Disseminated Blastomycosis Presenting with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Unlabelled: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and myocardial infarction (MI) in individuals with few or no known atherosclerotic risk factors. While systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorders are associated with precipitating SCAD, the role of infection-induced systemic inflammation in SCAD is not well defined. We present the case of a 49-year-old Caucasian woman with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) diagnosed as SCAD from a severe systemic inflammatory response related to disseminated blastomycosis.

Metastatic Carcinoma of Prostate as a Mimicker of SAPHO Syndrome.

Paraneoplastic arthritides are a group of immune-mediated inflammatory arthropathies associated with occult or manifest malignancy. Musculoskeletal spread of an underlying malignancy may also mimic many rheumatologic conditions. Distinguishing primary rheumatologic condition from paraneoplastic arthritides versus direct musculoskeletal spread of malignancy can be challenging especially in individuals with prior history of cancer and new musculoskeletal complaints.

Biologic Agent-Associated Cutaneous Adverse Events: A Single Center Experience.

Biologic agents are regarded as an effective treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases. These drugs have an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, although an increasing number of autoimmune conditions have been reported with their use. Additionally, a variety of cutaneous diseases have been associated with their use.

Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Renal Failure.

Renal involvement in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) varies in severity and prevalence. Although previously felt to be uncommon, kidneys can be involved in 25% to 30% of pSS patients. Fibrillary glomerulonephritis (FGN) is a rare primary glomerular disease that can occur in association with another autoimmune condition or malignancy.

Immune Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy: a Cause of Isolated Myopathy of Neck Extensor Muscle.

Immune mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is a unique form of myositis that is characterized by distinct muscle biopsy features including abundant myofiber necrosis, degeneration, and regeneration with only minimal, if any, inflammation on muscle biopsy. IMNM is clinically similar to idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM); hence, muscle biopsy is essential to diagnose IMNM. Herein we describe a case of neck extensor weakness due to necrotizing myopathy.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: clinicopathologic features and outcome analysis.

To describe clinical features and outcomes of 26 patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis from a single center, we reviewed medical records of consecutive patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis evaluated at our facility from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2013 for clinical features, laboratory and radiographic findings, management, and outcomes. Twenty-six patients met criteria for idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis and were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 58 years; male-female ratio was 3.

Antiphospholipid antibodies-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Objectives: To describe the clinical features and outcomes of 17 patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) or antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH).

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with PAPS-associated DAH and aPL-associated DAH between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2013, for clinical features, laboratory and radiographic findings, management, and outcomes.

Results: A total of 17 patients met the criteria for DAH and had aPL and 10 patients met the criteria for PAPS.

Sjögren's syndrome and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)--a case report and review of literature.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare relapsing auto-immune disease of the central nervous system which is sometimes found in association with other autoimmune disorders including Sjogren's syndrome. We present the case of a middle aged female with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) who had a rapidly declining neurological illness that responded to immunosuppressive therapy.

Case Presentation: A 51-year-old female with Sjogren's syndrome and recent history of varicella zoster infection presented with right upper and lower extremity weakness of one week duration.

Changes in osmol gap in chronic kidney disease: an exploratory study.

Aim: There is no data on osmol gap (OG) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) by stage and limited data on OG in adults on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). We aimed to examine the OG between different stages of CKD and to compare the OG pre- and post-HD in those on maintenance HD.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 67 patients.