Relationship between the hepatic venous pressure gradient and first variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis: a multicenter retrospective study in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Variceal hemorrhage is one of the major complications of cirrhosis and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The development of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage is the most direct consequence of portal hypertension. Correlations between the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and first variceal hemorrhage were examined. METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement between July 2009 and September 2010 were enrolled (n=535). All patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy to enable the evaluation of gastroesophageal varices. RESULTS: The HVPG for all patients was 16.46+/-7.05 mmHg (mean+/-SD), and was significantly higher among those with first variceal hemorrhage than in those without it. The HVPG was significantly correlated with both Child-Turcotte-Pugh (r=0.488, P<0.001) and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (r=0.478, P<0.001) scores. An HVPG value of 11 mmHg was predictive of first variceal hemorrhage with a sensitivity of 92.4% and a specificity of 27.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The HVPG was higher in patients with first variceal hemorrhage than in those without it.

Treatment of Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant condition, with dysplasia usually preceding the development of adenocarcinoma. Although Barrett's esophagus rarely progresses to adenocarcinoma in Asian population, the diagnosis and optimal management is a matter of debate. Current treatment guidelines include relieving gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms with medical or surgical measures and surveillance endoscopy. However, there is no verified treatment or management strategy shown to reduce moratlity rates of adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett's esophagus. In this review, the currently applied treatment modalities (medical, surgical and endoscopic treatment) of Barrett's esophagus will be introduced.

Aloe-induced Toxic Hepatitis

Aloe has been widely used in phytomedicine. Phytomedicine describes aloe as a herb which has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-aging effects. In recent years several cases of aloe-induced hepatotoxicity were reported. But its pharmacokinetics and toxicity are poorly described in the literature. Here we report three cases with aloe-induced toxic hepatitis. A 57-yr-old woman, a 62-yr-old woman and a 55-yr-old woman were admitted to the hospital for acute hepatitis. They had taken aloe preparation for months. Their clinical manifestation, laboratory findings and histologic findings met diagnostic criteria (RUCAM scale) of toxic hepatitis. Upon discontinuation of the oral aloe preparations, liver enzymes returned to normal level. Aloe should be considered as a causative agent in hepatotoxicity.

A case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia presenting as adrenal incidentaloma / 대한내과학회지

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from an enzymatic defect during cortisol biosynthesis (i.e., 21-hydroxylase deficiency), is characterized by impaired production of cortisol with or without impaired production of aldosterone, chronic stimulation of the adrenal cortex by corticotropin, and overproduction of cortisol precursors and androgens. The severity of the hormonal abnormalities and clinical symptoms depend on the degree of enzymatic activity. Phenotypes are classified into the following types: the severe salt-wasting type, the simple virilizing type, and the non-classic type. Despite adequate treatment, patients may be at risk for salt-wasting adrenal crisis, precocious puberty, short stature, infertility, psychosocial problems, and tumor formation, including adrenal incidentaloma. Here we present a case of adrenal incidentaloma in a 14-year-old boy who was eventually diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to a 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The patient had a history of salt-wasting adrenal crisis, but survived without continuous glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid treatment. Note also that both plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity were elevated in this case.

A case of fulminant hepatic failure due to cyproterone acetate in a patient with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

Cyproterone acetate is an antiandrogenic drug that has been used in prostatic cancer. The drug is thought to be well-tolerated but has hepatotoxic effects. An 89 year-old man treated with cyproterone acetate 300 mg/d for prostatic cancer presented with a hepatotoxic reaction. Toxic hepatitis was diagnosed and cyproterone acetate was stopped immediately. The patient was treated with supportive management and a corticosteroid, but he died 28 days after administration due to liver failure. A liver biopsy performed after his death revealed the presence of acute hepatitis with cirrhosis. Underlying cirrhosis was not suspected before his death. Ultimately, the case was diagnosed as fulminant hepatic failure due to cyproterone acetate with underlying cryptogenic liver cirrhosis. This case and current literature highlight the hepatotoxic potential of cyproterone acetate and illustrate the importance of clinical surveillance, especially in patients with unrecognized liver disease.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presenting with disseminated intravascular coagulation, cerebral infarction, and acute respiratory distress syndrome / 대한내과학회지

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of arterial or venous thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss accompanied by elevated titers of antiphospholipid antibodies. Catastrophic APS is a small subset of APS, characterized by widespread systemic thrombotic disease with multiorgan failure. The diagnosis of catastrophic APS may be difficult, predominantly due to its frequently atypical presentation. In the present work, we describe a case of a 68-year-old male who presented with cerebral infarction, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulants, antibiotics, and steroid therapy. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of this syndrome as a cause of DIC with thrombotic disease because prompt recognition is essential for effective treatment.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presenting with disseminated intravascular coagulation, cerebral infarction, and acute respiratory distress syndrome / 대한내과학회지

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of arterial or venous thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss accompanied by elevated titers of antiphospholipid antibodies. Catastrophic APS is a small subset of APS, characterized by widespread systemic thrombotic disease with multiorgan failure. The diagnosis of catastrophic APS may be difficult, predominantly due to its frequently atypical presentation. In the present work, we describe a case of a 68-year-old male who presented with cerebral infarction, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulants, antibiotics, and steroid therapy. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of this syndrome as a cause of DIC with thrombotic disease because prompt recognition is essential for effective treatment.

