Continuous Intravenous Anakinra Infusion to Calm the Cytokine Storm in Macrophage Activation Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to report the benefit of a therapeutic approach consisting of intravenous (IV) continuous anakinra (recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist) infusions in treating severely ill adult patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of five patients treated at Regions Hospital from 2016 to 2019 was conducted. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics and outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Continuous IV anakinra infusions up to 2400 mg/d resulted in rapid serologic, then clinical response in 4 of 5 severely ill patients who were refractory to all other therapies, including subcutaneous anakinra. Subsequently, 3 of 5 patients have been maintained on anakinra or canakinumab, with no recurrence of MAS.

CONCLUSION

Continuous infusion of IV anakinra may result in rapid serologic and subsequent clinical improvement in adult patients with MAS. This method for treating cytokine storm should be considered in the current COVID-19 pandemic in the subgroup of patients with severe disease who have a cytokine storm presentation.

Accurate and continuous non-contact vital signs monitoring using phased array antennas in a clutter-free anechoic chamber

Continuous and accurate monitoring of human vital signs is an important part of the healthcare industry, as it is the basic means by which the clinicians can determine the instantaneous status of their patients. Doppler-based noncontact vital signs (NCVS) sensor systems can monitor the heart and respiration rates without touching the patient, but it has been observed that that the accuracy of these NCVS sensors can be diminished by reflections from background clutters in the measurement environment, and that high directivity antennas can increase the sensing accuracy. Therefore, this work explores a NCVS sensor with continuous data taken inside an anechoic chamber where the background cluttering is negligible. In addition, a high directivity custom-made beam-steerable phased array antenna system is used to improve the performance and functionality of the 2.4GHz NCVS sensor we have built. We believe this work is the 1st systematic study using Doppler-based phased array systems for NCVS sensing performed in a clutter-free anechoic chamber.

Caplacizumab for congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Caplacizumab rapidly increased platelet count which likely shorted the hospital stay and reduced plasma transfusion requirement.

SARS-CoV-2: A Novel Precipitant of Ischemic Priapism

BACKGROUND

Priapism is a disorder that occurs when the penis maintains a prolonged erection in the absence of appropriate stimulation. Conditions that result in hypercoagulable states and hyperviscosity are associated with ischemic priapism. COVID-19 is increasingly associated with coagulopathy. To date, there are 6 reported cases of priapism occurring in patients with COVID-19, 5 occurring in the setting of critical illness.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of ischemic priapism which we suspect resulted from COVID-19-associated coagulopathy in a patient without severe COVID-19 presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there have been only a handful of reported cases of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy leading to ischemic priapism, it is possible that the true incidence is much higher. While our case highlights the importance of considering COVID-19 infection in the differential diagnosis of ischemic priapism, more research is needed to understand incidence and definitively establish a causative relationship.

A Case of Duodenocaval Fistula in the Setting of Respiratory Failure Initially Confused for Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury

Background

A duodenocaval fistula is seen when a connection exists between the duodenum and the inferior vena cava. It is a rare entity that presents a diagnostic challenge due to its nonspecific presenting symptoms and often is found only during a laparotomy or autopsy.

Case Presentation

A 37-year-old man initially presented to the hospital for melena but went into cardiac arrest before undergoing an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Unfortunately, a duodenocaval fistula was only found during the autopsy.

Conclusions

Duodenocaval fistula is a diagnostic challenge as it may present with nonspecific findings concerning for other etiologies. We want to highlight that although rare, duodenocaval fistula should be considered for patients who present with gastrointestinal bleeding and hypoxic respiratory failure.

Oral Therapy for Aerococcus urinae Bacteremia and Thoracic Spondylodiscitis of Presumed Urinary Origin

Background

Aerococcus urinae (A urinae), considered a rare pathogen, has been identified with increasing frequency in urine cultures. Only 8 cases of spondylodiscitis due to A urinae have been reported. Optimal treatment for invasive A urinae infection is undefined. However, the reported cases were treated successfully with diverse antibiotic regimen combinations, all including a β-lactam and beginning with at least 2 weeks of IV antibiotics.

Case Presentation

A 74-year-old man presented to the emergency department after 2 weeks of midthoracic back pain, lower extremity weakness, gait imbalance, fatigue, anorexia, rigors, and subjective fevers. The patient was presumed to have discitis secondary to a urinary tract infection with possible pyelonephritis and was given empiric vancomycin and ceftriaxone. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging with contrast supported spondylodiscitis. Preliminary results from the admission blood and urine cultures showed gram-positive cocci in clusters.

Conclusions

A urinae urinary tract infection in the absence of obvious predisposing factors should prompt evaluation for urinary outflow obstruction. We suspect a review of a US Department of Veterans Affairs population might uncover a higher incidence of A urinae infection than previously suspected.