Acta Medica Indonesiana – The Indonesian Journal of Internal Medicine
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The ‘Great Imitator’: A Case of COVID-19 Presenting with Encephalitis and Acute Coronary Syndrome
Get PDFAlthough typically patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have pulmonary symptoms atypical cases can occasionally present with extra-pulmonary symptoms. We report an interesting case of COVID-19 female patient presenting with combination of central nervous system disorder and acute myocardial infarct as initial manifestation. Multiorgan involvement in COVID-19 might lead to multiple atypical presentation which could be overlooked by the physician.
The Challenging Anticoagulant Therapy in Patient with COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy
Get PDFCOVID-19 became a widespread infectious disease in late 2019. Indonesia currently has the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in Asia, between 4-5 percent. Interestingly, COVID-19-associated coagulopathy characterized by an increase of several procoagulant factor levels, including fibrinogen and D-dimer, that has been associated with higher mortality and unfavorable outcomes. We report a case of a 30-year-old male admitted to the hospital with a profuse vomiting and worsening fever, cough and shortness of breath, and was diagnosed with COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Seven days after admission, he became deteriorated with significant reduction of oxygen saturation and his coagulation parameter levels were increased with highly suspicion of pulmonary embolism. He was treated with azithromycin, isoprinosine, lopinavir, and fondaparinux with thromboprophylaxis dosage since admission. The role of increased fondaparinux dosage at the time of clinical deterioration was then followed by clinical improvement and reduced D-dimer level. Anticoagulant therapy, mainly with fondaparinux, showed a better prognosis in patients with markedly elevated D-Dimer. Fondaparinux needs to be monitored appropriately to prevent bleeding and adverse. The patient was discharged from the hospital in an improved condition and normal D-Dimer levels. There were no bleeding event nor other major side effects that had been found. The decision for increasing dose of anticoagulant may be determined on individual basis, considering risks, benefits, and also the most important is clinical findings
Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Neglected Issue in Comprehensive Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management
Get PDFAnemia is the most common extraintestinal inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) manifestations and is significantly correlated with several adverse impacts such as higher hospitalization rate, relapse rate, surgical intervention requirement, and low quality of life. The prevalence of anemia in IBD patients is greatly varied between reports, which is estimated between 8.8% to 74%. However, studies showed there were still gaps in the screening protocol and anemia treatment in daily practice. Anemia in IBD tends to be an overlooked IBD complication yet significant and must be adequately addressed. Anemia in IBD may be caused by several factors that interplayed, with iron deficiency anemia being the most common etiology. Comprehensive management of anemia in IBD should consist of active screening, evaluation of the etiology, holistic treatment, and follow-up monitoring. Optimization of IBD therapy should be emphasized because it also may improve the anemic condition. A multidisciplinary approach and collaboration are needed to ensure better IBD care
Factors Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Jakarta: The Role of Hemodialysis Frequency and Pentraxin 3
Get PDFBackground: arterial stiffness is a mortality predictor in hemodialysis patients, hemodialysis induces inflammation, marked by an intradialysis increase in the inflammatory marker pentraxin 3 (PTX3). Arterial stiffness in twice-weekly hemodialysis patients in Indonesia is lower than has been found in studies of thrice-weekly patients. This study therefore aims to determine the factors associated with arterial stiffness, focusing on the role of hemodialysis frequency and PTX3. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Fatmawati Hospital, and Medistra Hospital involving patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis. Arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity after hemodialysis, and blood samples for PTX3 testing were taken before hemodialysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using chi-squared tests and logistic regression. Results: out of 122 subjects, 82 underwent twice-weekly hemodialysis. There was no difference in arterial stiffness between patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis. In bivariate analysis, PTX3, cardiovascular disease, dialysis vintage had p values of <0.05, while the subsequent multivariate analysis showed that PTX3>2.3 ng/ml was associated with arterial stiffness (adjusted OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.07–24.91), as well as cardiovascular disease (adjusted OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.40–10.55), LDL (adjusted OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.04–9.24), and dialysis vintage (adjusted OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.001–7.38). Conclusion: predialysis PTX3 levels above 2.3 ng/ml were associated with arterial stiffness. There was no difference in arterial stiffness between patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis
Impact of COVID-19 on the Gut: A Review of the Manifestations, Pathology, Management, and Challenges
Get PDFSARS-CoV-2 is a virus that can enter its hosts through the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 is mainly expressed in cells of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophageal epithelium and enterocytes from the ileum-colon. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has varying clinical symptoms and presents differently in individuals, ranging from asymptomatic carriers to moderate clinical spectrum with mild pneumonia clinical features, and to a severe clinical presentation with dyspnea and hypoxia, leading to death due to respiratory or multi-organ failure. COVID-19 infection can also manifest themselves in the form of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. Severe complications of gastrointestinal COVID-19 infections include hemorrhage or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and severe inflammation, which can adversely affect the intestinal immune system, and therefore the systemic immune system of the host. Furthermore, COVID-19 has also shown to affect microbiota homeostasis in the digestive tract. To date, no clear explanation is available regarding the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection, fecal RNA detection, and the possibility of fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This review aims to discuss the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the digestive tract, microbiota, and lung, and the possibility of fecal-oral transmission in COVID-19
A Case of Paraganglioma with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease
