Report of a rare case of periaortitis at the aortic arch and successful therapeutic strategy with prednisolone

Periaortitis is one of the less common manifestations of the aorta pathology. Periaortitis mostly arises from the outer layers of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. However, other large arteries may also be involved, but rarely the thoracic aorta. Here we present a successful conservative treatment using prednisolone therapy for periaortitis of the aortic arch which shows various clinical symptoms. <Learning objective: Periaortitis is one of the less common manifestations of the aorta pathology. Periaortitis rarely has an impact on the thoracic aorta. The treatment strategy for this complication, especially the dose of prednisolone, is not well established. This case report supports documenting periaortitis in the aortic arch. Not only did we begin initial prednisolone treatment at 45 mg/day, but also performed a downward titration after only half a year.>.

A rare case of lipoid pneumonia attributed to amiodarone

We report a case of endogenous lipoid pneumonia secondary to long-term use of amiodarone (> 30 years) for atrial fibrillation in a 76-year-old Caucasian woman, presenting with cough and dyspnea. Endogenous Lipoid pneumonia is a rare underdiagnosed condition more prevalent in adults. It is usually asymptomatic and a diagnosis is generally made in patients who have become clinically unstable or when an abnormal lung shadow is found on a chest X-ray. In the case here described it was diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) where fat-laden macrophages (oil red O stain) were identified. Since a history of use of oil-based products had been ruled out, amiodarone was deemed to be the most likely cause of lipoid pneumonia. The patient was managed with the replacement of amiodarone with digoxin and treated with oral prednisolone. The patient has remained clinically stable with radiological improvement during a follow-up of two years.

Using a standardised protocol was effective in reducing hospitalisation and treatment use in children with newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia

AIM

Childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been associated with low bleeding rates and a high frequency of spontaneous remission. Although current guidelines suggest that most patients are just observed, children still receive platelet-enhancing therapies for fear of bleeding complications. We hypothesised that a standardised protocol with a step-down approach would reduce hospitalisation and treatment use.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with acute ITP between January 2010 and December 2014, before (n = 54) and after (n = 37) the standardised protocol, which was introduced in January 2013. Management and events during the first 3 months following diagnosis were recorded.

RESULTS

The protocol resulted in a 34% decrease in the hospitalisation rate (p < 0.001) at diagnosis. Prednisone treatment duration at diagnosis was also significantly reduced (13.1 versus 5.8 days, p = 0.004). Children over 3 years of age were 3.8 times less likely to be hospitalised (95% CI 1.94-7.61) and 2.3 times less likely to receive treatment (95% CI 1.2-4.3). There was no difference in the rate of persistent ITP (38% versus 30%, p = 0.43) or serious bleeding complications (7% versus 5%, p = 0.70).

CONCLUSION

Our ITP management protocol significantly reduced hospitalisation rates and length of prednisone treatment without any increase in disease complications.

Treatment of Acute Painful Thyroiditis with Low Dose Prednisolone: A Study on Patients from Western Nepal

INTRODUCTION

Thyroiditis is a disorder that involves inflammation of the thyroid gland. Subacute thyroiditis is the most common cause of acute painful thyroiditis. It is thought to be a viral inflammatory disorder. Subacute thyroiditis has been treated with either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or high dose corticosteroids. The response to steroids is more dramatic and quicker than the NSAIDs. Prednisolone is the most commonly used corticosteroid to treat subacute thyroiditis. The usual dose is one mg/kg/day tapered over six weeks although the basis for this dose has not been established yet by prospective studies.

AIM

The current research was carried out to study if prednisolone in lower initial dose (20 mg/day tapered over four weeks) is effective in patients with acute painful thyroiditis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a prospective, cross sectional, observational study carried out at Pokhara, Nepal. All the patients presenting with anterior neck pain of less than 1 week with tender thyroid on palpation and ESR more than 30mm/h were included in the study. The patients were administered prednisolone in a starting dose of 20 mg/day tapered over four weeks. Data were collected, analysed and the results were interpreted.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty two patients of acute painful thyroiditis were included in our study. Age of the patients ranged from 19 years to 69 years with the mean age of 36.58 years. Female to Male ratio was 10:1. Mean ESR was 57.03 at the time of presentation. ESR decreased to 29.63 at two weeks and 17.03 mm per hour (normal) at 4 weeks after continuation of the drug. All the patients reported with severe pain in the anterior neck at the time of presentation. Pain was completely relieved in 115 patients (94%) at 2 weeks after starting the treatment and it was better than previous in seven patients.

CONCLUSION

Twenty mg of prednisolone daily tapered over 4 weeks is an adequate treatment of subacute thyroiditis. However, dose can be drastically tapered after 2 weeks.