Clinical characteristics of spontaneous intestinal intramural hematoma: a single-center experience / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous intestinal intramural hematoma is a rare complication occurring most commonly in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. The present study aimed to analyze the clinical features and prognosis of this condition. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 14 patients who were diagnosed with spontaneous intestinal intramural hematoma based on characteristic computed tomography findings and treated for this condition at Asan Medical Center from March 2001 to February 2009. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 67 years. All patients were receiving anticoagulant therapy. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (14 patients), nausea/vomiting (9 patients), and melena/hematochezia (8 patients). The median international normalized ratio (INR) was 7.7 (1.6- >15.1). The INR was above 3.5 in 13 patients (93%). Hematomas most commonly involved the jejunum (7 patients), followed by the ileum (4 patients). All patients rapidly recovered without short-term complications after medical treatment, including correction of coagulation abnormalities. Twelve patients resumed anticoagulant therapy after symptomatic resolution and correction of coagulation abnormalities, and no complications, including rebleeding, occurred during the mean 37.4 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous intestinal intramural hematoma rapidly improved after medical treatment, and no complications occurred. It may be safe to carefully resume anticoagulant therapy in patients at high risk of thromboembolism.

A case of extrapontine myelinolysis associated with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome / 대한내과학회지

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic coma, an acute complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus, is commonly associated with hypernatremia. According to the treatment guideline of HHS and hypernatremia, plasma glucose and sodium concentration should be lowered at the recommended correction rate to prevent cerebral edema and, rarely, central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) or extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM). Recently we experienced a case of HHS with initial corrected serum sodium concentration of 198.5 mEq/L. The hypernatremia was corrected too rapidly on the first and second hospital days and the patient showed recent memory disturbance and difficulty in communication on the third hospital day. Brain MRI revealed abnormal signal intensities in the extrapontine areas, in favor of a diagnosis of EPM. We concluded that EPM of this case was induced by the rapid correction of hypernatremia.

A Case of Masked Hypoglycemia during Lactic Acidosis / 대한내분비학회지

Severe hypoglycemia induces neuroglycopenic symptoms, including mental alteration, as glucose is the exclusive fuel for the central nervous system. However, some reports have shown that non-glucose fuels, like lactates and ketones, could be utilized by the brain during severe hypoglycemia. Herein, a case of extreme hypoglycemia in a 44-year old woman, subsequently diagnosed as congestive heart failure accompanied by ischemic hepatitis and lactic acidosis, is presented. In two episodes of extreme hypoglycemia, she was fully alert without obvious neurological deficits. In this unusual case, an increased supply of lactate might have maintained the cerebral function and prevented cerebral injury during the hypoglycemia that was induced as a result of starvation and hepatic and cardiac dysfunctions

A Case of Masked Hypoglycemia during Lactic Acidosis / 대한내분비학회지

Severe hypoglycemia induces neuroglycopenic symptoms, including mental alteration, as glucose is the exclusive fuel for the central nervous system. However, some reports have shown that non-glucose fuels, like lactates and ketones, could be utilized by the brain during severe hypoglycemia. Herein, a case of extreme hypoglycemia in a 44-year old woman, subsequently diagnosed as congestive heart failure accompanied by ischemic hepatitis and lactic acidosis, is presented. In two episodes of extreme hypoglycemia, she was fully alert without obvious neurological deficits. In this unusual case, an increased supply of lactate might have maintained the cerebral function and prevented cerebral injury during the hypoglycemia that was induced as a result of starvation and hepatic and cardiac dysfunctions

A case of bronchial asthma due to Tyrophagus putrescentiae in a non occupational setting / 천식및알레르기

Storage mites are believed one of the most important allergens in farmers and rural regions. Tyrophagus putrescentiae, belonging to storage mites, is found not only within storehouses but also in the house dust, and the third most common mites following Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in house dust in Korea. The sensitization rate to Tyrophagus putrescentiae was reported as high as that of house dust mite in patients visiting the allergy clinic in large cities in Korea. We experienced a 69-year-old man who had suffered from dyspnea, wheezing, and coughing for 10 years. He retired from the teaching profession, and had lived in a large city, Deajeon. The skin prick test showed a positive reaction to Tyrophagus putrescentiae and negative reactions to house dust mites. The bronchial challenge test with Tyrophagus putrescentiae showed late asthmatic reaction. We confirmed a Tyrophagus putrescentiae-induced asthma in non occupational setting.

A Case of Pedunculated Leiomyoma Found during Colonoscopic Examination for Anal Bleeding / 대한소화기학회지

Gastrointestinal leiomyomas are commonly found in the stomach, and but 3% of them arises from the colon. Colonic leiomyomas are often found incidentally during colonoscopic examination. Most of patients with colonic leiomyoma are asymptomatic, but patients with large size leiomyoma occasionally have abdominal mass, hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction or perforation. Pedunculated leiomyomatous polyp is rare. Leiomyomatous polyps are occasionally misjudged as adenomatous polyps by endoscopist. We report a case of pedunculated leiomyomatous colonic polyp in 65 year-old female patient. She has complained of intermittent hematochezia and lower abdominal discomfort for 5 months. During colonoscopy, an 1 cm sized long pedunculated polyp at the splenic flexure was detected. It was removed by colonoscopic snare polypectomy. Leiomyomatous polyp was confirmed by microscopic and immunohistochemical findings.