COVID-19 outcomes in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study is to investigate COVID-19 outcomes in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). METHODS: A retrospective cohort was formed from APS patients. Patients were screened for a record of positive SARS-CoV 2 PCR. In PCR­positive patients, clinical data and information regarding COVID-19 outcomes were collected from medical records. RESULTS: A positive PCR test was detected in 9/53 APS patients, while 66.7 %, 33.3 % and 11.1 % of APS patients with COVID-19 were under hydroxychloroquine, LMWH or warfarin, and acetylsalicylic acid, respectively. There were 3/9 patients found to be hospitalized and one died. No new thrombotic event was reported in any of the patients during COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: Baseline use of hydroxychloroquine, antiaggregants and anticoagulants may be associated with an absence of new thrombotic event (Tab. 2, Ref. 33).

A case of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia in China and it spread quickly to other countries. Although Covid-19 causes severe pneumonia, it is known that it can be associated with different diseases and prognosis of disease can be due to many of disorders such as hyponatremia. A 65-year-old female patient with sarcoidosis, cronic obstructive lung disease, hypertension and congestive heart failure presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath and fever. Oropharyngeal swab for Covid-19 PCR test was positive. After the initiation of treatment, the patient developed hyponatremia. This case is remarkable because there is no reported case of Covid-19 and inappropriate ADH syndrome coexistence and it demonstrates that there may be a correlation between Covid-19 infection prognosis and hyponatremia.

Comparing immunoglobulin A vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) in children and adults: a single-centre study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Immunoglobulin A vasculitis/Henoch-Schönlein purpura (IgAV/HSP) is a systemic vasculitis involving small vessels with the deposition of immune complexes containing IgA. It is the most common primary systemic vasculitis of childhood and is much less common in adults. Our aim was to investigate the differences and similarities between adult and paediatric patients with IgAV/HSP. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 35 adult and 159 paediatric (˂ 18 years old) patients with a clinical diagnosis of IgAV/HSP who were seen at the Departments of Rheumatology and Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. The paediatric and adult patients were classified with IgAV/HSP according to the Ankara 2008 and American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria, respectively. RESULTS: Upper respiratory tract infection was a common predisposing factor for both adults (34.3%) and children (21.4%). Creatinine and C-reactive protein were higher; and skin biopsy, hypertension, renal involvement, haematuria, proteinuria, and renal insufficiency at diagnosis were more frequent in adults than in children. Thrombocyte count was higher in children than in adults. Follow-up without treatment and complete recovery were more frequent in children, while persistent haematuria, chronic renal failure, relapse, and the use of corticosteroids/azathioprine were more frequent in adults. The only independent predictive factor for relapse was persistent haematuria. CONCLUSION: Various clinical and laboratory characteristics differ between children and adults with IgAV/HSP. Overall, IgAV/HSP has a self-limiting course in children but represents a more severe form of disease in adults, with more severe renal involvement. Persistent haematuria is a predictive factor for relapse.

Clinical and Laboratory Features of Metformin Intoxication in Suicidal Patients Attending an Intensive Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: This study has been performed for the purpose of researching the complications occurred at patients who took metformin overdose in an attempt to suicide. None of the patients has the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and never used metformin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with 21 patients who has neither diagnosed diabetes mellitus nor taken metformin for suicide before. RESULTS: It was observed that there is a moderate, negative (r = -0.63) statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the time of applying to the hospital and arterial blood pH at the arrival and a statistically significant positive mild correlation (P < 0.041) between applying and blood lactate level (r = 0.45), and a moderate positive (r = 0.63) and statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the total metformin dose and blood lactate level at the arrival and a positive, moderate (r = 0.68) significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the creatinine and metformin dose at the arrival. Lactic acidosis has been detected at 8 of 21 patients, 6 patients were hemodialized, 2 patients needed mechanical ventilation, and 2 patients died. It is observed that there is no mortality for early hemodialized patients. CONCLUSION: The most important reason of the mortality in patients who has metformin intoxication is metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA). It was considered that hemodialysis therapy could be effective in MALA.

