We report three cases of peripheral neuropathy in patients with sickle cell disease. All had a history of frequent painful crises and regular attendance at our Accident and Emergency department where nitrous oxide analgesia was administered for prolonged periods. All three patients (one male and two females) presented with difficulty in walking associated with paraesthesiae, and neurological examination revealed signs compatible with a peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, later confirmed by nerve conduction studies. Serum vitamin B12 levels were mildly reduced in two patients and very low in one patient (< 10 ng/l). Haemoglobin levels in all the patients were unchanged compared with their steady-state levels but one had developed a macrocytosis (103 fl). Schilling tests were normal in two patients, and two patients had negative gastric parietal antibodies. All three patients were given intramuscular vitamin B12 in addition to avoiding further exposure to nitrous oxide, and their neurological symptoms improved completely. As nitrous oxide is known to cause a neuropathy similar to that seen in pernicious anaemia, we postulate that nitrous oxide analgesia combined with low B12 levels was the cause of the marked neuropathy in these patients. As a result of our observations and the probable association, we now do not use nitrous oxide analgesia in the management of patients with sickle cell disease.

Background The aims of the study were to identify predictors of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in hospitalized adults, and to find additional factors associated with higher odds of HIT in primary hypercoagulable states. Methods A retrospective matched case-control study using discharge data from National Inpatient Sample database (2012 - 2014) was conducted. In primary outcome analysis, hospitalized patients with and without HIT were included as cases and controls, both matched for age and gender. In secondary outcome analysis, hospitalized patients with primary hypercoagulable states with and without HIT were included as cases and controls, both matched for age and gender. The statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Results There are several predictors of HIT in hospitalized patients, such as obesity, malignancy, diabetes, renal failure, major surgery, congestive heart failure, and autoimmune diseases. In patients with primary hypercoagulable states, the presence of renal failure (odds ratio (OR) 2.955, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.994 - 4.380), major surgery (OR 1.735, 95% CI 1.275 - 2.361), congestive heart failure (OR 4.497, 95% CI 2.466 - 8.202), or autoimmune diseases (OR 1.712, 95% CI 1.120 - 2.618) further increases the odds of HIT. Conclusions In hospitalized patients with primary hypercoagulable states, especially in association with renal failure, major surgery, congestive heart failure, or autoimmune diseases, unfractionated heparin should be used with caution.

Pseudomonas mendocina is a gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that rarely causes disease in humans. Documented infections can be severe with varying etiologies, often requiring intensive care. We describe a rare case of bacteremia with P. mendocina in an elderly male, with a comprehensive review of the literature.An 81-year-old Caucasian male presented with bilateral lower leg erythema and drainage but was afebrile. His past medical history included atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. Labs showed leukocytosis and a blood culture was obtained revealing Pseudomonas mendocina. The pathogen was susceptible to all antibiotics tested and he was successfully treated on cefepime inpatient and a twoweek course of ciprofloxacin on discharge.Our case and literature review presents a successful treatment of a rare cause of bacteremia likely stemming from a soft tissue nidus. P. mendocina has a favorable susceptibility profile and the antibiotics preferred differ from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a more common pathogen. Worldwide there have been only 18 other documented cases of P. mendocina infection, all successful and with no mortality. Physicians can confidently utilize usual antibiotics in the treatment of this pathogen despite its rare clinical manifestations.

8086 Background: Patients with CLL have a highly variable clinical course. Genomic aberrations detected by FISH have been shown to correlate with survival and treatment free interval (TFI). Patients with the presence of 17p or 11q deletions (del) either alone or in combination with other cytogenetic abnormalities have the worst prognosis while patients with 13q del as a sole abnormality have the best prognosis. Our objective was to further investigate poor prognosis CLL patients with either del 17p or 11q to determine if the addition of the favorable 13q del influences the predicted clinical course and survival. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on 22 patients (pts) who had been identified by FISH as having either the combination of del 17p and 13q or del 11q and 13q. Results: 128 CLL FISH panels were performed from April of 2003 through October of 2006. Twenty-two pts (17%) had either del 17p and 13q (9%) or del 11q and 13q (9%). Historical data notes a frequency of 7% and 8% for deletions 17p and 11q, respectively, and 55% for 13q as a sole aberration. The median age was 66 yrs, the majority of whom were male (73%). Two of 22 pts (9%) presented with advanced stage disease. Splenomegaly was seen more often in the 17p/13q pts (36%) vs 11q/13q pts (9%). With a median follow up of 46 months since diagnosis, the median TFI for all patients (20 known) was 56 months. TFI was 13 months for patients with 17p/13q del; whereas TFI was not reached for patients with 11q/13q. Historical data noted a TFI for patients with deletions 17p, 11q, and 13q (as a sole aberration) as 9, 13, and 92 months respectively. The median survival from diagnosis was not reached for the group overall or for either combination of genetic abnormalities. Historical data noted, with 70 months follow up, a median survival of 108 months overall and 32, 79, and 133 months for 17p, 11q, and 13q (as a sole aberration) respectively. Conclusions: The addition of favorable cytogenetics, del 13q, in a CLL patient with an unfavorable cytogenetic pattern (either del 17p or del 11q) appears to improve the predicted clinical outcome and survival. Additional follow up and prospective studies are needed to further define which genetic subgroups help to prognosticate CLL patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.