Role of Steroid Therapy in Preventing Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Ablation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with challenging management due to its potential complications and high recurrence rates. Catheter ablation is a standard treatment option for symptomatic patients, particularly those unresponsive to medical management but has variable success rates. Inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and persistence of AF.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myasthenia gravis, myocarditis, and myositis: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Immune checkpoint inhibitors can rarely lead to occurrence of myositis, myocarditis, and myasthenia gravis (MG). Early recognition and multidisciplinary management are crucial for optimal outcomes. Vigilance for overlapping toxicities is essential in patients receiving combination immunotherapy.

Sphincter of oddi dysfunction induced by ketamine: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Chronic ketamine use can lead to sphincter of oddi dysfunction (SOD), causing various hepatobiliary complications. Recognizing substance abuse history is vital for early detection. Timely intervention can prevent irreversible liver and pancreas damage.

Vascular complications and outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients on chronic steroid therapy: a meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic steroid (CS) therapy was reportedly linked to increased vascular complications following percutaneous coronary intervention. However, its association with vascular complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remained uncertain, with conflicting results being reported.

Objective: The authors aimed to compare the rate of vascular complications and outcomes between patients with and without CS use after TAVR.

Unveiling Complexity: A Case Report of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome With Coronary Occlusion and a Concomitant Patent Foramen Ovale Shunt.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are rare autoimmune disorders that afflict a small percentage of the global female population. The complexity of these conditions is further exacerbated by their propensity to give rise to recurrent thrombosis and obstetric morbidity, thereby posing intricate challenges for clinicians and patients alike. One of the most concerning aspects of these diseases is the heightened risk they confer for accelerated atherosclerosis, which can ultimately culminate in the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Cancer Patients: A Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a cardiac arrhythmia, exhibits a heightened prevalence among individuals diagnosed with cancer, notably prominent in cases of lung and gastrointestinal malignancies. Robust evidence from extensive studies underscores this association, emphasizing its clinical significance. However, the precise mechanistic underpinnings and specific risk factors linking cancer and AF remain a subject of incomplete understanding.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review of Literature.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which leads to increased cardiovascular complications. Catheter ablation (CA) has emerged as an effective and safe treatment for AF in CKD patients. CA offers tailored treatment strategies and presents a safer alternative with fewer adverse outcomes than anti-arrhythmic agents.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis mimicking COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a necrotizing vasculitis characterized by small-to-medium-sized vessel involvement and the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). We present a case of a 26-year-old Asian woman who was transferred to our center from a nearby hospital, where she presented with shortness of breath, tested positive for COVID-19, and was being managed for COVID-19 pneumonia. She also had hemoptysis, skin lesions, and left foot numbness.

Infective endocarditis presenting as meningitis: a case report.

Unlabelled: Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium of heart valves. Neurologic manifestations include strokes, intracerebral hemorrhages, meningitis, cerebral and spinal abscess, and mycotic aneurysms. Although rare, meningitis is a potentially life-threatening complication of IE, so physicians should be aware of this rare and fatal complication of IE.

Reverse takotsubo syndrome heralding as ventricular fibrillation: a case report.

Unlabelled: Reverse takotsubo syndrome, a variant of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is an acute left ventricular failure characterized by the basal akinesis/hypokinesis associated with apical hyperkinesis. Its presentation is similar to that of the acute coronary syndrome.

Case Presentation: The authors present a case of a 49-year-old woman, a vice principal at a local school with a history of hypertension, who was brought to our center after she collapsed while giving a graduation speech.

Kimura disease masquerading tuberculosis: a rare case presentation.

Unlabelled: Kimura disease (KD) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by the development of subcutaneous lymphoid masses and regional lymphadenopathy. Due to its rarity and similarity to another disease, the diagnosis is complex.

Case Presentation: Here, the authors present a case of KD in 26-year-old male from Nepal who initially did not respond to antitubercular therapy.

Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis.

While subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was reportedly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, the relationship between SCH and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the association of SCH and cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing PCI. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases from its inception until April 1, 2022 for studies comparing the outcomes between SCH and euthyroid patients undergoing PCI.

A Case of Brugada Syndrome Masquerading as Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Hispanic Male.

Brugada syndrome is an aberrant ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads. It can progress into sudden cardiac death (SCD) among patients with structurally normal hearts. Most patients are asymptomatic at presentation, but those who develop symptoms can present with syncope due to other arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.

The Dilemma Behind Negative Troponin: A Case Report.

Acute coronary syndrome remains the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Cardiac ischemia is a consequence of an imbalance between oxygen demand and supply. The sensitivity of troponin is above 99% in diagnosing cardiac injury; rare exceptions can occur, however.

A Case of Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis: "I Can't Move!".

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a form of hypokalemic periodic paralysis associated with hyperthyroidism. It is characterized by hypokalemia associated with acute proximal symmetrical lower limb weakness and can progress to involve all four limbs and the respiratory musculature. We present a case of a 27-year-old Asian male with recurrent attacks of weakness in all four extremities.

Shunting Across a Latent Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in a Patient With Right Ventricular (RV) Infarction Improved With Impella.

The right-to-left shunt (RTLS) through a latent patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare complication of right ventricle myocardial infarction (MI). Though a rare complication, the development of refractory hypoxemia after right ventricular MI should always alert clinicians to consider the possibility of shunting across PFO. Right-sided Impella (Impella RP) can be considered in such patients, which helps to decrease the elevated right heart pressure reducing the shunt, thereby providing a bridge to recovery.

A Case of Ecstasy-Induced Acute Hepatic Injury.

The recreational use of a drug such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as "ecstasy," may be associated with significant side effects. Although liver failure with ecstasy is rare, the use of the drug should be investigated in all patients with severe hepatitis of unknown origin. Early diagnosis and intervention can prevent patients from ending up in liver transplantation.