A Case of Infective Endocarditis in an End-Stage Renal Disease Patient Caused by Candida famata / 대한내과학회지

Infective endocarditis is rare in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, who have a poorer prognosis than the general population. Candida endocarditis is rare and has a poor prognosis among causes of infective endocarditis. A 45-year-old male was admitted with sepsis combined with a hematoma on his right back. Candida famata was cultured in his blood. We treated him with antifungal agents. Echocardiography was performed to identify vegetations and diagnose endocarditis. In this case, surgical therapy was impossible because the patient's condition had deteriorated. We also administered antibiotics because methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from his sputum and a perianal abscess. The symptoms did not improve despite the ongoing treatment. Metabolic acidosis, hypotension, and a decreased state of consciousness developed and he died. We report a rare case of Candida endocarditis in an ESRD patient on hemodialysis.

Risk Factors and Reversibility of Renal Failure in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multiple myeloma (MM) is frequently accompanied by renal insufficiency, which has been regarded as a poor prognostic factor for MM. It is known that the incidence and characteristics of MM in Asia differ from those in Western countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for renal impairment and to investigate reversible factors for renal failure in patients with MM. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with MM from 2005 to 2008 were included. We investigated factors associated with renal insufficiency and those related to recovery from renal dysfunction after 12 weeks of treatment of MM. RESULTS: Renal failure was recognized in 86 (39%) of 221 patients at diagnosis. In the binary logistic regression analysis, low hemoglobin (odds ratio [OR], 0.813; p = 0.02), high beta2microglobulin (OR, 1.006; p < 0.01), and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) (OR, 2.783; p < 0.04) at initial presentation were independent risk factors for renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma. After 12 weeks of treatment, 25 of 86 (29%) patients with renal failure had recovered renal function. Good response to chemotherapy (OR, 6.044; p < 0.01) and higher eGFR (OR, 1.084; p < 0.01) were associated with renal function recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of hemoglobin and beta2microglobulin, and use of ACEi were independent risk factors for the development of renal failure in MM patients. The response to chemotherapy and eGFR at diagnosis significantly influenced recovery of renal function.

Risk Factors and Reversibility of Renal Failure in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multiple myeloma (MM) is frequently accompanied by renal insufficiency, which has been regarded as a poor prognostic factor for MM. It is known that the incidence and characteristics of MM in Asia differ from those in Western countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for renal impairment and to investigate reversible factors for renal failure in patients with MM. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with MM from 2005 to 2008 were included. We investigated factors associated with renal insufficiency and those related to recovery from renal dysfunction after 12 weeks of treatment of MM. RESULTS: Renal failure was recognized in 86 (39%) of 221 patients at diagnosis. In the binary logistic regression analysis, low hemoglobin (odds ratio [OR], 0.813; p = 0.02), high beta2microglobulin (OR, 1.006; p < 0.01), and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) (OR, 2.783; p < 0.04) at initial presentation were independent risk factors for renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma. After 12 weeks of treatment, 25 of 86 (29%) patients with renal failure had recovered renal function. Good response to chemotherapy (OR, 6.044; p < 0.01) and higher eGFR (OR, 1.084; p < 0.01) were associated with renal function recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of hemoglobin and beta2microglobulin, and use of ACEi were independent risk factors for the development of renal failure in MM patients. The response to chemotherapy and eGFR at diagnosis significantly influenced recovery of renal function.

Abdominal Aortic Calcification is Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction, Mortality, and Nonfatal Cardiovascular Events in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

This study evaluated the significance of aortic calcification index (ACI), an estimate of abdominal aortic calcification by plain abdominal computed tomography (CT), in terms of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, mortality, and nonfatal cardiovascular (CV) events in chronic hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients who took both an abdominal CT and echocardiography were divided into a low-ACI group (n = 64) and a high-ACI group (n = 64). The high-ACI group was significantly older, had a longer dialysis vintage and higher comorbidity indices, and more patients had a previous history of CV disease than the low-ACI group. The ACI was negatively correlated with LV end-diastolic volume or LV stroke volume, and was positively correlated with the ratio of peak early transmitral flow velocity to peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/E' ratio), a marker of LV diastolic function. The E/E' ratio was independently associated with the ACI. The event-free survival rates for mortality and nonfatal CV events were significantly lower in the high-ACI group compared with those in the low-ACI group, and the ACI was an independent predictor for all-cause deaths and nonfatal CV events. In conclusion, ACI is significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction and predicts all-cause mortality and nonfatal CV events in hemodialysis patients.

A Case of Early Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Intraabdominal Schwannoma in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Neurofibromatosis is an autosomal dominant hereditary disorder with an overall incidence of one in 3,000~4,000, and type 1 (Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis) characterized by the presence of multiple cutaneous neurofibromas, axillary and groin freckling, and cafe- au-lait spot. The neurofibromatosis type 1 gene is a tumor suppressor gene. Patients with the neurofibromatosis type 1 are at increased risk of developing nervous system neoplasm, including plexiform neurofibromas, optic gliomas, ependymomas, meningiomas, astrocytomas, and pheochromocytomas. Neurofibromas may undergo secondary malignant degeneration and sarcomatous changes. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 show a high incidence of Wilm's tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, nonlymphocytic leukemia, and pheochromocytoma but the gastrointestinal involvement appears to be relatively rare and usually consists of neurofibroma, ganglioneuroma, and leiomyoma. We have identified a case of early gastric adenocarcinoma and intraabdominal schwannoma in a 65-year-old man afflicted with neurofibromatosis type 1.

A Case of a Colonic Giant Lipoma Removed by Endoscopic Resection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A gastrointestinal lipoma, though rare, is a mesencymal tumor of the large bowel, and the second most common benign colonic tumor detected after an adenomatous polyp. The lesion may be asymoptomatic when small and may be detected incidentally, usually during a colonoscopic examination for another purpose. Lipomas of the large bowel that are not causing symptoms probably need no treatment, as malignant transformation has not been documented. If the mass is large, it can cause pain, anal bleeding due to intussusception, bowel obstruction and diarrhea, and thus resection should be considered. Due to the risk of perforation, endoscopic resection of large colonic lipomas has been discouraged. However, large colonic lipomas can be removed safely by endoscopic resection with the use of an endoscopic ultrasonogram and submucosal injection to elevate the lesion.

A Case of Anal Gland Cyst Treated by Endoscopic Resection / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The anal canal is the most distal part of the gastrointestinal tract, and it is developed and formed during the embryonic period. Infection is the most common disease process that occurs around the anorectum, yet tumors or cysts are occasionally encountered. The abnormal development of these parts of the gastrointestinal track during the embryonic period can result in congenital lesions that are discovered in young children or adults. A 72-year-old woman presented to us with postprandial lower abdominal discomfort and fecal incontinence. An anorectal mass was felt on the rectal examination. The colonoscopy demonstrated a submucosal tumor that was closely located to the anorectal junction. The tumor was excised with a snare and it was diagnosed as an analgland cyst due to the histologic features. It is necessary to differentiate anal gland cyst from the other diseases that have submucosal characters, such as carcinoid tumor.