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Showing papers by "Gregory M. Anstead published in 2018"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A fatal case of MT in a middle-aged man with a course culminating in multi-organ failure and refractory status epilepticus and an autopsy revealed hemorrhagic pneumonia, acute tubular necrosis, and ischemic necrosis in the liver, adrenals, and brain.
Abstract: Murine typhus (MT) is an important cause of febrile illness in endemic areas, and there is an epidemiologic resurgence of this infection currently transpiring in Texas and California. Fatal cases and severe neurological complications are rare. A fatal case of MT in a middle-aged man is reported with a course culminating in multi-organ failure and refractory status epilepticus. An autopsy revealed hemorrhagic pneumonia, acute tubular necrosis, and ischemic necrosis in the liver, adrenals, and brain. We have also reviewed the neurologic complications of MT.

11 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first reported case of plastic bronchitis is presented in a patient with pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma and underlying HIV infection, which is a rare occurrence of unknown etiology that has been primarily described in children with congenital heart disease.
Abstract: Plastic bronchitis is the expectoration of bronchial casts in the mold of the tracheobronchial tree. It is a rare occurrence of unknown etiology that has been primarily described in children with congenital heart disease. In this case report, we present the first reported case of plastic bronchitis in a patient with pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma and underlying HIV infection.

4 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: N-Acetylcysteine is a safe and effective measure to prevent and treat hepatotoxicity secondary to INH therapy and more studies are needed to determine its optimal dose and duration for this indication.
Abstract: Abstract Background Hepatotoxicity secondary to therapy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a common complication that may lead to treatment interruption. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) exerts a hepatoprotective effect by repleting glutathione stores and enhancing the cellular antioxidant defense mechanism. NAC has been found to be protective against liver toxicity in animals treated for MTB infection. Randomized controlled trials have shown that its use in humans also decreases the risk of hepatotoxicity associated with anti-MTB treatment but there is minimal data regarding its utility for treatment of liver toxicity. Methods Patients who received NAC from January 2012 to March 2018 for prophylaxis and treatment of increasing liver function tests (LFTs) while on isoniazid (INH) were included. A retrospective review of the medical record system was performed. Results Nineteen patients were included. Eight received NAC for treatment. The average age was 49 years. Seventy percent of patients were male. The mean BMI was 25. Five patients had underlying liver cirrhosis and two had hepatic steatosis. Eleven patients had Hepatitis C (HCV) and one had active Hepatitis B infection. Ten patients had MTB pulmonary infection, thee had latent TB infection, two meningitis, and three had disseminated disease. One patient was treated for atypical mycobacterial infection. The dose of NAC used was 600 mg oral twice daily and the duration was variable. The prophylaxis group had stable LFTs during treatment, except for two patients whose enzymes increased more than three times the upper limit of normal. These two patients had underlying HCV and liver cirrhosis. Only one required discontinuation of INH. This group received NAC for an average of 47 days. The treatment group had a favorable trend of liver enzymes after NAC initiation, with levels significantly improving by day 14 (Figures 1 and 2). Three patients did not require discontinuation of antibiotics. INH was stopped prior to NAC initiation in four patients. No side effects of NAC were documented in any patient. Conclusion NAC is a safe and effective measure to prevent and treat hepatotoxicity secondary to INH therapy. More studies are needed to determine its optimal dose and duration for this indication. Figure 1. Figure 2. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

2 citations