Valvular Regurgitation in Patients with Graves' Disease

The high cardiac output state and an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation are well-known cardiovascular complications of Graves' disease, whereas the valvular complications are less well recognized. With 2D color Doppler echocardiography, the cardiac and valvular function of 39 patients with Graves' disease were evaluated and our data were compared with previous Kage's study. The incidences of mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients with Graves' disease were 54% and 51%, respectively. There was no correlation between the incidence of MR and ventricular dilatation. In patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), the incidences of severe TR and atrial fibrillation were significantly higher than in patients without CHF. The incidences of TR and MR in patients with Graves' disease were not different by thyroid function status (hyperthyroid vs. euthyroid). We suggest that the examination for TR and MR in patients with Graves' disease is important not only their high prevalence but also their clinical significance as a risk factor for CHF.

Two cases of Ticlopidine-induced neutropenia in patients with cardiovascular disease

Ticlopidine is an antiplatelet agent used as a drug to prevent the recurrence of cerebral infarction or ischemic heart disease. Close attention has recently been paid to the superiority of this drug to aspirin in the prevention of stroke. Its mechanism of action differs from aspirin, dipyridamole, and sulfinpyrazone. Inhibition of the adenosine diphosphate induced pathway of platelet aggregation, along with the activation of adenylate cyclase and suppression of platelet-activating factor and thromboxane A2, are the postulated mechanisms of action of ticlopidine. Because ticlopidine causes neutropenia and agranulocytosis in roughly 1% of treated patients, usually within the first 3 months of treatment, this drug has been reserved for patients intolerant to aspirin therapy. We reported two cases of ticlopidine-induced neutropenia and one patient hospitalized with severe neutropenia and pneumonia.

Two cases of Ticlopidine-induced neutropenia in patients with cardiovascular disease

Ticlopidine is an antiplatelet agent used as a drug to prevent the recurrence of cerebral infarction or ischemic heart disease. Close attention has recently been paid to the superiority of this drug to aspirin in the prevention of stroke. Its mechanism of action differs from aspirin, dipyridamole, and sulfinpyrazone. Inhibition of the adenosine diphosphate induced pathway of platelet aggregation, along with the activation of adenylate cyclase and suppression of platelet-activating factor and thromboxane A2, are the postulated mechanisms of action of ticlopidine. Because ticlopidine causes neutropenia and agranulocytosis in roughly 1% of treated patients, usually within the first 3 months of treatment, this drug has been reserved for patients intolerant to aspirin therapy. We reported two cases of ticlopidine-induced neutropenia and one patient hospitalized with severe neutropenia and pneumonia.

Cumulative Positive Rate of Consecutive Sputum Polymerase Chain Reaction in Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: The conventional methods such as smear or culture of Mycobacteria have been proved either low sensitivity and specificity or time-consuming. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a rapid and sensitive alternative method to diagnose mycobacterial infection. We investigated the positive rate of sputum PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by consecutive tests for its application in clinical practice. METHODS: Sputum AFB smear, culture and serial AFB PCR test were performed in all patients who were suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis. Among them, 128 patients with positive sputum PCR test were enrolled from January 1996 through March 1997. The diagnostic criteria of pulmonary tuberculosis were sputum AFB smear positive, culture positive or pathologically proven granuloma. TB-CR TM kit (Bioneer, seoul, Korea), which amplifies insertion sequence (IS6110) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, was used for sputum AFB PCR. RESULTS: Of 128 patients, active pulmonary tuberculosis were 107 (male:74, female:33, mean age:48.9 year). Cumulative positive rate of sputum AFB PCR test was 89% at 1st test, 95% at 2nd test, 98% at 3rd test and 100% at 4th test. The sensitivity of sputum PCR, smear and culture was 98.0% (105/107), 85.0% (91/107) and 82.8% (77/107), respectively. The positive predictive value of sputum PCR was 83.6% (107/128). There were 21 patients who showed positive PCR test did not meet the diagnostic criteria of active tuberculosis. They had old tuberculosis with destroyed lung, history of anti- tuberculous medication (9/21), extrapulmonary tuberculosis (6/21) and other diseases (6/21). CONCLUSION: Sputum PCR test is a sensitive diagnostic tool in early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis when it has been performed serially, we recommend at least 2 consecutive PCR test to achieve the sensitivity of 95%.

Numb Chin Syndrome in Malignant Disease / 대한혈액학회지

The numb chin syndrome (NCS) is characterized by chin or lower lip numbness restricted to the distribution of mental nerve (the distal trigeminal nerve). This uncommon neuropathy may be associated with neoplastic disease and usually appeared as a late manifestation of systemic malignancy, and it is an important sign for early diagnosis and prediction of clinical course and prognosis of hematologic malignancy. The numb chin syndrome is usually associated with a poor prognosis although various therapeutic strategies led to resolution of this syndrome. We report 2 cases of numb chin syndrome ; one in acute leukemia in early course of disease before diagnosis of leukemia and the other in leptomeningeal seeding of malignant lymphoma. The therapeutic response and prognosis were poor, a patient of malignant lymphoma expired in two months and a patient of acute leukemia is alive at present but the disease was relapsed in 5 months after complete remission.