Noncardiac Chest Pain in Young Patients: Author's Reply

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Clinical Distinct Features of Noncardiac Chest Pain in Young Patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a very common disorder world-wide and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is known to be the most common cause. The prevalence of NCCP may tend to decrease with increasing age. However, there is little report about young aged NCCP. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of GERD and to evaluate the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) test in the young NCCP patients. METHODS: Thirty patients with at least weekly NCCP less than 40 years were enrolled. The baseline symptoms were assessed using a daily symptom diary for 14 days. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) and 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring were performed for the diagnosis of GERD and esophageal manometry was done. Then, patients were tried with lansoprazole 30 mg twice daily for 14 days, considering positive if a symptom score improved > or = 50% compared to the baseline. RESULTS: Nine (30%) of the patients were diagnosed with GERD at EGD and/or 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring, also, 3 (10%) were diagnosed with GERD-associated esophageal motility disorder and 3 (10%) were non GERD-associated. Concerning PPI test, GERD-related NCCP had a higher positive PPI test (n = 8, 89%) than non GERD-related NCCP (n = 5, 24%) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with NCCP, a prevalence of GERD diagnosed using EGD and/or 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring was 30%. PPI test was very predictable on diagnosis of GERD-related NCCP, thus, PPI test in young NCCP patients may assist to the physician's clinical judgment of NCCP.

Clinical Features of Acute Hepatitis A in Recent Two YearsClinical Features of Acute Hepatitis A in Recent Two Years / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical features of acute hepatitis A in Seoul and Gyeonggi province during the recent 2 years. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 222 patients who were diagnosed as acute hepatitis A between August 2005 and March 2007 at the Konkuk University Hospital and Korea University, Ansan Hospital. The clinical manifestation, serological tests, and image findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Median age of the patients was 28.1 years and the age groups of highest incidence were the second and third decade. The frequent symptoms were anorexia (66.4%), fatigue (49.2%), fever (47.7%), and abdominal discomfort (42.5%). Fourteen cases (6.3%) showed renal insufficiency, and hemodialysis was performed in one. Cholestatic hepatitis in 2 cases, relapsing hepatitis in 4 cases and prolonged hepatitis in 13 cases were observed. However, there was no case of fulminant hepatitis or death. The underlying diseases including chronic hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder did not affect the disease severity of hepatitis A. IgM anti-HAV was not detected initially in 6.7% of the patients. Anti-HEV (IgM) was detected simultaneously in 3 of 150 patients. CONCULSIONS: The age of patients with acute hepatitis A has been increased in the recent years. Most patients recovered uneventfully. However, unusual patterns of severe hepatitis and renal insufficiency occurred in considerable number of cases. Follow-up serologic test for IgM anti-HAV is needed in seronegative cases with hepatitis A

Dramatic Tumor Response to 2nd-line Pemetrexed/Cisplatin Combination Chemotherapy in Patient with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma / 결핵및호흡기질환

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare tumor that is difficult to clearly distinguish from an adenocarcinoma but usually has a poor prognosis. Numerous cytotoxic agents have been used in the primary treatment of MPM with limited success. A complete response is unusual and a partial response occurs in less than one-third of patients. Recently, a phase III trial showed that a combination of pemetrexed with cisplatin resulted in a significantly higher response rate and median survival time than with cisplatin alone. We encountered a case of a dramatic tumor response to pemetrexed/cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with MPM, which was resistant to the 1st-line gemcitabine/cisplatin therapy. After six cycles of pemetrexed/cisplatin combination chemotherapy, the tumor volume had decreased dramatically with complete symptom relief. There was no chemotherapy-related toxicity or scheduled violation. The patient is under maintenance chemotherapy with the same regimen.

A Case of Acute Lithium Intoxication Treated with Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration / 대한신장학회지

Lithium is commonly used for the treatment of bipolar affective disorders. Lithium therapy has a narrow therapeutic window, which can lead to various neurologic, cardiovascular, and renal side effects. Dialysis is recommended for the treatment of severe lithium toxicity, but conventional hemodialysis can cause post-dialysis rebound of serum lithium level. We report a case of lithium intoxication in which continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) was successfully used in reducing toxicity. CVVHDF provides excellent lithium clearance, and prevents post-therapy lithium rebound by allowing a progressive removal of intracellular lithium. It could become a modality of choice for lithium intoxication.

Overlap Syndrome of Amyopathic Antisynthetase Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report / 대한류마티스학회지

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) with autoantibodies against antisynthetase may occur in the absence of clinically apparent myositis. We report 58-year-old woman who initially presented with dyspnea. The patient showed positive immunologic markers reflecting systemic lupus erythematosus, destructive polyarthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and ILD. There is no proximal muscle weakness in her symptoms. This syndrome was confirmed by positive antibodies to Jo-1. For the early diagnosis of this syndrome, the possibility of this syndrome including other connective tissue disease should be considered in patients presenting with symptoms related to ILD and positive anti-nuclear antibody.

A Case of Intestinal Pseudoobstruction Associated with Systemic Sclerosis Successfully Treated with Erythromycin and Octreotide / 대한류마티스학회지

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, characterized by inflammation, microangiopathy and fibrosis in the skin and various intestinal organs. Gastrointestinal involvement is one of the major causes of serious morbidity, and next to the skin, the gastrointestinal tract is the most commonly involved organ. While esophageal involvement is most common gastrointestinal manifestation, the involvement of the small intestine and colon is less common but may lead to life-threatening complications like chronic pesudoobstruction or pneumatosis cystoids intestinalis. Here, we describe a case of progressive systemic sclerosis associated with intestinal pseudoobstruction. 28 year-old male presented abdominal pain and vomiting and he was diagnosed as having intestinal pseudoobstruction. His symptoms were well managed using the combination of octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, and erythromycin.

A Case of Iliopsoas Abscess Complicated by Sacroiliitis / 대한류마티스학회지

Both pyogenic sacroiliitis and iliopsoas muscle abscess are relatively uncommon infectious entities, and their coexistence has been reported in few patients. Its insidious and obscure clinical manifestations can cause the diagnostic delays, resulting in high mortality and morbidity. But, the proper management with appropriate antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of the abscess has showed the satisfactory outcomes in most patients with iliopsoas abscess. In this report, we present a case of 45-year-old male with diabetes mellitus who had an iliopsoas abscess complicated by sacroiliitis.