric artery, and hepatic arterial system including left renal infarct, suggesting PAN. He was put on high-dose steroids and oral cyclophosphamide. Despite medical treatment, he developed intense abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and a rapid fall in hemoglobin on four occasions. Active bleeding sites were embolized in two different angiography sessions. Although the patient experienced no more recurrent bleeding, he died of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome resulting from sepsis 6 weeks after admission. Polyarteritis nodosa associated with FMF may follow a grave course despite immunosuppressive therapy. Arterial embolization should be considered in the presence of bleeding aneurysms in addition to immunosuppressive therapy.