A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
Grand Rounds at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
Sponsored by the Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency and Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia, and MCAS: Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care (Ohringer, 9/3/25)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
This week's Grand Rounds, by Dr. Alison Ohringer, was so phenomenal that I have literally been thinking about it nonstop since she finished. The topic-- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia, and MCAS-- doesn't exactly sound titillating, but after years in primary care taking care of patients with chronic symptoms that I don't always know what to do with -- I had a serious physician "AHA moment".
Dr. Ohringer started with a silly meme that has now become an earworm for me: "If you cannot connect the issues, think connective tissues."
I have long thought of rheumatology and/or autoimmunity as a linking factor for non-specific symptoms in patients, particularly in women with fatigue, dizziness, and other systemic malfunctions. I also have long dreamed of studying how our enteric nervous system interacts with the central nervous system (leading to diarrhea, constipation, and anxiety), but I cannot say I had specifically tied in connective tissues to the issues-- until yesterday.
If you are a primary care provider, I definitely recommend watching this one! If you just want my notes, here goes. . .
Hypermobility= the ability of a joint to move beyond the normal range (can be isolated and/or benign (e.g. gymnasts) or generalized and/or symptomatic, impacting multiple joints and leading to pain, fatigue and can be associated with other symptoms)
Spectrum of severity of hypermobility:
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS): a group of conditions characterized by one or more of several common features: skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility, with subtypes distinguished by family history, clinical criteria, and oftentimes genetic testing.
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), previously referred to as EDS type III, the most common subtype, is diagnosed by hx and clinical criteria. There is no genetic test. Many experience symptoms of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and related dysautonomia, small fiber neuropathy, and migraine
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is diagnosed by history and clinical criteria, on a spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to chronic pain. Some may have some of the hEDS comorbidities, though they may be less severe
Prevalence:
- EDS 1/20-40,000 (vascular EDS 1/100K)
- hEDS 1/3000-5000
- HSD: ~1/500
Symptoms of mast cell activation include a variety of organ systems, including not only allergy, but also cardiologic (hypotension, tachycardia), GI (diarrhea, cramping), and constitutional (fatigue and even memory/concentration problems).
MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) = MCAD + abnormal labs
Dysautonomia and POTS:
Dysautonomia: all disorders of the autonomic nervous system resulting from imbalanced sympathetic/parasympathetic activation - can be a clinical diagnosis, can be diagnosed with certain tests
POTS: a form of dysautonomia meeting 2 specific diagnostic criteria: - History of orthostatic intolerance with or without systemic symptoms - Correlation of symptoms with a sustained increase in upright HR by at least 30 bpm (40 bpm if pt <20yo) within 10 minutes of standing or head-up tilt, without orthostatic hypotension
Common symptoms in patients with MCAD and POTS/dysautonomia
General: fatigue, night sweats, anaphylaxis, weight changes
HEENT: itchy/watery eyes, nasal congestion, itchy throat
Cardiac: light headedness, pre-syncope, palpitations, tachycardia, labile BP
Pulm: shortness of breath, wheeze, cough
GI: refractory acid reflux, intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
GU: bladder irritability and frequent voiding, uterine cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding
Derm: hives, itch, flushing, rash MSK: long bone pain
Neuro: LH/dizziness, brain fog, neuropathy
Diagnosis and Evaluation:
- Assess for hypermobility using the Beighton Score (score results dependent on puberty and age)
- Assess for EDS "red flags" (screening for vascular EDS and risk for ruptures, see image below)
- Eval for hEDS then possibly for HSD once the red flags for the high-risk, genetic EDS subtypes have been ruled out
- Eval for comorbid dysautonomia and/or MCAD
- Rule out mimics (e.g. iron-deficiency, vit D deficiency, allergy, GERD, etc)
- Systemic symptoms: Glycemic control [1st line], Duloxetine or venlafaxine [1st line]
- Compression: Compression socks (ideally to thigh) [1st line] Abdominal binder IF no pelvic floor dysfunction [2nd line]
- Electrolyte repletion: Daily oral rehydration solution [1st line] • Normalyte powder, or LMNT powder, or DIY with ¾ tsp table salt, 2 tsp powdered sugar, ¼ tsp cream of tartar, squeeze of lemon for taste, all in 750 mL water 1-2x/day
- Autonomic nervous system retraining: Vagal tone exercises [1st line] see image below
- Symptomatic orthostatic tachycardia from POTS: Cardio-selective beta blocker (or propranolol if no asthma/resp sx) [1st line] Ivabradine (Corlanor) 5mg bid [2nd line] Fludrocortisone [3rd line] Midodrine [4th line]
Cirrhosis and MASLD (Santana, 8/6/2025)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
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Thanks to Dr. Noemi Santana, R3 for kicking off the Senior Resident Grand Rounds series this past week. She gave a sweeping presentation this week on one of my favorite topics, Cirrhosis. See my highlights below.
