A 66-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with adrenocorticosteroids, with the development of aphasia and right-sided weakness

Article Abstract:

A 66 year-old was admitted to the hospital with partial paralysis of his right side, aphasia, fever, an elevated heart rate, and a questionable history of rheumatoid arthritis. Blood tests showed low levels of lymphocytes and thrombocytes and high levels of antinuclear antibodies. A CT scan of the brain indicated abnormalities. The blood tests and history of joint pain suggested that the patient had systemic lupus erythematosus. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a rare disease characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath that surrounds many nerves. Risk factors for the disease include systemic lupus erythematosus and corticosteroid treatment, which the patient had received. A brain biopsy confirmed the changes in brain tissue and presence of the virus that is believed to contribute to multifocal leukoencephalopathy. After 3 weeks in the hospital the patient was discharged for home care and died about 1 month later.

Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive multifocal, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

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A 67-year-old man with mitral regurgitation and an abrupt onset of ataxia and fever

Article Abstract:

A 67-year-old man suffering from Parkinson's disease and bacterial endocarditis died as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage. Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the membranes lining the cavities of the heart. The patient was admitted to the hospital suffering from muscular incoordination and atrial fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. He had started to suffer from sweats without a fever one month before being admitted to the hospital, and began losing weight. He had been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 10 years earlier and with Parkinson's disease three years earlier. On the 12th day of admission, he had a hemorrhagic stroke and died. At autopsy, an infected aneurysm was found in his brain, along with massive amounts of blood. Examination of his heart also revealed bacterial endocarditis.

Aneurysm, Infected, Infected aneurysm

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A 39-year-old man with chronic renal failure, aortic regurgitation, and a calcified mass around the aortic root

Article Abstract:

A 39-year-old man was diagnosed with a bacterial infection of his aortic heart valve caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis. He was admitted to a hospital because of increasing aortic regurgitation. He had suffered a heart attack four months before admission. Ultrasound and MRI scans revealed a mass around his aortic valve. His doctors suspected endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, but his blood cultures were negative. Cardiac catheterization revealed calcification around the aortic valve and regurgitation around the aortic and mitral valves. Surgery was performed and his aortic valve was replaced. Tissue taken during surgery was examined under a microscope after Gram staining, which revealed the presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Aortic valve insufficiency

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