A Case of Left Atrial Metastasis From Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Life-Saving Palliative Resection Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with metastasis to the heart is uncommon. We report a rare case of left atrial metastasis of HCC which was resected palliatively as a live-saving procedure with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Despite chemoembolization, which was undertaken 11 times, cardiac metastasis occurred. Moreover, the right and left atria and left ventricle were involved simultaneously. The severe dyspnea improved dramatically after surgery. Following this, the patient underwent systemic chemotherapy and lived a life without recurrence of symptoms associated with mitral valve obstruction.

Long-Term Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor on Chronic Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) have been suggested to be beneficial in regurgitant valvular heart disease by reducing both preload and afterload. Moreover their benefits have also been proven in acute mitral regurgitation (MR). However the role of long term administration of ACEI in chronic MR remains in dispute. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients with more than moderate degree MR (rheumatic MR or Mitral valve prolapse [MVP] MR) were identified from patients undergoing cardiac echocardiography between April 1984 and July 2002. Patients with co-morbid valvular heart disease more than mild degree were excluded from the study. The subjects were divided into the study group (who took ACEI) and the control group. Medical records and echocardiographic reports were reviewed and the etiology of MR, left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (LVEDD), end-systolic dimensions (LVESD), left atrial dimensions, and ejection fraction (EF) changes were studied serially for both groups. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 5.0+/-3.2 years. There were no significant differences in age, blood pressure, or basal echocardiographic parameters between the rheumatic MR and MVP MR groups. In the MVP MR patients, the ACEI group showed a statistically significant increase in EF (p=0.007), decrease in LVESD (p=0.0014) and decrease in left atrial dimensions (p=0.01). However, in the rheumatic MR patients, the ACEI group showed no significant changes compared to those of the non-ACEI group. CONCLUSION: Long term ACEI therapy seems to be beneficial in mildly symptomatic MR due to mitral valve prolapse.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy: Analysis of 34 Cases Including 13 Autopsies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of sudden unexpected death in infancy and to evaluate the importance of postmortem autopsy. METHODS: We reviewed, retrospectively, medical records of 34 infants admitted to Kangnam General Hospital from January 1987 to December 2001 because of sudden unexpected death. We investigated the cause of death through medical history, death scene examination, autopsy findings, acylcarnitine and organic acid analysis. RESULTS: Among the total 34 infants, 18 were male(52.9%) and 16 were female(47.1%). Thirty infants(88%) were below the six months of age. Winter was the most affected season(38.2%). Eighteen infants(52.9%) died between 6 and 12AM. The prone sleeping position was observed more frequently than the supine position at death; nine cases in the prone position, six cases in the supine position. The cause of death of 23 cases could not be found by only history and death scene examination. Autopsy was done in 13 cases. Seven cases of them were thought to be SIDS. In six cases, we explained the cause of death with autosy findings. They were an endocardial fibroelastosis, a nesidioblastosis, a subdural hematoma, a bronchopneumonia and two fatty changes of liver. Metabolic screening tests performed in three cases to rule out metabolic disorder since 2000 were all normal. CONCLUSION: We concluded that autopsy and metabolic screening test should be performed to find out the cause of death in sudden unexpected death in infancy.

A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with Antiphospholipid Antibodies Presented with Tendency for Severe Bleeding

We report a case of SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies presented initially with severe bleeding. A six-year-old boy was admitted due to severe nasal bleeding for 2 months. The boy showed typical malar rash. The laboratory tests indicated that his platelet count was 80,000/mm3 and the PT and the aPTT were markedly prolonged. A number of clotting factors were decreased, including factorsll<12%, Vll: 42%, lX : 38%, Xl: 41%, and Xll: 16%. Urinalysis showed hematuria and proteinuria, and 24-hour urine protein was 1.37g/day. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was false positive, Coombs test, lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) were positive. His symptoms and laboratory tests fulfilled the criteria of SLE with antiphospholipid antibody. Renal pathology showed lupus nepritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class lV). After steroid therapy, his nasal bleeding stopped immediately, and laboratory findings became normalized. This case showed the tendency of paradoxic bleeding, instead of the expected thrombosis which can be found in this type of patient. We anticipate it is mainly due to pronounced prothrombin deficiency.

A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with Antiphospholipid Antibodies Presented with Tendency for Severe Bleeding

We report a case of SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies presented initially with severe bleeding. A six-year-old boy was admitted due to severe nasal bleeding for 2 months. The boy showed typical malar rash. The laboratory tests indicated that his platelet count was 80,000/mm3 and the PT and the aPTT were markedly prolonged. A number of clotting factors were decreased, including factorsll<12%, Vll: 42%, lX : 38%, Xl: 41%, and Xll: 16%. Urinalysis showed hematuria and proteinuria, and 24-hour urine protein was 1.37g/day. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was false positive, Coombs test, lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) were positive. His symptoms and laboratory tests fulfilled the criteria of SLE with antiphospholipid antibody. Renal pathology showed lupus nepritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class lV). After steroid therapy, his nasal bleeding stopped immediately, and laboratory findings became normalized. This case showed the tendency of paradoxic bleeding, instead of the expected thrombosis which can be found in this type of patient. We anticipate it is mainly due to pronounced prothrombin deficiency.