Get PDFCo-occurrence of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and phaeochromocytoma (PCC) and paraganglioma (PGL) are rare, although some cases have been reported. We report a case of left paraganglioma in a 20-year-old lady with an underlying CCHD who underwent palliative Glenn shunt, subsequently developed polycythaemia and cavernous sinus thrombosis presented with palpitation, sweating, headache and hypertension of 3-months duration at the age of 17. The abdominal CT scan revealed an enhancing left paraaortic mass measuring 5.2 cm x 4.4 cm x 3.8 cm. A 24-hour urine catecholamine demonstrated raised noradrenaline level to six times upper limit of normal and hence diagnosis of left sympathetic (sPGL) was made. In view of the delayed diagnosis and significant morbidity associated with her condition, surgical treatment is no longer an option. Therefore, vigilant screening and early treatment of PCC-PGL in patients with CCHD are crucial in order to avoid significant morbidity and ensure a good quality of life
Screening Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer in Women during COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top three leading causes of death in both men and women. However, screening can help detect and prevent CRC. Multiple guidelines recommend CRC screening using stool-based screening and direct visualization via colonoscopy. Anatomically, women have a longer total colonic length, especially in the transverse colon, which makes it redundant; thus it is more difficult to perform complete endoscopy in women. Women also have a higher risk of developing right-sided colon cancer of the flat and depressed type, which is harder to detect than the other types. Moreover, women are less likely to undergo colonoscopy due to embarrassment, especially when the procedure is performed by male gastroenterologists, and the lack of available female gastroenterologists further complicates the problem. The current COVID-19 pandemic also decreases patients’ willingness to undergo screening due to the fear of contracting the COVID-19. Delay in diagnosis leads to more advanced tumors upon detection and ultimately decreases the survival rate, especially in women, as they have lower 1-year survival rate when CRC is detected in its later stages than in men. Innovative options for CRC screening have recently emerged, including colon capsule endoscopy, which can be performed in a clinic and may reduce the need for colonoscopy. However, sex-specific CRC screening guidelines and tools are not available. The objective of this review is to identify the barriers and challenges faced when performing screening colonoscopy in women, especially during the pandemic and to encourage the development of sex-specific CRC screening
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease among Elderly Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Rural Area of Central Sulawesi: A Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFBackground: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are commonly seen in the geriatric population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and alarm-symptoms incidence of GERD among elderly patients with T2DM in a rural area of Central Sulawesi. Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted from July—September 2019 in Public Health Center of Beteleme, Central Sulawesi. Patients aged ≥60 years old, newly or previously diagnosed with T2DM according to the 2019 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria or to the 2015 Indonesian Society of Endocrinology (PERKENI) criteria, were consecutively recruited. We excluded patients being on proton-pump inhibitor or H2-receptor antagonist therapy or having a history of gastric or esophageal surgery. GERD was diagnosed in patients with the score of ≥8 based on the Indonesian version of GERD questionnaire (GERD-Q). Results: among 60 elders with T2DM, 28.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.9-39.7) had GERD. Statistical analysis showed that GERD was significantly associated with consumption frequency of tea (p=0.019) and coffee (p=0.015). No significant relationship was found between gender (p=0.562), obesity (p=0.803), achievement of blood glucose-level control (p=0.478), duration of T2DM (p=0.304), and type of antihyperglycemic drugs (p=0.202) with GERD. Unintentional weight loss was the leading alarm symptom (47.1%; 95%CI, 23.4%-70.8%) found across the GERD group. Conclusion: GERD was prevalent among elderly patients with diabetes. Frequent consumption of either tea or coffee was associated with GERD. Alarm symptoms need further evaluation to screen for complications
Tocilizumab as a Treatment for ‘Cytokine Storm Syndrome’ in COVID-19: A Case Report
Get PDFCoronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) which is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been a problem worldwide, particularly due to the high rate of transmission and wide range of clinical manifestations. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiorgan failure are the most common events observed in severe cases and can be fatal. Cytokine storm syndrome emerges as one of the possibilities for the development of ARDS and multiorgan failure in severe cases of COVID-19. This case report describes a case of a 53-year-old male patient who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Further evaluation in this patient showed that there was a marked increase in IL-6 level in blood accompanied with hyperferritinemia, which was in accordance with the characteristic of cytokine storm syndrome. Patient was treated with tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody and is an antagonist to IL-6 receptor. The binding between tocilizumab and IL-6 receptors effectively inhibit and manage cytokine storm syndrome. Although this case report reported the efficacy of tocilizumab in managing cytokine storm syndrome, tocilizumab has several adverse effects requiring close monitoring. Further clinical randomized control trial is required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab administration in participants with various clinical characteristics and greater number of subjects.
Association of BsmI Polymorphisms in the Vitamin D Receptor Gene Among Indonesian Population with Diabetic Kidney Disease
Get PDFBackground: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), as a common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). It has been established that vitamin D deficiency is one of DKD risk factors, which may be related to vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms. This study aimed to analyze the association between VDR polymorphisms and DKD in Indonesian population, also risk factors that influence it. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Type 2 DM patients who visited internal medicine outpatient clinic at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, from November 2014 until March 2015. Data collection includes characteristics of subjects and laboratory examination, including BsmI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene. Patients with acute and severe disease were excluded from the study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done. Results: of 93 DM subjects, 42 (45.2%) subjects were without DKD and 51 (54.8%) subjects had DKD. Most of the subjects had the Bb genotype (89.2%), with no subject having the BB genotype. The proportions of the B and b alleles were 44.6% and 55.4%, respectively. There is no association between BsmI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene and DKD (OR = 1.243; CI 95% 0.334-4.621; p value = 0.751). Conclusion: the profile of BsmI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene in the Indonesian population were genotypes Bb (89.2%) and bb (10.8%). There was no association between BsmI polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene and DKD. Duration of DM more than five years influenced the association between those variables