SARS-CoV-2 associated septic venous cavernous sinus thrombosis: A case report.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a life-threatening condition occurring due to an active infection, coagulation abnormalities, and trauma. Thromboembolic events are known complications secondary to novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) due to dysfunction in endothelial function and clotting factor dysfunction. We report a case of cavernous sinus thrombosis and delayed ophthalmic vein thrombosis associated with a preceding COVID-19 infection confirmed with a facial computed tomography (CT) scan. Clinicians should have a broad differential in patients with hypercoagulable states, as complications secondary to COVID-19 can be life-threatening.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: An Unusual Presentation of Recurrent Malignant Melanoma.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a syndrome characterized by bleeding into the alveolar spaces of the lungs, secondary to disruption of the alveolar-capillary basement membrane. While numerous disease processes have been associated with DAH including certain malignancies, to the best of our knowledge, recurrent malignant melanoma has not been previously described in the literature as a cause of DAH. Here, we present a case of a 73-year-old female with a history of malignant melanoma of the left shoulder status post wide local incision two years prior, who presented with complaints of progressive shortness of breath without productive cough or hemoptysis. On examination, she was hypoxemic and required high-flow nasal cannula initiation. Initial investigation revealed a hemoglobin of 4.6 g/dL. Computed tomography of the chest with contrast revealed multiple areas of rounded infiltrates with air bronchograms, mediastinal adenopathy, and a right pleural effusion. Diagnostic bronchoscopy revealed findings of recent bleeding throughout the tracheobronchial tree with progressively bloody bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) suggestive of DAH. BAL cytology was positive for malignant melanoma. After a comprehensive workup that excluded the common causes of DAH, we present the first case of DAH caused by recurrent malignant melanoma.

Disseminated Strongyloidiasis in Association with Nephrotic Syndrome.

Strongyloidiasis is a well-known parasitic infection endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. While most infected individuals are asymptomatic, strongyloidiasis-related glomerulopathy has not been well documented. We present a case of disseminated strongyloidiasis in a patient with minimal change nephrotic syndrome treated with high-dose corticosteroids. The remission of nephrotic syndrome after treatment of strongyloidiasis suggests a possible causal relationship between Strongyloides and nephrotic syndrome.

Isolated Left Ventricular Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been radically changed by the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, few reports have described their role in cardiac metastases. We present a case of a left ventricular metastasis from RCC that was managed with pazopanib therapy. CASE REPORT: A 74-year-old male with stage I RCC underwent right nephrectomy in 2004 and right lung metastasis resection in 2009. He was well till March 2016, when he presented with chest pain. Cardiac catheterization revealed a highly vascular mass in the apex. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left ventricular mass with full-thickness involvement of the myocardium, and the open cardiac biopsy was consistent with metastatic RCC. The patient was initially treated with pazopanib with response but later developed therapy-related side effects, and the dose was reduced. Due to tumor progression, he is currently on nivolumab instead and is stable. CONCLUSION: RCC with cardiac metastasis poses unique challenges with regard to diagnosis as well as treatment. The use of TKI therapy is associated with cardiotoxicity and has not been adequately studied in cardiac metastasis. Choosing the right treatment for this subgroup of patients continues to pose an ongoing dilemma.

Safety and efficacy of anti-thrombotic regimens in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention requiring oral anticoagulation: A traditional and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports have been inconsistent in generating a consensus for optimal treatment strategy for patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who also require oral anticoagulation (OAC). We conducted a traditional and network meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-thrombotic regimens in this subset of patients. METHODS: 30 articles were recovered through preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials (CENTRAL) from inception to December 2016. RESULTS: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was found to be the safest treatment modality when compared to triple therapy (TT) or combination of OAC and single antiplatelet agent (OAC+SAP) [Major bleeding: (DAPT vs OAC+SAP: odds ratio (OR), 0.53; 95% credible interval (CrI), 0.30-0.91) (DAPT vs TT: OR, 0.45; 95% CrI, 0.31-0.64)]. There were no significant differences in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular (CV) or total survival, stent thrombosis or target vessel revascularization (TVR) amongst the three treatment arms. TT was ranked superior for stroke reduction (SUCRA, 69%) followed by OAC+SAP and DAPT. When traditional analysis was adjusted for randomized data, OAC+SAP was equivalent to TT with regards to stroke (OR, 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38-1.46; p=0.39) and showed significant reduction in MACE and total mortality. CONCLUSION: DAPT was found to be the safest and equally effective regimen when compared to TT and OAC+SAP. However this strategy bears considerable risk to patients with high thromboembolic risk. This issue can be encountered by using OAC+SAP as an alternative of TT in patients with intermediate to high stroke risk and intermediate to high bleeding propensity.

Yellow Fever in an Unvaccinated Traveler to Peru.

We present a case of an unvaccinated traveler who traveled from New York to Peru and contracted yellow fever. He likely acquired the infection while visiting the Amazon River, with a point of exit of Lima, Peru. Our case illustrates the dramatic course that yellow fever may take, as well as the importance of pretravel vaccination.