Ambulatory management of pulmonary embolism.

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism can be very difficult and elusive. It depends greatly on the use of diagnostic tests, which are in turn interpreted according to a pre-test clinical probability. These include non-specific tests such as the chest X-ray and electrocardiograph, which help exclude other conditions such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among patients with coronary artery disease in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Despite the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and coronary artery disease (CAD), few studies have investigated this issue in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of OSA among CAD patients.

Subjects And Methods: This was a cross-sectional (descriptive) study conducted at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from April 2012 to December 2013.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of epidemiologically defined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional, observational, population-based survey of COPD was conducted between June 2010 and December 2011 across the country of Saudi Arabia. A total of 56,000 randomly selected telephone numbers were called, which identified 10,001 eligible subjects; of whom 9,779 agreed to participate.

Sleep-disordered breathing and heart failure.

Sleep-disordered breathing is a spectrum of disorders. As our knowledge of sleep medicine is improving, the strong association of sleep-disordered breathing with cardiac disorders is being recognized. This article discusses the association of sleep-disordered breathing and heart failure.

Noninsulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycemia syndrome in a Saudi male.

Nesidioblastosis is focal or diffuse islet hyperplasia leading to hyperinsulinism with subsequent hypoglycemia in the absence of insulinoma, usually described in neonates and infancy. We described the first adult case of nesidioblastosis in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The diagnosis and treatment of the condition can be very difficult and challenging.

Pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma. Bilateral pulmonary nodules associated with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

We report a case of a 30-year-old female who had been treated periodically with steroids for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura ITP over the last 10 years. Recently, during the course of investigation, she was found to have incidental asymptomatic multiple pulmonary nodules on chest CT. Following a needle biopsy to exclude malignancy, 2 nodules were excised and were histologically confirmed as pulmonary hyalinizing granuloma PHG.

Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: is there anything new?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a specific form of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown aetiology and is associated with the histological picture of usual interstitial pneumonia. Treatment in most cases is unsatisfactory and the prognosis remains poor. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that any treatment, apart from lung transplantation, improves survival or halts disease progression for IPF patients.

A case of Legionnaires' disease with extensive concurrent deep vein thrombosis.

A previously healthy 37-y-old male presented with community-acquired pneumonia and extensive upper limb deep vein thrombosis. The diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia was made based on a positive direct immunofluorescence of the bronchial wash. An extensive investigation for hypercoagulable states was negative.