Paclitaxel for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Combination chemotherapy including platinum is based on treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). But combination chemotherapy is not tolerable in elderly patients. Paclitaxel is one of the most active single chemotherapeutic agent in advanced NSCLC. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of single paclitaxel chemotherapy in elderly with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: From September 2002 to May 2004, a total 24 patients aged 70 years and older with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. Treatment was consisted with paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 intravenously for 3hrs on day 1. Chemotherapy repeated every three weeks until disease progression or severe toxicity developed. RESULTS: Of the 24 patents, only 18 patient can be evaluated and 4 partial remission, 11 stable diseases and 3 progressive diseases were observed. Based on an intent-to-treatment analysis, The overall response rate was 17%. The estimated median survival and median time to progression were 44 weeks and 18 weeks, respectively. The major toxicity were grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (6%). Other toxicity were myalgia, neuropathy, nausea and oral mucositis, but all of them were usually mild (grade 1, 2) and recovered spontaneously. There were no treatment- related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This single low dose paclitaxel chemotherapy is highly tolarable with activity comparable to that of conventional dose regimens especially in elderly advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

A Case of Pure Red Cell Aplasia Due to Parvovirus B19 Infection in a Renal Transplant Recipient / 대한신장학회잡지

We report a case of pure red cell aplasia due to parvovirus B19 infection in a renal transplant recipient. The patient was a 32-year-old male with end stage renal disease due to chronic glomerulonephritis, who had been undergoing regular hemodialysis. He received a living nonrelated renal transplant and immumosuppressive therapy including prednisolone, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. One week after kidney transplantation, severe anemia was persisted despite recombinant human erythropoietin administration and packed red blood cell transfusion. His bone marrow aspiration smear demonstrated erythroid hypoplasia and giant pronormoblasts with prominent intranuclear inclusions. Both serum and bone marrow were positive for parvovirus B19 DNA polymerase chain reaction and anti-parvovirus B19 IgM. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and conversion of tacrolimus to cyclosporine. His hemoglobin level was completely recovered three months later.

A Case of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome with Secondary Amenorrhea / 대한내분비학회지

Alcohol ingestion during pregnancy can be damaging to embryonic and fetal development. A specific pattern of malformation, identified as Fetal alcohol syndrome, has been documented in 1~2 of every 1,000 live infant births Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by growth deficiency, facial abnormalities, cardiac defects, minor joint and limb abnormalities, as well as central nervous system dysfunction, including microcephaly, mental retardation and abnormal neurobehavioral development. However, there are few reports of fetal alcohol syndrome associated with hormonal abnormality or amenorrhea. Recently, a case of secondary amenorrhea, which developed in a 19-year-old woman with fetal alcohol syndrome, was experienced at our institute, but the exact cause of the amenorrhea was difficulty to find. Herein, this case is reported, with a review of the literature.

A Case of Nephrocolic Fistula Associated with Staghorn Calculi / 대한신장학회잡지

A nephrocolic fistula is uncommon complication resulting from chronic inflammatory processes in the kidney. We report here a case of nephrocolic fistula associated with staghorn calculi. A 61-year-old female with known renal stones for three years was admitted to our hospital because of left flank pain and gross hematuria. Abdominal CT scan showed pyonephrosis with staghorn calculi in the left kidney. We performed percutaneous nephrostomy because of pelvocaliceal dilatation and high fever. Leakage of contrast dye was also detected in antegrade pyelogram, and drainage of fecal contents from nephrostomy was noted, suggesting fistulous formation between left kidney and colon. Clinical and laboratory findings of the patient deteriorated rapidly in spite of conservative management including antibiotics administration, so we performed nephrectomy with excision of the fistulous tract and partial colectomy. However, she showed delirium and had several attacks of generalized seizure, and she died of sepsis and multiple organ failure on the 33rd hospital day. In conclusion, when a nephrocolic fistula develops in patient with renal stone, prompt investigation and appropriate surgical treatment should be considered to improve the clinical outcome.

Nephrotic Syndrome, Hepatitis and Gastric Involvement in Secondary Syphilis / 대한신장학회잡지

Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, is a chronic systemic infectious disease. Nephrotic syndrome, hepatitis, or gastric involvement resulting from secondary syphilis are well-documented complications, but very rare. Moreover, the simultaneous occurrence of these complications in the same patient is extremely rare. This report describes 43-year-old male patient with syphilis presented with features of nephrotic syndrome, acute hepatitis, and gastric involvement. A diagnosis of secondary syphilis was made by skin lesions and serologic tests for syphilis. After a diagnosis of syphilis, we supposed that nephrotic syndrome and hepatitis were the complications of secondary syphilis and performed kidney and liver biopsies. A kidney biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy characterized by subepithelial hump-like electron-dense deposits and effacement of epithelial foot-processes on electron microscopy. A liver biopsy showed a feature of lobular hepatitis with a few granulomas. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed multiple shallow ulcers with varying degrees of nodular mucosa at gastric antrum. The patient was treated with intramuscular benzathine penicillin G, 2.4 million units. Proteinuria, skin lesion, hepatitis, and EGD finding were resolved rapidly after penicillin therapy. In conclusion, syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the nephrotic syndrome, hepatitis, and gastric involvement occurring separately or simultaneously.