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Introduction The pathophysiology of severe dengue is related to increased capillary permeability and plasma leakage into extracellular space. A simple, low cost risk prediction tool for plasma leakage will be useful for clinicians practicing in rural areas without imaging facilities. Study design A prospective observational study was carried out over 12 months at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka enrolling patients with confirmed diagnosis (via NS1 antigen testing) of early dengue infection. Clinical features on admission and investigation results on D3, D5 and D7 of the illness were recorded. Evidence of plasma leakage was confirmed by ultrasonography. Results A total of 179 patients met the inclusion criteria (males; 91, 50.8%, mean age: 31.6 years, SD ± 14.7). Sixty seven patients (67/173, 38.7%) had ultrasonographic evidence of plasma leakage. Several clinical features (severe vomiting, severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain and liver tenderness) as well as mean differences of some investigations were significantly associated with progression to plasma leakage. However, only liver tenderness on day 3 emerged as independent significant predictors of critical phase in the adjusted analysis (specificity: 93%, sensitivity: 44%). Conclusions Having liver tenderness by day 3 of the illness is helpful to identify a subgroup of patients at risk of plasma leakage.

Background ST elevation myocardial infarction is a medical emergency and the electrocardiogram is a part of the mainstay in the initial diagnosis. A variety of non-cardiac conditions have been known to mimic the electrocardiographic changes seen in acute coronary syndrome. We present a patient presenting with acute partial intestinal obstruction causing gastric distension and intestinal dilatation who also had dynamic electrocardiographic changes, mimicking anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction. Only very few cases of gastric distention and intestinal dilatation leading to acute ST segment elevation in electrocardiogram are reported so far in literature. Case presentation A fifty-six-year-old Sri Lankan male, without any modifiable risk factors for ischemic heart disease presented with acute onset nausea, vomiting, sweating, abdominal discomfort and fullness without any chest pain. On examination, he had a pulse rate of 50 beats per minute and his blood pressure was 110/50 mmHg. His abdomen was distended and the liver dullness was not detectable. Subsequent ECG showed > 2 mm ST elevations with T inversions in chest leads V1 to V3, J point elevation in leads L 11, L 111, aVF and T inversion in leads L 1 and aVL. Cardiac biomarkers were normal and 2D echo showed normal left ventricular function without any regional wall motion abnormalities. Abdominal X-ray showed a distended stomach, dilated ascending and descending colon with absent rectal air. Electrocardiographic changes reverted back to normal with the resolution of bowel obstruction. Conclusion The mechanism of ECG changes in such a case like this is yet to be elucidated, but can be postulated to happen due to change in the position of the heart in the thoracic cavity causing change in the cardiac axis. This case emphasizes the importance of a proper history and highlights the value of auxiliary investigations such as cardiac biomarkers and echocardiogram in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in a confusing situation such as this. This also illustrates the importance of early recognition of other noncardiac causes like acute gastric distention as being responsible for dynamic ECG changes. This will obviate a myriad of unnecessary investigations, interventions, costly management strategies and patient anxiety.