Buerger's Disease in Korea

PURPOSE: Buerger's disease (Thromboangiitis obliterans, TAO) is characterized by non- atheromatous inflammatory disease, and segmental inflammatory thrombotic occlusions of the small & middle-sized arteries and veins of the upper or lower extremities. Any epidemiological study of Buerger's disease in Korea has not been carried out until now. This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of Buerger's disease in Korea among the patients suffering with arterial disease. METHODS: We collected and analyzed the data on 11,128 patients who were admitted to or visited the participating 22 hospitals for chronic arterial diseases throughout the major region of the South Korea from January 1986 to December 2003. The clinical diagnostic inclusion criteria for Buerger's disease were the followings: (1) a history of smoking or tobacco abuse; (2) an age of onset less than 50 years; (3) infrapopliteal, segmental arterial occlusions with sparing of the proximal vasculature; (4) frequent distal upper extremity arterial involvement (Raynaud's syndrome or digital ulceration) or-superficial phlebitis; and (5) the absence of arteriosclerotic risk factors other than smoking. RESULTS: The incidence rate of Buerger's disease among the arterial disease (11,128 patients) was 93 patients (0.83%) when the strict criteria of Shionoya was applied. 699 male-patients (6.55%) and 30 female patients (4.12%) who met the less strict criteria (the extended clinical diagnostic criteria group) were also reviewed. The 4th and 5th decades were the most common ages with-249 patients (34.2%) and 222 patients (30.5%) respectively, being found at these ages. The mean age was 40.4+/-1.6 years (age range: 16~83 years) and this was similar in both the strict criteria group and the less strict criteria group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests there was a low incidence of Buerger's disease in Korea among the patients who visited the participating hospitals when the strict diagnostic criteria were used. The incidence was lower than expected even when the less strict criteria were used. The more accurate incidence of Buerger's disease among the general population can be obtained by performing careful prospective study that is participated in by not only vascular surgeons, but also the other medical specialists with utilizing the strict diagnostic criteria.

A Study on the Complications of Renal Transplant Recipients / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the complications in renal transplant recipients and analyze the factors that affect the survival rate of transplant kidney and patients. METHODS: Between March 1985 and April 2000, 380 cases of renal transplantation were performed at Yeungnam University Hospital. The results were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Infectious complications occurred 612 times in 215 cases and non-infectious complications occurred 200 times in 143 cases. The region of infection was in the order of urinary tract infection (461 times) and pulmonary infection (44 times). Non-infectious complications were as follows; hyperglycemia in 44 cases, de novo hypertension in 27 cases out of 35 previously normotensive patients, nephrotoxicity caused by CsA in 15 cases, myelosuppression in 14 cases, avascular necrosis in 10 cases, and malignancy in 9 cases. Surgical complications were as follows; renovascular bleeding in 15 cases, ureteral obstruction in 5 cases, lymphocele in 4 cases, ureteral leak in 3 cases, and intestinal obstruction in 3 cases. Out of total 380 cases of renal transplant, 113 times of acute rejection occurred in 99 cases. CONCLUSION: Infectious complications were most frequent complication. There were significant differences in graft survival for living non-related donor kidney transplantation by immunosuppressive regimen. CsA+PD+MMF group results in highest graft survival in living non-related donor kidney transplantation and was followed by CsA+PD group, CsA+PD+AZA group. But CsA+PD+MMF regimen has been used in recent years and it needs to be studied prospectively.

Detection of the source of peripheral arterial emboli by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)

No abstract available.

The effect of valvuloplasty in the treatment of primary varicose vein

No abstract available.