[A suspicious case of coagulation disorder caused by vitamin K deficiency associated with fasting and antibiotics].

Coagulation disorders due to some antibiotics containing N-methyl-thiotetrazole group and vitamin K (VK) deficiency by microbial substitution in the intestinal flora can occur. We report a case of coagulation disorder under fasting with conventional antibiotics which are not containing N-methyl-thiotetrazole. A 91-year-old man was hospitalized for diagnosis of acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure because of bronchitis. He received treatment of fasting, fluid replacement, antibiotics, and a diuretic. On the 3rd day, left frontal lobe bleeding occurred. We performed conservative treatment with central venous nutrition not containing VK. Administration of antibiotics was completed after 14 days. On the 28th day, catheter-related bloodstream infection developed. Vancomycin and cefazolin were administered. The prothrombin time-international standard ratio (PT-INR) on the 1st day of administration was 1.2; however, it gradually increased to 7.4 on the 7th day of administration. Menatetrenone and fresh frozen plasma were administered as symptomatic treatment. Vancomycin was discontinued because a blood culture was positive for methicillin- susceptible coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS). After the 8th day of administration, the PT-INR improved to 1.1, but it increased to 1.9 on the 14th day. VK deficiency due to the antimicrobial drug was predicted. Therefore, VK and fresh frozen plasma were re-administered to improve the PT-INR. The PT-INR returned to normal after administration of cefazolin was terminated. Antimicrobial administration in the long term under the fasting condition can suppress endogenous production of VK by changing intestinal bacteria. And it has been reported that cefazolin which containing Methyl-thiadiazole thiol inhibits VK metabolic cycle and causes coagulation disorder. These reasons seems to a coagulation disorder. Therefore, physicians should monitor the coagulation system in this situation.

Utility of the combination of DAT SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in differentiating dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer's disease.

PURPOSE: (123)I-2ß-Carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane ((123)I-FP-CIT) dopamine transporter single photon emission computed tomography (DAT SPECT) and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy can be used to assist in the diagnosis of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We compared the diagnostic value of these two methods in differentiating DLB from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, we evaluated whether a combination of DAT SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy would provide a more useful means of differentiating between DLB and AD. METHODS: Patients with AD (n = 57) and patients with DLB (n = 76) who underwent both DAT SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy were enrolled. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of both methods as well as their combination for differentiating DLB from AD were calculated. Moreover, we examined whether symptoms of the patients with DLB were associated with the patterns of the abnormalities displayed on DAT SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of differentiating DLB from AD were 72.4 and 94.4 % by the heart to mediastinum ratio of MIBG uptake, 88.2 and 88.9 % by the specific binding ratio on DAT SPECT, and 96.1 and 90.7 % by their combination, respectively. The combined use of DAT SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy enabled more accurate differentiation between DLB and AD compared with either DAT SPECT or MIBG myocardial scintigraphy alone. There was a significantly higher frequency of parkinsonism in the abnormal DAT SPECT group than the normal DAT SPECT group. On the other hand, there was a higher frequency of the appearance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder in the abnormal MIBG uptake group than the normal MIBG uptake group. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using a combination of these scintigraphic methods is a useful and practical approach to differentiate DLB from AD.

Differential effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on clinical responses and cerebral blood flow changes in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a 12-month, randomized, and open-label trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study evaluated the differences in treatment outcomes and brain perfusion changes among 3 types of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs, i.e. donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine). METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal, randomized, open-label, 3-arm (donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine), parallel-group, 12-month clinical trial carried out in 55 patients with AD. RESULTS: At 6 months, the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Trail Making Test (TMT)-Part A showed an improvement versus baseline in the donepezil treatment group. All groups showed a significant increase in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), mainly in the frontal lobe. Significant rCBF reduction was observed in the temporal lobe and cingulate gyrus in all 3 groups. CONCLUSION: AchEI treatment prevents the progression of cognitive impairment and increases the relative rCBF in the frontal lobe.