A Case of Hepatic Congestion Due to Right Heart Failure Mimicking Liver Tumor / 대한소화기학회지

This report describes a patient with hepatic congestion due to right heart failure mimicking liver tumor. The patient had a history of breast cancer and left total mastectomy 30 years ago, tricuspid valve regurgitation and tricuspid valve replacement 4 years ago. Three years ago, abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed to evaluate inguinal hernia, which revealed multiple small hepatic nodules. After 1 year, the number and size of liver nodules were increased in CT scan. The patient underwent gun biopsy and histopathology revealed sinusoid enlargement. The patient recently had jaundice, abdominal distension, and peripheral edema. Liver dynamic CT scan was done to evaluate the palpable liver. The number and size of liver nodules were more increased in CT than 2 years ago. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), numerous variable sized ill-defined nodules replacing entire liver with progressing centripetal enhancement, which were suggestive of malignancy such as angiosarcoma, were noted. MRI finding suspects malignancy or hemangiosarcoma. Finally, the patient received repeated gun biopsy, and histopathology revealed findings compatible with hepatic congestion.

A case of spontaneous bladder rupture after a bout of heavy drinking / 대한내과학회지

Spontaneous urinary bladder rupture is uncommon, but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality because of delayed diagnosis. A 65-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room because of low abdominal pain and abdominal distention of sudden onset. The previous night, he had consumed a bottle of alcohol and fallen asleep. Diagnosed as peritonitis of unknown origin, he was prescribed antibiotics empirically. However, the ascites progressed and oliguric acute renal failure developed. On the fifth day, we measured the creatinine level in the ascitic fluid and performed retrograde cystography. He was diagnosed as idiopathic spontaneous bladder rupture and underwent a primary repair successfully. When a patient presents with acute abdominal pain, ascites, and oliguric acute renal failure without definite causes, physicians should consider idiopathic spontaneous bladder rupture, measure the creatinine level in the ascitic fluid immediately, and perform retrograde cystography to obtain an early diagnosis.

The endoscopic findings in patients with noncardiac chest pain who have a normal coronary angiogram / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) mainly results from esophageal lesions in the developed world. By contrast, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a less frequent cause of NCCP than peptic ulcer disease in China and Japan. Therefore, both esophageal lesions and stomach and duodenal lesions are likely to be important causes of NCCP in Korea. We used upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to evaluate lesions of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum in NCCP patients after cardiac chest pain was ruled out by coronary angiography (CAG). METHODS: From the patients who underwent CAG between 2004 and 2008, we identified 89 patients who had normal CAG or minimal disease. We retrospectively analyzed the endoscopic findings of these 89 patients who were diagnosed with NCCP. RESULTS: At endoscopy for the 89 patients, the percentages of GERD, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer were 20.2% (n=18), 14.6% (n=13), and 3.3% (n=3) respectively. Of the 16 cases diagnosed as peptic ulcer, 11 were evaluated by biopsy or the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test for suspected Helicobacter pylori infection. Six (54%) cases were positive for H. pylori and five (46%) were negative. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the incidence of peptic ulcer disease (17.9%) as a cause of NCCP is similar to that of GERD (20.2%). Consequently, we should perform endoscopy to determine the cause of NCCP.

A Case of Treatment with Etanercept in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient on Hemodialysis / 대한류마티스학회지

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the aim of controlling synovitis and reducing radiologic progression. Although methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most effective DMARDs, it may cause severe adverse effects. Especially, hematologic toxicity including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and fatal pancytopenia is reported in patients with impaired renal function, since renal excretion constitutes the major route of MTX elimination. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) inhibitors are well-established biologic agents for the treatment of RA and their clinical efficacy and safety are already demonstrated. But there were few reports on the efficacy and safety in dialysis patients. We described a case of hemodialysis patient with refractory RA that was successfully treated with etanercept, and discussed with literature review.