Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by isolated low platelet count and it is a diagnosis of exclusion, contrasting to secondary ITP. Therefore, a positive diagnosis is difficult and requires extensive investigation. Some of the underlying conditions that are associated with ITP are lymphoproliferative disorders and infections, especially viral ones. In the present study, the case of a patient diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, who received chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is presented. After a complete remission of four years, the patient presented with sudden intense hemorrhagic syndrome and severely decreased platelet count. The most frequent causes of secondary ITP were excluded, including lymphoma relapse, and intravenous corticosteroids were started. However, shortly after hospital admission, the patient developed neuro-psychiatric anomalies, fever and pancytopenia, and West-Nile encephalitis was diagnosed. Although the initial development was favorable, he started to complain of progressive severe muscle weakness and eventually succumbed to infectious complications in the setting of prolonged hospitalization, corticotherapy, and immobilization.
ATL is a rare but a highly aggressive T-cell neoplasm associated with human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a oncogenic retrovirus responsible for the development of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), but also for other non-malignant diseases, such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-1 has a higher prevalence in Japan, the Caribbean, South America, intertropical Africa, Romania, and northern Iran. ATL patients can have an extensive spectrum of neurological manifestations. Numerous factors can be implicated, such as central nervous system infiltrates, neurolymphomatosis, complications to medication or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, HAM/TSP, infections, metabolic disturbances. The neurological complications are not always easy to recognize and treat. Thus, this review underlines the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in ATL patients with neurological symptomatology.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its specific respiratory pathology has generated extensive research that has highlighted the specific nature of the disease (COVID-19). Thrombotic processes in the macrocirculation and microcirculation were among the first reported, accompanying respiratory (pulmonary) manifestations. Of the COVID-19 complications, thrombosis in the venous system (venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and the atrial system (stroke) are the most numerous and severe in terms of evolution and prognosis. The prophylaxis of thrombotic processes in COVID-19, initially empirical, has gained a scientific basis based on research and experience of clinicians.
The current paper presents general data on macro- and microcirculatory thrombosis and the rationale for thromboprophylaxis. Thromboprophylaxis in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, “non-critical” and “critical” hospitalized patients and possible post-hospital thromboprophylaxis are presented.
Heparins (HGMM and HNF) are the most commonly indicated and used antithrombotic agents. Other antithrombotic agents - antiplatelets and direct anticoagulants (oral - DOAC) have a very limited and possibly negative role in thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19.
Current diagnostic standards do not answer all questions regarding the etiology of ischemic stroke. Nowadays, the cryptogenic ischemic stroke (without an obvious cause) still represents 20-30% of all acute strokes. In the end, this terminology is used in the absence of a definite medical and scientific diagnosis. The clinical case that will be presented highlights how difficult the differential diagnosis is regarding an ischemic stroke in a young patient, apparently healthy before the acute neurologic event.
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