Background: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune condition characterized by widespread skin fibrosis and/or end-organ damage. Previous studies have reported variable outcomes of the disease process, with males and patients of certain ethnicities suffering from the severe form of the disease leading to end-organ damage and an increase in mortality (1,2). The aim of this [...]

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old woman with a history of alcohol abuse presented to the emergency department with one week of altered mental status. Review of systems was significant for involuntarily 100 lbs. weight loss over one year with no change in appetite.  She reported no prescribed or over-the-counter medication use. Vital signs on presentation were [...]

Case Presentation: A 62-year-oldwoman with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) presented with one week of worsening shortness of breath, bilateral lower extremity edema, and poor oral intake. Over the past year, the she had increasing early satiety resulting in a 93-pound weight loss and progressively decreasing exercise tolerance. She noted dry eyes, dry [...]

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old female presented with a two-week history of exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, lower extremity edema, and headaches. She had puffy hands, diffuse joint pain, and skin thickening which limited range of motion of her wrists, elbows, ankles, and knees. She was hypertensive with rales and moderate edema to the knees bilaterally. BNP and [...]

Case Presentation: 59 year old woman with a history of recently diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not on therapy presents with substernal non radiating chest pain and right upper quadrant pain worsening with inspiration and dyspnea on exertion (DOE) for one week. Patient also reported dysphagia, dry mouth and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Exam showed normal vital signs [...]

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old female with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) presented with new-onset elevated blood pressure. She was on medium to high dose Corticosteroids (CS) a month prior to admission. Her significant vitals on admission included a heart rate of 103 and blood pressure of 193/97. Labs showed hemoglobin 9.6, sodium 130, BUN 63, creatinine (Cr) [...]