The Response to Therapy and Outcome in Adult Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The response to therapy in adult patients with nephrotic syndrome caused by rimary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was discouraging, but recent reports have shown high remission rate. Of these patients in remission, few progressed to end stage renal disease. METHODS: we analyzed author's experiences in 42 Korean adults with primary FSGS between January 1986 and December 1995 in attempt to know the response to therapy and outcome. RESULTS: 1) Twenty-six of 42 patients(62%) had nephrotic range proteinuria, and renal insufficiency (serum creatinine>1.4 mg/dL) was present in 14 patients(34%). Nephrotic patients had higher serum level of creatinine than that of nonnephrotic patients, and there was no difference between the two groups in blood pressure, age, and hematuria. 2) Twenty-six patients with nephrotic range proteinuria received combined treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Complete remission (proteinuria300 mg/d) was observed in 10 cases(39%), and partial remission(2.50g/d) in 11 cases(42%), with mean remission time of 4.12.2 months after initiation of treatment. They had remission within 6 months of therapy except one. Relapse was noticed in 11 cases (52%) during follow-up. 3) None of responder group progressed to ESRD, while two of 5 non-responders progressed to ESRD, but there was no significant difference in slope of inverse creatinine between two groups. 4) The degree of proteinuria, initial serum creatinine, age, and sex did not affect the patient's response to therapy 5) The risk factors related to progression of renal failure were the initial serum creatinine level and degree of proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Nephrotic adult patients with primary FSGS may benefit from a more prolonged course of therapy with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide.

A Case of Villous Adenoma with Depletion Syndrome / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Massive secretory diarrhea with pre-renal insufficiency, hyponatremia, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis or acidosis is associated with some large villous adenomas of the rectum and is called with depletion syndrome. This characteristic fluid and electrolyte depletion syndrome is caused by secretion of sodium, potassium, and fluid from the tumor. PGE2 formation in the villous adenoma appears to be the cause of fluid secretion by the abnormal tumor epithelium. Surgical removal of villous adenoma is the only promising therapy, In case of inoperability, denial of surgical intervention or just for palliative treatment prior to surgery, the use of PG synthetase inhibitors may facilitate the correction of severe fluid-electrolyte deficits. We reported a case of large villous adenoma of the rectum with depletion syndrome aceompanied by secretory diarrhea and fluid and electrolyte depletion with metabolic alkalosis due to severe vomiting.

Clinical Review of Hepatic Adenoma reported in Korea / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Hepatic adenoma is a rare benign tumor, occuring in women of child-bearing age and it is known that hepatic adenoma is associated with history of oral contraceptive use in about 90% of cases, rarely with type I glycogen storage disease or anabolic steroids. There have been five cases of hepatic adenoma reported in Korea and three cases have been confirmed in our hospital. We examined the clinical findings of these eight cases and compare them with those of hepatic adenoma reported in western countries. METHODS: We reviewed five cases published in medical literature of Korea and three cases confirmed in our hospital. The clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of the eight cases were examined and all were pathologically proven cases as hepatic adenoma. RESULTS: Six cases were male and two cases were female. Mean age of them were 37+/-6 years old which ranged from 24 to 45 years old. Two cases of female did not have history of ingestion of oral contraceptives and six cases of male did not have history of having anabolic steroids. The associated diseases were chronic hepatitis B in two cases, glycogen storage disease type I in one case, and ovarian mucinous cystadenoma in one case. The presenting symptoms were upper abdominal discomfort in five cases, chronic fatigue in one case and two cases had no symptom. Hepatic adenomas were single mass in seven cases and only one case suspected of having glycogen storage disease showed six nodules. The mean diameter of the eight hepatic adenoma was 7.7+/-3.7cm which range from 2.0cm to 15cm. Seven of the eight cases were larger than 5cm in diameter. but there was no case of intraperitoneal bleeding. In laboratory studies, AST/ALT was elevated(81/84IU/L, normal range less than 40IU/L) in one case which was suspected of glycogen storage disease. Alkaline phosphatase were elevated in four cases and elevated alpha-FP was not found in any case. Hepatic adenoma was shown as hyperechoic mass with indistinct margin by ultrasonography and hypodense mass with contrast enhancement by computed tomography. Hepatic adenoma showed isodense or low signal intensity in T1WI, and low or high signal intensity in T2WI. Hepatic angiography showed hypervascular mass in six cases but avascular mass in two cases. CONCLUSION: The reported cases of hepatic adenoma were predominant in men, associated with chronic hepatitis B in two cases, and females with hepatic adenoma had no history of having oral contraceptive. Despite the large size of hepatic adenoma, there was no case accompanied by peritoneal bleeding. These findings contrasts with those of hepatic adenoma reported in western countries. Therefore the pathogenesis and clinical course of hepatic adenoma in Korea may be different with those of hepatic adenoma occurring in western countries and further studies are needed.

A Case of Infected Aortic Aneurysm Caused by Salmonella Group B / 대한내과학회지

We experienced a case of the rupture of infected aortic aneurysm caused by Salmonella group B. A 75-year-old diabetic female patient was admitted with lower back pain and fever. Abdominal CT scan showed the abdominal aneurysm and the abscess of retroperitoneal space. We confirmed the ruptured aortic anecrysm with retroperitoneal abscess by obermter. The blood culture, and the pus obrained by operan yielded growth of Salmonella group B. After oration the patient was recovered completely by anrotics. We report this case with literature

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricle before and after Maximum Exercise in Track Athletes

BACKGROUND: Long term athletic training is associated with an increase in left ventricular diastolic cavity dimension, wall thickness, and mass. These changes in left ventricular morphology represent an adaptation to increased ventricular load and are generally described as the “athlete's heart”. In the present study, we used echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular structure and function in track athletes. METHODS: We studies 48 males(average age 22 years)by Doppler and echocardiography, which consisted of 12 normal controls, 36 track athletes(12 long distance track, 12 sprint, 12 jump). These athletes were trained regularly for 3-19 years(average 9±4 years). RESULTS: 1) At rest, left ventricular diastolic and systolic diameter, systolic interventricular septal wall thickness, diastolic and systolic posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular end diastolic and systolic dimension were larger in long distance track athletes than in the controls. 2) Left ventricular mass was larger in long distance track athltes and sprinter than controls. 3) After maximum exercise, left ventricular diastolic and systolic diameter, systolic interventricular septal wall thickness, diastolic and systolic posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular end diastolic and systolic dimension increased more significantly in long distance track athletes than in the controls. But, in sprinters, the left end systolic diameter, diastolic and systolic interventricular septal thickness, and left end diastolic and systolic dimensions were increased. 4) At rest, the E/A and Ei/Ai of the mitral flow in long distance track athletes increased more than in the controls. But there were no differences of parameters of mitral and aortic flow between long distance track athletes and controls after maximum exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The left ventricular mass of long distance and sprint track athletes were lager Than controls. In the long distance track athletes, the left ventricular structural and functional changes before and after maximum exercise were prominent. In the sprinters, after maximum exercise, the left ventricular structural and functional changes were prominent.