1/2. Invasive enteritis by strongyloides stercoralis presenting as acute abdominal distress under corticosteroid therapy.Overwhelming helminthiasis is still a problem in endemic areas, especially in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of invasive intestinal strongyloidiasis that was clinically expressed as acute abdominal distress in a 73-year-old man from Sao Paulo who had been receiving methylprednisone, 20 mg/day, for one year for osteoarthritis. A surgical specimen from the ileum revealed invasive enteritis with severe infestation by strongyloides stercoralis. The patient died of sepsis 6 days after surgery. The possibility of invasive strongyloidiasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal distress in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = osteoarthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Thoracoabdominal radiculopathy.Thoracic nerve root dysfunction (TNRD) manifested as abdominal pain is an infrequently reported condition. We present data on six patients who had chronic intermittent thoracoabdominal pain originating in the back. Diabetes and osteoarthritis of the spine were the chief causes of these symptoms. The electromyogram in all patients showed changes consistent with an acute radiculopathy. All patients responded to anti-inflammatory therapy in combination with phenytoin, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, or local nerve block. TNRD is a condition that may be diagnosed earlier if clinical suspicion is increased, thus sparing patients excessive testing and surgery, and affording quicker relief.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = osteoarthritis (Clic here for more details about this article) |