A Case of Paronychia, Acneiform Eruption and Dry Skin Induced by Iressa(R) / 대한피부과학회지

Iressa(R) (ZD1839) is a new anticancer agent, acting as a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Iressa(R) has been generally well-tolerated in cancer patients. Predominant adverse effects are an acne-like skin rash, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dry skin, and mild to moderate myelosuppression. The side effect of paronychia or alopecia is rare. We report a case of paronychia with granulation tissue induced by Iressa(R). Our patient complained of an acneiform eruption on his face and xerosis on his left arm and both feet as well as paronychia of several finger and toe nails.

A Case of Baclofen-Associated Encephalopathy in a Maintenance Hemodialysis Patient / 대한신장학회잡지

Baclofen, a derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is used for the treatment of muscle spasm, intractable hiccups and multiple sclerosis. It is mostly excreted by glomerular filtration with a clearance that is proportional to creatinine clearance. Early hemodialysis is a treatment of the choice for baclofen-induced neurologic complication in renal failure patients. We experienced a 57-year-old hemodialysis patient with right arm muscle spasm who developed baclofen-associated encephalopathy by a single dose of oral baclofen (10 mg). He admitted to the hospital with the symptom of stuporous mental status with no specific focal neurologic signs. Brain CT imaging and blood biochemistry showed no specific abnormality. EEG revealed the typical metabolic encephalopathy findings, such as triphasic wave and frontal lobe syndrome with delta wave. After daily hemodialysis for 3 days, there was a complete recovery of an altered mentality. After one month later, the follow-up EEG showed normal finding with the resolution of abnormal waves. We report this case with a review of relevant literature. Baclofen should be used carefully, and rather recommended not to be administered in patients with renal failure.

A Case of Baclofen-Associated Encephalopathy in a Maintenance Hemodialysis Patient / 대한신장학회잡지

Baclofen, a derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), is used for the treatment of muscle spasm, intractable hiccups and multiple sclerosis. It is mostly excreted by glomerular filtration with a clearance that is proportional to creatinine clearance. Early hemodialysis is a treatment of the choice for baclofen-induced neurologic complication in renal failure patients. We experienced a 57-year-old hemodialysis patient with right arm muscle spasm who developed baclofen-associated encephalopathy by a single dose of oral baclofen (10 mg). He admitted to the hospital with the symptom of stuporous mental status with no specific focal neurologic signs. Brain CT imaging and blood biochemistry showed no specific abnormality. EEG revealed the typical metabolic encephalopathy findings, such as triphasic wave and frontal lobe syndrome with delta wave. After daily hemodialysis for 3 days, there was a complete recovery of an altered mentality. After one month later, the follow-up EEG showed normal finding with the resolution of abnormal waves. We report this case with a review of relevant literature. Baclofen should be used carefully, and rather recommended not to be administered in patients with renal failure.

Clinical Implication of Hyperhomocysteinemia in Hemodialysis Patients: Impact of Nutritional Status / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vascular access occlusion (VAO) is the most common morbidity in dialysis patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is regarded as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis in general population, however clinical implication of HHcy in dialysis patients is controversial. Nutritional status of dialysis patients is also known to be closely linked to CVD. METHODS: To investigate the impact of the presence of HHcy and malnutrition on cardiovascular events, especially ischemic heart disease (IHD) and vascular access occlusion (VAO). We measured plasma levels of Hcy and other biochemical parameters with an evaluation of nutritional status using subjective global assessment (SGA) in 44 HD patients and gender-matched control subjects of comparable age. RESULTS: Mean plasma Hcy was 18.6 microM/L (range 5-28), which was significantly higher than normal control (8.6+/-2.0 microM/L, p< 0.05). There was no significant correlation between plasma Hcy and the levels of folate or vit B12. Mean Hcy was significantly higher in patients with normal nutritional status compared to mild-to-moderately malnourished patients (22.0+/-3.2 vs. 15.1+/-4.1 microM/L, p<0.05), and there was a significant positive correlation of Hcy level with serum albumin or nPNA. There was no significant difference in plasma Hcy level according to the presence of IHD or VAO. However, interestingly, in HD patients group with lower serum albumin (<3.9 g/ dL), frequency of VAO was significantly correlated with Hcy (r2=0.68, p<0.001) whereas no significant correlation was observed in patients with higher albumin level. CONCLUSION: The clinical implication of HHcy in HD patients may be different from general healthy population. Nutritional status can be one of the important factors influencing plasma Hcy level. And, high plasma level of Hcy in malnourished HD patients has to be carefully followed up in terms of the development of atherosclerotic CVD and VAO.

