A case of cytomegalovirus colitis in immunocompetent patient / 대한내과학회지

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is more frequent in immunocompromised patients those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), malignant disease, steroid therapy. However, CMV can infect a healthy person who has normal immunity. Most cases of CMV infections are due to reactivation of latent virus. We report a case of cytomegalovirus colitis in a 73 years old woman who has congestive heart failure with normal immunity. Sigmidoscopy reveals cobble stone like mucosa and deep ulceration. CMV infection produces a cytomegalic cell containing a intranuclear inclusion, which is surrounded by clear halo in Hematoxylin-Eosin stain. Immunohistochemical stain for CMV reveals focal positive in cytoplasm and in nuclei of large cells. We diagnosed CMV colitis with histopathologic finding and immunohistochemistry through sigmoidoscopic mucosal biopsy.

Heart Arrest Caused by Ergonovine Stress Echocardiography

Recent reports have suggested that ergonovine stress echocardiography is a safe and accurate procedure for the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm. We experienced a case of heart arrest caused by ergonovine stress echocardiography. A 44 year-old female patient was referred to our emergency room for evaluation of chest pain. She had been admitted to another hospital complaining of chest pain and syncope. The finding of a coronary angiogram was normal and an ergonovine stress echocardiography was performed in order to diagnose the coronary vasospasm, which may be an etiologic mechanism in an unstable angina. After 250 microgram of ergonovine was administered intravenously, we suspected segmental wall motion abnormality (hypokinesia of the inferior wall). An additional dose (100 microgram) was administered to confirm the diagnosis. The patient complained of severe chest pain and dizziness. Segmental wall motion abnormalities progressed and heart arrest finally developed. She recovered following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was discharged without complication.

A case of stent insertion into stenotic renal artery caused by Takayasu's arteritis / 대한내과학회지

Takayasu's arteritis is a common etiology of renovascular hypertension in orientals. We report a case of renovascular hypertension caused by Takayasu's arteritis in a 18 year-old male patient. The narrowed renal artery was treated by renal artery stenting and blood pressure was normalized after the procedure. Restenosis was suspected after 7 months follow-up because his blood pressure was elevated.

Usefulness of Ergonovine Echocardiography in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Suspected Variant angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is well known that coronary spasm can cause acute coronary syndrome (ACS) such as unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction as well as variant angina. But the role of coronary spasm as an initial presentation in ACS is difficult to demonstrate. Therefore we tried to investigate the validity and safety of ergonovine echocardiography in ACS with normal coronary angiogram (CAG) and suspected variant angina. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Since July 1999 to June 2000, 53 consecutive patients were enrolled for this study (mean age 56+/-10, 44 male). Clinical manifestations of the patients are acute myocardial infarction (8), unstable angina (17) and suspected variant angina (28). Ergonovine maleate was administered intravenously (50 microgram at 5 minute intervals up to total cumulative dosage 350 microgram) with continuous echocardiographic monitoring. Positive criteria of this test was reversible regional wall motion abnormality by echocardiography. RESULTS: This test was completed in all patients without major cardiac event or malignant arrhythmia. Forteen patients (14/53, 26%) showed positive test: their clinical diagnosis was AMI in 2, unstable angina in 6, and variant angina in 6. Four cases were positive without chest pain or electrocardiographic change. CONCLUSION: Ergonovine echocardiography is a safe and useful method in diagnosing coronary vasospasm in ACS with normal CAG and suspected variant angina without ST segment change.

Plasma Homocysteine Concentration and Genotype Variation of Enzymes as Risk Factors in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increased plasma homocysteine(tHcy) has been implicated as an independent risk factor for coronary artery diseas(CAD), but the relationship has not been firmly established. Present study aimed to determine the difference of plasma homocysteine between patients with CAD and normal control, and to identify the relation between plasma homocysteine and genotype variation of its metabolic enzymes, and serological characteristics. METHODS: Plasma homocysteine, fasting and post-methionin loading, folate and vitamin B12 were measured among 149 patients and 80 control subjects. Both group consisted of those younger than 65 years. Frequencies of prevalent mutations of enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism, cytosine to thymidine transition (C(677)T) of methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 85 patients and 47 control. RESULT: There was no significant difference in homocysteine level between patients and control group (fasting tHcy; 10.4 +/- 3.6 vs 11.4 +/- 8.4 ng/ml, post-methionine loading tHcy; 18.8 +/- 4.9 vs 17.2 +/- 9.5 ng/ml, p> 0.05 respectively). Genotype frequency of MTHFR C(677)T was similar between two groups. Plasma homocysteine level did not appear to vary with genotypes of MTHFR both in patients and control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis identified smoking as the most significant factor affecting plasma homocysteine level, followed by age, MTHFR genotype, obesity, and folate level. CONCLUSION: Homocysteine concentration was not different between controls and patients with CAD. Significant variation of homocysteine level according to genetypic polymorphism of metabolism enzymes was not observed. On multiple linear regression, several factors were identified to be related to homocysteine level, including MTHFR genotype. Further study is warranted to clarify the significance of homocysteine in the development of CAD.