Background: Heart failure is a rare manifestation of metastatic disease of the carcinoma of an unknown primary, malignancy that requires extensive work-up to identify the primary site. Initial consideration of rare etiologies in patients presented with a common clinical syndrome is challenging.
Case Presentation: A 35-year-old Black woman presented with shortness of breath at rest, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, chest pain, a blood-tinged productive cough, and fever for 2 weeks.
Background: Weekend effect' is a term used to describe the increased mortality associated with weekend emergency admissions to hospitals compared with admissions on weekdays. This effect was not investigated in Ethiopia among adult patients admitted to hospitals. We aimed to find out whether the weekend effect exists in the country's a teaching hospital.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) have an increased risk of vascular complications. Despite the rise in the prevalence of T2D and its complications throughout the globe, there is a paucity of data regarding the prevalence and determinants of vascular complications of T2D in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence, patterns, and determinants of the microvascular and macrovascular complications of T2D among adult patients attending a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hypertension is a recognized risk factor that underlies the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines, including those from the European Society of Hypertension, recommend opportunistic screening for hypertension in all adults. However, there have been no institution-based studies on the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors with an opportunistic screening program in Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In patients with heart failure (HF), multiple electrolyte disorders are common, and recent studies have shown that chloride disorders play a significant role in the prognosis of HF. Data about the prevalence and prognostic role of hypochloremia in patients with acute HF (AHF) are scarce in African nations, including Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and prognostic role of hypochloremia in patients with AHF in Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Clinical Message: Early detection, timely management, and exploration of alternative treatment options are crucial for patients with high-risk pulmonary thromboembolism, particularly those with thrombus in transit. Furthermore, prophylactic measures against thromboembolic events should be highly considered for patients with predisposing conditions for venous thromboembolism, including surgical procedures.
Abstract: A thrombus in transit refers to a thrombus that is temporarily lodged in the right-side chambers of the heart with a high risk of embolization to the pulmonary artery.
Key Clinical Message: Concomitant native and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE) is very rare, and both can rarely be complicated by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). This diagnosis has therapeutic implications, as not all RPGN need immunosuppression therapy.
Abstract: Native and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (IE) may be rarely complicated by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN).
Background: Acute heart failure is the rapid onset of new or worsening symptoms and signs of heart failure. Despite the increasing burden of heart failure in developing countries like Ethiopia, there is a paucity of comprehensive data regarding the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of acute heart failure, especially in the selected study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Headache is a frequent symptom in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) has been reported among patients who underwent lumbar puncture for persistent headaches.
Case Presentation: A 45-year-old black man presented with dyspnea, cough, fever and headache for 05 days followed by blurring of vision associated with worsening of the headache. Physical examination was significant for tachypnea and oxygen desaturation and there were no abnormal neurologic findings.
Background: Although numerous gene variations, such as those in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, have been implicated in an increased risk of venous thrombosis, current recommendations do not advocate genetic testing if there is no clinically meaningful association with thrombosis.
Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male patient presented with left lower limb swelling of two days with prior history of deep vein thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis. His left lower limb was grossly swollen.
Key Clinical Message: Low threshold is required to suspect complications of malaria. Pulmonary thromboembolism, though rare, should be considered as its complication in the presence of unexplained and sudden onset shortness of breath.
Abstract: The hypercoagulable complications of malaria typically manifest in the microvasculature.
Introduction: There could be misdiagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 for malaria and vice versa because of their similar presentations, particularly when clinicians rely mainly on symptoms for diagnosis. Coinfection with coronavirus disease 2019 and malaria is associated with increased all-cause in-hospital mortality compared with isolated infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Presentation with pleural effusion adds another challenge in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Clinical Messages: The diagnosis of polyserositis due to tuberculosis (TB) is complex and challenging, which may cause delays in treatment. TB should be ruled out first before attributing polyserositis to any other cause like hypothyroidism, particularly in high TB burden countries.
Abstract: Polyserositis has numerous causes and frequently occurs in neoplasia, autoimmune disorders, endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism, and infectious diseases like tuberculosis (TB).
Introduction: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disorder characterized by hepatic outflow obstruction. It can be classified as primary or secondary BCS. Common causes of BCS include myeloproliferative diseases, infections, malignancies, and systemic autoimmune illnesses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Clinical Messages: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a rare hereditary disorder, can cause recurrent massive epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding leading to severe anemia. Early diagnosis of HHT is essential to provide timely interventional therapies.
Abstract: HHT is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease that results in abnormal vasculogenesis in the skin, mucous membranes, and visceral organs such as the liver, lungs, and brain.
Background: Sydenham chorea is thought to be an autoimmune condition that usually develops following a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection.The onset of Sydenham chorea in adults is rare and most of the adult cases usually are secondary to recurrence following childhood illness. Risk factors for chorea recurrence include irregular antibiotic prophylactic use, failure to reach remission within 6 months, and symptom persistence for longer than a year.
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