Treatment Outcome and Renal Safety of 3-Year Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Preserved Glomerular Filtration Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the treatment efficacy and renal safety of long-term tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with preserved renal function. METHODS: The medical records of 919 CHB patients who were treated with TDF therapy were reviewed. All patients had preserved renal function with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: A total of 426 patients (184 treatment-naïve and 242 treatment-experienced) were included for analysis. A virologic response (VR) was defined as achieving an undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level, and the overall VR was 74.9%, 86.7%, and 89.4% at the 1, 2, and 3-year follow-ups, respectively. Achieving a VR was not influenced by previous treatment experience, TDF combination therapy, or antiviral resistance. In a multivariate analysis, being hepatitis B e antigen positive at baseline and having a serum HBV DNA level ≥2,000 IU/mL at 12 months were associated with lower VR rates during the long-term TDF therapy. The overall renal impairment was 2.9%, 1.8%, and 1.7% at the 1, 2, and 3-year follow-ups, respectively. With regard to renal safety, underlying diabetes mellitus (DM) and an initial eGFR of 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 were significant independent predictors of renal impairment. CONCLUSIONS: TDF therapy appears to be an effective treatment option for CHB patients with a preserved GFR. However, patients with underlying DM and initial mild renal dysfunction (eGFR, 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2) have an increased risk of renal impairment.

High grade anorectal stricture complicating Crohn's disease: endoscopic treatment using insulated-tip knife

Endoscopic treatments have emerged as an alternative to surgery, in the treatment of benign colorectal stricture. Unlike endoscopic balloon dilatation, there is limited data on endoscopic electrocautery incision therapy for benign colorectal stricture, especially with regards to safety and long-term patency. We present a case of a 29-year-old female with Crohn's disease who had difficulty in defecation and passing thin stools. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan, gastrograffin enema, and sigmoidoscopy showed a high-grade anorectal stricture. An endoscopic insulated-tip knife incision was successfully performed to resolve the problem. From our experience, we suggest that endoscopic insulated-tip knife treatment may be a feasible and effective modality for patients with short-segment, very rigid, fibrotic anorectal stricture.

Effect of Previous Statin Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Statin therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). However, it has been less clear as to whether statin therapy before acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is beneficial. We studied the effect of previous statin therapy, initiated > or =1 month before PCI, on the outcome of patients with ACS who had undergone early invasive strategies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We stratified 479 consecutive patients with ACS who had undergone PCI, according to preprocedural statin administration as follows: previous statin-treated patients (statin group, n=237) and statin-naive patients (control group, n=242). The incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) and in-hospital MACE was assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of Braunwald class III angina and MI presentation were significantly lower in the statin group than in the control group. Angiographic and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups; however, slow/no reflow phenomenon occurred more frequently in the control group. After PCI, the incidence of periprocedural MI was higher in the control group than in the statin group (6.6% vs. 2.1%, p=0.016). Multivariate analysis revealed that no prior use of statin {odds ratio (OR)=2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-7.2; p=0.038), procedural complication (OR=4.0; 95% CI=1.5-10.5; p=0.004), stent overlap (OR=4.7; 95% CI=1.3-16.4; p=0.015), and old age (OR=3.2; 95% CI=1.2-8.0; p=0.016) were independent predictors for in-hospital MACE. CONCLUSION: Previous statin therapy before ACS was associated with milder clinical presentation and lower incidence of in-hospital MACE after early invasive strategies. The beneficial outcome is attributable to a significant reduction in periprocedural MI after PCI.

A Case of Renal Metastasis from a 1-cm Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung Masquerading as Renal Cell Carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

Symptomatic renal metastasis from a primary lung malignancy elsewhere in the body is an uncommon feature in disseminated cancer. We report a case of a 1-cm primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung with renal metastasis initially misdiagnosed as primary renal cell carcinoma in a 65-year-old man who presented with left lower quadrant pain.

