Recurrent Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Extreme Insulin Resistance Due to Anti-Insulin Antibodies: Response to Immunosuppression and Plasma Exchange.

Anti-insulin antibodies (IAs) in patients with insulin-treated diabetes, though common, correlate poorly with glycemic control, insulin requirement, and insulin resistance. We are hereby reporting the clinical course and challenges in the management of a 70-year-old man who had severe insulin resistance as evidenced by recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis and poor glycemic control despite treatment with >9 U of insulin/kg body weight per day. He was found to have anti-IAs and responded clinically to plasmapheresis and immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone. Improved glycemic control correlated well with falling titers of antibodies. This case emphasizes that clinicians should be alert to the possibility of insulin resistance due to anti-IAs and the role of immunosuppression and plasmapheresis in such cases.

Experience with Splenic Abscess from Southern India.

INTRODUCTION: Splenic abscess is a rare entity with potentially life threatening complications. Sparse recent published data are available documenting the aetiological profile and management of patients with splenic abscess from India. AIM: To study the clinical profile of splenic abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from case records of admitted patients with splenic abscesses, to Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital which is a multispecialty, tertiary care referral hospital over a period of 15 months (from March 2014 to May 2015) and parameters studied were age, sex, symptoms, signs, risk factors, investigations like Ultrasound, CT scan, blood & microbiological culture, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Most common presenting symptom was fever (90%). Mean age was 33.5 years. Five patients (55%) had risk factors like HIV, leukaemia and diabetes. From pus culture Escherichia coli was the most common organism (22%) grown. Staphylococcus saureus, Enterococcus faecium were seen in one each, blood culture grown Cryptococcus neoformans, Pseudomonas aeroginosa in one each, Plasmodium falciparum was seen on peripheral smear in one. Three were empirically treated as disseminated koch's. Another was treated as possible infective endocarditis. All were given antimicrobials, five (55%) were treated with antimicrobials alone, three (33%) with PCD (Per Cutaneous Drainage) and one (11%) with sub-total splenectomy. All patients recovered. CONCLUSION: With early diagnosis and increased use of ultrasound guided procedures like aspiration or drainage, spleenectomy can be avoided. Optimal treatment for splenic abscess is yet to be defined and customized to each patient.

Ghosal hematodiaphyseal dysplasia-a concise review including an illustrative patient.

Ghosal hematodiaphyseal dysplasia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by metadiaphyseal dysplasia of long bones and defective hematopoiesis due to fibrosis or sclerosis of bone marrow. Approximately 15 cases of this entity have been reported in the literature so far. The diagnosis of this rare syndrome and its differentiation from other sclerosing bone disorders is important as correct diagnosis helps in treatment with corticosteroids, leading to considerable improvement in anemia and bony changes, negating the need for blood transfusions. We review the literature for this uncommon disorder and also present a similar case in a 21-year-old female who remained undiagnosed until this age because of unfamiliarity of clinicians with the condition.