1/31. INR elevation associated with diarrhea in a patient receiving warfarin.OBJECTIVE: To report a case of international normalized ratio (INR) prolongation in a patient receiving warfarin who experienced several episodes of diarrhea. CASE SUMMARY: A 56-year-old white woman, previously controlled on warfarin therapy (INR 2.5-3.5) after aortic valve replacement, experienced six episodes of INR elevation, each associated with an acute bout of diarrhea lasting from one to four days. The patient had not received additional warfarin or new medications (including nonprescription medications and herbal remedies) prior to the episodes. The patient had no obvious signs of bleeding (except bruising on 1 episode) or signs of infection determined through physician evaluation of the patient and her stools. In addition, she had no diagnosis of liver disease or acute or chronic malabsorption. The patient did report that her dietary intake decreased to 25-50% of normal during these episodes of diarrhea, which may result in decreased vitamin k ingestion. DISCUSSION: This is one of the first case reports documenting a trend of INR elevation specifically with episodes of diarrhea. Since most of the common reasons for acute INR elevation have been eliminated, diarrhea with decreased oral intake are the most probable causes for these observed changes in the INR. Several reports suggest that acute diarrhea results in malabsorption of vitamin k, which can predispose patients taking warfarin to INR elevations, but in many of these reports patients had other risk factors for INR elevation. Although the effect of diarrhea on vitamin k absorption and the INR is difficult to quantify, the INR elevation reported here seemed to be directly associated with the duration of each diarrheal episode. CONCLUSIONS: diarrhea episodes in patients receiving warfarin can result in prolongation of the INR and possible bleeding. patients who experience diarrhea or decreased oral intake resulting in elevated INRs should have their INRs evaluated more frequently and their warfarin doses adjusted appropriately.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/31. Colorectal cancer: dilemmas regarding patient selection and toxicity prediction.Irinotecan (Campto, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer) is probably the most studied drug used as second-line treatment for colorectal cancer. Its main disadvantages are toxicity and cost. Delayed diarrhea and neutropenia are the most common toxic side effects, both of which can usually be predicted, by knowing the criteria for patients who are at increased risk for those side effects. These criteria include poor performance status (>2), bulky disease, previous abdominal-pelvic irradiation, hyperleukocytosis and increased bilirubin >1.5 x normal upper range. There are some other less common toxic effects of irinotecan, such as pneumonitis, cardiac arrhythmia, paralytic ileus, liver dysfunction, tumor lysis syndrome. While these side effects are very rare, physicians should be able to recognize them, because the number of patients being treated with irinotecan is increasing. The authors report four cases of probable irinotecan-related toxicity with fatal outcome in all 4 patients. Two of these 4 patients were not in the known risk categories for irinotecan toxicity. One patient died with signs of hepato-renal syndrome, the other with signs of rapid tumor lysis-like syndrome. Two other patients with bulky disease and performance status 2, had increased urea, creatinine and bilirubin serum levels after irinotecan administration, that could not be explained as manifestation of disease progression only. Data on all uncommon irinotecan toxic effects should be gathered and analyzed so that toxic effects, other than diarrhea and neutropenia, are better defined and predicted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/31. Acute abstinence syndrome following abrupt cessation of long-term use of tramadol (Ultram): a case study.We report on a patient who had taken the centrally acting analgesic tramadol for over 1 year. The compound had proven to be sufficient to treat her painful episodes related to fibromyalgia. Due to lack of supply while being on a trip, intake of the drug was stopped abruptly, resulting in the development of classical abstinence-like symptoms within 1 week. Abstinence-like symptoms consisted of restlessness and insomnia for which the benzodiazepine lorazepam was given. Diarrhoea and abdominal cramps were treated with the peripherally active opioid loperamide, while bouts of cephalgia were treated with sumatriptan. Diffuse musculoskeletal-related pain and restless leg syndrome (RLS) were treated with dextromethorphan. All these different medications proved to be efficacious as they resulted in the cessation of symptoms. Within 1 week symptoms ceased and the patient regained her normal activities without any sequelae. Although tramadol is considered a non-habit- and non-dependence-forming analgesic, abstinence symptoms are likely to develop following abrupt cessation of intake, especially when the compound had been taken over 1 year. Therefore patients should be advised of such an effect whenever they decide to stop intake or their physician is planning to switch to another medication. To avoid abstinence-like symptoms doses should be slowly tapered down.