DRESS is a Mess: A Case of Cross Reactivity Between Lacosamide and Lamotrigine.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia with systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare drug reaction often presenting with both cutaneous manifestations and potentially life-threatening internal organ involvement. The precise incidence of DRESS is still unclear as it is easily missed due to its highly variable clinical presentation. However, with an expected mortality rate of approximately 10 percent, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with pharmacologic etiologies commonly implicated in the pathogenesis. We present a case of DRESS syndrome attributed to cross-reactivity between two commonly used anticonvulsants- lacosamide and lamotrigine.

Utility of Ct values in differentiating COVID-19 reinfection versus prolonged viral shedding in an immunocompromised patient.

We describe the case of a 26-year-old man who presented to an outside hospital with concerns of blurred vision. He subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and his lab work suggested acute leukaemia. The patient was admitted to our hospital and completed a course of remdesivir. He eventually tested negative for COVID-19 before initiating chemotherapy. Two days after starting chemotherapy, he developed a neutropenic fever and tested positive for COVID-19. Through this case, we aim to bring attention to patients who recurrently test positive with COVID-19 PCR testing, thereby causing a dilemma of differentiating between reinfections and prolonged shedding of the virus, as well as understand and use cycle threshold values to discern these aetiologies.

Rare enough ? Cardiac Device-related pocket Infection due to Mycobacterium fortuitum.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are rare causes of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-related infections and may lead to device-related endocarditis, so preventing them is key. We present a case of CIED-related pocket infection due to Mycobacterium fortuitum which highlights the challenges in management of such infections.

Pulmonary Tumor Embolism Microangiopathy: A Cause of Respiratory Failure in Advanced Malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: Etiologies of acute respiratory failure in breast cancer patients are diverse (acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, radiation pneumonitis, malignant infiltration). Pulmonary tumor embolism microangiopathy (PTEM) is a rare complication of advanced cancer that often presents as respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, and sudden death. Breast cancer is the most common primary cause of PTEM. It takes an aggressive course and presents with a challenge to diagnose and eventually manage. Here, we present the case of PTEM in a woman with advanced breast cancer. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old female presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath. Her past medical history was significant for HER-2 positive breast cancer with metastatic lesions in the brain, spine, and liver. In the emergency department (ED), the patient was tachycardic, tachypneic, hypoxic, hypotensive and hyperthermic. Laboratory results showed anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, alkalemia, hypoxia with decreased levels of arterial oxygen tension, decreased arterial carbon dioxide with a compensatory metabolic acidosis as well as grossly elevated transaminases, elevated D-Dimer, and multiple inflammatory markers. CT angiography and echocardiogram were performed but they failed to establish a definite diagnosis. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit due to progressive acute hypoxic respiratory failure despite being tested negative for pulmonary embolism. Despite resuscitative measures with intravenous diuretics, multiple transfusions as well as antibiotics, she remained tachypneic with respiratory rate of 40/min and oxygen saturation between 70-80 percent. She passed away a few hours later. No autopsy was performed. CONCLUSION: We recommend that if a patient with established malignancy presents with deteriorating lung function whereby there is evidence of progressive dyspnea and consolidation on radiographs, empirical antimicrobial treatment has failed to show improvement and thromboembolism has been ruled out, PTEM should be considered for early diagnosis.

Approach to critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy in the older SARS-CoV-2 patients.

One of the major concerns of the health care community and the public surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is the availability and use of ventilators. Unprecedented surges of patients presented to intensive care units across the country, with older adults making up a large proportion of the patient population. This paper illustrates contemporary approaches to critical illness myopathy (CIM), critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP), and critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM) in older patients, including incidence, risk factors, mechanisms for pathology, diagnosis, contemporary treatment approaches, and outcomes. We hope that the following analysis may help educate clinicians and ultimately decrease the duration of the mechanical ventilation required by these patients, resulting in improved clinical outcomes and an increase in ventilator availability for other patients in need.

The Economic Implications of COVID-19 in the United States.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first reported in Wuhan, China, in 2019 has evolved into a pandemic and public health emergency, leading to extensive fatalities and halting global economies. Older adults have emerged as a critically vulnerable population as earlier data suggests a disproportionately increased incidence of COVID-19 in this population, as well as worse health outcomes. Disease attenuating behaviors such as social distancing has been encouraged and mandated across different countries leading to downstream economic ramifications. This paper seeks to outline the economic implications of COVID-19 in the U.S. (particularly in terms of vocational, retail, and service industries), highlighting the role of nursing homes in disease dissemination. We also discuss potential costs associated with COVID-19 management focusing on the senior population who rely on Medicare benefits for health insurance.

COVID-19: Catastrophic Cause of Acute Lung Injury.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak that began in 2019 and spread rapidly across the globe has been observed to cause acute lung injury and multiorgan system failure. While common symptoms are flu-like, this population has been observed to decompensate at an alarmingly rapid rate to severe hypoxia. SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells by targeting the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is present on endothelial cells in the lung, heart, kidney, and gastrointestinal tissue. The pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in SARS-CoV-2 infection has a component of lung perfusion dysregulation and is described as a "cytokine storm" that causes increased vascular permeability and disease severity. Older adults and those with comorbid conditions, particularly hypertension, diabetes, and history of ischemic heart disease, are especially vulnerable. These high-risk populations are often on angiotensin-modulating therapies, which are theorized to increase ACE2 expressivity, but current evidence for or against discontinuation is equivocal. The standard for SARS-CoV-2 testing is through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, which has presented problems due to low sensitivity and possible co-infection with other pathogens. Treatment for ARDS in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 should follow pre-established goals of care and the wishes of the patient and family members or caregivers and consider the high risk for polypharmacy, cognitive decline, malnutrition, and depression, particularly in older adults. Treatment recommendations have outlined ventilation goals to minimize further lung injury. Compassionate use of pharmacologic therapies such as remdesivir has shown promise, and further clinical trials of anticytokine agents are underway.

COVID-19 and Older Adults: What We Know.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel virus that causes COVID-19 infection, has recently emerged and caused a deadly pandemic. Studies have shown that this virus causes worse outcomes and a higher mortality rate in older adults and those with comorbidities such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A significant percentage of older American adults have these diseases, putting them at a higher risk of infection. Additionally, many adults with hypertension, diabetes, and CKD are placed on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Studies have shown that these medications upregulate the ACE-2 receptor, the very receptor that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to enter host cells. Although it has been hypothesized that this may cause a further increased risk of infection, more studies on the role of these medications in COVID-19 infections are necessary. In this review, we discuss the transmission, symptomatology, and mortality of COVID-19 as they relate to older adults, and possible treatments that are currently under investigation. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:926-929, 2020.