A Case of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Deposition Disease Associated with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease is a heterogeneous group of diseases with CPPD crystal deposition. Aging is the most common risk factor for CPPD deposition, followed by osteoarthritis and previous injury. Occasionally, CPPD depositions are associated with familial predisposition and metabolic diseases, including hemochromatosis, primary hyperparathyroidism, hypophosphatasia, and hypomagnesemia. CPPD deposition diseases associated with primary hyperparathyroidism in Koreans have rarely been reported. Thus, we report a case of a relatively young female patient with CPPD deposition disease associated with primary hyperparathyroidism, which was diagnosed through a polarized microscopic examination of the synovial fluid and a subtotal parathyroidectomy.

Rectus Sheath Hematoma Complicated by Rectus Abdominus Myonecrosis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Rectus sheath hematoma is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen, caused by a tear in deep epigastric vessels or its branches. It occurs spontaneously, after trauma or surgery. Rectus abdominus myonecrosis is a life threatening complication of rectus sheath hematoma. We report a case with fatal rectus sheath hematoma complicated by rectus abdominus myonecrosis caused by ischial fracture in a chronic active rheumatoid arthritis patient.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Usefulness in Patients with RA / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is common especially among patients with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the percentage and characteristics of patients who make use of CAM and analyse the effect of CAM in RA. METHODS: Two hundreds and twelve patients with RA were interviewed by a trained nurse according to structured questionnaire about sociodemographic features and type, effect and cost of CAM which was used. RESULTS: Among 212 patients with RA, 73 patients had used CAM (34.4%). There was no difference in sociodemographic features between the user and non-user of CAM. The chinese medicine containing herbal medicine and acupuncture (43.8% and 24.7%) was most commonly used. There was no difference in the score of Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire (KHAQ) between the user and non-user of CAM. In the user group, the scores of the subjective effect and satisfaction for CAM were higher than those for the hospital services. The average yearly cost for CAM was 790,000 Won/person and it was about 67.5% of the one for hospital services. CONCLUSION: In patients with RA, the percentage of using CAM was 34.4%. Herbal medicine was most commonly used. CAM did not affect the outcome of the patients with RA. However, the scores of the subjective effect and satisfaction for CAM were higher than those for the hospital services. For the proper management of patients with RA, it is necessary to know further data about the effectiveness and side effects of CAM through experimental and clinical research.

The Characteristics of Elderly Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVES: Patients who develop rheumatoid arthritis over 60 years old(elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis, EORA) are different from those of younger-onset disease(YORA). Several aspects are emphasized; more equal sex distribution, more often systemic complaints, more larger joints involvement, high ESR rates, and less rheumatoid factor positivity. We compared the clinical characteristics of EORA with those of YORA. METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-six patients who had met the ACR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis were studied. We compared the difference with clinical manifestation, disease activity markers, serologic markers including rheumatoid factor and anti-perinuclear factor, and radiologic changes between EORA and YORA. RESULTS: EORA : YORA ratio is 49 : 507, no difference between male and female ratio. The age at onset of EORA is 67.3 +/- .89 years old, YORA is 4.9 +/-10.5 years old, disease duration is not different in both groups. The ESR of EORA (47.65 +/-13.8) is higher than that of YORA ( 39.49+/-.1 ), the positivity of antiperinuclear factor is significantly increased in the EORA group as compared with YORA group. The comparisons of disease activity including Ritchie index; early RA in both groups showed significant difference only in rheumatoid factor titer. CONCLUSION: The EORA is similar to YORA except high ESR, high rheumatoid factor titer, and high positivity of antiperinuclear factor. However, we failed to demonstrate that the EORA runs different course with heterogeneous pathogenesis to the YORA.

Telomerase Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

No abstract available.

A Case of Mixed connective tissue disease associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome / 대한류마티스학회지

No abstract available.

