Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003873 (rheumatoid arthritis)
 53,068 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A case is reported of a hyperviscosity-like syndrome in a 53-year-old male suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The clinical presentation was an acute abdomen, peripheral neuritis, otovestibular areflexy, and central retinal vein thrombosis (papilloedema and retinopathy with venous engorgement, haemorrhages and exudates). Plasma viscosity was normal and whole blood viscosity, measured with an Oswald viscometer, was slightly elevated. The patient had markedly elevated rheumatoid factor tire and fibrinogen level. Histologically, there were no signs of arteritis in the mesentery. Intermittent plasma-exchange resulted in general improvement and no new vascular accidents after 2.5 years.
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PMID:Arteritis associated with hyperviscosity-like syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis, treated by intermittent plasma-exchange for 2.5 years. 730 65

Patients with systemic rheumatic diseases may be admitted to the ICU because of worsening of or development of a new manifestation of the rheumatic disease, infections caused by immunosuppression, or adverse effects of drugs used to treat rheumatic diseases. Sometimes an unrelated, acute disorder may become life threatening because of the underlying rheumatic disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease seen in ICU patients, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. These three conditions together account for up to 75% of rheumatic cases admitted to the ICU. The respiratory system is the organ system most commonly affected in the acute process, followed by the renal, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. More than 50% of admissions result from infections, and 25% to 35% result from exacerbation of the underlying rheumatic condition. In about 20% of patients, the rheumatic disorder may be diagnosed for the first time in the ICU. An aggressive approach should be pursued to establish the diagnosis of either disease exacerbation or infection. Delay in instituting appropriate immunosuppressive or antimicrobial therapy may result in multiple organ system failure and a poor outcome. The mortality rate in patients with rheumatic disease exceeds that predicted by the APACHE II or SAPS II scores and is higher than that in nonrheumatologic ICU admissions. The mortality may exceed 50% in patients admitted for infection; the prognosis is comparatively better for patients with exacerbations of disease activity. Renal failure, coma, and acute abdomen are predictors of poor outcome. Early recognition of abdominal complications requiring surgical intervention may help reduce mortality.
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PMID:Rheumatologic diseases in the intensive care unit: epidemiology, clinical approach, management, and outcome. 1241 38

Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced colopathy is well described, colonic perforations complicating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug intake are rare. We report a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was on long-term diclofenac and presented with early colonic stricture formation and a caecal perforation, which to the best of our knowledge, has only been reported once before. It is important to suspect this diagnosis in patients on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy who present with an acute abdomen.
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PMID:Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced colonic strictures and perforation: a case report. 1620 93

A 71-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic use of corticosteroids presented to the emergency room with 2 weeks of urinary symptoms, abdominal pain and a mass located in hypo-mesogastrium and both flanks. An X-ray film of the abdomen showed that bowels were displaced by the mass. Laboratory studies showed thrombocytosis (549,000/mm(3)) and leukocytosis (41,800/mm(3)). Several hours after her arrival the patient developed acute abdomen and surgery was indicated. A urinary catheter drained 2100 ml of urine and the abdominal mass was reduced in size but did not disappear. Surgery demonstrated that the urinary bladder covered the fundus and the anterior face of the uterus, where extensive necrosis and a 3-cm perforation were found; 400 ml of foul-smelling pus was drained from the uterine cavity. Due to necrosis, a hysterectomy was performed. The histopathological report indicated necrosis, atrophic cervicitis and endometritis; pus culture developed Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. Despite administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the patient developed severe sepsis and died 11 days postoperatively. During a literature review, only one similar case was found. Acute abdomen due to uterine perforation secondary to pyometra and associated with chronic use of corticosteroids is a rare complication.
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PMID:[Acute abdomen secondary to spontaneous uterine rupture associated with pyometra]. 1688 87

This clinical report describes an emergency case of a 49-year-old man, ASA E III status, with clinical symptoms of acute abdomen and ileus, who was scheduled for urgent surgery. Predictors of difficult intubation (Mallampati test Class III, short thyro-mental (< 6 cm) and sterno-mental distance (<10 cm) with limited mouth opening (inter-incisor gap < 3 cm) were associated with significant comorbidity (rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, obesity (body mass index 32.6 kg m-2), cervical spine mobility and generalized vascular disease). A specialist experienced in airway management decided on one attempt of Bonfils fiberoptic intubation as primary intervention and urgent tracheotomy, if needed, as secondary intervention. Immediately after assuming supine position on the operating table, the patient lost consciousness and cardiac arrest developed. Successful intubation with oxygenation was followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Upon stabilization of the patient's vital functions, urgent surgery was performed. In the emergency case presented, we succeeded quickly to secure the airway with Bonfils fiberoptic intubation, which allowed for appropriate oxygenation and starting resuscitation. The high risk of the possible aspiration was avoided by timely provision of airway in the experienced anesthetist's hands.
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PMID:Difficult airway management with bonfils fiberscope in case of emergency: acute abdomen with ileus. 2333 Apr 19