Background: Research surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is rapidly increasing, including the study of biomarkers for predicting outcomes. There is little data examining the correlation between serum albumin levels and COVID-19 disease severity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether admission albumin levels reliably predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed [...]

Background: Large volume paracentesis is commonly performed in patients with refractory ascites but can induce hypotension and kidney injury. There is evidence that administering albumin at 6-8 grams per liter (g/L) of ascites removed during or after paracentesis can reduce these adverse events. Current guidelines recommend this practice when >2 liters are removed in high-risk [...]

Background: Febrile infants under 60 days-old undergo extensive evaluation for infection. Recent AAP guidelines recommend evaluation of the procalcitonin (PCT) level in the work-up of febrile infants 8-60 days-old to aid in predicting bacterial infection (BI) due to its high specificity; however, the sensitivity of PCT is relatively low. Recent literature has identified the Procalcitonin-To-Albumin [...]

Background: Therapeutic paracentesis is a common procedure performed to relieve symptoms of ascites most commonly from cirrhosis, heart failure or malignancy. Previous studies have shown that acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after paracentesis and portends a poor prognosis, although these studies have excluded patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Experiences in our hospital [...]

Case Presentation: An otherwise healthy 23-month-old girl presented to her pediatrician with several days of vomiting, abdominal pain, and decreased oral intake. She was found to have a Sodium of 128 mmol/L with mild transaminitis. She was admitted, treated IV fluid, had improvement in her sodium and oral intake and discharged after two days. She [...]

Case Presentation: A previously healthy 12 month old presented to the emergency department with three weeks of progressively worsening generalized edema and one week of fatigue and pallor. Patient was born at term, and growth and development had been appropriate. Mother had stopped breastfeeding several weeks prior to presentation, just before patient’s first birthday. Patient’s [...]

Case Presentation: A 29-year-old female Jehovah’s Witness presented with three weeks of easy bruising in the absence of trauma. She also noticed heavier and prolonged menstrual flow associated with fatigue and dizziness. She denied medication use, febrile illnesses or neurologic symptoms. Vital signs were normal. Physical exam revealed multiple ecchymoses on bilateral upper and lower [...]

Case Presentation: An 88-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and HFpEF presented with a right femur fracture following a mechanical fall. Physical exam revealed a right femur fracture and small ascites. The patient underwent a right hemiarthroplasty on hospital day (HD) 4 and received cefazolin perioperatively.On HD 9, the patient developed abdominal [...]

Case Presentation: A 57-year-old male came to the hospital after he noticed dysarthria and progressive bilateral arm and leg weakness, with sensory changes that were progressive over 2 months. At the time of his presentation, his functional status had diminished- he had to use a cane to ambulate. His medical history was pertinent for HIV, [...]