Cutaneous Tuberculosis among Patients Presenting to Dermatology Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Cutaneous tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. It can present in various morphological presentations leading to a late diagnosis in many cases. It is mainly associated with significant scarring and morbidity. It is classified as paucibacillary or multibacillary depending on the bacillary load. Similarly, it can be acquired through either an endogenous or an exogenous source. The mainstay of treatment is anti-tubercular medications. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of cutaneous tuberculosis among patients presenting to the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among the patient presenting to the outpatient department of dermatology and venerology in a tertiary care centre where all patients data from medical records were taken from April 2016 to March 2021 after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 503/2078/79). Demographic details of the patients including age, sex, site and duration of the lesion were recorded. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 1,30,924 cases, 40 (0.03%) (0.02-0.04, at 95% Confidence Interval) cutaneous tuberculosis was seen. Conclusions: The prevalence of cutaneous tuberculosis was similar to the studies done in similar settings

Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage as Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage results from accumulation of red blood cells in the alveolar space originating from alveolar capillaries. Alveolar hemorrhage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is rare but catastrophic and can rapidly progress to respiratory failure. We report a 22-year old lady who presented with dyspnoea on exertion, hemoptysis, bilateral leg swelling and oliguria. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis. Serologic tests and renal biopsy confirmed lupus nephritis. She was treated with systemic immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchange, to which she had a favourable response. Lupus presenting as alveolar hemorrhage is rare which warrants prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications

Rigid bronchoscopic management of acute respiratory failure in a 30-year-old woman

A 30-year-old woman presented with a history of progressive shortness of breath, cough, and hoarseness. Stridor was audible on examination. Chest X-ray showed normal lung fields and contrast-enhanced computed tomography thorax showed lower tracheal occlusion with endoluminal growth. Diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy demonstrated multiple whitish glistening nodules over both vocal cords and lower tracheal occlusion by whitish nodular growth. In view of critical central airway obstruction, rigid bronchoscopy and excision of the lower tracheal growth were performed. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen demonstrated features of squamous papillomas. A diagnosis of respiratory papillomatosis was established. On follow-up surveillance bronchoscopy, there was a gradual spontaneous regression of the residual lesions, and the patient remains currently asymptomatic 1 year since the procedure

Anticoagulation Strategies in Non–Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19

BackgroundOptimal thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is uncertain.MethodsIn an open-label, adaptive platform trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized adults with Covid-19 to low-dose low-molecular-weight heparin thromboprophylaxis or intermediate-dose or low-dose plus aspirin. In response to external evidence, the aspirin intervention was discontinued and a therapeutic-dose arm added. The primary end point was death or the requirement for new organ support by day 28, analyzed with a Bayesian logistic model. Enrolment was closed as a result of operational constraints.ResultsBetween February 2021 and March 2022, 1574 patients were randomly assigned. Among 1526 participants included in the analysis (India, n=1273; Australia and New Zealand, n=138; and Nepal, n=115), the primary outcome occurred in 35 (5.9%) of 596 in low-dose, 25 (4.2%) of 601 in intermediate-dose, 20 (7.2%) of 279 in low-dose plus aspirin, and 7 (14%) of 50 in therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. Compared with low-dose thromboprophylaxis, the median adjusted odds ratio for the primary outcome for intermediate-dose was 0.74 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.43 to 1.27; posterior probability of effectiveness [adjusted odds ratioConclusionsIn hospitalized non–critically ill adults with Covid-19, compared with low-dose, there was an 86% posterior probability that intermediate-dose, 65% posterior probability that low-dose plus aspirin, and a 7% posterior probability that therapeutic-dose anticoagulation reduced the odds of death or requirement for organ support. No treatment strategy met prespecified stopping criteria before trial closure, precluding definitive conclusions. (Funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council or Medical Research Future Fund Investigator and Practitioner Grants and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04483960.