CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED FATAL CYTOPENIA: A CASE OF PARAQUAT POISONING

Paraquat is an effective herbicide widely used in India, but is highly toxic on human exposure. Cyclophosphamide is used as pulse therapy in combination with methylprednisolone for paraquat poisoning management. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia are the main side effects which may occur with cyclophosphamide in cancer treatment due to bone marrow suppression. Hereby we report a rare case of cyclophosphamide-induced fatal cytopenia in a patient with paraquat poisoning. This is a case of 24 y old male who came to the emergency department of our hospital with a history of alleged consumption of 50 ml of paraquat liquid. On admission, he complained of pain and burning sensation in the throat and retrosternal region. Different treatment modalities, namely, pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone; and hemoperfusion were used to manage patient's condition. Within few days, the patient developed severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Despite several blood transfusions, the patient expired due to fatal manifestations of cytopenia

Recurrent Pseudomonal Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa typically occurs in patients with pre-existing lung disease and immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a previously healthy young adult who presented with recurrent episodes of pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa complicated by pleural effusion. Careful and extensive evaluation ultimately revealed the unusual reason behind the patient’s illnes

Lipoid Proteinosis Mimicking Congential Inmunodeficiency

Lipoid proteinosis is a rare congenital disorder that can present with a variety of symptoms. A nineteen year old Indian male with dysmorphic features was admitted with a twelve year history of recurrent ulcerations over the upper limbs and oral cavity. Although the initial presentation was strongly suggestive of a congenital immune-deficiency syndrome, all investigations for immunodeficiency disorders were negative. Subsequent evaluation yielded a diagnosis of lipoid proteinosis

Hydroxyurea Induced Perimalleolar Ulcers

Hydroxyurea (HU) is an antineoplastic drug commonly used to treat chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Common dermatological side effects include hyperpigmentation, scaling, erythema, alopecia, desquamation of face and hands. Leg ulceration following HU therapy is less common and very few cases have been reported so far. Objective of this paper is to increase the awareness of hydroxyurea induced leg ulcers which will aid in the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The first case was a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patient on HU 1.5 g/day for 5 yr, who had bilateral painful perimalleolar ulcers for 6 months. The second case was a CML patient on HU 1.5 g/day for 3 yr who developed bilateral lateral malleolar ulcers. Third case was a polycythemia vera (PV) patient on HU 1 g/day for 5 yr who presented with painful medial malleolar ulcer of 2 months. The last case of our report was an elderly PV patient on HU 1.5 g/day for 2 yr and presented with lateral malleolar ulcer which persisted on reducing the dose of HU. In all the 4 cases the ulcers healed on stopping HU. Our report confirms the association of chronic hydroxyurea therapy and perimalleolar ulcers which respond promptly after discontinuation of the drug. The heightened awareness among the physicians will promote early diagnosis and prompt relief from the agonizing ulcers

Melioidosis presenting with mediastinal lymphadenopathy masquerading as malignancy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Melioidosis, endemic in Thailand and in the Northern Territory of Australia is an emerging infectious disease in India which can present with varied forms. A case of melioidosis, presenting as a rare anterior mediastinal mass which can masquerade as malignancy or tuberculosis, is described here. With treatment, our patient initially showed an increase in the size of mediastinal node and development of new submandibular node.. To the best of our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been documented in the literature and the same is highlighted in this case report. </p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>A 43-year-old Asian man with diabetes presented with fever, loss of appetite, weight loss for one month and painful swelling below his left mandible for five days. An examination revealed an enlarged left submandibular lymph node and bilateral axillary lymph nodes. A chest X-ray showed mediastinal widening. Computed tomography of his thorax showed a lobulated heterogeneously enhancing anterior mediastinal mass encasing the superior vena cava suggestive of malignancy. An excision biopsy of the lymph node showed granulomas suggestive of tuberculosis but bone marrow culture and lymph node aspirate culture grew <it>Burkholderia pseudomallei</it>. He was treated with parenteral ceftazidime and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. During the course of treatment, he developed an enlargement of the submandibular lymph node on the opposite side. It gradually subsided with the continuation of therapy orally with a combination of cotrimoxazole and doxycycline for six months. A repeat computed tomography chest scan showed resolution of the mediastinal mass.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Melioidosis can present as a mediastinal mass that mimics tuberculosis or malignancy. During the initial phase of treatment of melioidosis, the appearance of new lymph nodes or an increase in the size of the existing lymph nodes does not mean treatment failure. Inexperienced clinicians may consider this as treatment failure and may switch treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report documenting this phenomenon in melioidosis cases.</p

Antiretroviral therapy outcome in human immuno-deficiency virus infected patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presently accounts for the highest number of deaths due to any infective agent in the world. The present study assessed the one year treatment outcome following antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive, treatment naïve patients in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Adult HIV positive, antiretroviral treatment naive patients who were started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 1st January 2011 and 31st May 2013 were included in the study. Data was collected from their case records. CD4+cell count, haemoglobin level, weight, occurrence of opportunistic infections (OIs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were analysed at baseline, 6 and 12 months following start of antiretroviral therapy. Data was analysed using parametric and nonparametric tests.Results: Data of 325 patients was analysed. Overall, the median increase in CD4+ count at 1 year after initiation of treatment was observed to be clinically significant. Patients on tenofovir based regimen showed a significantly greater increase in the median CD4+ count (P = 1.12×10-05) and haemoglobin (P = 0.002) as compared to those on non-tenofovir based regimen. A total of 151 ADRs were recorded in the study, of which the most common were skin rash 24%, anaemia and gastrointestinal side effects 17% each. Frequency of opportunistic infections gradually declined after ART. At the end of 1 year of treatment, the cumulative loss to follow up was 7.4%.Conclusions: By following the current national guidelines, the desired immunological and clinical response following initiation of ART can be achieved while minimizing drug toxicity

