Coinfection of hepatitis A virus genotype IA and IIIA complicated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, prolonged cholestasis, and false-positive immunoglobulin M anti-hepatitis E virus: a case report / 대한간학회지

A 37-year-old male presented with fever and jaundice was diagnosed as hepatitis A complicated with progressive cholestasis and severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia. He was treated with high-dose prednisolone (1.5 mg/kg), and eventually recovered. His initial serum contained genotype IA hepatitis A virus (HAV), which was subsequently replaced by genotype IIIA HAV. Moreover, at the time of development of hemolytic anemia, he became positive for immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV). We detected HAV antigens in the liver biopsy specimen, while we detected neither HEV antigen in the liver nor HEV RNA in his serum. This is the first report of hepatitis A coinfected with two different genotypes manifesting with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, prolonged cholestasis, and false-positive IgM anti-HEV.

Sorafenib-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis in a Patient with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report

Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that has shown a survival benefit in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and is considered to be generally safe. We treated a patient with interstitial lung disease that was associated with sorafenib therapy for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. A 74-year-old man with hepatitis-C-virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with sorafenib. After 8 days of sorafenib administration, he received radiation therapy for an intrahepatic tumor located in segment eight. On the 24th day of sorafenib treatment, the patient developed acute interstitial pneumonitis that rapidly improved after the discontinuation of sorafenib and treatment with high-dose steroids. This case alerts physicians to the possibility of sorafenib-induced interstitial lung disease.

Efficacy and predictors of the virologic response to entecavir therapy in nucleoside-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to elucidate the antiviral efficacy and the predictors of entecavir treatment in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: A total of 160 patients treated with entecavir (0.5 mg daily) for at least 24 weeks were consecutively enrolled. The virologic response (HBV DNA1 log10 copies/mL increase in HBV DNA level above nadir on two consecutive occasions) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 58.8 weeks, and 85 patients (53.1%) showed HBeAg positivity. The median pretreatment levels of serum ALT and HBV DNA were 99 IU/L and 7.6 log10 copies/mL, respectively. The cumulative rates at 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks were 37.5%, 68.1%, 87.4%, and 95.8%, respectively, for the virologic response; 40.0%, 66.2%, 84.5%, and 92.7% for the biochemical response; 10.6%, 18.8%, 27.0%, and 34.5% for HBeAg loss; and 3.5%, 7.1%, 9.0%, and 13.2% for HBeAg seroconversion. There was no case of virologic breakthrough. An absence of HBeAg and a low serum HBV DNA level (<8 log10 copies/mL) at baseline were significant predictors of the virologic response in a multivariate analysis (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir therapy showed excellent efficacy in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. The predictors of a virologic response were an absence of HBeAg and a low baseline HBV DNA level.

Comparison between Conventional 4 L Polyethylene Glycol and Combination of 2 L Polyethylene Glycol and Sodium Phosphate Solution as Colonoscopy Preparation / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Effective bowel preparation is essential for accurate diagnosis of colon disease. We investigated efficacy and safety of 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution with 90 mL sodium phosphate (NaP) solution compared with 4 L PEG method. METHODS: Between August 2009 and April 2010, 526 patients were enrolled who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for colonoscopy. We allocated 249 patients to PEG 4 L group and 277 patients to PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group. Detailed questionnaires were performed to investigate compliance, satisfaction and preference of each method. Bowel preparation quality and segmental quality were evaluated. Success was defined as cecal intubation time less than 20 minutes without any help of supervisors. RESULTS: Both groups revealed almost the same baseline characteristics except the experience of operation. PEG 4 L group's compliance was lower than PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group. Success rate and cecal intubation time was not different between two groups. Overall bowel preparation quality of PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group was better than PEG 4 L group. Segmental bowel preparation quality of PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group was also better than PEG 4 L group in all segments, especially right side colon. Occurrence of hyperphosphatemia was higher in PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group than PEG 4 L group. However, significant adverse event was not reported. CONCLUSIONS: PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL method seems to be more effective bowel preparation than PEG 4 L method.

Association of P-Wave Dispersion With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Acute Anterior Wall ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: P-wave dispersion (PWD) is a well-known electrophysiologic parameter of atria which are prone to fibrillation. Although paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not uncommon, the relationship between PWD and PAF following AMI has not been determined. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the electrocardiograms, recorded on admission and every day during hospitalization, of 144 patients with primary anterior AMIs and measured the P-wave duration. The left atrial diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were evaluated by echocardiography. RESULTS: PAF occurred in 20 patients. The maximum P-wave duration and PWD were found to be significantly higher in patients with PAF than those without PAF (120.1+/-8.6 vs. 109.2+/-12.2 ms, p<0.001; and 68.5+/-11.9 vs. 48.7+/-9.6 ms, p<0.001, respectively). The minimum P-wave duration was significantly lower in patients with PAF than in patients without PAF (51.6+/-13.3 vs. 60.4+/-11.7 ms, respectively, p=0.003). There was no significant difference in the left atrial diameter between patients with PAF and patients without PAF (37.3+/-4.4 vs. 36.8+/-5.1 mm, respectively p=0.652); however, the LVEF was significantly different in the patients who developed PAF compared to those who did not develop PAF (38.5+/-11.4 vs. 45.1+/-8.7%, respectively, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The maximum P-wave duration and PWD were significant predictive factors of PAF in patients with anterior wall ST elevation AMI based on univariate analysis. On the basis of multivariate analysis, age was an independent predictive parameter for PAF as well.