The American journal of the medical sciences
-
Review Case Reports
Endobronchial Lipoma: Case Report and Literature Review.
Endobronchial lipomas are rare benign tumors that can cause bronchial obstruction resulting in significant symptoms and post-obstructive parenchymal damage. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality in these patients. ⋯ Notably, in cases reported since 2010, 72.7% of cases were managed bronchoscopically. Recurrence rates are low following both bronchoscopic and surgical resection.
-
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. SARS-CoV-2 caused COVID-19 has reached a pandemic level. COVID-19 can significantly affect patients' cardiovascular systems. ⋯ Associated with a high inflammatory burden related to cytokine release, COVID-19 can induce vascular inflammation, acute myocardial injury, myocarditis, arrhythmias, venous thromboembolism, metabolic syndrome and Kawasaki disease. Understanding the effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system is essential for providing comprehensive medical care for cardiac and/or COVID-19 patients. We hereby review the literature on COVID-19 regarding cardiovascular virus involvement.
-
Potassium is the most important intracellular cation and the kidneys play a pivotal role in potassium homeostasis. Potassium disorder is a common electrolyte abnormality and it increases the risk of death from any cause, particularly cardiovascular events. Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality encountered post organ transplantation. ⋯ However, the long-term efficacy and safety of fludrocortisone for management of hyperkalemia in organ transplant recipients remains unknown. This review discusses potassium homeostasis, including the role of the kidneys, and focuses on calcineurin inhibitor-induced hyperkalemia and on the under-appreciated role of thiazide-type diuretic use in management of hyperkalemia and hypertension. We present an illustrative case of post-transplantation hyperkalemia and hypertension with relevant literature.
-
Review Case Reports
An Unusual Presentation of Aggressive Primary Invasive Adenocarcinoma of Lung.
Bilateral diffuse infiltrates on chest imaging can present a diagnostic challenge due to a broader differential diagnosis which includes pulmonary and non-pulmonary causes. Malignancy is generally not considered under differential diagnosis at the time of initial presentation. ⋯ Our case is unique in regards to its acute presentation, rapid progression to respiratory failure, ultimately leading to the demise of the patient. This indicates the aggressive nature of this malignancy and its variable presentation, like male gender and young age, thus emphasizing the importance of entertaining malignancy in such presentations, especially if there is no response to conventional antibiotic therapy.
-
Hypertension can cause significant morbidity and reduced life expectancy. Most patients with hypertension have primary hypertension; however, 10 to 15% of patients have secondary hypertension. Endocrine disorders explain approximately 10% of hypertension in all patients, and thyroid disorders account for approximately 1% of cases with hypertension. ⋯ Treatment of hyperthyroidism can cure hypertension in some patients. Consequently, identification of patients with secondary hypertension potentially has important benefits, and understanding secondary hypertension provides a framework for investigating the pathophysiology of hypertension. Clinicians should consider the possibility of hyperthyroidism in patients with hypertension, even in those of more advanced age.