Herbal Teas and Thrombocytopenia: A Curious Case of Yellow Dock and Burdock-Induced Thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterized by a decreased number of platelets. It is an immune system-mediated condition, with formation of antibodies against a structural platelet antigen. Although the pathogenesis remains elusive, primary disease is idiopathic and comprises 80% of cases. However, quite a few secondary causes have been established including Helicobacter pylori, varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus. A few cases with an incidental association with herbal medications have been reported, but this causality has not been studied in detail.Here we present the case of 38-year-old African-American woman who presented with symptomatic thrombocytopenia, with a platelet count of 5 K/μl 1 week after she had consumed herbal tea containing Rumex crispus (yellow dock) and Arctium lappa (burdock). The association between unstudied herbs and ITP needs further research, given the widespread use of these substances and ongoing public uncertainty about their benefits

Painless Presentation of a Deadly Disease:Type A Aortic Dissection Requiring the Bentall Procedure

Aortic dissection is a relatively uncommon, although catastrophic, disease which requires early and accurate diagnosis and treatment for patient survival. Aortic dissection can be difficult to diagnose due to the diverse symptom presentation, which can lead to later diagnosis, resulting in a higher mortality rate. Here we present a case of type A aortic dissection with a varied symptom presentation, highlighting the importance of early detection and the Bentall procedure for management of such cases. A 50-year-old man with no known medical history presented with bilateral lower extremity swelling and fatigue for 2 weeks. The patient denied any chest pain or dyspnoea. Vital signs showed blood pressure of 160/76 mmHg, pulse of 103 bpm, respiratory rate of 18, and temperature of 36.7°C. Laboratory findings indicated a BNP of 1901 pg/ml and troponin of 0.5 ng/ml. An initial diagnosis of decompensated heart failure was made, and IV Lasix was started. Subsequently, an echocardiogram indicated an EF of 50–55% and ascending dissection of the aorta. A CT angiogram of the chest and abdomen confirmed this diagnosis. This patient presented with unusual symptoms of aortic dissection without the typical presentation of chest pain. It is important to consider aortic dissection in a cardiac-related case as prompt imaging can help confirm the diagnosis. We explore the risks and benefits of the Bentall procedure for the management and early detection of aortic dissectio

A Rare Case of Elevated Osmolar Gap in Diabetic Ketoacidosis/Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State in the Absence of Concomitant Toxic Alcohol Ingestion

The serum osmolar gap, defined as the difference between measured osmolality and calculated osmolarity, is a convenient method to screen for toxins in serum. In normal circumstances, the difference between the two is 6–10 mol/kg. Typical contributors to serum osmolarity are sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, glucose and urea. An elevated gap, defined as a difference >10 mol/kg, can occur if a sufficient quantity of an additional solute other than those mentioned above is present in the serum or there are inaccuracies in sodium measurement secondary to hyperlipidaemia and hyperproteinaemia. An elevated serum osmolar gap should thus prompt clinicians to check for toxic alcohol levels. Treatment with fomepizole should not be delayed if suspicion is high. Isolated diabetic ketoacidosis can occasionally present with an elevated osmolar gap in the absence of concomitant alcohol ingestion. This finding is attributed to the production of acetone and glycerol. We describe the case of a 62-year-old man presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state and an elevated osmolar gap in the absence of toxic alcohol ingestion

Acute Compartment Syndrome in the Setting of Weight Loss Supplements and Exercise-Induced Rhabdomyolysis

The growing prevalence of obesity in the USA has resulted in increased consumption of weight loss products that promote fat metabolism. Dietary supplements used for weight loss contain a wide variety of ingredients but the amount of scientific information available on these ingredients varies considerably. Such supplements have documented and undocumented adverse effects. Although the FDA frequently issues health advisories, the health consequences of consuming supplements are often overlooked by the general public. A common supplement used for weight loss is Hydroxycut. The ingredients used in the different forms of Hydroxycut products vary but generally include caffeine and green tea extract, which are responsible for a wide range of adverse effects. We present the case of 41-year-old man with a medical history of polysubstance abuse who developed acute compartment syndrome in the setting of rhabdomyolysis from prolonged immobilisation and the use of Hydroxycut. This case demonstrates the possible adverse effects of consuming weight loss herbal supplements like Hydroxycut. Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious adverse events or product quality problems with the use of these supplements to the FDA's MedWatch adverse event reporting program

A rare report of obstructive nephropathy induced hyponatremia

Hyponatremia is a common finding in patients admitted to hospitals in the USA. There is a plethora of causes ranging from excessive diuretic use to volume overload from underlying heart failure or liver cirrhosis. The consequences of missing or mistreating the aforementioned diagnosis can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Here, we focus on a rare yet overlooked cause of hyponatremia: obstructive nephropathy. The causes of obstructive nephropathy in elderly patients are broad with neurogenic bladder being one of the common ones. Our patient is an elderly male who presented with hyponatremia in setting of urine retention post an orthopedic surgery

The great invasion, a case of lung mass invading the heart through the pulmonary veins

The heart is a rare site of metastatic lesions of malignancies. Cardiac metastasis may go unrecognized till autopsy, and about half of all newly diagnosed lung cancer patients have metastasis to another organ. Due to the absence of early symptoms, the clinical diagnosis of cardiac metastasis is challenging. Even when they are symptomatic, these symptoms may be masked by the clinical features of primary cancer. Noncardiac neoplasms may spread to the heart through lymphatic or hematogenous dissemination, local extension, or a transvenous route. Here, we report a case of a 56-year-old male with lung mass extending from the right upper lobe to the left atrium was associated with mass effect on superior vena cava and left brachiocephalic vein