Peripheral edema: A common and persistent health problem for older Americans

Peripheral edema (i.e., lower limb swelling) can cause pain, weakness, and limited range of motion. However, few studies have examined its prevalence in the U.S. or its association with demographics, comorbidities, activity, or mobility. This study used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of U.S. adults (age 51+/ N = 19,988 for 2016), to evaluate time trends and correlates of peripheral edema using weighted descriptive statistics and logistic regressions, respectively. Peripheral edema was assessed with the question “Have you had… // Persistent swelling in your feet or ankles?” The weighted prevalence of edema among older U.S. adults was 19% to 20% between 2000 and 2016. Peripheral edema was associated with older age, female sex, non-white race, low wealth, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, pain, low activity levels, and mobility limitations (odds ratios ranging from 1.2–5.6; p-values ≤0.001). This study provides the first estimates of national prevalence and correlates of peripheral edema among older Americans. Peripheral edema is common and strongly associated with comorbidities, pain, low activity levels, and mobility limitations, and disproportionately affects poorer and minority groups. Peripheral edema should be a focus of future research in order to develop novel and cost-effective interventions.

Case Report: Severe Edema and Marked Weight Gain Induced by Marginal Thiamine Deficiency in a Patient With Alcohol Dependency and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may develop peripheral edema due to alcohol-related liver, renal, or heart disease. Thiamine deficiency is reported to occur in AUD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thiamine deficiency may also cause peripheral edema. Thiamine is essential for optimal glucose metabolism through its role as an essential co-factor for key enzymes in intermediary metabolism. Since glucose metabolism worsens under diabetic conditions, it seems that a relative shortage of thiamine may occur more easily in patients with diabetes mellitus.Case Presentation: A 59-year-old Japanese man was admitted to the hospital with severe peripheral edema. His background history included alcohol liver disease (ALD), chronic renal failure (CRF), and T2DM. His body mass index (BMI) at admission was 37.7 kg/m2 and this represented a 30 kg increase in body weight over 2 months. Laboratory investigations showed anemia, liver and renal injury, hyperglycemia, and marginal hypothyroidism. The plasma thiamine diphosphate concentration was 20 ng/mL (reference range: 24–66 ng/mL). Diet therapy of 1,600 kcal/day and intravenous fursultiamine hydrochloride therapy (50 mg/once a day, seven days) was commenced in combination with intravenous diuretics. After one week, the plasma thiamine concentration was 853 ng/mL, and the patient's body weight had reduced by 18 kg.Conclusions: Patients with T2DM and AUD may develop severe peripheral edema in the context of marginal thiamine deficiency. Fursultiamine hydrochloride (50 mg/once a day, seven days) restored normal plasma thiamine concentrations and may have contributed to the rapid resolution of severe peripheral edema in this case. Empirical treatment with thiamine should be considered in patients with severe peripheral edema in the context of AUD and T2DM.

Pregabalin as a probable cause of central serous chorioretinopathy: Two case reports

Pregabalin is commonly used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and is attributed to adverse effects of peripheral vasodilation and peripheral edema. Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is characterized by choroidal fluid leaks from choroidal vessels under the retina, causing focal retinal detachment with macular vision loss. Herein, we report two cases admitted to our clinic with vision loss while under pregabalin treatment. Upon eye examination, both patients were diagnosed with acute CSCR. Pregabalin treatment was discontinued upon the diagnosis of CSCR. We consider that the use of pregabalin in the presented two cases may be the causal effect of the CSCR diagnosis, as pathophysiology of CSCR is in parallel with the edema-related adverse effects of pregabalin.

Mode of Presentation of Liver Cirrhosis: A Study in a Tertiary Level Hospital

Liver cirrhosis is an important cause of death and disability globally. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Faridpur Medical College Hospital from November 2018 to April 2019 to see the patterns of clinical presentations and associated factors among admitted liver cirrhosis patients. A total of 89 patients were included. Data were collected by detailed history from patients or their relatives followed by thorough physical examination as well as diagnostic evaluation; then those were checked, verified for consistency and edited for result. Among total respondents, the majority were male (69.7%) with a male to female ratio of 1:0.44. Age of patients ranged between 22-106 years with mean age of 52.33 year. The patients predominantly presented with ascites (49.4%), gastrointestinal bleeding (27%), peripheral edema (24.7%), and encephalopathy (21.3%). The in-hospital case fatality rate was 11.2% and the patients presented with decreased urinary output, peripheral edema and encephalopathy had statistically significant death rate. The results of the study highlighted that the patients with liver cirrhosis mostly present with features of decompensation and there is a statistically significant relation with some of these clinical presentations with in-hospital mortality. Faridpur Med. Coll. J. 2021;16(1):39-41

