Relapsed Esophageal Web in a Patient with Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and upper esophageal web. The associated symptoms can be resolved by administering iron supplements as well as by endoscopic intervention. Relapse in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome is very rare. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome whose symptoms were successfully treated with endoscopic dilatation and iron supplementation at first admission; however, 1 year later, she revisited our hospital because of dysphagia. On second admission, investigations revealed esophageal web relapse in Plummer-Vinson syndrome. She was again successfully treated with endoscopic dilatation and iron supplementation. After first admission, her anemia was not normalized due to poor compliance and loss of follow-up. We experienced a case of esophageal web relapse due to uncorrected iron deficiency anemia in a patient with Plummer-Vinson syndrome. This experience indicates that continuous iron supplementation and long-term follow-up is important in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome.

Relapsed Esophageal Web in a Patient with Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Plummer-Vinson syndrome is characterized by dysphagia, iron deficiency anemia, and upper esophageal web. The associated symptoms can be resolved by administering iron supplements as well as by endoscopic intervention. Relapse in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome is very rare. We describe a case of a 42-year-old woman with Plummer-Vinson syndrome whose symptoms were successfully treated with endoscopic dilatation and iron supplementation at first admission; however, 1 year later, she revisited our hospital because of dysphagia. On second admission, investigations revealed esophageal web relapse in Plummer-Vinson syndrome. She was again successfully treated with endoscopic dilatation and iron supplementation. After first admission, her anemia was not normalized due to poor compliance and loss of follow-up. We experienced a case of esophageal web relapse due to uncorrected iron deficiency anemia in a patient with Plummer-Vinson syndrome. This experience indicates that continuous iron supplementation and long-term follow-up is important in patients with Plummer-Vinson syndrome.

The Association between Multiple Myeloma and Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Report of Two Cases

Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of plasma cells, whereas ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of axial joints. The relationship between the two diseases is uncertain, but chronic inflammation could trigger multiple myeloma. The authors report the cases of two ankylosing spondylitis patients with a disease duration of more than 20 years, that subsequently developed IgA kappa and IgG lambda chain myeloma, respectively, and discuss the possible pathogenetic relationship between these diseases.

A case of rhabdomyolysis during hospitalization for acute hepatitis A / 대한간학회지

A 29-year-old man was admitted to hospital with fever, myalgia, and sore throat. Initial laboratory findings were compatible with acute hepatitis; he was positive for the serologic marker for acute hepatitis A. On the 3rd day of admission, in spite of normalization of body temperature and a reduction in serum liver enzyme levels, serum levels of creatinine phosphokinase had increased up to 16,949 U/L. The patient recovered with supportive therapy and was discharged on the 12th day. We report a case of acute hepatitis A complicated by rhabdomyolysis during hospitalization.

A Study on Serum Zinc Concentration in some Methamphetamine Abusers / 예방의학회지

The author investigated the zinc concentrations in sera of 110 methamphetaimine abusers (male 87, female 23) and of 41 healthy official workers(male 29, female 12) using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. The serum zinc concentrations were analysed according to hepatitis C virus antibody(Anti HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value in both groups. The analytical results were obtained as follows; 1. The mean zinc concentration of MAP abuser group(298.5+/-246.9 microgram/100 microliter) was 2.5 times higher than that of control group(118.8+/-25.4 microgram/100 microliter). 2. The distribution of zinc concentration in both groups were skewed pattern. 3. The zinc concentration were higher in Anti HCV-positive group and abnormal ALT value group than Anti HCV-negative group and normal ALT value group. But HBs-Ag positive group had lower zinc concentration than HBs-Ag negative group. 4. The number of anti HCV-positive subjects was increased and the zinc concentration were decreased in proportion to the abusing duration of MAP.

Clinical Observation of Acute Myocardial Infarction

A Clinical study was done on 90 cases of acute myocardial infarction admitted to Busan Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital from January, 1977 to Febuary, 1983. The following results have been obtained. 1) The ratio of male to female was 2.2:1. The most age group were 5th decades(35.6%) and over 5th decades(5th decades and 6th decades) were two-thirds of all age group. And annual incidency were increasing tendencies, in 1980-1982 than 1977-1979. 2) Between the preceding diseases and the risk factors, the most common cause was the smoking (60%). And other associated diseases and factors were hypertension(54.4%), hypercholesterolemia (43.8%), hyperlipidemia(51.4%) and angina pectoris (34.4%). 3) The most common inducing factor was physical exertion(33.3%). And others were emotional stress(23.3%), alcohol drinking(10%), rest and sleeping(5.6%). 4) The major symptoms of acute myocardial infarction were precordial or epigastric pain(96.7%), dyspnea(53.3%), radiating chest pain (51.7%) and painless infarction(3.3%). 5) On laboratory data, there were leukocytosis in 50.5% increased SGOT in 68.6%, increased serum LDH in 75.9% and cardiomegaly in chest x-ray film were 82 percents. 6) The ratio between the anterior and inferior infarction on EKG was 1.9:1. 7) When admission, normal sinus rhythms on EKG were 59 percents. And the common associated electrocardiographic abnormalities were ventricular premature beat (23.6%), atrial fibrillation(15.7%), first degree A-V block (15.7%), left ventricular hypertrophy(15.7%). The most common abnormality was ventricular premature beat(23.6%). 8) The mortality rate of acute myocardial infarction was 10 percents. The causes of death were heart failure(33.3%), ventricular arrhythmia(33.3%), sudden death (22.2%) and cardiogenic shock(11.1%).