The relationship between long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and kidney function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Objective@#Although nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first-line treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), their effect on kidney function remains unclear. This longitudinal study investigated the correlation between long-term NSAID use and kidney function in patients with AS using electronic medical records. @*Methods@#The electronic medical records of 1,280 patients with AS collected from a single center between January 2001 and December 2018 were reviewed. The Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) NSAID Intake Score was used to determine the cumulative dose of all NSAIDs prescribed for a different time intervals. Each ASAS NSAID Intake Score was obtained for intervals of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years. The correlation between the ASAS NSAID Intake Score and final estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for each interval was investigated. @*Results@#The mean ASAS Intake Scores for 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year intervals were 55.30, 49.28, 44.84, 44.14, 44.61, and 41.17, respectively. At each interval, the pearson correlation coefficients were −0.018 (95% CI: −0.031 to −0.006, p=0.004), −0.021 (95% CI: −0.039 to −0.004, p=0.018), −0.045 (95% CI: −0.071 to −0.019, p=0.001), −0.069 (95% CI: −0.102 to −0.037, p<0.001), −0.070 (95% CI: −0.114 to −0.026, p=0.002), −0.019 (95% CI: −0.099 to 0.062, p=0.645), respectively. There was a very weak negative relationship between ASAS Intake Score and eGFR at each interval. @*Conclusion@#Long-term NSAID use did not correlate with kidney function based on real-world data in patients with AS.

Different Seasonal Variations of Potassium in Hemodialysis Patients with High Longitudinal Potassium Levels: A Multicenter Cohort Study Using DialysisNet

Purpose@#To determine seasonal variations in serum potassium levels among hemodialysis patients. @*Materials and Methods@#This was a multicenter cohort study of patients whounderwent hemodialysis and were registered in DialysisNet at our four associated general hospitals between January and December 2016. Month-to-month potassium variability was quantified as SD/√{n/(n-1)}, and a non-hierarchical method was used to cluster groups according to potassium trajectories. Seasonal variations in potassium levels were analyzed using a cosinor analysis. @*Results@#The analysis was performed on 279 patients with a mean potassium level of 5.08±0.58 mmol/L. After clustering, 52.3% (n=146) of patients were included in the moderate group (K+ , 4.6±0.4 mmol/L) and 47.7% (n=133) in the high group (K+ , 5.6±0.4 mmol/L). The mean potassium level peaked in January in the moderate group (4.83±0.74 mmol/L) and in August in the high group (5.51±0.70 mmol/L). In the high potassium group, potassium levels were significantly higher in summer than in autumn (p<0.001) and spring (p=0.007). Month-to-month potassium variability was greater in the high group than in the moderate group (0.59±0.19 mmol/L vs. 0.52±0.21 mmol/L, respectively, p=0.012). Compared to patients in the first quartile of potassium variability (≤0.395 mmol/L), those with higher variability (2nd–4th quartiles) were 2.8–4.2 fold more likely to be in the high potassium group. @*Conclusion@#Different seasonal patterns of serum potassium were identified in the moderate and high potassium groups, with potassium levels being significantly higher in the summer season in the high potassium group and in winter for the moderate potassium group.

Renal artery stenosis presenting with nephrotic-range proteinuria: a case report

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is commonly presented with hypertension and chronic kidney disease. We report a rare case of RAS occurring in a 78-year-old man who presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria. Renal biopsy on the left side was performed, and results showed mesangiopathic glomerulonephritis, which was not compatible with the cause of nephrotic-range proteinuria. Proteinuria was decreased by angiotensin receptor blocker, but azotemia was aggravated. Therefore, angiotensin receptor blocker was discontinued inevitably and thorough evaluation for the possibility of RAS was performed. Computed tomography angiography revealed significant RAS on the left side and a renal artery stent was inserted. After stenting, aortic dissection developed and progressed despite tight control of blood pressure. After inserting another stent graft through the true lumen of the left renal artery, the patient's renal function and proteinuria improved markedly.

Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease Caused by Mycobacterium simiae: The First Reported Case in South Korea / 결핵및호흡기질환

This is a report of the first South Korean case of a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae. The patient was a previously healthy 52-year-old female. All serial isolates were identified as M. simiae by multi-locus sequencing analysis, based on hsp65, rpoB, 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer, and 16S rRNA fragments. A chest radiography revealed deterioration, and the follow-up sputum cultures were persistently positive, despite combination antibiotic treatment, including azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of a lung disease caused by M. simiae in South Korea.

A Case of Gastric Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Spontaneous Regression

A 44-year-old male was followed-up with esophagogastroduodenoscopy due to an esophageal submucosal tumor. On the lesser curvature of the gastric low body, a 0.5 cm sized round elevated lesion with hyperemia was noticed. Two pieces of biopsy were taken from this lesion for histopathologic examination. Histology showed Langerhans cell infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for CD1a antigen, which confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. There was no evidence of other organ involvement. The lesions spontaneously disappeared 4 months later without any treatment. We report a very rare case of gastric Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Skeletal Muscle Metastasis and Elevated beta-HCG Level Secondary to Tongue Cancer: a Case Report and Review of Literature / 대한내과학회지

Metastases to skeletal muscle and paraneoplastic syndromes involving beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) production are an extremely rare manifestation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We report a patient with a beta-HCG-secreting squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue with diffuse metastases involving skeletal muscle. A 47 year old female, who was being treated heavily with palliative chemotherapy for metastatic tongue cancer, was admitted with a palpable thigh mass and pain. A magnetic resonance image showed an intramuscular metastasis in the thigh. Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the thigh mass confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. She was scheduled for enrollment into a clinical trial; however, a positive serum beta-HCG test was noticed. There was no evidence of pregnancy or a trophoblastic or non-trophoblastic tumor secreting beta-HCG. Finally, she was revealed to have a paraneoplastic syndrome with diffuse metastases and was ultimately referred for palliative care. We review the literature of previously reported cases of an increase of beta-HCG in patients with head and neck cancer.