Radiologic findings that aid in the reduction of misdiagnoses of Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the bone: a retrospective study

Background This study aimed to identify the characteristic radiological signs for the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the bone. Methods We retrospectively studied 82 cases of LCH with bone lesions confirmed by pathology. Clinical and radiological features of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 64 and 18 patients had single and multiple bone lesions, respectively. With regard to LCH with single bone lesions, 37.5% (24/64) of lesions were located in the skull and presented as bone destruction with or without soft tissue mass. The correct diagnosis rate of these lesions was 60.0% (9/15) in children and adolescents, but was only 22.2% (2/9) in adults. A total of 26.5% (17/64) of the solitary lesions were found in the spine. Of these, 88.2% (15/17) were located in the vertebral body and appeared to have different degrees of collapse, and 66.7% (10/15) of these lesions were correctly diagnosed. Of the unifocal lesions, 21.8% (14/64) were located in other flat and irregular bones and manifested as osteolysis. Only 21.4% (3/14) of these cases were correctly diagnosed. In total, 14.1% (9/64) of the isolated bone LCH lesions were located in the long bones. Of these, 77.8% (7/9) were located in the diaphysis and presented as central bone destruction with or without fusiform periosteal reaction and extensive peripheral edema, of which 42.9% (3/7) were correctly diagnosed before surgery or biopsy. With regard to LCH with multiple bony destructive lesions, 71.4% (10/14) of cases in children and adolescents were correctly diagnosed; however, all four cases among adults were misdiagnosed. Conclusion In all age groups, isolated diaphyseal destruction of the long bone with fusiform periosteal reaction and extensive peripheral edema, vertebra plana of the spine, and bevelled edge of skull defects accompanied by soft tissue masses strongly suggest LCH diagnosis. Moreover, the multiple bone osteolytic destruction in children and adolescents strongly suggests LCH diagnosis. Familiarity with these typical radiological signs of LCH is necessary to decrease misdiagnoses.

HEREDITARY ANGIOEDEMA – A PROBLEM AT THE INTERSECTION OF IMMUNOLOGY AND ALLERGOLOGY: ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE DATA AND DESCRIPTION OF A SERIES OF 34 CASES

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by isolated recurrent angioedema (AE) of various localizations: skin, the submucosa in the gastrointestinale tract, the respiratory tract. The characteristic features of edema in HAE are the absence of itching, skin flushing, accompanying urticaria, as well as the absence of pronounced effect of systemic corticosteroid therapy, systemic antihistamines therapy and adrenaline. The aim of our study was to present a descriptive characteristics of the group of patients with HAE and to access efficacy and safety of treatment. Materials and methods: the retrospective multicenter continuous nonrandomized uncontrolled study included data on 34 patients: 19 men (56%) and 15 women (44%) with HAE. The diagnosis of HAE was based on clinical and laboratorial data, according to the clinical guidelines of the Russian Association of allergologists and clinical immunologists on HAE (2014). Results The age range of patients at the time of inclusion in the study was 5–82 years, median – 38,8 (20,6; 46,9) years. Median age of first HAE episode was 12,5 (5,8; 16,3) years, ranged from 2 to 40, 22/28 (79%) of the patients manifested before 18 years. HAE was diagnosed at the median age of 30 years (17,5; 44,8) years, in 14,0 (9,0; 25,0) years after onset of the clinical manifestations. Most of the observations described have a positive family history of HAE (91%), in total 9 families were described. In 67% of families the disease manifested itself in two generations and in 33% of families – in three generations. At the onset of HAE peripheral edema was in 29/31 (94%) of the patients, and 22/31 (71%) had edema confined to the distal extremities. 7/31 (29%) patients had peripheral edema combined with edema of other locations. Abdominal attacks were in 6/31 (19%), head, neck and upper airways edema were in 7/31 (23%). The frequency of swelling of head, neck, upper respiratory tract increased statistically significantly from 23% (7/31) to 35% (7/20, p=0,003). 24 patients have recieved Icatibant treatment. No deaths were recorded against the background of this treatment. Conclusions HAE is diagnosed with significant time delays. Icatibant treatment is safe and effective.