Multivisceral organ failure related to leptospirosis in pregnant patient

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. It is caused by pathogenic leptospira infection. This infection is also an uncommon cause of hepatorenal failure. Indeed, hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels and low platelet count syndrome, and acute fatty liver of pregnancy are specific to the pregnant state. Leptospirosis is rarely described in pregnancy; it might mimic puerperal sepsis or hepatorenal failure associated with pregnancy induced hypertension. We report a case of leptospirosis presenting as multiple organ failure during third trimester of pregnancy with a good outcome.     

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Underdosed Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter

BackgroundAlthough direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been shown to be effective at reducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), they are sometimes underdosed off-label to mitigate their associated higher bleeding risk. We sought to evaluate frequency and clinical outcomes of inappropriate underdosing of DOACS in patients with AF.MethodsWe conducted a study of subjects with AF who had a clinical indication for stroke prophylaxis (with a congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke or transient ischemic attack, vascular disease, age 65 to 47 years, sex category [CHA₂DS₂-VASc] of 2 or greater) and were prescribed 1 of the 4 clinically approved DOACs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or edoxaban). We compared all-cause mortality, composite of stroke and systemic embolism, composite of myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and coronary revascularization, and major bleeding between patients appropriately dosed and inappropriately underdosed.ResultsA total of 8125 patients met inclusion criteria, with a mean follow up of 2.2 ± 2 years. Of those, 1724 patients (21.2%) were inappropriately dosed. After adjusting for baseline variables, there was no difference in all-cause mortality, risk of stroke or systemic embolism, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) major bleeding, or composite of myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndromes, or coronary revascularization between patients appropriately dosed and inappropriately underdosed. In subgroup analysis, only apixaban demonstrated an increased incidence all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.49) with inappropriate underdosing. There was no difference in the remaining clinical outcomes noted on subgroup analysis.ConclusionUnderdosing of DOACs did not minimize risk of bleeding, systemic embolization or all-cause mortality in patients with AF. Inappropriate underdosing with apixaban in particular was associated with increased all-cause mortality.     

Fragmented QRS on a 12-lead ECG: a predictor of mortality and cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with myocardial scar in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVE: We postulated that fQRS is a predictor of cardiac events and mortality in patients who have known CAD or who are being evaluated for CAD. METHODS: The cardiac events (myocardial infarction, need for revascularization, or cardiac death) and all-cause mortality were retrospectively reviewed in 998 patients (mean age 65.5 +/- 11.9 years, male 967) who underwent nuclear stress test. The fQRS on a 12-lead ECG included various RSR' patterns (> or =1 R' prime or notching of S wave or R wave) without typical bundle branch block in 2 contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. RESULTS: All-cause mortality (93 [34.1%] vs 188 [25.9%]) and cardiac event rate (135 [49.5%] vs 200 [27.6%]) were higher in the fQRS group compared with the non-fQRS group during a mean follow-up of 57 +/- 23 months. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly lower event-free survival for cardiac events (P <.001) and all-cause mortality (P = .02). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that significant fQRS was an independent significant predictor for cardiac events but not for all-cause mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference between fQRS and Q waves groups for cardiac events (P = .48) and all-cause mortality (P = .08). CONCLUSION: The fQRS is an independent predictor of cardiac events in patients with CAD. It is associated with significantly lower event-free survival for a cardiac event on long-term follow-up.     

Alcohol consumption and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction after a myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the influence of alcohol intake on the development of symptomatic heart failure (HF) in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after a myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: In contrast to protection from coronary heart disease, alcohol consumption has been linked to cardiodepressant effects and has been considered contraindicated in patients with HF. METHODS: The Survival And Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial randomized 2231 patients with a LV ejection fraction (EF) <40% following MI to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or placebo. Patients were classified as nondrinkers, light-to-moderate drinkers (1 to 10 drinks/week), or heavy drinkers (>10 drinks/week) based on alcohol consumption reported at baseline. The primary outcome was hospitalization for HF or need for an open-label angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Analyses were repeated using alcohol consumption reported three months after MI. RESULTS: Nondrinkers were older and had more comorbidities than light-to-moderate and heavy drinkers. In univariate analyses, baseline light-to-moderate alcohol intake was associated with a lower incidence of HF compared with nondrinkers (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57 to 0.87), whereas heavy drinking was not (HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.67 to 1.23). After adjustment for baseline differences, light-to-moderate baseline alcohol consumption no longer significantly influenced the development of HF (light-to-moderate drinkers HR 0.93; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.17; heavy drinkers HR 1.25; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.72). Alcohol consumption reported three months after the MI similarly did not modify the risk of adverse outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LV dysfunction after an MI, light-to-moderate alcohol intake either at baseline or following MI did not alter the risk for the development of HF requiring hospitalization or an open-label angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.