Biomedical subjects

Ahmad Kamal Aslam

Publications and source records attributed to Ahmad Kamal Aslam.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Hypothermia: evaluation, electrocardiographic manifestations, and management.

Hypothermia-related cases typically occur after exposure to low ambient temperatures; however, numerous cases occur in individuals with no history of exposure to cold environment. Hypothermia is associated with such complications as acidosis, impaired myocardial function, bleeding diathesis, and decreased kidney and liver function. The well-known electrocardiographic manifestations of hypothermia are the presence of J (Osborn) waves, prolonged PR, QRS, and QT intervals, and atrial arrhythmias. The choice of rewarming therapy is based on the degree of hypothermia. The evaluation, electrocardiographic manifestations, and management of hypothermia are reviewed.

Acidosis↗

PubMed2005

Cardiac effects of acute myelitis.

Neurogenic stunned myocardium has been described in association with subarachnoid hemorrhage, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and metastatic brain tumors. We describe a case of neurogenic stunned myocardium associated with acute myelitis. A 27-year-old female presented with acute onset of quadriplegia, sensory deficit, and acute pulmonary edema. Magnetic resonance imaging was consistent with acute myelitis. Echocardiogram showed left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% with moderate to severe global hypokinesis. During the course of admission, she had several episodes of sinus bradycardia and high degree atrioventricular block. All cardiac abnormalities resolved completely in eight days of admission.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2005

Fatal splenic sequestration crisis with multiorgan failure in an adult woman with sickle cell-beta+ thalassemia.

Acute splenic sequestration crisis is a potentially fatal condition mostly seen in children with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) up to 6 years of age. Sickle cell-beta thalassemia has been associated with development of splenic sequestration crisis in rare reports. There have also been rare reports of the development of fatal acute splenic sequestration crisis together with severe multiorgan failure in adult patients with sickle cell-beta thalassemia. We describe a case of fatal splenic sequestration crisis together with multiorgan failure in a 34-year-old African-American woman with sickle cell-beta thalassemia syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Primary lymphedema tarda in an 88-year-old African-American male.

Primary lymphedema tarda is considered to be a congenital disease with delayed manifestations. We report a case of isolated lymphedema of the left upper extremity in an 88-year-old African-American male. The diagnosis of lymphedema was confirmed by lymphoscintigraphy, and appropriate diagnostic studies were done to rule out other known causes of lymphedema. Lymphoscintigraphic findings were consistent with idiopathic primary lymphedema. During the course of investigations, the patient was found to have adenocarcinoma in situ of the sigmoid colon with no evidence of metastatic spread. Based on the available data, we were unable to establish a causative relationship between colonic carcinoma and lymphedema in our patient. Therefore, this case can best be described as a case of Idiopathic primary lymphedema tarda. We emphasize the use of histopathologic examination in the diagnostic algorithm to rule out underlying malignant process only in patients with radionuclide findings suggestive of secondary lymphedema with no obvious etiology.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aplastic anemia associated with interferon beta-1a.

Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a is a recognized treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, and it may delay the onset of definite multiple sclerosis in patients with a first clinical demyelinating episode. Interferon beta-1a exerts beneficial effects on cognitive functioning via both short-term and long-term mechanisms. The beneficial effect is thought to be a result of immune modulation, with inhibition of leukocyte proliferation and antigen presentation and an increased amount of interleukins. The systemic side effects of interferon beta-1a are flu-like syndrome and development of neutralizing antibodies, the clinical significance of which is not known. There have been concerns about the rare development of an acute demyelinating disease after interferon beta-1a therapy as a result of upregulation of inflammatory mediators. In the clinical trials, there is evidence of development of mild anemia with a hemoglobin level below 10 g/dL only in 3% of the patients. There has been no reported case of development of aplastic anemia in patients being treated with interferon beta-1a. Described here is a case of development of aplastic anemia with interferon beta-1a in a patient with multiple sclerosis. Our patient underwent a complete hematologic evaluation to rule out other causes of aplastic anemia. Association with interferon beta-1a was highly suspected.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