Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in an ankylosing spondylitis patient / 영남의대학술지

Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a disease with an uncertain etiology consisting of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and portal pressure increase in the absence of liver cirrhosis. In INCPH, patients exhibit normal liver functions and structures. The factors associated with INCPH include the following: Umbilical/portal pyremia, bacterial diseases, prothrombic states, chronic exposure to arsenic, vinyl chloride monomers, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Approximately 70% of patients present a history of major variceal bleeding, and treatment relies on the prevention of complications related to portal hypertension. Autoimmune disorders associated with INCPH are mainly systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. To the best of our knowledge, a case of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) associated with INCPH has not been reported thus far. Therfore, we report our experience of a patient with AS accompanied by INCPH, who showed perisplenic varices with patent spleno-portal axis and hepatic veins along with no evidence of cirrhosis on liver biopsy, and provide a brief literature review.

Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in an ankylosing spondylitis patient / 영남의대학술지

Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a disease with an uncertain etiology consisting of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and portal pressure increase in the absence of liver cirrhosis. In INCPH, patients exhibit normal liver functions and structures. The factors associated with INCPH include the following: Umbilical/portal pyremia, bacterial diseases, prothrombic states, chronic exposure to arsenic, vinyl chloride monomers, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Approximately 70% of patients present a history of major variceal bleeding, and treatment relies on the prevention of complications related to portal hypertension. Autoimmune disorders associated with INCPH are mainly systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. To the best of our knowledge, a case of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) associated with INCPH has not been reported thus far. Therfore, we report our experience of a patient with AS accompanied by INCPH, who showed perisplenic varices with patent spleno-portal axis and hepatic veins along with no evidence of cirrhosis on liver biopsy, and provide a brief literature review.

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst naturally drained by esophageal fistula / 영남의대학술지

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Pleural effusion and pneumonia are two of the most common thoracic complications from pancreatic disease, while pancreaticopleural fistula with massive pleural effusion and extension of pseudocyst into the mediastinum is a rare complication of the thorax from pancreatic disease. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no case reports of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula in Korea to date. Here in, we report a case about 43-year-old man of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula presenting with chest pain radiating toward the back and progressive dysphagia. The diagnosis was confirmed by an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdomen computed tomography (CT). The patient was treated immediately using a conservative method; subsequently, within 3 days from treatment initiation, symptoms-chest pain and dysphagia-disappeared. In a follow-up gastroscopy 7 days later and abdomen CT 12 days later, mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst showed signs of improvement, and esophageal fistula disappeared without any complications.

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst naturally drained by esophageal fistula / 영남의대학술지

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis. Pleural effusion and pneumonia are two of the most common thoracic complications from pancreatic disease, while pancreaticopleural fistula with massive pleural effusion and extension of pseudocyst into the mediastinum is a rare complication of the thorax from pancreatic disease. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no case reports of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula in Korea to date. Here in, we report a case about 43-year-old man of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst-induced esophageal fistula presenting with chest pain radiating toward the back and progressive dysphagia. The diagnosis was confirmed by an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and abdomen computed tomography (CT). The patient was treated immediately using a conservative method; subsequently, within 3 days from treatment initiation, symptoms-chest pain and dysphagia-disappeared. In a follow-up gastroscopy 7 days later and abdomen CT 12 days later, mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst showed signs of improvement, and esophageal fistula disappeared without any complications.

Serotonin Syndrome following Duloxetine Administration in a Fibromyalgia Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Serotonin syndrome, an adverse drug reaction, is a consequence of excess serotonergic agonism of central nervous system receptors and peripheral serotonergic receptors. Serotonin syndrome has been associated with large numbers of drugs and drug combinations, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor-induced serotonin syndrome is rare. It is often described as a sign of excess serotonin ranging from tremor in mild cases to delirium, neuromuscular rigidity, and hyperthermia in life-threatening cases. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and patient's history, and several diagnostic criteria have been developed. We experienced a rare case of fibromyalgia accompanied by tremor, hyperreflexia, spontaneous clonus, muscle rigidity, and diaphoresis after 10 days of single use of duloxetine 30 mg. Only one case of serotonin syndrome resulting from administration of duloxetine has been reported in Korea, however that case resulted from co-administration of fluoxetine. We report here on this case along with a review of the relevant literature.