The Appropriateness of Colonoscopy Indication and the Diagnostic Yield of Colonoscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We wanted to evaluate if the guidelines for appropriately performing colonoscopy by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) yield good diagnostic efficacy, and we wanted to assess the appropriateness of referrals. METHODS: A total of 2,412 consecutive patients (1,605 men and 807 women) who were undergoing colonoscopy from September 2006 to February 2007 were prospectively enrolled in the study. The diagnostic yield was defined as the percentage of relevant colonic pathologies of the total number of performed colonoscopies. The 2000 ASGE guidelines were used to assess the appropriateness of the indications for the procedure. RESULTS: The large majority (64.2%) of patients had colonoscopy for an indication that was considered 'generally indicated', while the procedure was considered 'generally not indicated' for 22.4% of the patients. The diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was significantly higher for the appropriate colonoscopies (59.1%) than for the inappropriate colonoscopies (23.2%). On the multivariable analysis, the diagnostic yield was independently associated with the appropriateness of the indication that was "generally indicated" (odds ratio=9.5) and with the referrals by a gastroenterologist (odds ratio=1.7). CONCLUSIONS: The ASGE guidelines have shown a good diagnostic yield. Further steps are required to update and standardize the guidelines to increase the diagnostic yield.

Natural history of gastric varices and risk factors for bleeding / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric varices (GV) are one of the most serious complications of portal hypertension, but there is limited information on the clinical course of GV in Korea. The aim of this study was to elucidate the natural history of GV bleeding in Korean patients. METHODS: Of 604 patients with GV diagnosed between May 1995 and May 2005 at the Samsung Medical Center, 237 patients without a history of variceal bleeding or previous intervention for varices were investigated. The cumulative incidence rates of GV bleeding, long-term survival rates, and risk factors for GV bleeding were evaluated. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rates of GV bleeding were 4.8%, 19.9%, and 23.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years after diagnosis, respectively. The overall survival rates were 88.6%, 53.2%, and 37.2% at 1, 5, and 10 years. In the univariate analysis, fundal varices, large (F3) GV, red color sign, and poor liver function (Child-Pugh class B or C) were significant risk factors for GV bleeding. In the multivariate analysis, large GV (hazard ratio 2.49) and poor liver function (hazard ratio 3.95) were the independent risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: GV bleeding was more frequent in patients with fundal varices than in patients with type 1 gastroesophageal varices, and large GV and poor liver function were risk factors for GV bleeding. Close observation and prophylaxis for variceal bleeding might be warranted in high-risk patients.

Correlation between serum prolactin levels and immunocytochemical findings of pituitary adenomas in patients with acromegaly / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Acromegaly occurs by excessive secretion of growth hormone and more than 99% of cases are caused by a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Pituitary adenomas expressing multiple immunoreactivities are common. We assumed that the pituitary adenomas which is immunochemically detected growth hormone and prolactin are responsible for it and reviewed 28 patients with acromagaly to determine the correlation between serum hormonal level and immunocytochemical finding. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with acromegaly who underwent surgery of pituitary adenoma in Samsung Medical Center from October 1998 to may 2001 were included. Baseline hormonal evaluations and several endocine tests were performed. Immunocytochemical stain was done. RESULTS: According to the extent of hormonal stain, the adenoma was divided into two groups. The adenoma showing immunoreactivity over 50% to growth hormone was 100%, to prolactin was 71.4% and to FSH was 25.0%. The extent of other hormonal stain was less than 20%. There were no significant differences in age, sex, the ratio of macroadenoma and microadenoma, the basal serum GH level, serum IGF-1 level, and the response to TRH, somatostatin and bromocriptine suppression test between the two groups divided by the the extent of prolactin stain. But the serum prolactin level was 55.0+/-63.4 ng/mL, and 19.9+/-12.2 ng/mL each in two groups which was siginificantly increased in the adenoma showing immunoreactivity over 50% to prolactin. CONCLUSION: Acromegaly patients with higher expression of prolactin on immunocytochemical studies showed higher serum prolactin levels and patients with hyperprolactinemia showed higher serum IGF-1.

