Thromboembolism and toxic shock syndrome: a case presentation and literature update.

A case of progressive shock and multisystem organ failure is reported for an 18 year old Lebanese woman, clinically diagnosed as toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The patient developed cough and dyspnea during hospitalization; chest CT angiography revealed thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery. CBC analysis showed leukocytosis with a white cell count (WCC) with a marked increase in PT and PTT coupled with reduced protein S, antithrombin III, and protein C levels.

Acute colchicine poisoning presenting as symptomatic hypocalcaemia.

Symptomatic hypocalcaemia was the dominant feature of acute colchicine poisoning in a young female with periodic polyserositis. Experimental data suggest that colchicine-induced hypocalcaemia is secondary to colchicine inhibition of bone resorption.