Achenbach’s syndrome, also known as paroxysmal finger haematoma, is a rare condition that results in spontaneous bruising and pain in one or more fingers. Despite its benign and self-limiting course, the remarkable clinical presentation can suggest serious vascular and haematological disease leading to unnecessary referrals and invasive investigations. The authors present the case of a 60-year-old woman with an acute painful and bruised finger. All other physical findings and investigations were normal, except for autoimmune thyroiditis. Based on the clinical presentation and course, the diagnosis of Achenbach’s syndrome was made and the symptoms resolved without treatment.LEARNING POINTSAchenbach’s syndrome is a rare and benign condition characterized by recurrent episodes of sudden pain, bruising and swelling of one or more fingers.It is a self-limiting condition and the diagnosis is essentially based on history and clinical examination.It is important to recognize this rare syndrome in order to address patient concerns and avoid unnecessary referrals or invasive investigations.

Vitiligo is a dermatological disease affecting both animals and humans. It is characterized by depigmented macules of varying shape and size, originated from melanocyte destruction. Even though there are some theories tackling causation, disease etiopathology is not yet certain. Moreover, lesion areas can either increase or diminish over time, and therefore, available treatment alternatives tend to prove inconsistencies. No epidemiological data or registered cases were found for equines in Brazil. The horse in this case description displayed depigmentation areas in facial regions, including upper lip, nose and lips. However, the individual did not happen to develop any systemic alteration. Through clinical evaluation, backed by a histopathological exam, a definitive vitiligo diagnosis was obtained. However, no therapeutic plan was stipulated. The animal was accompanied for four years, during which period some affected areas diminished while others increased in size. In addition, emergence of new skin lesions was also observed during the time the animal was studied. Overall, this disease does not display alterations to organism functionality, only aesthetic changes. Therefore, treatment plans may vary from case to case, occasionally being even ruled out.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (Anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a rare autoimmune disease, characterized by the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is sometimes mistaken for a psychiatric disorder and other times not considered in the differential diagnosis of an encephalitic process. Correct identification of this disease and prompt treatment are key for optimal recovery, which might take weeks to months. Many patients manifest severe symptoms, with depressed level of consciousness, breathing dysfunction and dysautonomia requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We report the case a young male patient with anti-NMDA encephalitis who presented typical neuropsychiatric symptoms. Despite being diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, he did not respond well to first-line immunotherapy and was admitted to the ICU with neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular dysfunction. This resulted in prolonged hospital admission and many infectious complications. Despite the severity of the disease, the patient managed to recover in the months following discharge from hospital.