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/31. zollinger-ellison syndrome. Clinical presentation in 261 patients.We prospectively evaluated the initial presenting symptoms in 261 patients with zollinger-ellison syndrome (ZES) over a 25-year period. Twenty-two percent of the patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia-type 1 (men-1) with ZES. Mean age at onset was 41.1 /- 0.7 years, with men-1 patients presenting at a younger age than those with sporadic ZES (p < 0.0001). Three percent of the patients had onset of the disease < age 20 years, and 7% > 60 years. A mean delay to diagnosis of 5.2 /- 0.4 years occurred in all patients. A shorter duration of symptoms was noted in female patients and in patients with liver metastases. abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most common symptoms, present in 75% and 73% of patients, respectively. heartburn and weight loss, which were uncommonly reported in early series, were present in 44% and 17% of patients, respectively. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the initial presentation in a quarter of the patients. patients rarely presented with only 1 symptom (11%); pain and diarrhea was the most frequent combination, occurring in 55% of patients. An important presenting sign that should suggest ZES is prominent gastric body folds, which were noted on endoscopy in 94% of patients; however, esophageal stricture and duodenal or pyloric scarring, reported in numerous case reports, were noted in only 4%-10%. patients with men-1 presented less frequently with pain and bleeding and more frequently with nephrolithiasis. Comparing the clinical presentation before the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists (pre-1980, n = 36), after the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists (1981-1989, n = 118), and after the introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (> 1990, n = 106) demonstrates no change in age of onset; delay in diagnosis; frequency of pain, diarrhea, weight loss; or frequency of complications of severe peptic disease (bleeding, perforations, esophageal strictures, pyloric scarring). Since the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists, fewer patients had a previous history of gastric acid-reducing surgery or total gastrectomy. Only 1 patient evaluated after 1980 had a total gastrectomy, and this was done in 1977. The location of the primary tumor in general had a minimal effect on the clinical presentation, causing no effect on the age at presentation, delay in diagnosis, frequency of nephrolithiasis, or severity of disease (strictures, perforations, peptic ulcers, pyloric scarring). Disease extent had a minimal effect on symptoms, with only bleeding being more frequent in patients with localized disease. patients with advanced disease presented at a later age and with a shorter disease history (p = 0.001), were less likely to have men-1 (p = 0.0087), and tended to have diarrhea more frequently (p = 0.079). A correct diagnosis of ZES was made by the referring physician initially in only 3% of the patients. The most common misdiagnosis made were idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (71%), idiopathic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (7%), and chronic idiopathic diarrhea (7%). Other less common misdiagnosis were crohn disease (2%) and various diarrhea diseases (celiac sprue [3%], irritable bowel syndrome [3%], infectious diarrhea [2%], and lactose intolerance [1%]). Other medical disorders were present in 55% of all patients; patients with sporadic disease had fewer other medical disorders than patients with men-1 (45% versus 90%, p < 0.00001). hyperparathyroidism and a previous history of kidney stones were significantly more frequent in patients with men-1 than in those with sporadic ZES. Pulmonary disorders and other malignancies were also more common in patients with men-1. These results demonstrate that abdominal pain, diarrhea, and heartburn are the most common presenting symptoms in ZES and that heartburn and diarrhea are more common than previously reported. The presence of weight loss especially with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or heartburn is an important clue suggesting the presence of gastrinoma. The presence of prominent gastric body folds, a clinical sign that has not been appreciated, is another important clue to the diagnosis of ZES. patients with men-1 presented at an earlier age; however, in general, the initial symptoms were similar to patients without men-1. gastrinoma extent and location have minimal effects on the clinical presentation. overall, neither the introduction of successful antisecretory therapy nor widespread publication about ZES, attempting to increase awareness, has shortened the delay in diagnosis or reduced the incidence of patients presenting with peptic complications. The introduction of successful antisecretory therapy, however, has dramatically decreased the rate of surgery in controlling the acid secretion and likely led to patients presenting with less severe symptoms and fewer complications. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/31. Perianal pseudoverrucose papules and nodules mimicking condylomata acuminata and child sexual abuse.We describe an 8-year-old male with perianal nodules and papules mistaken for condylomata acuminata by the referring physician, raising the question of sexual abuse. Examination and histology at the Department of dermatology supported the diagnosis of perianal pseudoverrucose papules and nodules (PPPN).