A case of pemphigus vulgaris associated with ulcerative colitis

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune bullous disorder characterized by the production of autoantibodies against the intercellular space of the epithelium. It has rarely been reported in association with inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis is one of the forms of inflammatory bowel disease. A 62-year-old woman who had been treated for ulcerative colitis for 16 years developed pruritic bullae on the skin of her face and body. Histological findings and direct immunofluorescence examination of the skin showed pemphigus vulgaris. She was treated with systemic steroids, mesalazine, and azathioprine. Her cutaneous lesions have remained in remission and her ulcerative colitis has remained well-controlled. The relationship between pemphigus vulgaris and ulcerative colitis is unclear. An autoimmune response has been suspected in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Pemphigus vulgaris is also associated with an autoimmune mechanism. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ulcerative colitis associated with pemphigus vulgaris reported in Korea. The association may be causal.

Ileocecal Mucosal Involvement of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm without Skin Lesions / 대한내과학회지

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a relatively rare hematological malignancy, and most cases present with characteristic skin lesions. The skin lesions appear as nodules, plaques, and bruise-like macules with redness or ulcerations. BPDCN without skin lesions is rare. Cases with hepatosplenomegaly, pulmonary involvement, multiple lymphadenopathies, renal masses, sinonasal sinus, and subcutaneous masses have also been reported. Here, we report the first case of ileocecal valve involvement of BPDCN without skin lesions.

Failure of Conservative Treatment in Two Cases of Polyarteritis Nodosa with Superior Mesenteric Artery Involvement Presenting with Abdominal Pain

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting medium- or small-sized arteries. Its diagnosis may be delayed because it is a rare disease, and patients presenting with PAN demonstrate variable clinical manifestations and non-specific laboratory abnormalities. Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 14~65% of patients with PAN and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Thus, early diagnosis is very important in PAN with gastrointestinal involvement. We report two cases of rapidly progressive PAN presenting with abdominal pain, having failed conservative treatment.

Amylase-Producing Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

A paraneoplastic syndrome is a disease or symptom that is the consequence of the presence of cancer in the body but is not due to the local presence of cancer cells. Thus, successful treatment of the underlying tumor often improves such syndromes. Amylase-producing lung cancer, multiple myeloma, and ovarian cancer are reported only rarely. In Korea, no cases of hyperamylasemia have been reported in patients with primary peritoneal carcinoma. We report an interesting case of hyperamylasemia suspected to have been induced by primary peritoneal carcinoma. The patient's amylase isoenzyme patterns indicated salivary-type amylase. Hyperamylasemia was reduced in parallel with the response to chemotherapy. These data confirmed the diagnosis of amylase-producing primary peritoneal carcinoma.

Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy after Therapeutic Endoscopy

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a mononeuropathy that affects the peripheral part of the facial nerve. Primary causes of peripheral FNP remain largely unknown, but detectable causes include systemic infections (viral and others), trauma, ischemia, tumor, and extrinsic compression. Peripheral FNP in relation to extrinsic compression has rarely been described in case reports. Here, we report a case of a 71-year-old man who was diagnosed with peripheral FNP following endoscopic submucosal dissection. This case is the first report of the development of peripheral FNP in a patient undergoing therapeutic endoscopy. We emphasize the fact that physicians should be attentive to the development of peripheral FNP following therapeutic endoscopy.