1/10. Familial primary cryofibrinogenemia.BACKGROUND: To our best knowledge this is the second case ever described of familial primary cryofibrinogenemia (CFG). patients: A 29-year-old Moroccan female and two of her three children suffered from painful purpura, slow healing small ulcerations and edema of both feet during the winter season. Laboratory investigations revealed the presence of cryofibrinogen in their blood plasma. All three patients were otherwise healthy and no associated disease could be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CFG has to be considered in patients with livedo reticularis, edema, painful purpura and slow healing ulcera after cold exposure. Cryofibrinogen-precipitates in the blood plasma have to be determined. Because secondary CFG occurs much more frequently than the primary form, it is important to rule out associated diseases through extensive physical examination and laboratory investigations. This communication also stresses the importance of a through family history of patients with CFG. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance is supposed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/10. Traumatic asphyxia complicated by unwitnessed cardiac arrest.We report a case of traumatic asphyxia complicated by unwitnessed cardiac arrest in which the patient has made a good, functional recovery. Traumatic asphyxia is an uncommon clinical syndrome usually occurring after chest compression. Associated physical findings include subconjunctival hemorrhage and purple-blue neck and face discoloration. These facial changes can mimic those seen with massive closed head injury; however, cerebral injury after traumatic asphyxia usually occurs due to cerebral hypoxia. When such features are observed, the diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia should be considered. Prompt treatment with attention to the reestablishment of oxygenation and perfusion may result in good outcomes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/10. Segmental pigmented purpura.A segmental distribution of pigmented purpura (PP) is rare. Our patient presented at 5 years of age with red-brown petechial macules and telangiectases on her chest, the inner and dorsal aspects of the right upper extremity, and the dorsal aspect of the hand, which had developed slowly over the previous 7 months. The lesions were intermittently pruritic. A biopsy from the right arm revealed discrete hydropic degeneration of the basal layer of the epidermis, dilation of the blood vessels, numerous extravasated erythrocytes and lymphocytes, and lymphocytes in the lower part of the epidermis. The skin disease resolved almost completely within 18 months. The general physical examination revealed an open foramen ovale, slight hypogammaglobulinemia (G and A), and enhanced fragility of the blood vessels.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5.3926719224511keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/10. Death due to positional asphyxia under severe alcoholisation: pathophysiologic and forensic considerations.In contrary to "physical restraint", describing a fixed body position due to external devices, "positional restraint" is defined as an abnormal body position, resulting from accidental fixation under unfortunate circumstances. We report on a remarkable case of positional asphyxia of an alcoholised young man after a fall down a staircase. On external examination, the body showed petechiae of the conjunctivae and oral mucosa, abrasions on the left zygomatic region and scratch marks, respectively. Neither broken fingernails, etc. nor signs of external violence against the neck were found. autopsy revealed haemorrhages in the praevertebral cervical musculature and Simon's sign. Haemorrhagic pulmonary edema and cerebral edema were observed; blood alcohol concentration: 2.60 g/l, urine alcohol concentration: 3.26 g/l. As cause of death, positional asphyxia after blunt head trauma has to be considered as well as lethal ethanol intoxication. To us, alcoholisation attributed to the fall and together with unconsciousness following blunt head trauma circumvented self-rescue efforts, and therefore, aggravated the potentially lethal impact of positional restraint.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/10. Palpable purpura and a visible sock line.A 21-year-old woman came to the clinic, frightened by a painful purpuric rash on her lower extremities. The lesions appeared suddenly 3 days before, with no prior similar episodes. The pain, and some swelling that happened when she stood, had finally driven her to take some time off from her job and seek medical advice. She was diagnosed with a case of pharyngitis earlier that week; due to multiple drug allergies, she was prescribed a course of clindamycin. She had not experienced any nausea or vomiting, fever, abdominal cramping, or gross hematuria. On examination, the patient was friendly and good-humored, although she was concerned about her rash and visibly uncomfortable. She was walking with the aid of a borrowed cane, but her lesions were no longer tender to palpation. The rash consisted mainly of purpuric papules almost entirely limited to her legs, although some isolated lesions were on her back as well. The papules were concentrated around her distal lower extremities, with a clear line of lesions encircling her calves bilaterally where her knee-high socks had applied pressure for the last 2 days. Mild edema was noted, but the rest of her physical exam was normal. By dipstick, the patient had blood in her urine but no protein. What is the diagnosis? What is the treatment for this condition?- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/10. Familial malignant osteopetrosis in children: a case report.The clinical, radiological, pathological and laboratory findings of two brothers with autosomal recessive malignant osteopetrosis are presented. Our findings are similar to characteristics previously reported in the literature about patients with osteopetrosis. The 6-year-old male patient was pale and had petechiae on his arms and legs. He also had macrocephalia, splenomegaly, severe pancytopenia, genu valgus, hypocalcemia, amaurosis, cessation of physical development, generalized bone sclerosis and recurrent infections with a history of multiple incidences of acute otitis media. Generalized bone sclerosis and irregular sclerosis of the maxilla and mandible were seen on radiographs. The oral mucosa was apparently normal but permanent tooth eruption was delayed although there was early loss of deciduous teeth. The recommended treatment was blood transfusion and therapy with antibiotics when necessary; a bone marrow transplant was not possible due to lack of a compatible donor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/10. purpura in occult pneumococcal bacteremia.An unusual case of occult pneumococcal bacteremia is reported. A 4-month-old female presented with ascending purpura on the lower extremities as the only abnormal physical finding. All initial laboratory studies were normal; however, streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6 was cultured from her blood within 18 hours and subsequently from the nasopharynx. This is the first reported case in humans of occult pneumococcal bacteremia presenting with the primary clinical finding of purpura. This entity has a well defined animal model in mice.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/10. purpura provoked by cold exposure in a skier.Case of a previously healthy young skier who developed purpura on his lower legs after cold exposure; the patient was not taking any medicine. No disease or disturbance except the physical trauma of cold could be found to explain his purpura.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/10. Two cases of psychogenic purpura.Psychogenic purpura, also known as recurrent painful bruising or autoerythrocyte sensitization syndrome (Gardner-diamond syndrome) is usually associated with emotionally disturbed patients. It is a troublesome entity for both patient and physician since extensive work-ups yield no diagnosis. We describe two females in their early twenties with recurrent painful bruising and diverse accompanying symptoms which appeared after physical trauma. One of the patients developed a bruise after intradermal injection of her own blood (with no reaction to saline injection). One patient had a personality (borderline) disorder, the other a factitious disorder. Punch biopsies revealed a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate, erythrocyte extravasation and no vasculitis. Psychogenic hemorrhagic disorders are uncommon yet must be considered in the differential diagnosis of purpura. patients are usually young emotionally troubled females who present painful recurrent bruises on extremities frequently after trauma or surgery. Autoimmune mechanisms and increased cutaneous fibrinolytic activity have been implicated, although further studies are needed. Correct diagnosis is important to avoid aggressive and even mutilating treatments, and an adequate comprehension of these purpuras is important for the attending physician.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/10. Pathologic rupture of the spleen as the initial manifestation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Pathologic splenic rupture is a rare and life-threatening complication of acute leukemia. It is even more uncommon as the initial manifestation, and only a few cases has been reported in the literature. Early recognition of this complication is vital because the prognosis is fatal without immediate treatment by splenectomy. We report the case of a spontaneous spleen rupture irreversibly complicating the onset of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a 19-year-old man, in spite of splenectomy. In our case abdominal ultrasound was a good, non-invasive diagnostic test. Therefore, we believe that the course of the underlying disease and the physical condition of the patient dramatically influenced the disease evolution.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |