Libman-Sacks Endocarditis Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome, Acute Heart Failure and Multiple Embolic Strokes.

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is a rare cardiovascular manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. It is described as sterile vegetative lesions which can damage heart valves resulting in complications such as acute coronary syndrome and heart failure and can embolize to cause cerebral and renal infarcts. We present the case of a young African American female presenting with pleuritic chest pain. She was initially admitted for acute coronary syndrome. She was later found to have severe mitral regurgitation and eventually received a transesophageal echocardiogram which confirmed the diagnosis of Libman-Sacks endocarditis. Her course was complicated with acute diastolic heart failure and several embolic strokes in the watershed anterior cerebral artery/middle cerebral artery (ACA/MCA) territories. She was started on anticoagulation and antiplatelet agents. Her underlying lupus was treated with immunosuppressive agents. This case demonstrates that a high index of suspicion for Libman-Sacks is crucial in patients with lupus if presenting with cardiovascular symptoms. Early and prompt diagnosis can prevent and lessen the many side effects associated with thromboembolism.

Insulin edema after initiation of hybrid closed-loop insulin pump therapy with continuous glucose monitoring: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Insulin edema is a rare complication which can present after initiation or intensification of insulin therapy in people with diabetes. Initiation of closed-loop hybrid insulin pump therapy can result in rapid improvement in glycemic control for people with diabetes. We present a case in which transition to a closed-loop hybrid insulin pump system, followed by significant improvement in glycemic control, led to development of insulin edema in a person with type 1 diabetes. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 51-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes of 16 years duration, on insulin pump therapy for more than 10 years, who presented for follow-up 7 weeks after transitioning to a hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). She complained of weight gain and bilateral lower extremity edema which had started two weeks after the change in pump modality. Laboratory studies and echocardiogram did not reveal any etiology of the acute edema. HbA1c was 3.3% lower than the previous measurement 15 weeks earlier, and there was a significant increase in the daily total insulin dose. With exclusion of other causes of acute edema, the patient was diagnosed with insulin edema and started on hydrochlorothiazide. On follow up, her lower extremity edema significantly improved although her weight did not return to baseline. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of insulin edema reported in a person with type 1 diabetes using CGM and a hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system. The increase in total daily insulin dose, rapid improvement of glycemic control, and lack of hypoglycemic episodes were important factors to consider in evaluation of this case. Use of hybrid closed-loop systems can help achieve rapid improvement in glycemic control in people with diabetes. This case suggests that consideration should be given to adjusting initial blood glucose targets when starting these remarkable new technologies in people with baseline poor glycemic control.

Right Heart Failure With Recurrent Pericardial Effusion Mimicking Effusive-Constrictive Pericarditis Several Years After Renal Transplantation.

Pericardial disease is a rare complication after renal transplantation. We present a patient who developed high-output cardiac failure from a large arteriovenous (AV) fistula with recurrent pericardial effusion resulting in a constrictive hemodynamic pattern that was revealed during cardiac catheterization. Pericardiectomy was considered for recurrent effusive pericarditis, but per cardiac surgery recommendations, closure of the AV fistula dramatically cured the patient's heart failure, and no recurrence of pericardial effusion was seen during follow-up almost a year later.

Catheter-Directed Thrombectomy: An Alternative in Massive Pulmonary Embolism.

Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition. The mainstay treatment is thrombolysis. Catheter-directed thrombectomy involves a group of new techniques that appear to have relatively low complications and mortality. These techniques have so far been studied mostly in submassive PE. We present a patient with massive PE that was successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombectomy.

The Importance of Early Pericardiectomy in Mulibrey Nanism Syndrome, a Case Report.

Mulibrey (Muscle-Liver-Brain-Eye) Nanism syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder with multiorgan involvement. Constrictive pericarditis and diastolic dysfunction are the most common causes of mortality. We present a case of a patient with Mulibrey nanism syndrome who underwent pericardiectomy at 12 years old and was able to live 44 years more with relatively stable and asymptomatic diastolic congestive heart failure (CHF). This case highlights the importance of early recognition and treatment of constrictive pericarditis in these patients.

Insulin Edema With Use of U-500 Regular Insulin in a Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Pump.

