Ms. Lofstrom is a 57-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, multinodular goiter, arthritis and questionable recurrent bouts of generalized weakness who was admitted for new onset of right sided weakness, right leg numbness and weakness, right arm clumsiness followed by dysarthria. Laboratory tests showed glucose of 353, sodium 138, potassium 4.9, chloride 98, CO2 28, BUN 33, creatinine 1.1, calcium 10.3, magnesium 2.0, troponin 0.09, white count 8.4, hematocrit 39.8, platelet count 367,000, PT 12.1, PTT 19.5, INR 1.0. An echocardiogram revealed evidence of concentric LVH with preserved systolic function, calculated ejection fraction of 55%, one plus tricuspid regurgitation and normal peak doppler flow velocity across the tricuspid valve. Carotid noninvasive studies showed no evidence of hemodynamically significant disease in either carotid artery. MRI showed a focal area of increased T2 signal in the posterior limb of the left internal capsule, close the genu and a similar smaller area of signal abnormality in the left globus pallidus adjacent to the left internal capsule abnormality. The patient had not taken her insulin for several days prior to admission, and was placed on her regular insulin schedule as well as a sliding scale with blood sugar between 150 and high 200s. Her medications included Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 milligrams once a day, Norvasc 5 milligrams once a day, Taxol 28 milligrams once a day, Premarin 0.625 milligrams once a day, Trazodone, insulin 12 units of regular and 50 units of NPH in the morning and Ansaid 100 milligrams p.o. b.i.d. p.r.n. joint pain. She was also reportedly taking a baby aspirin 81 milligrams once a day, and was placed on subcu heparin and started on full dose aspirin 325 milligrams p.o. q.d. while her antihypertensives were held in order to maintain a systolic blood pressure between 140-160 with a diastolic blood pressure of 85-90. The patient was rehydrated with IV fluids, and close observation was paid to her electrolytes including her potassium. Rheumatology was consulted and recommended checking a urinalysis to check for red blood cells and casts, which showed no protein, no blood, 0-2 red blood cells, and no casts. He therefore suggested to continue aspirin, but in higher doses to alleviate her left shoulder pain. The patient's Norvasc continued to be held with excellent control of her blood pressure between systolic of 140-160, and should not be reinitiated until roughly ten days after her stroke. Social work was consulted due to a history of abuse by her husband, but no further abuse history was elicited since his death. The patient was considered stable and ready for discharge to a rehabilitation facility.
Why did the patient need norvasc
The patient's Norvasc continued to be held with excellent control of her blood pressure between systolic of 140-160,