Effect of Raynaud's Phenomenon on Espohageal Motility / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVES: In the connective tissue disease patients, esophageal dysfunction is often closely associated with the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon. But there are no previous reports concerning the values of esophageal manometry in the connective tissue disease with Raynaud s phenomenon in Korea. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate esophageal function in connective tissue disease with Raynaud' s phenomenon. METHODS: Total 86 subjects were employed in this study including 30 normal control group, 14 mixed connective tissue disease(MCTD), 21 systemic sclerosis, 16 systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and 5 Raynaud s phenomenon only. In each subject, esophageal manometric study was performed with lower compliance capillary infusion system. RESULTS: The mean age(+SD) of patients and controls were as follows : MCTD 34.1(+8.9), systemic sclerosis 44.9(+9. 3), SLE 32. 1(+7.9), and normal controls 31. 9 (+ 5. 3). All patients with MCTD and systemic sclerosis had Raynaud s phenomenon. Twelve out of 14 patients with MCTD, 17 out of 21 patients with systemic sclerosis, were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Nine out of 16 SLE had Raynaud s phenomenon. Among 9 SLE with Raynaud s phenomenon, 5 patients(55.5%) were abnormal in esophageal manometry, and among 7 SLE without Raynaud's phenomenon, 2 patients (28. 6%) were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Among 5 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, 3 patients were abnormal in esophageal manometry. Abnormal esophageal manometry finding is more common in the connective tissue disease patients with Raynaud's phenomenon compared with the patients without Raynaud's phenomenon (P=O. 0219). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal esophageal manometry finding is more common in the connective tissue disease patients with Raynauds phenomenon compared with the patients without Raynaud s phenomenon.

Adult Onset Still's Disease: Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors in Korea / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to review the disease course, clinical and laboratory manifestations, prognosis and treatment of adult onset Still s disease (AOSD) in Korea. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with AOSD were enrolled from 1986 to 1997 in Hanyang University Hospital. Diagnosis of AOSD was based on the criteria proposed by Yamaguchi. We classified the disease course into self-limited, inter mittent, or chronic disease course. RESULTS: Twenty-four (75%) patients were female. Skin rash occurred in 28 (88%) patients, lymphadenopathy in 8 (25%), hepatomegaly in 4 (13%), and pericarditis in 2 (6%) out of 32 patients. The most commonly affected joints were knee joints (88%). Elevated LDH was seen in 18 (60%) patients and decreased CK in 17 (61%) patients. Rheumatoid factor was detected in 4 (13%) patients and ANA in 12 (38%) patients. Anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL) was seen in 13 (41%) patients and hypoalbuminemia (<3. 5 g/dL) in 14 (52%) patients. Elevated ferritin (300 ng/mL) level was seen in 23 (79%) patients. Twenty-five (78%) patients had elevated serum transaminase. Bone marrow studies were performed in 16 patients. Nine out of 16 patients showed hyperplasia of the myeloid series and 2 patients displayed the features of a hemophagocytic syndrome. The mean duration of follow up of 32 patients was 32 months (range 3- 108). Eight (27%) patients had a self-limited, 9 (30%) an intermittent, and 13 (43%) a chronic disease course. The hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with an "intermittent or chronic disease group" (p<0. 05). Thirty-two patients received systemic corticosteroids and 21 patients received single or combination of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. CONCLUSION: We found that hypoalbuminemia at presentation was significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome, intermittent or chronic disease group. The clinical manifestations and disease course of AOSD in Korea were similar to those previously reported in other countries except significantly lower incidence of lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and pericarditis.

Massive Subacromial Bursitis with Rice Bodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Rice bodies are numerous small fibrinous, cartilaginous-like materials which were first described in tuberculous joints. Rice bodies are common findings in joints afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis or other seronegative arthropathy. But less commonly, those can be seen in periarticular bursae or at the sites of tendon or ligament insertion. Rice bodies, thought to be a nonspecific response to synovial inflammation, probably evolve from ischemia in a proliferative synovium. Some of these bodies contain a core of collagen with a mantle of fibrin, others contain only fibrin. Subacromial bursa are sometimes involved in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and can reach impressive dimensions before becoming clinically detectable because significant constrain is lacking. Subacromial arthrography or magnetic resonance imaging accurately delineated the existence of cartilaginous loose bodies before surgical exision. We experienced a man with rheumatoid arthritis who had massive subacromial bursitis with rice bodies. His shoulder had been swollen since 5 years ago. He felt no pain and had only mild limitation of motion. Subacromial arthrography or magnetic resonance imaging of right shoulder showed multiple rice bodies in enlarged subacromial bursa. Operation finding showed a large encapsulated mass in the subacromial bursa, and hundreds of fibrinous rice bodies were revealed, which were resected. We report this patient with a review of literatures.

