Recurrent Bioprosthetic Valve Serratia marcescens Endocarditis in Intravenous Drug Users.

BACKGROUND We report 2 cases of recurrent right-sided endocarditis in 2 young patients known to be intravenous (i.v.) drug users.

Rheumatoid Arthritis With Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting the joints and, to a lesser extent, other systems. Renal involvement in RA is rare and might be due to the presence of systemic inflammation or the toxic effect of the medications used. Of the many types of renal diseases that can affect RA patients, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is rarely encountered.

Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis - A Rare but Fatal Form of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis - Complicated by Brain Herniation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHLE) is a very rare fulminant post-infectious demyelinating disease of the CNS. We report an atypical presentation of AHLE involving unique brain areas 2 weeks following a viral upper-respiratory tract infection (URTI). Early diagnosis and proper management improve the prognosis of this disease, and AHLE can have a very poor prognosis and high mortality rate.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Relapsing Polychondritis with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND This case report describes rare disease entities with possible associations that include relapsing polychondritis, a rare disease with systemic manifestations characterized by bouts of inflammation in hyaline cartilage in multiple body sites, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), another potentially life-threatening condition that occurs due to erratic activation of the immune system accompanied by pancytopenia. Both diseases constitute a real challenge to diagnose and treat. These entities, their associations, and treatment protocols and prognosis for them are highlighted.