Sheeraz Ali

and 7 more

IntroductionThe urachus is a vestigial embryologic structure resulting from the obliteration of the allantois, which connects the fetal bladder to the umbilicus [1]. Failure of this canal to completely involute after birth leads to a spectrum of urachal anomalies, including patent urachus, sinus, diverticulum, and cyst, with the cystic form being the most common variant [2]. Urachal cysts are typically located in the extraperitoneal space between the bladder dome and the umbilicus and often remain clinically silent throughout childhood [1, 3].The most frequent complication that renders these anomalies symptomatic is secondary infection [4], which can mimic other common causes of acute abdomen, such as appendicitis, Meckel’s diverticulitis, or mesenteric cysts [5]. This non-specific presentation, characterized by suprapubic pain, fever, and a palpable infra-umbilical mass, can lead to significant diagnostic delays [6]. While chronic inflammation may result in adhesion to adjacent structures, progression to a severe inflammatory phlegmon causing bowel ischemia and necessitating intestinal resection is an exceptionally rare and poorly documented complication in the pediatric population.Herein, we report the case of a 14-year-old male with a long-standing infected urachal cyst that precipitated segmental small bowel ischemia requiring en-bloc resection and primary anastomosis. This report aims to highlight this severe and unusual complication, underscoring the potential for significant morbidity and the critical importance of timely diagnosis and definitive surgical management for symptomatic urachal anomalies.

Muhammad Hamza

and 8 more

Laiba Hashmi

and 11 more

IntroductionJuvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE), defined by disease onset before the age of 18 [1], accounts for 15-20% of all SLE cases and is characterized by a more aggressive disease course, higher rates of major organ damage, and a twofold higher mortality rate compared to adult-onset SLE [2-4]. While renal, hematologic, and cutaneous manifestations are common, jSLE can also present with atypical and life-threatening complications that create significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Acute pancreatitis is a recognized but uncommon complication of jSLE, occurring in approximately 4.2% of patients and associated with high fatality rates, often linked to underlying vasculitis or immune dysregulation [5]. Similarly, significant peripheral nervous system involvement is rare, with pure axonal motor polyneuropathy being an infrequently detailed pattern compared to sensory or central nervous system manifestations [6]. Furthermore, the coexistence of jSLE with other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), remains a rare clinical scenario, though one that is mechanistically plausible due to shared genetic susceptibility factors, including HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR4 haplotypes [7].The simultaneous or rapidly sequential development of this specific triad—acute pancreatitis, axonal motor polyneuropathy, and T1D—in a single patient represents an exceptionally rare clinical convergence that has not been previously described in the literature. This constellation of severe complications underscores an extreme disease phenotype and poses a formidable challenge in distinguishing primary disease activity from treatment-related toxicities. In this report, we detail the case of a 14-year-old female who presented with this life-threatening triad during a severe jSLE flare to highlight the complex management required and to emphasize the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for multiple, concurrent systemic attacks in this vulnerable population.