Neurology/Neurosurgery 13.1 Acute Serotonin Syndrome Nejm 2005;352:1112; J Psychopharm 1999;13:100 Cause: MAO inhibitors (Hypericum perforatum, aka St. John’s Wort, is a weak MAO inhibitor), SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and…
Nephrology 12.1 Acute Renal Failure Am Fam Phys 2000;61:2077; Jama 2003;289:747 Cause: Pre-renal: Hypovolemia, anemia. Renal: Drug toxicity [eg, NSAIDs (Am J Epidem 2000;151:488)—even topical (BMJ 2000;320:93)] and salicylates and…
Infectious Disease Med Lett Drugs Ther 2001;43:69; 2002;44:9 10.1 Fournier Gangrene Cause: Polymicrobial infection of scrotum from skin, urethral or perianal nidus. Epidem: Uncommon; mortality rate from 20-42% in adults;…
Hematology/Oncology 9.1 Acute Leukemia Cause: Lymphocytic and non-lymphocytic varieties. This will focus on acute lymphocytic (blastic) leukemia, or ALL. Two types of ALL, child and adult. Adult type is probably…
Gynecology 8.1 Bartholin Cyst Abscess Brit J Clin Pract 1978;32:101 Epidem: 80% of acute episodes associated with Neisseria gonorrheae, and may also be associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, Escherichia coli, or…
General Surgery 7.1 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Cause: Arteriosclerotic disease or genetic cause (Ann IM 1999;130:637) most likely, such as Marfan syndrome; less likely due to trauma or infection [syphilis, TB…
Gastroenterology 6.1 Diverticulitis Gastroenterol Clin N Am 1988;17:357; Dis Colon Rectum 2000:289 Cause: Diverticulosis with secondary infection. Epidem: Diverticulosis present in almost all patients age > 40 yr in U.S….
Environmental Some basic environmental facts: When we speak of elevation (high altitude), we generally mean > 8,000 ft above sea level, although high altitude is anything > 5,000 ft. A…
Endocrinology 4.1 Acute Adrenal Insufficiency Ann Clin Biochem 1999;36:151; Nejm 2003;348:727 Cause: Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) can be atrophic in nature as seen in idiopathic or autoimmune with suppressor…
