Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage from Esophageal Ulcer Caused by Coinfection of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus in Immunocompromised Patient

Coinfection with herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus is a very rare cause of esophageal ulcer and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. A 26 year-old male kidney transplant recipient was referred with a complaint of melena. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a huge esophageal ulcer in the anastomosis site of the esophagogastrostomy. The ulcer occupied about two-thirds of the circumference of the esophageal lumen and an exposed vessel in the ulcer base was noted. Pathologic findings with immunohistochemical stain showed co-infection of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus. He was treated successfully with endoscopic hemostasis and antiviral therapy. We report a case of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from esophageal ulcer caused by coinfection of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus.

Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage from Esophageal Ulcer Caused by Coinfection of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus in Immunocompromised Patient

Coinfection with herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus is a very rare cause of esophageal ulcer and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. A 26 year-old male kidney transplant recipient was referred with a complaint of melena. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a huge esophageal ulcer in the anastomosis site of the esophagogastrostomy. The ulcer occupied about two-thirds of the circumference of the esophageal lumen and an exposed vessel in the ulcer base was noted. Pathologic findings with immunohistochemical stain showed co-infection of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus. He was treated successfully with endoscopic hemostasis and antiviral therapy. We report a case of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage from esophageal ulcer caused by coinfection of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus.

Recent trends in hepatitis B virus infection in the general Korean population

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major cause of chronic liver disease in Korea, but viral prevalence has decreased because of hepatitis B vaccination programs. In this study, we investigated longitudinal changes in HBV in fection in the general Korean population. METHODS: HBV surface antigen (hepatitis B surface antigen, HBsAg) seropositivity was assessed from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (I to V). In total, 50,140 subjects were tested for serum HBsAg positivity over a period of 12 years (1998 to 2010). RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg seropositivity decreased over the study period. The rates of HBsAg carriers were 4.61% in 1998, 4.60% in 2001, 3.69% in 2005, 3.01% in 2008, and 2.98% in 2010 (p 0.05). Neither gender nor socioeconomic status were associated with the decreased prevalence of HBsAg carriers. CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection has decreased in the Korean population since the advent of vaccination programs. However, the decrease is limited to the younger population, and viral persistence remains in the middle-aged and older population.

Predictors of Steroid Treatment Failure and Validation of Previous Models for Severe Attacks of Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Some clinical and laboratory parameter are predictors to determine steroid treatment failure in patients acute severe ulcerative colitis. We aimed to validate previous models in the Korean patients. METHODS: This study was conducted retrospectively with 70 patients who were diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis (UC) between January 2001 and June 2011. The rate of treatment failure was investigated using predictors or numerical scoring systems from prior studies. RESULTS: Twelve (17.2%) patients failed to respond to steroid therapy. The logistic regression analysis revealed that stool frequency on the fifth day and colonic dilatation were the only independent predictive factors related to treatment failure. Formulated numerical risk scores based on mean stool frequency, colonic dilatation, and hypoalbuminemia were significantly higher in the non-responding group than those in the responding group (P8 than in the group with a score 8 plus CRP >4.5 mg/dL or bloody stool plus CRP >4.3 mg/dL) than those of the other group at the third day (40% vs. 7.3%, P=0.004; 33.3% vs. 5.2%, P=0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Stool frequency and CRP level were the meaningful parameters among the predictors for steroid treatment response. Furthermore, several predictive models for steroid treatment failure in western countries seem to be of value for use in the Korean population.

Treatment of Massive Hemoptysis Occurred from Destroyed Lung: Prevention of Contralateral Aspiration Using Endobronchial Blocker Followed by Pneumonectomy / 결핵및호흡기질환

Untreated massive hemoptysis, especially in patients with tuberculous-destroyed lung, is a serious complication resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a patient who had active tuberculosis and a destroyed left lung with massive bleeding. He was transferred to our clinic with intubation of a right-sided Robertshaw double lumen tube and right upper lobe collapse likely due to tube malposition that was presented on chest X-ray. Because hemoptysis had persisted after bronchial arterial embolizaton, we replaced the double lumen tube with a conventional endotracheal tube and inserted an endobronchial blocker into the left main bronchus through an endotracheal tube guided by bronchoscopy to prevent aspiration of blood into the right lung. Left pneumonectomy was performed and hemotpysis was ceased. We suggest that the use of an endobronchial blocker followed by surgery may be a safe and effective modality of treatment in patients with persistent bleeding after bronchial arterial embolization.

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Hemodynamically Unstable Ventricular Tachycardia Associated with Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a connective tissue disease and cardiac involvement is common. Primary cardiac involvement such as conduction system disturbances and arrhythmias can also occur. However, reports of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are rare. We report a case of catheter ablation of sustained ventricular tachycardia in a patient with systemic sclerosis using a conventional mapping system. A 64-yr-old woman with a 10-yr history of SS was referred for management of her ventricular tachycardia. There was no structural abnormality in cardiac chambers. However, electrophysiologic study revealed electrical substrate of ventricular tachycardia which could be ablated with pacemapping and substrate mapping. This case demonstrated successful conventional mapping and catheter ablation in a hemodynamically unstable patient with SS.

A Case of Biliary Cast Syndrome in a Non-liver Transplatation Patients / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The development of total biliary casts is very unusual, and especially in patients who have not undergone liver transplantation. There are only a few reports of total biliary casts in non-liver transplantation patients who have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cholecystectomy or allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Here we present the case of a previously well 77-year-old man who developed a total biliary casts without any risk factors and there was no obvious liver insult. The casts were managed endoscopically.

A Case of Acute Pancreatitis Caused by the Necrotic Tissue of Gallbladder Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones. However, idiopathic causes comprise about 10 to 15% of all cases of acute pancreatitis. Biliary sludge is thought to be a cause of idiopathic acute pancreatitis and mainly via obstruction of the common bile duct. Cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder, cholesterolosis and hemobilia can be associated with biliary pain. Fragments of the gallbladder polyps and blood clots can lead to acute pancreatitis in a way similar to that of biliary sludge. Yet it has never been reported that the necrotic tissue of gallbladder cancer can lead to acute pancreatitis. Herein, we report on the case of a 52-year-old man with acute pancreatitis that was caused by the necrotic tissue of gallbladder cancer. The necrotic tissue in the bile duct was revealed on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The patient was successfully treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy along with liver segmentectomy.