Atypical Presentation of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in a Middle-Aged Adult.

BACKGROUND Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease that usually presents in pediatric patients, usually following a viral or bacterial infection. The clinical findings in ADEM include acute neurologic decline that typically presents with encephalopathy, with some cases progressing to multiple sclerosis. An atypical case of ADEM is reported that presented in a middle-aged adult. CASE REPORT A 46-year-old Caucasian man, who had recently emigrated to the US from Ukraine, presented with gait abnormalities that began four days after he developed abdominal cramps. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with contrast, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and T2-weighting showed contrast-enhancing, patchy, diffuse lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was negative for oligoclonal bands. On hospital admission, the patient was treated with intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone, 500 mg twice daily. He responded well and was discharged from hospital after a week, with resolution of his presenting symptoms and signs. CONCLUSIONS This report is of an atypical presentation of ADEM in a middle-aged patient who presented with spastic paresis. Although there are no set guidelines for the diagnosis of ADEM in adults, this diagnosis should be considered in patients with acute onset of demyelinating lesions in cerebral MRI. As this case has shown, first-line treatment is with high-dose steroids, which can be rapidly effective.

Awareness of Birth Cohort Hepatitis C Testing Recommendation Among Baby Boomers: An Exploratory Survey Study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine population awareness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing recommendation for the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort and explore the factors associated with awareness of the testing recommendation, its association with HCV testing, and respondents' data sources about the recommendation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess awareness of the CDC birth cohort testing recommendation among adults born 1945-1965 who were managed at a single academic center's internal medicine clinics or by visiting a local health fair. Data were collected on respondents' demographics and HCV-related domains, including risk factors, awareness, data sources, prior testing, and interest in information about testing. RESULTS: There were a total of 563 respondents to the survey. Forty percent were aware of the CDC's testing recommendation, with Hispanic ethnicity being the only significant predictor (odds ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.38-0.90). HCV testing rates were higher among those aware of the CDC's recommendation, as compared with those unaware (33.6% vs 24.0%, P = 0.0269). Television was the most common initial data source for the testing recommendation (64.8%), whereas healthcare providers accounted for 22.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the CDC's testing recommendation was reported in fewer than half of the respondents and was adversely affected by minority status. Although mass media may be a key venue for HCV-related data outreach, further studies are needed on interventions to enhance the role played by healthcare providers.

Disseminated Nocardiosis Associated with Treatment with Infliximab in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND Opportunistic infections may occur when patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors. With the increasing use of new immunosuppressant drugs, the incidence of opportunistic or atypical infections is also increasing, including with Nocardia spp. A high level of awareness of atypical infections is warranted in immunosuppressed patients. CASE REPORT A 57-year-old female African American, with a past medical history of ulcerative colitis (UC) and arthritis, was treated with infliximab and prednisone. She presented to the emergency department with acute onset of chest pain, shortness of breath, and a two-week history of a productive cough. Examination showed hypoxia, tachypnea, decreased and coarse bilateral breath sounds, and fluctuant, tender, erythematous masses on her trunk and groin. Laboratory investigations showed a leukocytosis with a left shift. She was initially treated for presumed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, blood cultures grew Nocardia farcinica and treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) was begun, which was complicated by severe symptomatic hyponatremia. Following recovery from infection and resolution of the hyponatremia, the patient was discharged to a senior care facility, but with continued treatment with TMP-SMX. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first case of disseminated nocardiosis associated with infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis. As with other forms of immunosuppressive therapy, patients who are treated with infliximab should be followed closely due to the increased risk of atypical infections. When initiating antibiotic therapy, careful monitoring of possible side effects should be done.