Publications by authors named "T M Shimshak"

A 69-year-old man presented with corticosteroid-dependent colchicine-resistant chronic recurrent pericarditis initially thought to be idiopathic in etiology. Transitioning from anakinra to rilonacept revealed rheumatoid arthritis as the underlying cause. Anakinra demonstrated superior efficacy in managing both pericarditis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

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Article Synopsis
  • Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital heart defect seen in newborns, and a unique case was presented involving a young adult who developed recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusions despite medical treatment.
  • The case highlighted that the young adult had a previously undiagnosed TAPVC, which was successfully treated with surgery, leading to the resolution of his pericardial effusions.
  • This situation is noteworthy because the occurrence of hemorrhagic pericardial effusions in adults with unrepaired TAPVC is rare, emphasizing the importance for healthcare providers to consider this possibility in similar cases.
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A 40-year-old woman presented with recurrent pericarditis and pericardial effusion while receiving treatment with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide for recently diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. She was successfully treated with the interleukin-1 inhibitor rilonacept after experiencing multiple recurrences with triple therapy with aspirin, colchicine, and steroids. ().

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Left atrial masses are rare but clinically significant findings, which can present as diverse pathological entities, including primary tumors, thrombi, and metastases. Their diverse pathological entities contribute to a wide range of clinical manifestations, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms that pose challenges for early diagnosis. Within the realm of medicine, unique presentations emphasize the intricate interplay between the size, location, and functional impact of pathological processes.

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We present an unusual case of a geriatric patient with right-sided cardiac displacement and rotation (Pseudo-Dextrocardia) secondary to radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF) after radiation for carcinoma of the right breast. This patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Cannulization of the coronary sinus ostium was difficult, likely due to the significant cardiac displacement.

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