Biomedical subjects

C Kouroukis

Publications and source records attributed to C Kouroukis.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Capturing zebras: what to do with a reportable case.

We had attempted to publish a report of an unusual manifestation of an uncommon disease discovered at autopsy. The case report was not accepted for publication because we had failed to order a highly specific test that would have unequivocally confirmed the diagnosis we entertained and subsequently wrote about. After much deliberation about this case and an extensive review of the literature, we now believe that there is a preferred approach to dealing with a reportable case. Because physicians seldom encounter cases that are reportable, we felt that sharing the important lessons we learned from our missed opportunity might prove helpful and encourage those who are considering preparing a case report for publication.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis occurring at high altitude associated with protein C deficiency.

A 42-year-old male presented with right-sided weakness, dysphasia and seizures while climbing the French Alps at an approximate altitude of 3,000 m. Imaging studies were consistent with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with hemorrhage. Laboratory testing for thrombophilic states, 18 days after presentation at our hospital, showed a low protein C level (0.32 U/ml, normal 0.80-1.60 U/ml). A family member was also found to have protein C deficiency without a history of thrombosis. The patient gradually improved and was discharged on warfarin and valproic acid. This is the first reported case of cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with congenital protein C deficiency who ascended to high altitude. We postulate that the ascent to high altitude represented an additional prothrombotic risk factor to the congenital protein C deficiency leading to cerebral thrombosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Respiratory failure following vinorelbine tartrate infusion in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer.

Vinorelbine tartrate (Navelbine [Burroughs Wellcome; Research Triangle Park, NC; Pierre Fabre Medicament; Paris, France]) is used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and some gynecologic malignant neoplasms. The reported prevalence of adverse effects involving the respiratory system is less than 5% and involves mostly dyspnea with occasional interstitial infiltrates. A patient with a hypercoagulable state and diffuse pulmonary NSCLC developed acute respiratory failure soon after vinorelbine infusion. Physicians should be aware of possible increased pulmonary toxicity of vinorelbine in patients with diffuse pulmonary NSCLC.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Pulmonary embolism with duplicated inferior vena cava.

Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are common and usually of little clinical significance. We report the unusual cases of two patients with pulmonary embolism from thrombosis of part of a duplicated IVC. Both caval anomalies were easily identified with ultrasound, and the patients were successfully treated with anticoagulants. We encourage the reporting of similar cases since knowledge of the contribution of IVC duplication to thromboembolic disease is unknown.

Adult↗