Two Cases of Hydrothorax Associated with Pleuroperitoneal Communications Proved by CT Peritoneography and Peritoneoscintigraphy / 대한신장학회잡지

With the increasing use of PD as a replacement therapy in chronic renal failure, the number of complications related to PD also has increased. One of these is hydrothorax associated with pleuroperitoneal communications. Diagnosis is based upon confirming that the fluid in pleural space is dialysate. The chemical characteristics of the pleural fluid can help diagnose dialysate in pleural space. One can use dialysate mixed with dye (methylene blue, indigo). Peritoneographies with contrast and radionucleotides are safe, accurate, and reliable methods of diagnosing peritoneal defects. While these substances do not damage the peritoneum, their diffusion is low. We report 2 cases of hydrothorax associated with pleuroperitoneal communications in CAPD patients. We employed CT peritoneography and peritoneoscintigraphy to diagnose the hydrothorax associated with pleuroperitoneal leak.

A Case of Left Vocal Cord Palsy and Pulmonary Hypertension in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 대한류마티스학회지

Laryngeal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare. It can range from mild ulcerations, vocal cord paralysis, and edema to necrotizing vasculitis with airway obstruction. The causes of vocal cord paralysis included vasculitis of the vasa nervorum, neuritis, thromboembolic effect on recurrent laryngeal nerves, and compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by an enlarged left pulmonary artery. Few cases on the association of vocal cord palsy and pulmonary hypertension in SLE patient have been reported. We report a case of left vocal cord palsy and pulmonary hypertension in a patient with SLE who experienced improvement of vocal cord palsy and dyspnea after steroid pulse therapy.