ABSTRACT
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare systemic vasculitis that commonly affects the peripheral nervous system. EGPA rarely presents with acute polyneuropathy resembling Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). A 51-year-old female patient with a history of asthma suddenly developed bilateral lower extremityparesthesia that progressed to asymmetric ascending paralysis within 10 days of onset. Nerve conduction study results were compatible with acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy, consistent with a GBS subtype. A clinical and neurophysiological diagnosis of GBS was made, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins were administered. However, the patient's painful motor weakness persisted. Furthermore, she had newly developed skin lesions on her back, face, and arms. Her blood test revealed marked eosinophilia (>60%). In addition, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were reported positive. A Water's view radiographic image showed bilateral maxillary sinusitis. Considering the history of asthma, we suspected EGPA-associated polyneuropathy and started steroid treatment. The patient's strength and eosinophilia improved rapidly and dramatically. EGPA can mimic GBS and should be differentiated because of different treatment strategies. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment help achieve a good outcome.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic , Arm , Asthma , Axons , Diagnosis , Early Diagnosis , Eosinophilia , Eosinophils , Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis , Guillain-Barre Syndrome , Hematologic Tests , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous , Maxillary Sinus , Maxillary Sinusitis , Neural Conduction , Paralysis , Peripheral Nervous System , Polyneuropathies , Skin , Systemic VasculitisABSTRACT
Spontaneous bladder rupture is rare. Such an occurrence may appear similar to renal failure because the resulting urine leakage into the peritoneal cavity and absorption across the peritoneum increases serum creatinine although glomerular filtration rate is normal. A 46-year-old man presented with abdominal distension for 7 days after consuming a large volume of alcohol. Initial laboratory tests showed a blood urea nitrogen level of 174.3 mg/dL, serum creatinine of 11.49 mg/dL, and serum sodium of 105 mmol/L. Abdominal distension resolved after draining 5,200 mL of urine through a bladder catheter. Computed tomography cystography revealed intraperitoneal leakage of contrast dye from the left dome of the bladder, suggesting an intraperitoneal bladder rupture. Azotemia was completely normalized on the third day of hospitalization. This case shows that pseudo-renal failure should be considered when caring for a patient with unexplained azotemia and ascites.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Absorption , Acute Kidney Injury , Ascites , Azotemia , Blood Urea Nitrogen , Catheters , Creatinine , Glomerular Filtration Rate , Hospitalization , Hyponatremia , Peritoneal Cavity , Peritoneum , Renal Insufficiency , Rupture , Rupture, Spontaneous , Sodium , Urinary BladderABSTRACT
Simultaneous multi-vessel acute myocardial infarction is rare and has poor prognosis. We report a 70-year-old Korean man with an anteroseptal wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction presenting as ventricular tachycardia, sudden cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a coronary angiogram revealed three-vessel coronary disease; simultaneous total occlusions of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the proximal left circumflex artery (LCX), and chronic total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the LAD and LCX was successful and an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted. Despite the timely and successful PCI result, he died on the 58th day in the hospital due to pneumonia with multiple organ failure.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Arteries , Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation , Coronary Disease , Coronary Occlusion , Coronary Vessels , Death, Sudden, Cardiac , Multiple Organ Failure , Myocardial Infarction , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention , Pneumonia , Prognosis , Shock, Cardiogenic , Tachycardia, VentricularABSTRACT
Simultaneous thrombosis of multiple coronary arteries in acute myocardial infarction is very rare in clinical settings. Its mechanism is not yet clear, but patients displaying multivessel simultaneous thrombosis tend to have poor clinical outcomes. Hence, it is important to recognize this condition and provide timely and proper management. We report a case of simultaneous thrombosis involving multiple coronary arteries in a patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Coronary Occlusion , Coronary Vessels , Myocardial Infarction , ThrombosisABSTRACT
The Bronchial fistula is caused by infection, malignancy, trauma, inflammatory disease and foreign body. The bronchonodal fistula by endobronchial tuberculois is very rare complication. The authors present a 70-year-old man presented with hoarseness and sore throat. This patient diagnosed with endobronchial tuberculosis, which was complicated by bronchonodal fistula by sputum acid fast bacilli stain, bronchoscopy, and chest computed tomography. The patient was treated with antituberculosis therapy for 1 year, and follow up bronchoscopy and radiologic study showed regression of bronchonodal fistula.