Association between left ventricular function and paraprotein type in patients with multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multiple myeloma (MM)–associated cardiac damage, particularly according to the type of monoclonal (M) protein has not been elucidated. We sought to investigate relationship between elevated serum M protein levels and echocardiographic indices of cardiac structure and function in patients with MM. METHODS: We evaluated a total of 184 consecutive MM patients who underwent echocardiography for bone marrow pre-transplant screening. Serum levels of intact immunoglobulin M protein and free light chain kappa/lambda (FLC-κ/-λ) were measured. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine patients were non-light chain MM (non-LCMM) and 45 patients belonged to LCMM. In patients with non-LCMM, significant correlations were found between serum M protein and left atrial volume index (LAVi; r = 0.720, p < 0.0001), E/e’ (r = 0.511, p < 0.0001), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.485, p < 0.0001). In patients with LCMM, log-transformed FLC-λ (log-λ) was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, r = –0.536, p = 0.010), left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (r = 0.500, p = 0.018), and LV end-systolic volume (r = 0.444, p = 0.038). On multivariate analyses, hematocrit and serum M protein were independent predictors of LAVi in patients with non-LCMM. In patient with LCMM, FLC-λ isotype was only found to be an independent determinant of LVEF. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in serum M protein was associated with LV diastolic dysfunction, whereas an increase in serum FLC-λ concentration showed a negative correlation with the echocardiographic parameters of LV systolic function. These findings also suggest that serum M protein has different effects on LV function according to the type of paraproteins in patients with MM.

Association between left ventricular function and paraprotein type in patients with multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multiple myeloma (MM)–associated cardiac damage, particularly according to the type of monoclonal (M) protein has not been elucidated. We sought to investigate relationship between elevated serum M protein levels and echocardiographic indices of cardiac structure and function in patients with MM. METHODS: We evaluated a total of 184 consecutive MM patients who underwent echocardiography for bone marrow pre-transplant screening. Serum levels of intact immunoglobulin M protein and free light chain kappa/lambda (FLC-κ/-λ) were measured. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine patients were non-light chain MM (non-LCMM) and 45 patients belonged to LCMM. In patients with non-LCMM, significant correlations were found between serum M protein and left atrial volume index (LAVi; r = 0.720, p < 0.0001), E/e’ (r = 0.511, p < 0.0001), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.485, p < 0.0001). In patients with LCMM, log-transformed FLC-λ (log-λ) was correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, r = –0.536, p = 0.010), left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (r = 0.500, p = 0.018), and LV end-systolic volume (r = 0.444, p = 0.038). On multivariate analyses, hematocrit and serum M protein were independent predictors of LAVi in patients with non-LCMM. In patient with LCMM, FLC-λ isotype was only found to be an independent determinant of LVEF. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in serum M protein was associated with LV diastolic dysfunction, whereas an increase in serum FLC-λ concentration showed a negative correlation with the echocardiographic parameters of LV systolic function. These findings also suggest that serum M protein has different effects on LV function according to the type of paraproteins in patients with MM.

Reversible Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Dasatinib for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

We describe two cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that occurred under dasatinib treatment and were resolved after dasatinib discontinuation. Two patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were switched to dasatinib therapy because of hematological progress while receiving imatinib. These patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II dyspnea with elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), which progressed under dasatinib treatment. After dasatinib treatment was discontinued, subjective symptoms were improved to NYHA functional class I and the follow-up transthoracic Doppler echocardiography showed improved RVSP. Treatment with an alternate tyrosine kinase inhibitor was initiated and had been continued without development of dyspnea or elevation of RVSP. This report suggests that dasatinib can cause the reversible PAH, therefore, routine cardiopulmonary evaluation before and during treatment with dasatinib may be needed in CML patients with clinical manifestations.

A Case of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Congenital Extrahepatic Portocaval Shunt

Congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt (CEPS) is a rare anomaly of the mesenteric vasculature in which the intestinal and splenic venous drainage bypasses the liver and drains directly into the inferior vena cava, the left hepatic vein or the left renal vein. This uncommon disease is frequently associated with other malformations and mainly affects females. Here we report a case of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with CEPS (Abernethy type 1b shunt) in a 20-yr-old man who was incidentally diagnosed during evaluation of multiple nodules of the liver. The patient was treated by inhalation of iloprost (40 microg/day) with improved condition and walking test. Physicians should note that congenital portocaval shunt may cause pulmonary hypertension.