Analytic Study of the Clinical Features of Korean Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Korean JRA and the possible profiles related to prognosis and to compare these data to pre-existing occidental reports. METHODS: 140 cases of JRA patients were randomly selected from 1986 through 1995. Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis was excluded with the aid of modified New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis. We used the classification of progression of rheumatoid arthritis (radiological stage III+IV / I+II+III+IV) as a index of prognosis. The study factors were sex, age, type, affected joints, degree of destruction of joint, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), HLA-B27 and extra-articular manifestations. Chi-square test, One-way ANOVA test, and Pearson' s correlation coefficient were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: Our study show results as follows : (1) Systemic onset type (ll%) { polyarthritis subset (66%), oligoarthritis subset (34%) }, oligoarthritis onset type (62%) { sero (-) -HLA-B27 (+) subset (66%) , RF (+) subset (20%), not otherwise classified subset (14%) ANA(+)-chronic uveitis subset(O%) }, polyarthritis onset type (27%) { RF(+) subset (66%), not otherwise classified subset (34%) }, (2) Sex ratio was M:F=1.8:l. (3) Age of onset was 11+3.6 years. (4) Affected joints were knee, ankle, hand in decreasing order of frequency. (5) Patients show seropositivity of RF in 31%, HLA-B27 in 54%, ANA in 8%. (6) Chronic uveitis was observed in 7 cases (5%) (all oligoarthritis onset type, M:F=6:1, age of onset 11+4.3 years, ANA (0%), HLA-B27 (86%) , 2 cases leading to blindness. (7) Destructive bone change was significantly more prominent in female (p<0.01) , RF(+) (p<0.01), HLA-B27(-) (p<0.01) , polyarthritis onset type (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained interesting results that are somewhat different from Occidental data in sex ratio (male dominance), age of onset (older age) , profiles of HLA-B27 (high positivity in spite of low HLA-B27 positivity in Korean (about 2. 3%) , low rate of destructive change) , ANA (low positivity, older age of onset) , chronic uveitis (low incidence, male dominance, older age of onset, high association with HLA-B27, not associated with ANA) . This study suggests possible racial difference in clinical features of JRA. But for prove of racial difference, further multi-center trial and large scale epidemiological study should be done.

Two Cases of SAPHO Syndrome / 대한류마티스학회지

SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) syndrome designates a group of articular and osseous manifestations frequently combined with skin disorders. Its fundamental component is inflammatory, pseudoinfectious, and sterile osteitis. The anterior chest wall is the most frequent localization and all the components of this structure may be involved. Palmoplantar pustulosis, psoriasis, acne conglobata, acne ulcerans, acne fulminans, pyoderma gangrenosum can be associated with the characteristic bone lesions. We report two cases of SAPHO syndrome : A 40-year-old female presented with both buttock pain with hyperostosis, costochondritis, synovitis and pustulosis palmaris and a 23-year-old male presented with migrating polyarthritis with costochondritis, synovitis, acne, pustulosis.

A Case of Portal Vein Gas Embolism from Hydrogen Peroxide Ingestion / 대한내과학회지

We present a case of a 19-year-old male with portal vein gas embolism resulting from accidental ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly used germicidal cleansing agent. When it is applied to tissues, catalase causes its rapid molecular decomposition with the release of oxygen bubbles. The patient recovered without sequelae. Hyperbaric oxygenation may be of benefit in patients with respiratory compromise or central nervous system symptoms from gas embolism in hydrogen peroxide ingestion.

A Case of Crohn's Disease with Repeated Bowel Obstruction / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.

A Case of Crohn's Disease with Repeated Bowel Obstruction / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Crohn's disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease in Korea which requires a differential diagnosis with intestinal tuberculosis. In the early stages of Crohn's diseaae, the combiation of bowel wall edema and spasm produces intermittent obstructive manifestations, so the usual subjective symptoms were appeared long standing diarrhea, low grade fever and abdominal pain and distension. We recently experienced a case of Crohn's colitis with repeated bowel obstruction in female adult who underwent surgical resection.

A Case of the Bronchial Artery-Pulmonary Vein Malformation / 결핵

The bronchial artery-pulmonary vein malformation should be called the systemic artery-to- pulmonary vein arterioveonus malformation in the lung. Although pulmonary arteriovenous malformation has been well documented in intrapulmonary arteriovenous malformation, the systemic artery-to-pulmonary vein arteriovenous malformation is rare. Most patients with systemic artery-to-pulmonary vein arteriovenous malformation is asymptomatic and the diagnosis of these anomaly may be done by continuous murmur or abnormal chest X-ray on the physical examination. The pathogenesis of this condition is congenital malformation which explains these anastomoses between the pulmonary vein and accessory brochial arteries and acquired malformation which explains development of new blood vessel to supply large enough to cause significant systemic-pulmonary shunts due to inflammation secondary to infection, trauma, or previous surgery. We experienced a case of the bronchial artery-pulmonary vein malformation which was detected on angiography in 20-year-old women whose chief complain is hemoptysis. This massive hemoptysis was controlled by selective brochial artery embolization with Gelfoam and Ivalon particles.