Evaluation of hematocrit bias on blood glucose measurement with six different portable glucose meters.

Introduction: Measurement and monitoring of blood glucose levels in hospitalized patients with portable glucose meters (PGMs) is performed widely and is an essential part of diabetes monitoring, despite the increasing evidence of several interferences which can negatively bias the accuracy of measurements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the hematocrit on the analytical performances of different PGMs as compared with a reference laboratory assay.

Materials And Methods: The effect of various hematocrit values (approximiately 0.

Severe hepatotoxicity after therapeutic doses of acetaminophen.

Background: Acetaminophen overdose is a frequent cause of acute liver failure. Controversy exists over the rare association of severe hepatotoxicity or acute liver failure with therapeutic doses of acetaminophen.

Case Summary: A 45-year-old white man weighing 85 kg with asymptomatic HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presented with signs of severe hepatotoxicity: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 8,581 IU/L; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 5,433 IU/L; L-lactate dehydrogenase, 13,641 IU/L; and prothrombin international normalized ratio, 2.