Browsing by Author "La Feria, P"
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- Nocardia Cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus Co-Infection in a Patient with Giant-Cell ArteritisPublication . Gomes, F; La Feria, P; Costa, C; Teixeira, HImmunosuppressed patients are at greater risk of unusual infections. The authors present the case of a woman with giant-cell arteritis, on oral steroids, who developed cavitating pneumonia due to co-infection with Aspergillus and Nocardia. Reports of such co-infection are rare in the literature. This case highlights the importance of considering rare pathogens in immunosuppressed patients who present with non-specific symptoms, as well as the impact of such pathogens on clinical management. Another important issue is the need for prophylaxis against Nocardia spp. in immunocompromised patients. Learning points: In patients with vasculitis on systemic corticosteroid therapy or other immunosuppressive treatment, suspicion of uncommon infection should increase in parallel with the cumulative dose of these drugs.Obtaining an accurate diagnosis and early treatment is essential, but can be very challenging.Regular prophylactic therapy should be considered. However, more research is needed to determine whether higher doses of TMP/SMX would provide adequate coverage.
- Non-Uremic Calciphylaxis: a Rare Diagnosis with Limited Therapeutic StrategiesPublication . Gomes, F; La Feria, P; Costa, C; Santos, RCalciphylaxis is a rare condition characterized by the emergence of non-healing skin ulcers secondary to arterial calcification and thrombosis, typically diagnosed in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). When it develops in patients without ESKD, it is called non-uremic calciphylaxis (NUC). The latter is an even rarer diagnosis with an uncertain pathophysiology and a high mortality rate (52%), mainly due to sepsis (50%). Cutaneous biopsy is diagnostic. Therapeutic measures recommended for NUC are limited to wound debridement, analgesia, and control of infection and risk factors. Other therapeutic options exist but with a low level of evidence. We present the case of a 78-year-old woman with NUC in her lower limbs who died of sepsis. NUC is a therapeutic challenge lacking efficient strategies. Learning points: Calciphylaxis in the absence of end-stage kidney disease is called non-uremic calciphylaxis (NUC).This disease is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.As therapeutic strategies for NUC mainly derive from those for uremic calciphylaxis, more efficient therapeutic measures and evidence-based recommendations are needed.