A Case of Acromegaly with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis / 대한내분비학회지

Secondary diabetes mellitus caused by increased growth hormone secretion (GH) has well been known. There is a close association between glucose intolerance and GH secretion, and increased GH level itself probably worsens the blood glucose control and lipid profile by increasing glycogenolysis and / or gluconeogenesis and by suppressing lipase activity. We report a case of acromegaly with diabetic ketoacidosis as and hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis. A 38 year old male, previously diagnosed to have acromegaly and diabetes, presented with nausea, vomiting, diffuse abdominal pain and altered mentality. There was no history of drug or alcohol consumption, blood gas analysis showed severe acidosis and urinanalysis for ketone was positive. His serum blood glucose, amylase and lipase levels were 494 mg/dL, 331 U/L, and 1288 U/L, respectively (reference values: 70~110 mg/dL, 13~100 U/L and 13~190 U/L, respectively). The patient was diagnosed as having diabetic ketoacidosis and acute pancreatitis. With the serum concentration of triglyceride being 1488 mg/dL and the absence of any obvious precipitating factors, we considered hypertriglyceridemia to be the cause of acute pancreatitis. He was treated with continuous intravenous insulin infusion, lipid lowering agent, and fluid replacement. After conservative management, general condition gradually improved and his serum amylase, lipase and triglyceride levels were all normalized. GH level was not suppressed under 2 ng/mL during oral glucose loading test, and basal GH and IGF levels were 231 ng/mL and 29.5 ng/mL, respectively. Sella MRI showed a 3.7 cm sized pituitary mass. On the 55th day of admission, transsphenoidal surgery was performed. In immunohistochemical staining, the pathologic tumor specimen was proved to be GH positive pituitary adenoma. This is the first case reported in the English literature of an acromegaly presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis and acute pancreatitis

Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Presenting as Acute Myocardial Infarction

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is described as an acute cardiomyopathy that occurs under the influence of an excessive level of catecholamine related to intense emotional stress. A 64-year-old woman presented with symptoms of acute myocardial infarction after emotional upset, but her coronary angiographic findings were revealed to be normal. Diffuse T wave inversions were observed in her electrocardiograms with akinetic wall motions sparing the basal segments in her left ventriculography. After four months, her electrocardiogram and echocardiogram findings had completely returned to normal. The precise diagnosis of this acute cardiomyopathy must be emphasized because it can initially be misdiagnosed as acute coronary syndromes. However in complete contrast to acute myocardial infarction, it has a rapid and favorable recovery with hardly any sequelae after a few months.

Prospective Randomized Trial of Intravenous Ciprofloxacin for Prevention of Bacterial Infection in Cirrhotic Patients with Esophageal Variceal Bleeding / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In cirrhotic patients with esophageal variceal bleeding, bacterial infections are a frequent complication. Oral antibiotic prophylaxis decreases the incidence of bacterial infections. The administration of oral antibiotics, however, may be difficult in some cirrhotic patients with active bleeding.The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of prophylactic intravenous antibiotics for the prevention of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients with esophageal variceal bleeding. METHODS: From December 1998 to September 2001, a total of 40 consecutive cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh class B or C were enrolled after emergent endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) was taken because of esophageal variceal bleeding. Enrolled patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group (n=20) received the intravenous ciprofloxacin 200mg IV q 12 hours for 3 days while the control group(n=20) didn,t. RESULTS: Bacterial infection developed in nine patients (45%) of the control group and only two patients (10%) in the treatment group. The incidence of bacterial infections was significantly lower in the treatment group than the control group (p < 0.005). The hospital cost and length of hospital stay decreased in the treatment group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). There were no differences in the hospital course and mortality within 30 days between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding and with Child-Pugh class B or C, the use of intravenous ciprofloxacin for 3 days after EVL was not only effective in the prevention of bacterial infections but also cost-effective.