Mayo Clinic proceedings
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Apr 2004
Review Case ReportsSirolimus-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.
Sirolimus is an immunosuppressive medication used in transplant recipients. To our knowledge, we describe the third reported case of alveolar hemorrhage in association with sirolimus. ⋯ Unlike previous reports, our patient had no evidence of lymphocytic alveolitis but rather marked macrophage hemosiderosis, suggesting that sirolimus pulmonary toxicity may manifest through 2 separate mechanisms. Our case highlights an uncommon but potentially lethal manifestation of sirolimus pulmonary toxicity.
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In December 2003, the largest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 occurred among poultry in 8 Asian countries. A limited number of human H5N1 infections have been reported from Vietnam and Thailand, with a mortality rate approaching 70%. Deaths have occurred in otherwise healthy young individuals, which is reminiscent of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic. ⋯ The threat of a future pandemic from avian influenza is real. Adequate surveillance, development of vaccines, outbreak preparedness, and pandemic influenza planning are important. This article summarizes the current knowledge on avian influenza, including the virology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of this emerging disease.
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Because of demographic trends, it is reasonable to expect that clinicians will care for an increasing number of elderly persons with challenging medical and psychosocial problems. These problems and issues, in turn, may lead to daunting ethical dilemmas. Therefore, clinicians should be familiar with ethical dilemmas commonly encountered when caring for elderly patients. ⋯ Nevertheless, even in the best circumstances, ethical dilemmas occur. We describe a case-based approach to ethical dilemmas used by the Mayo Clinic Ethics Consultation Service, which begins with a review of the medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features of a given case. This approach enables clinicians to identify and analyze the relevant facts of a case, define the ethical problem, and suggest a solution.