Assessment of the HScore for reactive haemophagocytic syndrome in patients with rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: Reactive haemophagocytic syndrome (RHS) is a hyperinflammatory disorder often occurring in the background of several disorders such as infections, malignancies, and rheumatic diseases. Recently, a score known as the HScore was developed for the diagnosis of RHS. In the original study, most of the patients had underlying haematological malignancy or infection and the best cut-off value for the HScore was 169 (sensitivity 93%; specificity 86%). In this study we aimed to analyse the performance of the HScore in rheumatic disease-related RHS. METHOD: The patients with rheumatic disorders evaluated in the Departments of Rheumatology and Paediatric Rheumatology at Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey between 2002 and 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The first group (n = 30) consisted of patients with RHS; the control group (n = 64) included patients with active rheumatic diseases without RHS. RESULTS: In the RHS group, 14 (46.7%) had adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), 10 (33.3%) systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), and six (20%) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The control group (n = 64) consisted of 32 (50%) AOSD, 13 (20.3%) SJIA, and 19 (29.7%) SLE patients. Applying the HScore to the RHS patients, the best cut-off value was 190.5 with a sensitivity of 96.7% and specificity of 98.4%. When we excluded the patients from the control group who had not had bone marrow aspiration (n = 23), the same cut-off (190.5) performed best (sensitivity 96.7%; specificity 97.6%). Applying the 2004 haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH-2004) criteria gave a sensitivity of 56.6% and a specificity of 100% in the whole study group. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, a cut-off value for the HScore different from the original study performed better. Further studies are warranted to determine optimum cut-off values in different studies.

Imaging of acute pancreatitis and its complications. Part 2: complications of acute pancreatitis.

The Atlanta classification of acute pancreatitis was introduced in 1992 and divides patients into mild and severe groups based on clinical and biochemical criteria. Recently, the terminology and classification scheme proposed at the initial Atlanta Symposium have been reviewed and a new consensus statement has been proposed by the Acute Pancreatitis Classification Working Group. Major changes include subdividing acute fluid collections into "acute peripancreatic fluid collection" and "acute post-necrotic pancreatic/peripancreatic fluid collection (acute necrotic collection)" based on the presence of necrotic debris. Delayed fluid collections have been similarly subdivided into "pseudocyst" and "walled of pancreatic necrosis". Appropriate use of the new terms describing the fluid collections is important for management decision-making in patients with acute pancreatitis. The purpose of this review article is to present an overview of complications of the acute pancreatitis with emphasis on their prognostic significance and impact on clinical management and to clarify confusing terminology for pancreatic fluid collections.

Imaging of acute pancreatitis and its complications. Part 1: acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas that may also involve surrounding tissues or remote organs. The Atlanta classification of acute pancreatitis was introduced in 1992 and divides patients into mild and severe groups based on clinical and biochemical criteria. Recently, the terminology and classification scheme proposed at the initial Atlanta Symposium have been reviewed and a new consensus statement has been proposed by the Acute Pancreatitis Classification Working Group. Generally, imaging is recommended to confirm the clinical diagnosis, investigate the etiology, and grade the extend and severity of the acute pancreatitis. Ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality in most centers for the confirmation of the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and the ruling out of other causes of acute abdomen, but it has limitations in the acute clinical setting. Computed tomography not only establishes the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, but also enables to stage severity of the disease. Magnetic resonance imaging has earned an ever more important role in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. It is especially useful for imaging of patients with iodine allergies, characterizing collections and assessment of an abnormal or disconnected pancreatic duct. The purpose of this review article is to present an overview of the acute pancreatitis, clarify confusing terminology, underline the role of ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging according to the proper clinical context and compare the advantages and limitations of each modality.

