Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients with Candidemia and the Usefulness of a Candida Score / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Although effective antifungal agents for the treatment of candidemia have recently been introduced, the mortality rate attributed to candidemia remains high (19~49%). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the risk factors for mortality in patients with candidemia and at assessing the usefulness of a Candida Score in these patients. METHODS: A cohort of patients with positive blood cultures for Candida species was retrospectively analyzed at Soonchunhyang University Hospital, a 750-bed teaching hospital, from May 2003 to February 2012. The Candida Score was calculated by assigning 1 point to any of total parenteral nutrition (TPN), surgery, or multifocal Candida species colonization, and 2 points to severe sepsis. RESULTS: Sixty patients (68.3% men; mean age (standard deviation [SD]), 61.8 [18.9] years) with blood cultures positive for Candida species were identified. Most patients had been admitted to an intensive care unit (48 [80%]), were receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics (37 [61.7%]), had TPN (29 [48.3%]), had diabetes mellitus (23 [38.3%]), and were receiving hemodialysis (10 [16.7%]). The mean (SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 19.60 (8.8). Twenty-three patients (38.3%) had a Candida Score >2.5. The Candida species causing infection included C. albicans (41 [68.3%]), C. tropicalis (7 [11.7%]), C. parapsilosis (4 [6.7%]), C. krusei (3 [5%]), C. glabrata (3 [5%]), C. guilliermondii (1 [1.7%]), and C. catenulata (1 [1.7%]). Only 32 patients (53.3%) received adequate antifungal treatment. The candidemia-related mortality rate was 61.7% (n = 37 patients). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a high APACHE II score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.0~1.3; p = 0.01), presence of a malignancy (aOR, 14.8; 95% CI, 2.5~88.0; p = 0.003), and treatment with an antifungal agent (aOR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.0~1.0; p = 0.048) were associated with disease-related mortality. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for mortality in patients with candidemia are a high APACHE II scores and presence of a malignancy. However, the sensitivity of the Candida Score was not high (38.3%). New methods to rapidly identify candidemia and avoid delays in treatment with appropriate antifungal therapy are needed.

Thebesian vein Combined with Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A 52-year-old woman presented with atypical chest pain. Coronary angiography demonstrated multiple microfistulae between left coronary artery and left ventricle (LV) cavity, extensive enough to produce an LV angiogram. This LV angiogram revealed apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) which was confirmed by echocardiography. Coronary steal phenomenon by coronary artery microfistulae and HCM might have a role for developing of angina in patient with apical HCM.

Atypical Coronary Occlusion in a Patient with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Caused by a Masked Aortic Dissection / 대한내과학회지

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by an acute aortic dissection is relatively rare. A diagnosis of dissection can be missed and the situation can become complicated. We report a patient who presented with acute aortic dissection responsible for STEMI related to a dissecting flap into the right coronary artery. This case emphasizes the need for careful assessment of the aorta in cases of atypical coronary occlusion in patients with STEMI without evidence of atherosclerosis in non-culprit coronary segments. The patient was discharged 7 days after primary percutaneous intervention for STEMI. However, she revisited the emergency department for recurrent chest pain and aortic dissection and was diagnosed and managed successfully with surgery.

Atypical Coronary Occlusion in a Patient with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Caused by a Masked Aortic Dissection / 대한내과학회지

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by an acute aortic dissection is relatively rare. A diagnosis of dissection can be missed and the situation can become complicated. We report a patient who presented with acute aortic dissection responsible for STEMI related to a dissecting flap into the right coronary artery. This case emphasizes the need for careful assessment of the aorta in cases of atypical coronary occlusion in patients with STEMI without evidence of atherosclerosis in non-culprit coronary segments. The patient was discharged 7 days after primary percutaneous intervention for STEMI. However, she revisited the emergency department for recurrent chest pain and aortic dissection and was diagnosed and managed successfully with surgery.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety between Transradial and Transfemoral Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (TRI) compared with transfemoral percutaneous coronary intervention (TFI) in patients with ischemic heart disease. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records including imaging data of the patients with ischemic heart disease who underwent TRI or TFI from January 2007 to December 2009 in Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital. We compared major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) including death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, stent thrombosis, and cerebrovascular accident during follow-up period. We also compared procedure related vascular complications including hematoma, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm, and infection. RESULTS: Total number of patients was 347 (256 patients of TRI and 91 patients of TFI). There were no significant differences in the rate of MACCEs between two groups. There were significantly less procedure-related vascular complications in TRI group (3.1% vs. 11.0%, P=0.010). CONCLUSION: TRI is as effective as TFI with no difference in the rate of MACCEs in patients with ischemic heart disease. TRI is superior to TFI in safety with reduction of vascular complications.