As was mentioned at our liver transplant GR just a few weeks ago, the liver is responsible for many physiologic activities of the body, including detoxifying the blood, protein synthesis and hormone production.
Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently defined as hepatic steatosis with at least 1/5 of the following cardiometabolic risk factors:
- obesity
- hypertension
- elevated triglycerides
- decreased HDL
- elevated blood sugars
- FIB-4 has high NPV (96%) but low PPV (63%) for cirrhosis
- Imaging modalities to assess for cirrhosis
- ultrasound: low sensitivity in early cirrhosis
- Fibro scan (ultrasound w/elastography), MR-E: can be inaccurate in ascites and obesity
- MRI/CT: best for HCC, varices, thrombosis
- Liver biopsy is still considered gold standard but often reserved for people with unclear etiology
- Terry nails (see image)
- gynecomastia
- caput medusae (see image)
- facial telangiectasia (see image)
- palmar erythema
- decreased body hair
- testicular atrophy
- jaundice
- Ascites: be careful with salt restriction as it limits people's diet and may not have enough impact to be indicated, fluid restriction is not indicated unless Na<125
- SBP: defined as >250 PMNs in ascitic fluid
- Varices: >10 mmHg in portal vein is defined as portal hypertension; non-selective beta blockers (nadolol, propranolol) decrease risk of decompensation. Carvedilol is recommended as first line but can decreases MAP
- Hepatic Encephalopathy: consider outpatient use of psychometric HE score, which looks at subtle changes in cognitive capabilities
- HRS/AKI: hepatorenal syndrome defined as SCr not responsive to 2 days of volume expansion; renal injury in cirrhosis portends increased mortality
- Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies
- pts with cirrhosis need ~0.35 kcal/kg/day (calories) including 1.2-1.5gm/kg/day of protein
- good idea to recommend a late evening protein-rick snack
- screen for deficiencies including Vitamins D/E/B, zinc, and selenium
- Early TIPS: a good discussion here
- Biomarkers (e.g. urine NGAL for AKI in cirrhosis), e.g. a recent paper https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33979307/
- Microbiome role in cirrhosis and mitigating disease progression: e.g. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7796381/
- Acute on chronic liver disease risk score: CLIF C, used to assess severity of A/CLF
Common Ground Society (O'Leary and King, 8/30/2025)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
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Larkin O'Leary and Emily King presented this week as leaders of the Common Ground Society, a local non-profit offering support to "families who receive any life changing diagnosis for their child." Examples of life-changing diagnoses include Down Syndrome, Autism, and birth complications, but also rare genetic diseases.
They vulnerably shared their own stories as parents of children with special needs, and they challenged us to rethink how we speak to parents about their children's conditions, to debunk disability stereotypes, and to remember to listen to parents.
Some important takeaways and some possible ways to say things:
- "Congratulations on your beautiful baby!" are ALWAYS the appropriate first words for any new parent, despite any differences noted before, at, or around birth.
- Being clear is kind.
- Be careful with "maybe we will just watch that" without clarifying exactly what it is we are "watching".
- Avoid "your child is not normal". Try instead "this is unexpected".
- Consider "We are about to go on a journey. . .there will be lots of questions, and I am here to help and to ride with you on this journey".
- Look to the family for guidance, consider "What do you think is going on, mom?"
- Be careful with handing out the standard "milestones sheets" at Well Child Checks
- Talk to kids with disabilities in an age-appropriate manner (e.g. don't talk to a teenager with DS as if they were a toddler, use age appropriate language). Consider: "I am Dr. V. I am going to ask your mom some questions."
- Remember parents are doing their best.
- Be a kind human.
- Remember, this is your job, but this is their whole life.
Liver Transplant (Wakil 7/23/25)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE .
