1/50. Splenic syndrome in sickle cell trait: four case presentations and a review of the literature.Four cases of splenic infarction/sequestration in sickle cell trait (SCT) patients are presented. All four patients were undergoing moderate exercise at elevations ranging from 5,500 to 12,000 feet. The patients include two African-American males, a Hispanic male, and a white female. All four presented with the acute onset of mid epigastric then left upper-quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory splinting. A review of the literature indicates that splenic infarction with SCT is not uncommon; however, not surprisingly, it is often initially misdiagnosed. This is the first report in the literature of a female with SCT incurring a splenic syndrome with exposure to terrestrial altitude. Although SCT is not a contraindication for moderate- or high-altitude activities, military physicians need to consider the diagnosis of splenic infarction early in any patient regardless of race or sex who presents with left upper-quadrant pain at altitudes above 5,000 feet. Prompt evacuation to sea level may hasten recovery and spare further splenic trauma. Although SCT should be considered a relatively benign entity, the literature also suggests a higher than average risk of sudden death in military recruits with SCT from exertional heat illness and rhabdomyolysis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/50. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mid-ventricular obstruction and splenic infarction associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a case report.A 54-year-old woman had been treated for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation since 1992. She was admitted with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation which was resolved by medical treatment. However, on the next day, left lateral chest pain appeared. Computed tomography disclosed a low density area in the spleen. She received anticoagulant therapy under a diagnosis of splenic infarction, and the pain disappeared. echocardiography showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mid-ventricular obstruction. She was treated with cibenzoline to prevent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation attack and attenuate the hemodynamic load. After treatment, the pressure gradient decreased from 41 to 7 mmHg. This patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy suffered a rare isolated splenic infarction associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.90486668588374keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/50. splenic infarction in pregnancy.We present a case of splenic infarction in pregnancy, secondary to acute bacterial endocarditis. Left upper quadrant pain in pregnancy can be due to a variety of causes and in the septic or unwell patient, splenic infarct should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The diagnosis of splenic infarct should be considered especially in those at increased risk of bacterial endocarditis. Acute bacterial endocarditis can occur even in patients without any risk factors. Bacterial endocarditis is rare in pregnancy and splenic infarction is even rarer. However when it occurs, rapid diagnosis and management are necessary to minimize embolic phenomena. With the increasing use of intravenous drugs and with increasing numbers of Pacific Islanders in our pregnant population, it is important to be alert to the risk of bacterial endocarditis and to avoid serious sequelae. Patient education to the importance of medical follow-up in order to prevent such a life-threatening condition, and to avoid more complicated acute treatment, is imperative.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/50. Isolated dissection of the celiac artery--a case report.Isolated arterial dissection, which occurs with the absence of aortic dissection, has been reported in carotid and renal arteries but rarely in visceral arteries. A case of isolated celiac artery dissection is reported here. A healthy 58-year-old man experienced sudden upper abdominal pain, which continued for several days. A body computed tomogram (CT) showed a multiple low-density wedge-shaped area in the spleen, which was diagnosed as splenic infarction, and an aneurysm with thrombus in the celiac artery. A selective angiogram showed dilatation of the celiac artery with wall irregularity, and proximal occlusion of the hepatic artery. The distal hepatic artery was fed by collateral arteries from the superior mesenteric artery. splenic infarction was probably due to the embolism from the thrombus in the dissected celiac artery. The absence of other vascular lesions and causes or risks for the arterial dissection would suggest the occurrence of spontaneous dissection. The dissection of visceral arteries should be considered in diagnosing acute abdominal pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 11.53246561645keywords = abdominal pain, pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/50. Gastric angina secondary to acute thrombosis of celiac artery.We report a 48-year-old woman with foregut ischemia with splenic infarct due to isolated celiac artery obstruction. The patient presented with acute-onset pain in the epigastrium 10-15 min after every meal. Investigations revealed obstruction of the celiac artery by artheromatous plaque. This patient had an acute thrombosis, which responded to anticoagulation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.45243334294187keywords = pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/50. Assessment of viable splenic tissue in massive splenic infarction with a Tc-99m heat-damaged RBC scan.A 59-year-old man with essential thrombocytosis was examined for abdominal pain. splenic infarction was diagnosed on a computed tomographic scan. The Tc-99m heat-denatured RBC scan showed viable splenic tissue that was not evident on the computed tomographic scan or Tc-99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.7424494796958keywords = abdominal pain, pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/50. Non hypoxia-related splenic infarct in a patient with sickle cell trait and infectious mononucleosis.splenic infarction in patients with sickle cell trait is usually related to hypoxic conditions, while non-hypoxia-related infarcts are extremely rare. We report on a case of a 17-year-old male patient, living at sea level, who developed a severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain during the course of a febrile episode. On physical examination he had a mildly palpable but extremely painful spleen. A spleen scan revealed 2 areas of impaired radionucleide distribution. Hepatic enzymes were moderately increased and the IgM anti-EBV antibodies positive. Hemoglobin electrophoresis revealed the presence of 42% of hemoglobin S. A probable diagnosis of splenic infarction was established in a patient with sickle cell trait, during the course of infectious mononucleosis. The patient was treated symptomatically. The conditions of splenic congestion induced by the EBV infection and the high-grade fever may have contributed to splenic sequestration and subsequent infarcts.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.2424494796958keywords = abdominal pain, pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/50. A rare cause of acute abdomen: splenic infarction.splenic infarction is a rare disorder. We have treated 4 patients during the last year. abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant was the common complaint. Other complaints were fever, nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography showed infarcted areas in the spleen in all of the patients. splenectomy was applied to three of the patients with recurring symptoms. The other patient had the first episode treated medically. pulmonary embolism in one and surgical wound infection occurred in another patient during postoperative follow-up for nine (range: 4-14) months.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/50. Cases from the osler medical service at Johns Hopkins University.PRESENTING FEATURES: A 29-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic heart disease and one episode of endocarditis as an adolescent was admitted to the hospital after 1 week of headache, fever, and myalgia. Her past medical history was otherwise unremarkable and did not include illicit drug use. On physical examination, she had a previously noted 3/6 holosystolic murmur at the apex, which radiated to her back; a previously noted 1/4 diastolic murmur at the right upper sternal border; diminished strength in her right upper extremity; multiple painful erythematous nodules on her fingers (Figure 1); and red streaks under her nails (Figure 2). magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated multiple lesions; the largest was in the right frontal lobe with associated hemorrhage (Figure 3).What is the diagnosis?- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.54756665705813keywords = pain, upper (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/50. Acquired and transient RBC CD55 deficiency (Inab phenotype) and anti-IFC.BACKGROUND: antigens of the Cromer blood group system reside on the glycoprotein CD55 (decay-accelerating factor). The Inab phenotype is the null phenotype of this system. So far, only five propositi have been described who exhibit this phenotype, and single-nucleotide substitutions in the CD55 gene have been found in three of them. This report describes the first example of a patient with an acquired and transient form of the Inab phenotype. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old black patient was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain. Multiple splenic infarctions were visualized in the abdominal computerized tomography scan, and a prophylactic splenectomy was performed. The patient's serum reacted by an IAT with all donor RBCs tested. RESULTS: Serologic analysis showed that the patient had the rare Inab phenotype and that his serum contained anti-IFC. flow cytometry demonstrated the absence of CD55 on his RBCs, whereas lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and platelets expressed CD55, albeit at a weaker level than cells of common phenotypes. cDNA revealed no differences from the published sequences. flow cytometry performed 12 months after splenectomy showed reappearance of the CD55 antigen; serologic tests performed after 17 months revealed that the anti-IFC had almost disappeared and that the RBCs were again agglutinated by various Cromer antibodies. CONCLUSION: A patient with an acquired and transient form of the Inab phenotype is described, in whom the CD55 deficiency is limited to the RBCs and is associated with splenic infarctions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.7424494796958keywords = abdominal pain, pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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