Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in a selective IgG3 deficient patient with recurrent respiratory infections and asthma attacks

The IgG subclass deficiency is defined as a significant decrease in the serum concentrations of one or more subclasses of IgG in a patient whose total IgG concentration is normal. IgG subclass deficiency can predispose to recurrent sinopulmonary infections. A 29-year-old female patient with a 4-year history of bronchial asthma presented with cough, sputum, dyspnea, and recurrent respiratory infections. She had frequently been treated with antibiotics and systemic steroids for recurrent respiratory infections and acute asthma exacerbations. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed pectus excavatum and bronchial wall thickening without lung parenchymal abnormalities. On immunological evaluation, she was found to have a low serum IgG3, with normal total IgG concentration. Under diagnosis of selective IgG3 deficiency, she was started on monthly infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. The frequency and severity of respiratory infections and acute asthma exacerbations were markedly decreased during 3 years of IVIG therapy. Our case report suggests that a patient who has underlying selective IgG3 deficiency and asthma may benefit from IVIG therapy as this can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of recurrent respiratory infections and acute asthma exacerbations.

Bronchial Artery Aneurysm Presenting Hemoptysis, Initially Mis-diagnosed as Bronchial Arterio-venous Malformation: A Case Report

Normal bronchial arteries are small vessels that arise mostly from the descending thoracic aorta. Bronchial artery aneurysm is defined as a dilatation of the bronchial arteries with a diameter over 2 mm, and is reported in less than 1% of bronchial arterial angiography. A 70-year-old male patient was presented with hemoptysis. He had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis 50 years ago. He also had a history of admission with hemoptysis 10 years ago, for which he was diagnosed as bronchiectasis on computed tomography imaging. Upon arrival to our hospital, abnormal vascular structure was detected on the mediastinum, arising from the descending thoracic aorta. It was dilated to 14 mm with a saccular form. Initially, we evaluated the structure as a bronchial arteriovenous malformation because it seemed to be drained into the pulmonary vein directly. For further evaluation, he had received a trans-catheter bronchial artery angiography. Both bronchial arteries were hypertrophied, but direct arteriovenous shunt was not detected; as such, we concluded this structure to be bronchial artery aneurysm. We performed embolization for both bronchial arteries and filled the aneurysm with coiling. He had no recurrence of hemoptysis and was discharged on 4 days post embolization. Our case reports an incidental bronchial artery aneurysm, which was initially misdiagnosed as bronchial arteriovenous anomaly, and finally treated with embolization and coiling.

A Case of Lobulated and Pedunculated Hyperplastic Polyp in the Second Portion of the Duodenum Treated with Polypectomy

Large hyperplastic polyps of the duodenum are very rare. We report the case of a 61-year-old women with a large lobulated and pedunculated hyperplastic polyp in the distal second portion of the duodenum causing anemia which was treated with snare polypectomy. Endoscopy revealed a 2.5 cm sized lobulated and pedunculated polyp with a long stalk in the distal second portion of duodenum. Previous studies reported that duodenal polyps larger than 10 mm in diameter or polyps in the second portion as independent risk factors of neoplastic lesions, and thus an accurate pathologic examination was needed. Many patients with large duodenal hyperplastic polyps present with gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. We removed the duodenal polyp by a snare with electrocautery after clipping and epinephrine injection into the stalk to prevent bleeding. Histopathological examination of the polyp revealed hyperplasia.

Long-term outcomes of two rescue therapies in lamivudine-refractory patients with chronic hepatitis B: combined lamivudine and adefovir, and 1-mg entecavir

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adefovir (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM) combination therapy (ADV+LAM) has been a useful option for patients with LAM-resistant (LAM-r) chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the long-term outcomes of LAM+ADV and 1-mg entecavir (ETV) rescue therapies have still been limited. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of these two rescue therapies. METHODS: Sixty patients with LAM-r CHB underwent rescue therapy with LAM+ADV (n=36) or 1-mg ETV (n=24). We determined the duration of rescue therapy, timing and type of mutation, undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by PCR (lower limitation of detection, < 140 copies/mL), biochemical response (alanine aminotransferase < 40 IU/mL), and the incidence of hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion and virologic breakthrough. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two therapy groups. The duration of rescue therapy was 56 months (range, 14-100 months) in the ADV+LAM group and 42 months (range, 12-73 months) in the ETV group (P=0.036). The cumulative rates of HBV DNA undetectability and HBeAg seroconversion up to 6 years were 88.6% and 43.0%, respectively, in the ADV+LAM group, and 45.8% and 31.8% in the ETV group. The rate of virologic breakthrough and resistance was 14.4% in the ADV+LAM group and 71.9% in the ETV group (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of LAM and ADV therapy for up to 6 years achieved modest rates of virological suppression and resistance. ETV is not an optimal therapy because the risk of viral breakthrough to ETV increases over time.