Role of N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide in Differentiating Node-first Presentations of Kawasaki Disease and Bacterial Cervical Lymphadenitis

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, self-limited, febrile disease. For cases of KD in which the first symptom is cervical lymphadenopathy (node-first presentations of KD, NFKD), it is frequently misdiagnosed as bacterial cervical lymphadenitis (BCL). Therefore, we evaluated the usefulness of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to differentiate between NFKD and BCL. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study. Patients were divided into three groups, KD as 1st diagnosis, NFKD, and BCL. The laboratory and demographic data, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration time and total febrile duration, length of hospital stay, and number of coronary artery complications were then compared for each group. RESULTS: A total of 451 patients were diagnosed as KD and 45 patients as BCL. Of the 451 KD patients, 417 (92.5%) were KD as 1st diagnosis, and 34 (7.5%) were NFKD. White blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and NT-proBNP differed significantly between NFKD and BCL. Variables that differed significantly were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic curve, which revealed that NT-proBNP had the largest area under curve (0.944). Additionally, IVIG administration time, total febrile duration and length of hospital stay differed between KD as 1st diagnosis and NFKD. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to differentiate NFKD from BCL, so proper treatment and length of hospital stay were delayed. NT-proBNP is very useful for differentiating NFKD and BCL. Therefore, in cases of BCL with a long febrile period without reacting general treatments, the NT-proBNP test can be considered.

Efficacy of Initial Lactate and Lactate Clearance by Emergency Department Treatment in Diabetic Ketoacidosis Patients

PURPOSE: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a fatal complication caused by unregulated diabetes. Lactate is used as a prognostic indicator for a range of serious illnesses and its level is higher in DKA patients. This study examined the utility of lactate and lactate clearance measurements at an emergency department for predicting the prognosis of DKA patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of patients with DKA presenting to the emergency department of an urban and rural tertiary hospital between January, 2013 and December, 2016. The demographic and laboratory data were collected through a chart review. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients with DKA were included. Of these 76 patients, 46 (56.8%) had lactic acidosis (lactate >2.5 mmol/L) and 24 (29.6%) had a high lactate level (>4 mmol/L). Lactate and lactate clearance showed a significant difference in terms of the intensive care unit length of stay and mortality. CONCLUSION: Lactate and lactate clearance measurements in DKA patients are favorable and significant prognostic factors. In DKA patients, serial measurements of lactate should be considered.