Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormal intracranial findings on brain computed tomography and antiplatelet or anticoagulant use in patients with nontraumatic headache in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a single-center prospective observational study of patients admitted to the tertiary ED with complaints of nontraumatic headache between May 1, 2016 and September 1, 2016. Anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug use by the patient was recorded. Brain computed tomography (CT) results were categorized into two groups, abnormal results (CT positive) and no pathologic results (CT negative), and compared. The CT positive group included any pathological signs in the brain and the negative group was considered a normal read. A logistic regression analysis was used for evaluating the association of antiplatelets and anticoagulants with abnormal CT findings. Results: Of the 837 patients with nontraumatic headaches, 157 (18.8%) patients who underwent brain CT scanning were included. The mean age of the patients was 44.4±16.7 years. Eighty-eight (56.1%) of the patients were women. Of the 29 (18.4%) patients using antiplatelets or anticoagulants, 16 (55.2%) were in the CT positive group. There was a statistically significant difference between both groups in terms of drug use compared to the CT negative group (P<0.001). Factors affecting CT results were examined in logistic regression analysis and a statistically significant difference was found in the detection of positive results in antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug users (adjusted odds ratio, 2.478; 95% confidence interval, 1.006–6.102; P=0.048). Conclusion The use of antiplatelets or anticoagulants in patients admitted to the ED with nontraumatic headache is associated with an increased risk of abnormal intracranial results in brain CT.

Child ; Edema ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Emphysema ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Ethmoid Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Eyelid Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Orbit ; diagnostic imaging ; Orbital Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Skull Fractures ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

INTRODUCTIONThe objective of this study was to determine the necessity of further evaluation of patients presented with herpes zoster (HZ) to the Emergency Department for the underlying decreased cell-mediated immunity.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe data of 132 adult patients presenting with HZ to the Emergency Department were collected from the computerised database of Akdeniz University Hospital. The following data were recorded: demographic data and underlying diseases during onset of HZ and laboratory results (white blood cell counts, blood glucose levels).

RESULTSThere were 132 patients with HZ in the study period. The mean age of patients was 52.98 +/- 18.91 years (range, 14 to 96) and 53% (70 patients) were male. Of the study patients, 70.5% (93 patients) were over 45 years old. Eight (6.1%) patients had been diagnosed to have a malignancy, 18 (13.6%) had diabetes mellitus and 3 (2.3%) patients had undergone organ transplantation during their admission. Malignancy, diabetes mellitus and organ transplantation prevalence in the HZ group was significantly higher than the whole Emergency Department population.

CONCLUSIONSOur results indicate a relationship between the presence of HZ and increasing age and cell-mediated immunosuppressive disorders in Emergency Department patients over the age of 45 years. HZ should be considered as a clinical marker of cell-mediated immunosuppressive disorders, particularly in elderly patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpes Zoster ; epidemiology ; etiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Immunity, Cellular ; immunology ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Incidence ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Young Adult