A Case of Spontaneous Rupture of the Kidney with Acute Pyelonephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

Spontaneous rupture of the kidney, Wonderlich syndrome, is a rare event but potentially life-threatening condition. The most comman causes are clear cell carcinoma, benign angiomyolipoma and vascular disease. Among this event, acute pyelonephritis is a very unusual cause. A 67-year-old diabetic woman was admitted with high fever and left flank pain due to acute pyelonephritis. She had uterine prolapse for 10 years with both renal hydronephrosis before this event. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan showed fluid collection around left kidney with a rupture of renal parenchyme at lower pole. The renal angiography showed displaced capsular artery due to subcapsular hematoma and decreased blood flow at lower pole. The percutaneous needle aspiration revealed blood collection around left kidney, which confirmed spontaneous rupture of the kidney. We report this case with a review of the relevant literature.

Papillary Muscle Rupture after Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Importance of Transgastric View of TEE

Transesophageal echocardiography was performed to evaluate the exact cause of severe mitral regurgitation in a 64-year-old man presented with hypotension and dyspnea after acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. In mid-esophageal two-and four-chamber view, the ruptured stump of papillary muscle could not be visualized. However, in transgastric two-chamber view, we could clearly visualize the ruptured head of the posteromedial papillary muscle as a separated mass attached by chorda tendinae, as well as the freely mobile stump of the ruptured papillary muscle within the left ventricle. So, the comprehensive transesophageal echocardiography, including transgastric imaging, is always indicated in patients with severe mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial infarction.

The Clinical Investigation of Gastric Volume and pH Under General Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in preoperative methods to reduce gastric acidity, thus lessening the risk of a serious pulmonary reactions following aspiration of gastric contents. Emergency obstetrical patients frequently have large volumes of gastric fluid. It is less commonly appreciated that patients fasting prior to elective surgery afterive in operating room with large gastric fluid volumes with a low pH. Prophylactic preoperative oral administration of antacids has been shown to reduce preoperative gastric acidity in significant percentage of patients, but aspiration of antacids can be associated with pulmonary complications, and there use may be associated with increased gastric volume. Preoperative adrpinistration of glycopyrrolate may decrease the frequency of surgical patients with a low gastric pH, and it appears that the volume of gastric fluid may be reduced by medication that relax the pylorus. However, none of these pharmacologic manuevers completely abolisbes the possibility of serious pulmonary damage with aspiration. Mendelson and Teabeat demonstrated the importance of pH in the etiology of acid aspiration and it is generally accepted that the critical pH is 2. 5 or less, i.e. the risk of aerious pulmonary reaction increases progressively as the pH of the aspirate falls below 2.5. A critical volume of acid aspirate is also necessary for widespread pulmonary damage to occur irrespective of a low gastric pH. The critical volume is rhesus monkeys has been shown to be 0.4 ml/kg, but the critical volume in man is less well difined. Several investigators have determined the patient to be at risk of serious pulmonary complications with aspiration if at least 25 ml of gastric fluid with a pH of 2.5 or less is aspirated. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects on the volume and pH of gastric juice under general anesthesia. The 35 patients were studied, and were divided. into 4 group account to the kind of premedicants, N.P.O. time, weight, and obstetric patients Gastric juice, aspirated through a Levine tube, was examined for pH and. volume under general anesthesia.