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Thank you to Dr. Adil Wakil, CPMC liver transplant hepatologist, who kicked off Grand Rounds this year with a presentation on Liver Transplant.
He reminded us that the liver is the largest internal organ vital for metabolism, responsible for a plethora of functions including:
- energy metabolism
- protein metabolism
- bile production
- alpha 1 antitrypsin production
- immune function (with innate immune cells)
- lipoprotein metabolism (including converting LDL)
- hepatocellular injury: AST/ALT/LDH
- cholestatic injury: ALK Phos, GGT, Bilirubin
- synthetic capacity: INR/albumin and prealbumin/lipoproteins
- alcohol,
- metabolic dysfunction (MASLD)
- High fructose corn syrup has lead to huge increases in obesity in America (since the 1980s), combination of addiction and epigenetics)
- HAV, HBV, toxin-induced, HCV (now most commonly seen in prison population)
Artificial Intelligence: Best Practices in Primary Care to Achieve the Quintuple Aim (Toub, 5/28/25)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
Pathologizing Queer Patients (Harlow, 5/14/2025)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
Care of Patients with Developmental Disabilities (French, 5/7/25)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE.
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Many, many thanks to Dr. Anne French, SRFMR Class of '99, who gave a pearl-filled presentation today about caring for patients with autism. Dr. French's many years of caring for patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) at Sonoma Developmental Center and now at Santa Rosa Community Health are literally priceless. We are so lucky to have her wisdom!
Please do watch her presentation.
For those of you who prefer the Cliff's notes and pearls:
- always presume confidence when speaking with an autistic patient (even if non-verbal), speak as if they understand (they often do!)
- autism is often accompanied by other psych comorbidities, including anxiety disorders: GAD, OCD, and disordered sleep -- to name a few-- which impede function at school and work
- other psychiatric comorbidities also exist, including bipolar disorder and ADHD. These may be challenging to tease out
- look for anxiety
- consider GABA, fish oil, probiotics (for parents who don't want to use meds)
- r/o ADHD w/Vanderbilt
- okay to do trial of meds like Strattera without psychiatrist consult
- when you see self-injurious behavior (SIB), think physical discomfort (e.g. allergies, headaches)-- naltrexone can be a miraculous treatment for some with SIB (doesn't always work, but blocks the reward pathway for SIB)
- Dr. French highly recommends the use of Gene Sight, which is covered by both Medicare and Medi-Cal. It is intended to help prescribers understand how individuals process psych meds differently
- can help avoid medications that will have problematic effects
- gives MTHFR status (folate), which can be supplemented. Of note, patients with autism tend to have decreased folate
- Physicians can only refer autism evaluation to the Northbay Regional Center before age 3, but parents can self refer after that. Give parents the phone number and email address of NBRC if they need to self-refer.
- Dr. MacLeamy is a clinical psychologist in Petaluma. He and associates have the PHP contract to diagnose autism in SoCo
- Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) Therapy, parents can self-refer, certified behavioralists can help treat at home/school (e.g. getting autistic kids to take shower, brush teeth, manage school day)>> many people with autism need extra support to reach their milestones
- Always look for physical causes of agitation (e.g. allergies, dental pain, constipation)
- Social stories is a simple way to teach people with autism, about social situations and expected behaviors (e.g. this is what happens when you go to the doctor, airport, pap smear, etc)
- Use EMLA cream for lab draws
- Medications that help with dysregulation include propranolol, clonidine, guanfacine, May be helpful.
- Disordered sleep should be treated. Extra challenging in children (limited options). Consider melatonin, 5HTP, Consider Buspar (age >6).
- Parents can get defensive and feel othered by the healthcare system. Building relationship and trust with them is key!
- Polypharmacy is a HUGE problem, particularly notable is multiple antipsychotics in boys/men with autism during and after puberty.
- Deprescribe antipsychotics when possible>> start with highest risk meds, if 2 of something, take one away
- Oversedation may occur with age
- Falls and/or ataxia can also be an issue with polypharmacy as patients with IDD age
Sepsis and Shock (Emami Esfahani, 9/10/25)
A recording of this presentation is available HERE .
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Great thanks to Dr. Jose Maldonado, a Stanford psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist, who literally wrote the benzodiazepine-sparing alcohol wi...
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Artificial Intelligence: Best Practices in Primary Care to Achieve the Quintuple Aim (Toub, 5/28/25)A recording of this presentation is available HERE .