Impact of perioperative lidocaine infusion and bis monitorization on remifentanil dosage in hypotensive anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Combination of local and regional anesthetic agents are widely used in emergency and surgical setting and the interaction between the medications used in general anesthesia and these local and/or regional anesthetic becomes a growing concern in current patient management system. The interaction between general anesthetic agents and the local anesthetic agents given epidurally, spinally, intravenously or intramuscularly and the effects of BIS monitorisation on combined propofol-remifentanil anesthesia are examined in several studies. In literature, there is no research investigating the effect of lidocaine infusion on remifentanil and anesthetic dosage used in hypotensive anesthesia. The aim of this study is to examine this effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 39, ASA I-II patients undergoing elective transsphenoidal endoscopic hypophyseal adenoma excision procedure. After preoperative examination and informed consent of the patient, monitorisation with non invasive blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, pulse oxymeter and Bispectral Index (BIS) was performed. 0.9% NaCl infusion was started via a 20 G route. Lidocaine (1%) was given as 1.5 mg.kg(-1) hour-1 infusion after 1.5 mg.kg(-1) bolus dosage given in 10 minutes. Lidocaine infusion was started at the same time with anesthesia induction and was stopped after surgery. 0.9% NaCl was given as bolus dosage and as infusion in control group. Induction was maintained via propofol (1%) with 10 mg (1 ml) doses given in 5 seconds and it was applied in every 15 seconds until BIS < 45'. During maintenance of anesthesia desflurane-remifentanil-oxygen (50%)-air (50%) mixture was used. Desflurane was titrated by BIS measurement between 40 and 5012. Remifentanil infusion was started after propofol induction with 0.1 µg.kg(-1).min(-1) dosage and it was titrated between 0.1-0.5 µg.kg(-1).min(-1) levels. For intubation, rocuronium with 0.8 mg kg(-1) dosage was given during induction. After the surgical procedure, it was antagonised with neostigmine and atropine. For postoperative analgesia 1 g paracetamole was given IV after the surgery within 15 minutes and it was reapplied with 1 gr doses in every 6 hours. After extubation, the pain of the patients was examined at 15. minute at the recovery room with VRS (VRS; 0-no pain, 1-slight pain, 2-moderate pain, 3-severe pain). If VRS was greater than 2, 50 mg dolantine was given IM. For prevention of nausea and vomitting, 8 mg ondansetron was given IV. Perioperative total doses of remifentanil, desflurane (ml) (anesthesia machine records) and lidocaine (mg) were recorded after the surgery. Perioperative hemodynamic parameters (systolic, diastolic, mean blood pressures, heart rates) were recorded after monitorisation (basal), after intubation, after the start of the surgery and after extubation. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant difference between two groups with respect to patient characteristics (age, gender, weight, length, Basal Mass Index = BMI) (p > 0.05). The duration of anesthesia and surgery were also not different statistically (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant difference between two groups with respect to remifentanil dose (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant difference between two groups with respect to eye opening and extubation times (p > 0.05). When usage rates and amounts of dolantine, paracetamole and novalgine were compared, we found no statistically significant difference between two groups (p > 0.05). Basal mean arterial blood pressure measurements of the patients and mean arterial blood pressure measurements of the patients after induction, after intubation, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes after discharge of surgery and after extubation showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Basal heart rate measurements and the heart rates after induction, after intubation, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes after discharge of surgery and after extubation showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). Basal BIS measurements and BIS measurements after induction, after intubation, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes after discharge of surgery and after extubation showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant difference between two groups about different parameters. But new investigations with different local anesthetic agents may show sigificant difference and usage of these local anesthetic agents may be advised.

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a rare, fulminant opportunistic fungal infection that is mostly seen in immunocompromised or diabetic patients. The disease should be recognised and treated immediately. We present here MR imaging findings of two patients with histopathologically proven ROCM. One of the cases had a history of corticosteroid treatment and iatrogenic diabetes mellitus and although amphotericin B was started immediately, the disease progressed and surgical debridement was necessary. The second case was a patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 in whom ROCM had occurred following an abdominal surgery; amphotericin B treatment alone was adequate in this patient.

Usefulness of virtual colonoscopy in the diagnosis of symptomatic large colonic lipomas.

Lipomas of the colon are uncommon tumour of the gastrointestinal tract, but cause diagnostic difficulty when they are symptomatic. We reported two cases of symptomatic, large colonic lipoma. Colonoscopy was incomplete because of the narrowing lumen caused by lipomas. By the help of computed tomography colonography/virtual colonoscopy, colonic lipomas were diagnosed correctly, but also proximal colon was examined.

MR peritoneography in complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) peritoneography for the examination of complications from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: MR peritoneography was performed in 20 patients who had suspected CAPD-related complications. Patients who had active peritonitis were not included in the study. Before MR imaging, a mixture of 2000 mL of peritoneal dialysis solution and 20 mL of gadopentetate dimeglumine was instilled into the peritoneal cavity. MR imaging was performed on a 1.0-Tesla system using a body coil. Axial, coronal, and sagittal fat-saturated fast spoiled gradient echo (repetition/echo times, 100/6.3 ms; flip angle, 90 degrees), axial fat-saturated T2-weighted fast spin echo (repetition/echo times, 6000/107 ms), and coronal fat-saturated T2-weighted fast spin echo (repetition/echo times, 3000/96.2 ms) images of the abdomen and the pelvis were obtained. After drain-age, triplanar fat-saturated fast spoiled gradient echo images were repeated with the same parameters. RESULTS: Homogeneous distribution of the dialysate in the peritoneal cavity was detected in 18 patients (90%). In 12 patients (60%), fluid leaks were discovered peripheral to the exit site, tunnel, and site of peritoneal entrance of the catheter. Fluid leaks through the abdominal wall in five patients (25%), retroperitoneum in one patient (5%), and a previous operation site in one patient (5%) were demonstrated. No abnormal finding was detected in three patients (15%) who had clinically suspected complications, whereas a dialysate leak was found in two patients (10%) who had no significant finding at physical examination. CONCLUSIONS: MR peritoneography provides detailed information about the anatomic distribution of dialysate leaks in patients treated with CAPD and poses no risks associated with ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast medium.

