The West Virginia medical journal
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Case Reports
Superior mesenteric artery aneurysm: an uncommon disease with potentially serious complications.
Superior mesenteric artery aneurysms (SMAAs) are visceral arterial aneurysms that can result from a variety of conditions. About half of SMAAs are mycotic and occur subsequent to infective endocarditis. The clinical presentation of SMAA is nonspecific, and some patients may be asymptomatic while others may report mild to severe abdominal pain. ⋯ Although rare, SMAAs are associated with a high risk of death secondary to rupture. They are difficult to detect through physical examination and the history is usually nonspecific. In this report we discuss the etiology of SMAA, diagnostic work-up and treatment options aiming for early diagnosis and management of this potentially fatal condition.
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Leptospirosis, a zoonosis with protean manifestations caused by the spirochete Leptospira interrogans, occurs worldwide. We report a case of leptospirosis presenting as pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage in a young immunocompetent male. This organism should be considered as an important infectious cause of pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage in the appropriate epidemiological setting.