TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Rheumatology in the ICU A1 - Vogelgesang, Scott A1 - Pottathil, Vijay Raveendran A1 - Robinson, John A. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Kress, John P. PY - 2015 T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 4e AB - Most ICU admissions for rheumatology patients are prompted by infection.New-onset rheumatic diseases rarely prompt ICU admission in the absence of a revealing prodrome.In most patients without a previously established collagen vascular disease, suspected vasculitis will be explained by an alternative diagnosis.Serologic assessment of critically ill patients is a double-edged sword providing both enlightenment and misleading shadows. All serologic testing must be interpreted with a thorough understanding of the patient’s clinical condition.Inability to assign specific diagnostic labels to patients with severe life-threatening autoimmune or inflammatory disease should not delay therapeutic intervention.Not all ischemic skin lesions that appear to be vasculitis are. Vasculopathies of various causes should always be part of the differential diagnosis.Empiric trials with corticosteroids can be a rational approach to patient care when such trials are carried out appropriately and infection and malignancy have been excluded.Acute organic brain syndrome without focal neurologic deficits or evidence of systemic vasculitis is unlikely to be due to vasculitis.Fever in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases should be presumed to be infectious if accompanied by chills, leukocytosis with a left shift, or hypotension.Patients who have been treated with significant doses of corticosteroids within the past year may require empiric replacement therapy during critical illness or surgical procedures until adrenal insufficiency can be excluded. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/18 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1107714371 ER -