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/31. High-dose oral magnesium treatment of chronic, intractable erythromelalgia.BACKGROUND: Previous studies with magnesium have shown beneficial effects in pain syndromes and in vascular disorders (hypertension, migraines, Raynaud's phenomenon). However, results have been variable, possibly because of the limited oral doses achievable due to frequent diarrhea. OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of a 53-year-old white man (the author) with disabling erythromelalgia (EM) who achieved modest improvement limited by adverse effects with calcium antagonists and then obtained remission with the use of magnesium. Intolerant of several standard magnesium products, he attained high doses of magnesium by taking intravenous-grade magnesium sulfate diluted in water orally (up to 24 mL/d of MgSO4 50% = 1166 mg/d of magnesium). methods: After 12 months of continued improvement, patient 1, a board member of The erythromelalgia association, notified other members of the success of this therapy via an internet communication channel. He encouraged those interested in high-dose magnesium therapy to consult their physicians and to report their results to the association. Twelve patients responded to this request, describing several standard oral magnesium products. RESULTS: overall, 8 of 13 patients (61.5%) reported improvement (1, remission; 3, major improvement; 2, moderate improvement; 2, mild improvement). Four patients (30.8%) reported no response to magnesium therapy, and 1 patient's symptoms worsened. Two patients' magnesium dose was limited because of diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recent progress in understanding and treating EM, this vascular disorder remains painful and life-altering for many patients. In this informal survey, the use of high oral doses of magnesium produced good and sometimes dramatic results in 8 of 13 patients who had been unresponsive to many other treatments. These results suggest a possible role for high-dose oral magnesium in the treatment of EM and, perhaps, other vascular disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/31. Two wrongs don't make a right: harm aggravated by inaccurate information on the internet.There has been much concern expressed in the literature about the use of medical information on the internet by patients and families. Although much work has been done to quantify the misinformation available on the internet, there have not been reports of actual harm to children resulting from this misinformation. We present the case of a 1-year-old boy whose clinical course of diarrhea was complicated not only by inaccurate advice given by the emergency room physician, but also by the same advice received from the internet.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/31. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor angioedema of the intestine: a case report and review of the literature.Visceral angioedema is a rare complication of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use. To date, 15 cases have been reported in the literature. Common presentation is that of a middle-aged woman with abdominal pain, emesis, and diarrhea who has recently begun taking an ACE inhibitor. Signs include leukocytosis, ascites, and edematous small bowel seen on computed tomography. diagnosis is elusive, and frequently invasive procedures, including surgery, are pursued. These can be avoided if the astute physician recognizes the association and withdraws the offending medication. We present the typical diagnostic dilemma faced in the evaluation of a patient with ACE inhibitor angioedema of the intestine, and review the current available literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/31. Evaluation of the returned traveler.Recognition of clinical syndromes in returned travelers is an important part of providing care to international travelers. The first step is to take a history with attention to pre-travel preventive measures, the patient's itinerary, and potential exposure to infectious agents. The patient should then be examined to document physical signs, such as fever, rash, or hepatosplenomegaly, and to have basic laboratory data obtained. This evaluation will provide most physicians with the necessary information to generate a differential diagnosis. Each diagnosis should be matched against the incubation period of the disease, the geographic location of illness, the frequency of illness in returned travelers, and the pre-travel preventive measures. Careful attention to these aspects of patient care should result in the appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for the ill returned traveler.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/31. Congenital chloride diarrhea in a child.Congenital chloride diarrhea (CLD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by persistent, lifelong, watery diarrhea with high fecal chloride concentration. It results from a defect of the bicarbonate/chloride exchange system in the distal ileum and colon. polyhydramnios, premature birth, ileus without meconium passage, hypochloremia, and hyponatremia are typical features of CLD in the neonate, followed by chronic metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, retarded growth, and renal impairment in older children and adults if the disease is not adequately treated. The diagnosis of CLD is highly dependent on the alertness of physicians. Prompt recognition and adequate replacement of fecal loss of chloride, sodium, potassium, and water are mandatory for satisfactory disease outcome. We report a case of CLD complicated with recurrent episodes of ileus, metabolic alkalosis, and hypokalemia causing frequent hospitalization in a 4-year-old boy. Normalized electrolytes and gasometric parameters, decreased abdominal circumference, and growth catch-up were achieved after education of the parents about daily care, and provision of adequate fluid and electrolyte supplementation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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