RESUMO
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome is a highly fatal condition characterized by widespread thromboembolism subsequent to a triggering factor (e.g., infection, trauma, and neoplasia) in antiphospholipid antibody-positive patients. This paper reports a case of a 29-year-old male without the underlying disease who developed extensive mesenteric thromboembolism and jejunal necrosis during the treatment for acute enteritis. The patient’s condition was improved with low-molecular-weight heparin and an intravenous Ig treatment with emergency surgery. The serum antiphospholipid (anticardiolipin IgM) and lupus anticoagulant antibody tests showed positive results. Acute infectious enterocolitis is generally considered a mild disease. On the other hand, aggressive evaluation and treatment should be considered if the clinical conditions do not improve and deteriorate rapidly despite appropriate antibiotic treatment because of the possibility of acute immunological complications, such as catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
RESUMO
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome is a highly fatal condition characterized by widespread thromboembolism subsequent to a triggering factor (e.g., infection, trauma, and neoplasia) in antiphospholipid antibody-positive patients. This paper reports a case of a 29-year-old male without the underlying disease who developed extensive mesenteric thromboembolism and jejunal necrosis during the treatment for acute enteritis. The patient’s condition was improved with low-molecular-weight heparin and an intravenous Ig treatment with emergency surgery. The serum antiphospholipid (anticardiolipin IgM) and lupus anticoagulant antibody tests showed positive results. Acute infectious enterocolitis is generally considered a mild disease. On the other hand, aggressive evaluation and treatment should be considered if the clinical conditions do not improve and deteriorate rapidly despite appropriate antibiotic treatment because of the possibility of acute immunological complications, such as catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: It is known that heat production in breast cancer is caused by hypermetabolism, hypervascularization and hyperperfusion in the affected regions of the breast. The object of this study is to detect the heat production in breast cancer of Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 240 patients with breast cancer and benign mass were examined by digital infrared thermographic system from January 1991 through December 1995. The heat production was detected when there was a hot spot on clinically palpable breast mass area on the breast thermogram. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 130 with breast cancer and 110 with benign mass, as control group. 118 (90.8%) of 130 patients with breast cancer had the heat production, but only 12 (10.9%) of 110 patients with benign mass had the heat production (p<0.0001). The sensitivity of breast thermogram was 90.8% and the specificity was 89.1%. 16 (64%) of 25 breast cancer of which size was smaller than 2 cm had the heat production. But all of 45 breast cancer of which size was larger than 4 cm had the heat production (p<0.0001). 103 (79.2%) of breast cancer had greater than 2degrees C in thermal difference (delta T), and 120 (92.3%) had greater than 1degrees C. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is heat production in breast cancer. And also the heat production in breast cancer could be detected by the breast thermography. We suggest that further studies of mechanism about heat production in breast cancer is necessary.