TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 104. Rheumatology in the ICU A1 - Barr, Walter G. A1 - Robinson, John A. A2 - Hall, Jesse B. A2 - Schmidt, Gregory A. A2 - Wood, Lawrence D.H. PY - 2005 T2 - Principles of Critical Care, 3e 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.Immunoserologic assessment of critically ill patients is a double-edged sword providing both enlightenment and misleading shadows. All immunoserologic 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 immunoinflammatory disease should not delay therapeutic intervention.Not all ischemic skin lesions that appear to be vasculitis are. Pseudovasculitis 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.Acute organic brain syndrome without focal neurologic deficits or evidence of systemic vasculitis is unlikely to be secondary to vasculitis.Fever in patients with collagen vascular disease should be presumed 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 - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2023/06/07 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=2281427 ER -