Duodenal angiodysplasia: MR angiographic evaluation.

We describe a patient in whom endoscopy failed to determine the origin of gastrointestinal bleeding, and magnetic resonance angiography showed dilated inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins that were considered indirect signs of the duodenal angiodysplasia. Incidentally, a connection between the inferior vena cava and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins were also noted. Repeat endoscopy and catheter angiography confirmed the presence of the angiodysplasias.

Retrorectal dermoid cyst in a male adult: case report.

We describe a 48-year-old male patient who presented with rectal fullness and pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic studies revealed a noncalcified, unilocular, cystic mass lesion with well-defined borders. On MRI nondependent fat spheres were detected inside the cyst. The same pattern has been described in dermoid cyst of the ovary. We suggest that this MRI pattern is specific to dermoid cysts.

DiGeorge syndrome associated with left lung aplasia.

We report a patient with clinical and cytogenetic findings consistent with DiGeorge-velocardiofacial syndrome and aplasia of the left lung. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of DiGeorge-velocardiofacial syndrome associated with unilateral lung aplasia. Gadolinium enhanced three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated associated right-sided aortic arch and left pulmonary artery agenesis.

Post-traumatic intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms with delayed rupture: color Doppler sonographic and CT findings.

Post-traumatic intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms are very rare in children. Since pseudoaneurysms may expand a splenic hematoma and cause delayed splenic rupture, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. In this report, we describe the case of a 12-year-old boy with a delayed splenic rupture caused by a splenic hematoma containing 2 pseudoaneurysms. Abdominal sonography showed free intraperitoneal fluid and a mildly enlarged spleen with a large heterogeneous area occupying the upper half of the organ. Two anechoic lesions (15 and 4 mm) were seen inside the hematoma near the splenic hilum. Color Doppler sonography demonstrated turbulent arterial flow within the lesions, suggesting pseudoaneurysms. On CT, the lesions enhanced simultaneously with the splenic artery in the arterial phase of contrast enhancement. CT also showed an intrasplenic arterial branch leading to the larger of the 2 pseudoaneurysms.

Correlation of right atrial pressure and blood flow velocities in the common femoral vein obtained by duplex Doppler sonography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to correlate the right atrial pressure with the blood flow velocity and pulsatility index (PI) values obtained with duplex Doppler sonography of the common femoral vein. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with suspected right-sided heart failure who had right atrial pressure measurements for correlation were included in the study. The common femoral veins were examined with duplex Doppler sonography. Irrespective of the presence or absence of clinical right-sided heart failure, patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of their right atrial pressures. The mean flow velocities and PIs in the common femoral veins of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: In patients with elevated right atrial pressure (> or = 8 mm Hg), the mean minimum flow velocity + standard deviation (-0.15 +/- 0.11 m/second) in the common femoral vein was significantly lower than that in patients with normal right atrial pressure (< 8 mm Hg) (0.01 +/- 0.10 m/second) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean maximum flow velocities in the common femoral vein between the patients with elevated right atrial pressure (0.25 +/- 0.08 m/second) and the patients with normal right atrial pressure (0.21 +/- 0.09 m/second). The mean PI in patients with elevated right atrial pressure (7.75 +/- 3.19) was significantly higher than the mean PI in patients with normal right atrial pressure (1.55 +/- 1.30; p < 0.001). There was a weak negative correlation between the minimum flow velocity and the pressure in the right atrium in patients with elevated right atrial pressure (p = 0.05; r = -0.4760). The amplitude of retrograde waves seen in patients with normal right atrial pressure was significantly smaller than in patients with elevated right atrial pressure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The association of a decreased minimum velocity, especially a negative value, and an increase in PI in the common femoral vein may indicate an elevated right atrial pressure. Sonographic assessment of retrograde flow velocity in the common femoral vein may be useful in monitoring the response to medical treatment to decrease atrial pressure.

Post-traumatic intradiploic epidermoid cyst. A case report.

A patient with an intradiploic epidermoid cyst of calvarium was presented. Head injury that may cause the inclusion of epidermal cells into the diploe of the bone was present in his medical history. Skull radiographs and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the tumor. The tumor was totally removed and the patient was discharged free of symptoms.