A case of chronic diarrhea caused by duodenocolic fistula / 대한내과학회지

The four basic mechanisms that cause chronic diarrhea are osmotic, secretory and exudative factors, and abnormal intestinal transit. A gastrointestinal fistula cause chronic diarrhea by abnormal intestinal transit, and it must be included differential diagnosis for unknown cause of chronic diarrhea. Duodenocolic fistula is an uncommon cause of chronic diarrhea. The most common cause of duodenocolic fistula is a colon cancer. Benign duodenocolic fistula is a rare disease, which the most common cause is a duodenal ulcer. Patients usually complain of diarrhea, weight loss. Physical examinations are nonspecific. Barium enema is the most useful diagnostic procedure. Prognosis is good if surgery is undertaken at an early stage. We present a case of a 66-years old man in whom a duodenocolic fistula maybe caused by recurrent microperforation of duodenal ulcer. He complained of chronic diarrhea and weight loss. He had an operation on his fistula, and remained well.

A Case of Plummer-Vinson Syndrome / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The combination of symptomatic hypopharyngeal webs and iron-deficiency anemia in middle-aged women constitutes Plummer-Vinson syndrome. It is uncommon but important syndrome because of inceased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and esophagus. The cause of this syndrome is still not clear. A small sized web is treated by correction of anemia, but a large sized one with dysphagia is treated by breakage of web. Recently, we experienced a 41-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome. She complained of dysphagia for 10 years. Esophagogram and endoscopic examination showed a hypopharyngeal web and peripheral blood profile was compatible with iron-deficiency anemia. Her symptom improved after endoscopic balloon dilatation of the upper esophageal web.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Cefepime alone Versus Ceftazidime Plus Tobramycin in Cancer Patients with Febrile Neutropenia / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy has been recommended as an empirical regimen in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Cefepime is a fourth generation cephalosporin with good activity against both gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To compare the efficacy and safety of cefepime alone with ceftazidime plus tobramycin as empirical regimen for adult cancer patients with febrile neutropenia, a randomized, open label, comparative trial was performed. If the patient showed clinical improvent 72 hours, antibiotic could be changed to oral ciprofloxacin. Clinical and microbiological responses were determined at 72 hours and at the end of therapy. To investigate the antimicrobial resistance of viridans streptococci, swab cultures were obtained from throat in all enrolled patients and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by using microdilution method according to the NCCLS. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients were enrolled. Forty-eight patients received cefepime alone (CA), and 41 patients received ceftazidime plus tobramycin (CT). Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups (P>0.05). The initial clinical success rate at day 2-4 in group CA (91.7%) was similar with that in CT group (85.4%) (P=0.31). At the end of therapy, the final clinical success rate in CA group (91.7%) was similar to that in CT group (100%) (P=0.15). In 18 patients, with microbiologically defined infections, the eradication rate was 100% in both groups. Adverse events including liver dysfunction (21.3%) and renal dysfunction (2.2%), were similar in both groups (P=0.87). Viridans streptococci were isolated from the throat cultures in 25 cases, and all of these strains were susceptible to penicillin (MIC(90)0.12 microgram/mL), cefepime (1 microgram/mL), and vancomycin (0.12 microgram/mL). CONCLUSION: Efficacy and safety of cefepime monotherapy was comparable to the combination of ceftazidime and tobramycin. It could be used as an alternative empirical regimen for treating cancer patients with febrile neutropenia.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Cefepime alone Versus Ceftazidime Plus Tobramycin in Cancer Patients with Febrile Neutropenia / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy has been recommended as an empirical regimen in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Cefepime is a fourth generation cephalosporin with good activity against both gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To compare the efficacy and safety of cefepime alone with ceftazidime plus tobramycin as empirical regimen for adult cancer patients with febrile neutropenia, a randomized, open label, comparative trial was performed. If the patient showed clinical improvent 72 hours, antibiotic could be changed to oral ciprofloxacin. Clinical and microbiological responses were determined at 72 hours and at the end of therapy. To investigate the antimicrobial resistance of viridans streptococci, swab cultures were obtained from throat in all enrolled patients and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by using microdilution method according to the NCCLS. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients were enrolled. Forty-eight patients received cefepime alone (CA), and 41 patients received ceftazidime plus tobramycin (CT). Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups (P>0.05). The initial clinical success rate at day 2-4 in group CA (91.7%) was similar with that in CT group (85.4%) (P=0.31). At the end of therapy, the final clinical success rate in CA group (91.7%) was similar to that in CT group (100%) (P=0.15). In 18 patients, with microbiologically defined infections, the eradication rate was 100% in both groups. Adverse events including liver dysfunction (21.3%) and renal dysfunction (2.2%), were similar in both groups (P=0.87). Viridans streptococci were isolated from the throat cultures in 25 cases, and all of these strains were susceptible to penicillin (MIC(90)0.12 microgram/mL), cefepime (1 microgram/mL), and vancomycin (0.12 microgram/mL). CONCLUSION: Efficacy and safety of cefepime monotherapy was comparable to the combination of ceftazidime and tobramycin. It could be used as an alternative empirical regimen for treating cancer patients with febrile neutropenia.

Two Cases of Aspergillus Endocarditis in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 감염과화학요법

Although Aspergillus endocarditis has rarely been reported, it can cause fatal complications in hematologic malignancy patients and allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. We experienced two cases of aspergillus endocarditis developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Case; A 19-year-old patient developed Aspergillus endocarditis after allogenic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. He was treated with surgical intervention and liposomal amphotericin B. He died of recurred Aspergillus endocarditis and cerebral hemorrhage probably related with aspergillosis of central nervous system. Case 2; A 23-year-old patient developed invasive Aspergillus endocarditis after induction chemotherapy. Aspergillus endocarditis was successfully treated by surgical intervention and amphotericin B. He died of refractory neutropenic fever and sepsis after the third relapse of leukemia and repetitive chemotherapy. He probably had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis without evidence of endocarditis recurrence. Because the mortality of Aspergillus endocarditis is very high, early diagnosis and surgical intervention are very important for better outcome.

Two Cases of Aspergillus Endocarditis in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 감염과화학요법

Although Aspergillus endocarditis has rarely been reported, it can cause fatal complications in hematologic malignancy patients and allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. We experienced two cases of aspergillus endocarditis developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Case; A 19-year-old patient developed Aspergillus endocarditis after allogenic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. He was treated with surgical intervention and liposomal amphotericin B. He died of recurred Aspergillus endocarditis and cerebral hemorrhage probably related with aspergillosis of central nervous system. Case 2; A 23-year-old patient developed invasive Aspergillus endocarditis after induction chemotherapy. Aspergillus endocarditis was successfully treated by surgical intervention and amphotericin B. He died of refractory neutropenic fever and sepsis after the third relapse of leukemia and repetitive chemotherapy. He probably had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis without evidence of endocarditis recurrence. Because the mortality of Aspergillus endocarditis is very high, early diagnosis and surgical intervention are very important for better outcome.