Pseudo-pheochromocytoma due to obstructive sleep apnea: a case report

SUMMARY

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition of intermittent nocturnal upper airway obstruction. OSA increases sympathetic drive which may result in clinical and biochemical features suggestive of pheochromocytoma. We present the case of a 65-year-old male with a 2.9-cm left adrenal incidentaloma on CT, hypertension, symptoms of headache, anxiety and diaphoresis, and persistently elevated 24-h urine norepinephrine (initially 818 nmol/day (89-470)) and normetanephrine (initially 11.2 µmol/day (0.6-2.7)). He was started on prazosin and underwent left adrenalectomy. Pathology revealed an adrenal corticoadenoma with no evidence of pheochromocytoma. Over the next 2 years, urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine remained significantly elevated with no MIBG avid disease. Years later, he was diagnosed with severe OSA and treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Urine testing done once OSA was well controlled revealed complete normalization of urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine with substantial symptom improvement. It was concluded that the patient never had a pheochromocytoma but rather an adrenal adenoma with biochemistry and symptoms suggestive of pheochromocytoma due to untreated severe OSA. Pseudo-pheochromocytoma is a rare presentation of OSA and should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines in the right clinical setting.

LEARNING POINTS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition among adults. OSA may rarely present as pseudo-pheochromocytoma with symptoms of pallor, palpitations, perspiration, headache, or anxiety. OSA should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines, especially in patients with negative metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan results.

Gestational weight gain among American Samoan women and its impact on delivery and infant outcomes

BACKGROUND

As obesity has increased worldwide, so have levels of obesity during pregnancy and excess gestational weight gain (GWG). The aim of this paper was to describe GWG among American Samoan women and examine the association between GWG and four adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes: cesarean delivery, small- and large-for-gestational age (SGA/LGA), and infant overweight/obesity.

METHODS

Data were extracted from prenatal care records of 632 Samoan women. Mixed-effects growth models were used to produce individual weight-for-gestational week curves from which second and third trimester weight gain was estimated. Binary logistic regression was used to examine associations between GWG and the outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

Most women were overweight/obese in early pregnancy (86%) and 78% exceeded the Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines. Greater GWG in the second trimester and early pregnancy weight were independently associated with increased odds of a c-section (OR 1.40 [95% CI: 1.08, 1.83]) and OR 1.51 [95% CI: 1.17, 1.95], respectively). Risk of delivering a LGA infant increased with greater third trimester weight gain and higher early pregnancy weight, while second trimester weight gain was negatively associated with SGA. Risk of infant overweight/obesity at 12 months increased with early pregnancy weight (OR: 1.23 [95% CI: 1.01, 1.51]) and infant birthweight.

CONCLUSIONS

The high levels of pregnancy obesity and excessive GWG in American Samoa suggest that it is important for physicians to encourage women into prenatal care early and begin education about appropriate GWG and the potential risks of excess weight gain for both the mother and baby.

Hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare personnel in American Samoa: pre-implementation survey for policy decision

American Samoa does not have a hepatitis B vaccination policy for healthcare personnel (HCP). Consequently, hepatitis B has remained a health threat to HCP. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study and examined demographic and risk information and hepatitis B vaccination, testing, and serostatus in hospital employees in American Samoa. Of 604 hospital employees, 231 (38·2%) participated, and of these, 158 (68·4%) were HCP. Of HCP participants, 1·9% had chronic hepatitis B infection, 36·1% were susceptible, and 60·8% were immune. Nearly half of HCP participants reported history of needlestick injury. Overall, participants' knowledge of their hepatitis B infection and vaccination status was low. These data support the adoption of a hepatitis B vaccination policy for HCP by American Samoa, as currently recommended by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adherence to the policy could be monitored as a way to measure protection.

Implementation of a culturally tailored diabetes intervention with community health workers in American Samoa

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to answer key implementation questions from our translation research with a primary care-based, nurse-community health worker (CHW) team intervention to support type 2 diabetes self-management.

METHODS

Descriptive data are given on intervention delivery, CHW visit content, patient safety, and intervention costs, along with statistical analyses to examine participant characteristics of higher attendance at visits.

RESULTS

In the intervention sample (n = 104), 74% (SD = 16%) of planned intervention visits occurred, guided by an algorithm-based protocol. Higher risk participants had a significantly lower dose of their weekly assigned visits (66%) than those at moderate (74%) and lower risk (90%). Twenty-eight percent of participants moved to a lower risk group over the year. Estimated intervention cost was $656 per person. Participants with less education were more likely to attend optimal percentage of visits.

CONCLUSIONS

A nurse-CHW team can deliver a culturally adapted diabetes self-management support intervention with excellent fidelity to the algorithm-based protocols. The team accommodated participants' needs by meeting them whenever and wherever they could. This study provides an example of adaptation of an evidence-based model to the Samoan cultural context and its resource-poor setting.

Patient and health care provider views of depressive symptoms and diabetes in American Samoa

High Type 2 diabetes prevalence, associated with recent cultural changes in diet and physical activity, characterizes the U.S. territory of American Samoa. Comorbid diabetes and depression rates are high worldwide and contribute to negative diabetes outcomes; these rates have not been assessed in American Samoa. In this study, 6 focus groups were conducted with 39 American Samoan adults with diabetes; questions on perceptions of diabetes and depressive symptoms were included. Thirteen health care staff interviews were conducted to gain insight into diabetes care in American Samoa. Focus groups and health care staff interviews were translated, transcribed, and entered into NVivo 8 to facilitate analysis. Thematic analysis showed that diabetes patients saw depressive symptoms as directly contributing to high blood sugar. However, these symptoms were rarely mentioned spontaneously, and providers reported they seldom assess them in patients. Many patients and health care staff believed the best ways to respond to feelings of depression involved relaxing, leaving difficult situations, or eating. Staff also discussed cultural stigma associated with depression and the importance of establishing rapport before discussing it. Health care providers in American Samoa need training to increase their awareness of depressive symptoms' negative impact on diabetes management in patients who screen positive for depression. All providers must approach the subject in a supportive context after establishing rapport. This information will be used for cultural translation of a community health worker and primary care-coordinated intervention for adults with diabetes in American Samoa, with the goal of creating an effective and sustainable intervention.