Spontaneous Tumor Lysis Syndrome in a Case of Multiple Myeloma

We describe a case of a 40-year-old male patient who was found to have multiple myeloma with spontaneous tumour lysis syndrome (TLS), following a compression fracture of the L–2 vertebrae. Multiple myeloma was confirmed by bone marrow analysis and the M–band on serum protein electrophoresis. Hyperuricaemia (26.2 mg/dL), hyperkalaemia (> 7.0 mEq/L), hyperphosphatemia (16.2 mg of phosphorus/dL), normocalcemia and acute kidney injury, prior to anticancer treatment suggested spontaneous TLS. Inciting events for tumour lysis, such as chemotherapy, dehydration and exposure to steroids were absent. Patient received hydration, hypourecemic drugs and haemodialysis. This case report highlights the rare presentation of multiple myeloma with spontaneous TLS

Primaquine dose and the risk of haemolysis in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

Background: Primaquine radical cure is used to treat dormant liver-stage parasites and prevent relapsing Plasmodium vivax malaria but is limited by concerns of haemolysis. We undertook a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis to investigate the haematological safety of different primaquine regimens for P vivax radical cure. Methods: For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Central for prospective clinical studies of uncomplicated P vivax from endemic countries published between Jan 1, 2000, and June 8, 2023. We included studies if they had active follow-up of at least 28 days, if they included a treatment group with daily primaquine given over multiple days where primaquine was commenced within 3 days of schizontocidal treatment and was given alone or coadministered with chloroquine or one of four artemisinin-based combination therapies (ie, artemether–lumefantrine, artesunate–mefloquine, artesunate–amodiaquine, or dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine), and if they recorded haemoglobin or haematocrit concentrations on day 0. We excluded studies if they were on prevention, prophylaxis, or patients with severe malaria, or if data were extracted retrospectively from medical records outside of a planned trial. For the meta-analysis, we contacted the investigators of eligible trials to request individual patient data and we then pooled data that were made available by Aug 23, 2021. The main outcome was haemoglobin reduction of more than 25% to a concentration of less than 7 g/dL by day 14. Haemoglobin concentration changes between day 0 and days 2–3 and between day 0 and days 5–7 were assessed by mixed-effects linear regression for patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity of (1) 30% or higher and (2) between 30% and less than 70%. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019154470 and CRD42022303680. Findings: Of 226 identified studies, 18 studies with patient-level data from 5462 patients from 15 countries were included in the analysis. A haemoglobin reduction of more than 25% to a concentration of less than 7 g/dL occurred in one (0·1%) of 1208 patients treated without primaquine, none of 893 patients treated with a low daily dose of primaquine (<0·375 mg/kg per day), five (0·3%) of 1464 patients treated with an intermediate daily dose (0·375 mg/kg per day to <0·75 mg/kg per day), and six (0·5%) of 1269 patients treated with a high daily dose (≥0·75 mg/kg per day). The covariate-adjusted mean estimated haemoglobin changes at days 2–3 were –0·6 g/dL (95% CI –0·7 to –0·5), –0·7 g/dL (–0·8 to –0·5), –0·6 g/dL (–0·7 to –0·4), and –0·5 g/dL (–0·7 to –0·4), respectively. In 51 patients with G6PD activity between 30% and less than 70%, the adjusted mean haemoglobin concentration on days 2–3 decreased as G6PD activity decreased; two patients in this group who were treated with a high daily dose of primaquine had a reduction of more than 25% to a concentration of less than 7 g/dL. 17 of 18 included studies had a low or unclear risk of bias. Interpretation: Treatment of patients with G6PD activity of 30% or higher with 0·25–0·5 mg/kg per day primaquine regimens and patients with G6PD activity of 70% or higher with 0·25–1 mg/kg per day regimens were associated with similar risks of haemolysis to those in patients treated without primaquine, supporting the safe use of primaquine radical cure at these doses. Funding: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Medicines for Malaria Venture

Risk factors and outcomes stratified by severity of acute kidney injury in malaria.

Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is known to have prognostic value for in-hospital outcomes in malaria. However, little is known about the association of AKI of lesser severity with malarial risk factors and outcomes--and such a gap is becoming increasingly relevant with the upsurge in the incidence of AKI due to Plasmodium falciparum malaria and Plasmodium vivax malaria over the last decade. We aimed to identify risk factors of AKI in malaria and assessed in-hospital outcomes stratified by severity of AKI. We performed an observational study of 1,191 hospitalized malaria patients enrolled between 2007 and 2011 in a tertiary care academic center in India. Patients were categorized based on peak serum creatinine into one of three groups: no AKI (<1.6 mg/dL), mild AKI (1.6-3.0 mg/dL), and severe AKI (>3 mg/dL). Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species (61.41%), followed by Plasmodium falciparum (36.41%) and mixed infections with both the species (2.18%). Mild and severe AKI were detected in 12% and 5.6% of patients, respectively. Mild AKI due to Plasmodium vivax (49%) and Plasmodium falciparum (48.5%) was distributed relatively equally within the sample population; however, cases of severe AKI due to Plasmodium falciparum (80%) and Plasmodium vivax (13%) was significantly different (P<0.001). On history and physical examination, risk factors for AKI were age, absence of fever, higher heart rate, lower diastolic blood pressure, icterus, and hepatomegaly. The only laboratory parameter associated with risk of AKI on multivariate analysis was direct bilirubin. Patients with mild and severe AKI had greater organ complications, supportive requirements, longer duration of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality in a dose-dependent relationship, than patients with no AKI. Mild AKI is associated with significant (P<0.05) morbidity compared to no AKI, and future studies should assess strategies for early diagnosis of AKI and prevent AKI progression