Insulin edema is a rare complication of insulin therapy which has been described in known or newly diagnosed people with diabetes, following initiation or intensification of insulin treatment. Here we present a 63-year-old man with complaints of weight gain, shortness of breath, and lower extremity edema starting two weeks after the change of his insulin pump to the hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system and substitution of U-100 aspart insulin with U-500 regular insulin. Laboratory studies, imaging, and electrocardiogram (EKG) were performed to evaluate the cause of acute edema and were all normal. Hemoglobin A1C showed remarkable improvement after the pump change and the insulin pump download showed a significant increase in the amount of total daily insulin administered. With the exclusion of other causes of acute edema, the patient was diagnosed with insulin edema. He was started on spironolactone 50 mg/daily and showed a desirable improvement of edema on follow-up.  This case shows that although the use of the hybrid insulin-pump system helps to obtain better control of diabetes in many patients, the rapid improvement in glycemic control may precipitate the development of insulin edema. Furthermore, the use of high concentration insulin in insulin pumps is off-label and their use might increase the rate of complications of insulin therapy including insulin edema.

A Case of Recurrent Coronary Subclavian Steal Syndrome.

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is one of the rare complications of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). This phenomenon is a potential complication after left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) CABG. A proximal stenosis of the left subclavian artery (SA) could cause retrograde flow from LIMA to left SA, which characterizes the mechanism of CSSS. We describe a unique case of recurrent CSSS in a 64-year-old female who presented with one month of exertional dyspnea and acute onset chest pain. She had an extensive coronary artery disease history with CABG 15 years prior to presentation and CSSS treated with left SA stent placement nine years later. She also underwent percutaneous intervention with stents placed in the saphenous vein graft. Although electrocardiogram, cardiac enzymes, and stress test did not show any evidence of acute ischemic changes, perfusion scan detected large areas of partially reversible ischemia. Cardiac catheterization was performed, which showed in-stent restenosis of the left SA and retrograde flow from the LIMA to the left SA indicative of recurrence of CSSS. Left SA arteriogram confirmed in-stent restenosis of the left SA, which was treated with balloon angioplasty and stent placement.

The Sweet syndrome as a cutaneous manifestation of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease associated with many extraintestinal manifestations involving multiple organs, including the skin, eyes, liver, and joints. Classic Sweet's syndrome is a cutaneous manifestation of Crohn's disease, characterized by sudden onset of painful plaques or nodules of the skin associated with fever and neutrophilia. We present a case of classic Sweet's syndrome in a patient with well-controlled Crohn's disease.

Acute Myocardial Infarction Due to Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Plaque Rupture.

Myocardial infarction (MI) can be secondary to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (ACAD) and non-atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (NACAD). The common cause of NACAD in young females is spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). We present a case of SCAD and plaque rupture leading to MI.

Black speckled duodenal mucosa.

Pseudomelanosis duodeni is a rare incidental finding seen on endoscopy and has the characteristic appearance of flat, black-speckled pigmented mucosa. We present the case of an 83-year-old woman who presented with gastrointestinal bleeding and was found to have pseudomelanosis duodeni. The finding has no diagnostic or prognostic significance. Therapeutic chelation or endoscopic follow-up is not recommended.

Vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: The role of vitamin D in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is ambiguous and clinical trials are needed to assess the role of vitamin D in the treatment of AD. The aim of this clinical trial study to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on patients with AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: sixty AD patients were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study. They were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 60 days: group vitamin D (n=30), and placebo group (n=30). The two groups were as follows: Group D, 1600 IU cholecalciferol (vitamin D) and second group placebo. The severity of AD was evaluated based on SCORAD (Scoring Atopic Dermatitis) and TIS (Three Item Severity score) value by the same trained physician before and after the trial. RESULTS: According to SCORAD and TIS value index in the vitamin D group showed significant improvement in patients with mild, moderate and severe AD (P<0.05) and in patients who the intake placebo, this improvement didn't showed (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Results mention that supplementation with oral vitamin D dramatically improved disease severity in AD patients.

A single blind randomized clinical study: the efficacy of isotretinoin plus narrow band ultraviolet B in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.

In this randomized clinical trial, 39 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were randomized in two groups. Intervention group received narrow band ultraviolet B (NBUVB)+isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg/day), control group received NBUVB+placebo. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scoring was recorded at baseline and weeks 4, 10, and 14. Thirty-seven patients completed the study. According to recorded PASI scores the difference between efficacies of two treatments was not significant. Complete clearing was noticed in 14 and 13 patients in intervention group and controls. The mean cumulative NBUVB dose in intervention group and controls was 29.95 ± 16.11 vs. 45.77 ± 7.72J/cm(2) (P=0.004). Isotretinoin+NBUVB can reduce number of phototherapy sessions and cumulative NBUVB dose.