Comparison of the hemostatic effect between argon plasma and heat probe for peptic ulcer bleeding / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic heat probe coagulation (HP) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) are considered to be safe and effective for the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of APC and HP for treating bleeding peptic ulcer. METHODS: Between May 2004 and November 2006 we conducted a prospective randomized trial on 99 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding and for whom a visible vessel or active bleeding was identified. The patients were randomized into two groups: the APC group that was comprised of 56 patients who received argon plasma coagulation and HP group that was comprised of 43 patients who received heat probe coagulation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of age, risk factors, the initial hemoglobin values, the number of patients who showed signs of hemodynamic impairment, the location of ulcer and the bleeding activity. The initial hemostatic rate was 89.3% in the APC group and 93% in the heat probe group (p=0.521). After successful initial endoscopic treatment, rebleeding was observed in 4 cases of the APC group (7.1%) and in 4 cases of heat probe coagulation group (9.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Argon plasma coagulation and heat probe coagulation are equally effective for controlling bleeding from peptic ulcer.

A Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated with Extracorporeal Life Support / 결핵및호흡기질환

The incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been estimated worldwide to range from 1.7 to 75 cases per 100,000. There are many treatments for ARDS, but only the low tidal volume strategy is based on strong clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials. The efficacy of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in adults remains controversial. Ongoing clinical trials and research have shown a benefit for its use to salvage severe ARDS patients that are in failure with conventional treatment. We encountered a 41-year-old woman who developed ARDS induced by pneumococcal pneumonia. Despite conventional mechanical ventilation in the emergency room, severe hypoxia remained. We treated the patient immediately with ECLS. The patient has almost fully recovered, and was discharged from a 177-day stay at our hospital.

A Case of Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated with Extracorporeal Life Support / 결핵및호흡기질환

The incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been estimated worldwide to range from 1.7 to 75 cases per 100,000. There are many treatments for ARDS, but only the low tidal volume strategy is based on strong clinical evidence from randomized clinical trials. The efficacy of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in adults remains controversial. Ongoing clinical trials and research have shown a benefit for its use to salvage severe ARDS patients that are in failure with conventional treatment. We encountered a 41-year-old woman who developed ARDS induced by pneumococcal pneumonia. Despite conventional mechanical ventilation in the emergency room, severe hypoxia remained. We treated the patient immediately with ECLS. The patient has almost fully recovered, and was discharged from a 177-day stay at our hospital.

Penile Cavernosal Smooth Muscle Fibrosis and TGF-beta1 Expression in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rat / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The mechanism of corporal smooth muscle fibrosis in impotent patients with diabetes mellitus has not been well demonstrated. The aims of this study were to investigate the corpus cavernosal structure with histochemistry and the expression of TGF-beta1 with immunohistochemistry in the diabetic rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-210g) were divided into two groups; control (n=8) and experimental group (n=7). The experimental group was received intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50mg/kg). After 4 weeks, blood sugar levels were measured, and penile tissue of rat was excised. Serial sections of the penis were used to perform Masson's trichrome stain, and immunohistochemistry for the TGF-beta1 expression. RESULTS: The mean glucose concentrations were 67+/-11mg/dl (range; 50-85) in the control group and 408+/-105 mg/dl (range; 299-564) in the experimental group. Histology revealed diffuse corpus cavernosal fibrosis in the diabetic group. In histomorphometry, the percentage of corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in the diabetic group (9.9+/-1.5) significantly decreased compared with control group (15.0+/-4.0) (p=0.015). The immunoreactivity of TGF-beta1 in diabetic rats was prominent in the collagen connective tissue, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle fibers, whereas weak immunoactivity was detected in the corpus cavernosal structures of control rats. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus induces penile cavernosal tissue fibrosis with TGF-beta1 expression in the rat model. It implies that strategies to inhibit corpus cavernosal fibrosis is needed to prevent erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients.

A Case of Fibrosarcoma of Kidney / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Fibrosarcoma of the kidney is rare and usually developed from renal capsule. In the past, this diagnosis was made more frequently and was easily mistaken for leiomyosarcoma. With improved histochemical techniques and a better understanding of mesenchymal derived tumors, the diagnosis of fibrosarcoma of the kidney is made rarely. Microscopically, this tumor discloses fascicular arrangement and herringbone appearance of spindle cells. Positive immunohistochemistry for vimentin along with nonreactivity of tumor cells for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, actin, and CD34 supported the diagnosis of fibrosarcoma. Herein, we report a case of fibrosarcoma of kidney with a brief review of the literatures.