Alteration of Ventricular Repolarization by Intracoronary Infusion of Normal Saline in Patients With Variant Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During coronary angiography and interventional procedures, catheters that are engaged in a coronary ostium are routinely flushed, typically with normal saline, to expel blood from the catheter or to inject a pharmacologic agent. Saline contains sodium and chloride ions. Such injections may affect the electrophysiologic properties of the myocardium; however, the effect of normal saline on ventricular repolarization has not been established in patients with variant angina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 51 consecutive patients with variant angina. Five mL of normal saline (NS) or 5% dextrose solution (DW) were infused into the left coronary artery in random order. We measured the heart rate, QT interval, and T-wave amplitude using Mac-Lac 5.2. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were not different between the NS {n=30 (14 males); mean age, 56+/-10 years} and the 5% DW groups {n=21 (7 males); mean age, 59+/-10 years}. The changes in the mean corrected QT (QTc) interval were significantly increased at the time of infusion of NS compared to 5% DW (45.1+/-30.3 vs. 20.9+/-23.3 ms, p=0.004). There was a T-wave amplitude change >0.2 mV in at least one-lead in 27 patients (90.0%) during NS infusion compared to 7 patients (33.3%) during 5% DW infusions (p=0.001). No significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure were noted during of the infusions. CONCLUSION: NS was associated with prolongation of ventricular repolarization in patients with variant angina.

A case of pheochromocytoma presenting as inverted Takotsubo cardiomyopathy / 대한내과학회지

A 61-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with acute chest pain. Echocardiography showed transient cardiomyopathy with akinesia of the basal and midportions of the left ventricle and hyperkinesia of the apex. No evidence of ischemic cardiomyopathy on myocardial SPECT or ergonovine stress echocardiography was observed. The patient's condition at discharge had improved, but she later was diagnosed as having pheochromocytoma. The findings of transient cardiomyopathy revealed inverted Takotsubo cardiomyopathy related to pheochromocytoma. The recognition of such a rare cardiac manifestation should be considered in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

Clinical Significance of On-Treatment Triglyceride Level in Patients Treated by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of statins in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has increased, and reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lead to lower coronary event rates. We studied the effect of lipid levels during statin treatment on prognosis in patients with ACS and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Between January 2005 and May 2007, 325 ACS patients who underwent PCI and received statins were evaluated. We measured serum lipid levels at baseline and 4 weeks. The relationships between on-treatment levels of triglyceride (TG) and LDL-C and one-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, the mean LDL-C level was 72.5+/-23.8 mg/dL and the mean TG was 123.2+/-62.8 mg/dL. MACE occurred in 41 cases (12.6%). Baseline serum lipid levels were similar between the patients with and those without MACE. However, the patients with MACE showed significantly higher TG level at 4 weeks (149.6+/-81.4 vs. 119.3+/-58.9 mg/dL, p=0.026) than those without. High on-treatment TG level (> or =150 mg/dL) were associated with increased adverse events compared to lower TG level in a univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 3.3; p or =150 mg/dL) was associated with a higher risk of MACE. This finding supports the concept that achieving low TG levels may be an important therapeutic parameter in statin-treated patients following ACS and PCI.

Effect of Additional Statin Therapy on Endothelial Function and Prognosis in Patients With Vasospastic Angina

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vasospastic angina is correlated with endothelial dysfunction. We compared endothelial function using flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) between patients with vasospasm and those without vasospasm and studied the effect of statin therapy on the changes of FMD and EPCs in vasospastic angina patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 133 patients who underwent an ergonovine provocation test, endothelial function was compared based on the presence or absence of spasm. The patients with coronary artery spasm (74 patients) were randomly assigned to either the 10 mg rosuvastatin group or the placebo group. We compared changes in the FMD and EPCs level for 6 months from the time of enrollment between the two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of cigarette smokers was higher in vasospastic angina patients than in those without spasm (p<0.001). The number of EPCs (68.6+/-36.1 vs. 103.7+/-39.3/200 microliter, p<0.001) and the FMD (7.1+/-4.5 vs. 8.6+/-3.6%, p=0.044) were significantly lower in patients with coronary artery spasm than in those without spasm. After 6 months of rosuvastatin treatment, the number of CD45(low)CD34(+) vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)(+) cells, which was defined as EPCs, increased significantly from 73.1+/-37.8/200 microliter to 99.1+/-37.8/200 microliter (p=0.002). The FMD was significantly ameliorated from 7.3+/-4.1 to 9.3+/-3.4% after 6 months of treatment (p<0.001). The FMD was correlated with the EPCs count before treatment (r=0.229, p=0.049) and after 6 months of treatment (r=0.268, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: The number of circulating EPCs and the FMD were reduced in vasospastic angina, and statin treatment increased the number of EPCs and the FMD. The EPCs level was correlated with the FMD.

Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness on Short Term Prognosis in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Previously, the authors revealed that epicardial fat thickness was significantly correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients with known coronary artery disease. We evaluated whether echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness was associated with short term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty five consecutive acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients who underwent successful coronary stenting were studied. Epicardial fat thickness on the free wall of right ventricle was measured at end-diastole from the parasternal long-axis views of three cardiac cycles. 30 days follow-up was obtained in all patients and clinical outcomes were compared with epicardial fat thickness. RESULTS: Mean value of epicardial fat thickness was 5.36 mm (range 0.44 to 16.55 mm). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were developed in 19 patients (7.2%) during 30 days; 2 cases of cardiac death, 11 of non fatal Q wave myocardial infarction (QMI), 4 of revascularization and 2 of ischemic stroke. Incidence of occlusion by thrombi (4.5% vs. 21.2%, p=0.016), Gensini's score (44.52+/-31.06 vs. 61.00+/-30.68, p=0.027) and epicardial fat thickness (5.19+/-2.13 vs. 7.51+/-3.87 mm, p=0.018) were significantly higher in patients with MACE than those without MACE. Significant correlations were demonstrated between epicardial fat thickness and age (r=0.193, p=0.002), fibrinogen (r=0.145, p=0.022) and LDLcholesterol (r=0.136, p=0.027). Multivariate analysis showed that epicardial fat thickness (OR 1.479, 95% CI 1.183-1.848, p=0.001) was an independent predictor of 30 days MACE. CONCLUSION: Epicardial fat thickness was significantly correlated with short term prognosis in patients with ACS.

Effect of Early Statin Therapy on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells During the Acute Phase in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mobilization of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) might represent a useful strategy for the clinical therapy of ischemic heart disease. We examined the effect of early statin therapy before reperfusion therapy on the circulating EPCs during the acute phase in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 84 consecutive AMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 24 hours of pain onset were included in this study. We randomly divided the patients into 3 groups according to rosuvastatin therapy before PCI: the control group (n:27, 19 males and 8 females, 58+/-2 years of age), the rosuvastatin 10 mg group (n: 28, 21 males and 7 females, 58+/-3 years of age) and the 40 mg group (n: 29, 23 males and 6 females, 59+/-2 years of age). The circulating EPCs and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were analyzed on admission and at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 days after PCI. The circulating EPCs were measured by flow cytometry as the CD45(low)CD34+VEGFR2+ cells. RESULTS: The circulating EPCs peaked on day 3 after PCI, whereas the increment of circulating EPCs was significantly suppressed in the rosuvastatin 10 mg and 40 mg groups compared with the control group on day 3 (control vs rosuvastatin 10 mg vs rosuvastatin 40 mg: 0.072% vs 0.067% vs 0.061%, respectively, p=0.002) and day 5 (0.068% vs 0.060% vs 0.058%, respectively, p=0.029). The level of hs-CRP markedly increased from day 1 and this peaked on day 3 after PCI. Early statin therapy significantly suppressed the elevation of hs-CRP compared with the control group on day 1 (24.36 mg/L vs 17.88 mg/L vs 13.08 mg/L, respectively, p=0.035) and on day 3 (30.15 mg/L vs 22.78 mg/L vs 17.16 mg/L, respectively, p=0.034). There was a statistically significant correlation between the circulating EPCs and the hs-CRP (r=0.349, p=0.007). CONCLUSION: In the AMI patients, the early stain therapy before reperfusion therapy didn't increase the mobilization of circulating EPCs, but it suppressed the elevation of hs-CRP. This data suggests that the mobilization of circulating EPCs may be related to systemic inflammation during the acute phase in patients with AMI.