Gender Difference in Bone Loss and Vascular Calcification Associated with Age

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is widely known that both bone loss and vascular calcification are age-related processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between coronary artery calcium (CAC) score or bone mineral density (BMD) with age and whether there is a gender difference factoring in the two conditions among healthy subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between March 2009 and August 2011, participants included 1727 subjects (mean age: 55+/-10 years, M : F=914 : 813) with routine health check-ups. After being categorized into three groups (normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic classification, we estimated BMD by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and CAC score by dual-source CT (DSCT). RESULTS: There was a significant gender difference among the risk factors, including total-lumbar spine (1.213+/-0.176 g/cm2 : 1.087+/-0.168 g/cm2, p<0.001) and femur (1.024+/-0.131 g/cm2 : 0.910+/-0.127 g/cm2, p<0.001) in BMD by DEXA, and CAC score (68+/-227 : 27+/-116, p<0.001) in coronary artery calcification by DSCT. Age in male [odds ratio (OR): 1.138 {95% confidence interval (CI): 1.088-1.190}, p<0.001] and menopause in female subjects {OR: 12.370 (95% CI: 3.120-49.047), p<0.001} were, respectively, independently associated with osteopenia. CONCLUSION: Although our results do not demonstrate a direct association between CAC score and BMD in both genders, there is a gender difference of CAC score in normal and osteopenia groups according to the WHO diagnostic classification. Additionally, we suggest that more specific therapeutic strategies be considered during any early bone loss period, especially in female subjects.

Early Cardiac Function Monitoring for Detection of Subclinical Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity in Young Adult Patients with Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: As doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is considered irreversible, early detection of cardiotoxicity and prevention of overt heart failure is essential. Although there are monitoring guidelines for cardiotoxicity, optimal timing for early detection of subclinical doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is still obscure. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal timing of cardiac monitoring and risk factors for early detection of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in young adult patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Medical records of 1,013 breast cancer patients diagnosed from January 2009 to December 2010 is being reviewed and analyzed. Properly monitored patients are defined as patients who underwent transthoracic echocardiography before and after the chemotherapy. The definition of subclinical cardiotoxicity (SC) either decreases left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) more than 10% or the LVEF declines under 55% from baseline without heart failure symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-nine out of 174 (16.7%) properly monitored young adult female patients (mean age, 52+/-10 years old) developed SC. The mean interval of cardiac evaluation of SC group was 5.5+/-3.0 months. Among the risk factors, the history of coronary artery disease, cumulative dose of doxorubicin > or =300 mg/m2 and use of trastuzumab after doxorubicin therapy were associated with development of SC. At cumulative dose of doxorubicin 244.5 mg/m2, SC can be predicted (sensitivity, 71.4%; specificity, 70.9%; area under the curve, 0.741; 95% confidence interval, 0.608-0.874; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In young adult patients with breast cancer, SC was common at cumulative dose of doxorubicin <300 mg/m2 and early performance of cardiac monitoring before reaching the conventional critical dose of doxorubicin might be a proper strategy for early detection of SC.

Asymptomatic Myxoma Originating from the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract

Asymptomatic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) myxoma is quite rare. We report an unusual case of asymptomatic myxoma arising from the RVOT which was successfully surgically removed.

A Case of Intramural Duodenal Hematoma after the Use of the Endoscopic Epinephrine Injection Method for Duodenal Ulcer Bleeding in a Chronic Renal Failure Patient undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

An intramural duodenal hematoma has been mostly reported as a consequence of trauma. It can also result from a hematological disorder, anticoagulant drug use and a post-therapeutic endoscopic procedure. Common symptoms of patients with an intramural duodenal hematoma are vomiting and abdominal pain. An intramural duodenal hematoma is rarely accompanied with pancreatitis and cholangitis due to intestinal obstruction. A diagnosis is made by esophagogastroduodenoscopy and the use of an abdominal CT scan. An intramural duodenal hematoma is mainly treated with conservative therapy but it may sometimes be treated with a surgical procedure. We report one case of an intramural duodenal hematoma after performing a therapeutic endoscopic procedure in a chronic renal failure patient undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

The Classification of Diabetic Patients Presenting Diabetic Ketoacidosis: The Characteristics of Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to classify newly diagnosed diabetic patients who initially presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) into specific types of diabetes and to describe the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with fulminant type 1 DM in Korea. METHODS: Using data from 4 hospitals of CMC from 1 January 1999 to 1 March 2008, we identified all patients who manifested DKA when they were first diagnosed as diabetes. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed from medical records. RESULTS: We identified 51 newly diagnosed diabetic patients manifested DKA. Among them, 14 (27.4%) patients were classified as autoimmune type 1 DM, 8 (15.7%) as antibody negative type 1 DM, 5 (9.8%) as fulminant type 1, 16 (31.4%) as type 2 DM and 8 (15.7%) as secondary DM. Five patients who fulfilled the criteria of fulminant type 1 DM were older (32.2 +/- 10.7 vs. 15.7 +/- 4.4 years, P = 0.010), had shorter duration of symptoms (4.2 +/- 2.7 vs.16.7 +/- 15.2 days, P = 0.014) and lower stimulated C-peptide levels (0.1 +/- 0.0 vs. 0.7 +/- 0.6 ng/mL, P = 0.050) compared with patients with autoimmune type 1 DM. CONCLUSION Newly diagnosed diabetic patients presenting with DKA composed of heterogenous types of diabetes. The prevalence of fulminant type 1 diabetes among them was 9.8% and the clinical and biochemical characteristics of these patients were different from those of autoimmune type 1 DM.