[Two cases of nemaline myopathy diagnosed after episodes of respiratory failure].

Here we report two cases of congenital myopathy visited our hospital with respiratory failure. Case 1 was a 31-year-old woman, who had muscular weakness from birth but had never been diagnosed. She had an onset of pneumonia followed by severe type 2 respiratory failure. Even after the healing of pneumonia, hypercapnia remained. A diagnosis of nemaline myopathy was made after muscle biopsy. Case 2 is a 62-year-old man, who had slowly progressing respiratory failure accompanied with severe hypercapnea. His respiratory failure was improved by NIPPV. He also under went muscle biopsy and nemaline myopathy was diagnosed. Nemaline myopathy is one of congenital myopathy and is known to be a nonprogressive or slowly progressive disorder. However, some patients are diagnosed appropriately only when adult onset acute respiratory failure occurs.

[A case of successful medical treatment for necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall with diabetic nephropathy].

A 52-year-old man was given a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus at age 39. At age 46, he stopped taking medication. Two weeks after burning his legs at low temperature, he fell, using his right arm to protect his legs. The next day, he complained of pain and slight swelling from his right shoulder to his anterior chest and came to our hospital. At that time, a plain computed tomography scan suggested gasogenic bacterial infection and we discussed the indications for debridment. Although his widespread inflammation required extensive treatment including thoracostomy, we abandoned surgical treatment and administered several antibiotics in appropriate combination because of his severe condition. After admission, the mass grew rapidly and it was diagnosed as necrotizing fasciitis based on percutaneous needle biopsy and clinical findings. Although both inflammatory reactions and mass size tended to improve, he had repeated recurrence of pain and swelling in his right anterior chest. When he had a second recurrence, he received additional short-term steroid therapy. Afterwards he had no further recurrence. In this case, early clinical diagnosis, using broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to definite diagnosis, and additional short-term steroid therapy at the time of the recurrence were effective.

Prevalence of esophageal candidiasis among patients treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate.

OBJECTIVES: Development of oropharyngeal candidiasis is a frequently reported adverse effect of inhaled corticosteroid use, but the prevalence of esophageal candidiasis is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of esophageal candidiasis among patients treated with an inhaled corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate. METHODS: Upper GI endoscopy was performed on 49 patients treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate to examine the prevalence of esophageal candidiasis. Of the patients, 36 had bronchial asthma and 13 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To compare the prevalence with control patients, upper GI endoscopy was performed on 700 consecutive patients without malignancy or immunosuppression. RESULTS: The prevalence of esophageal candidiasis was 37% among patients treated with inhaled fluticasone propionate, whereas only 0.3% of the control patients had the infection. The prevalence was especially high among patients with diabetes mellitus or those who were treated with a high dose of inhaled fluticasone propionate. Moreover, a reduction in the daily dose of inhaled fluticasone propionate eliminated the infection in four of five patients. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal candidiasis is a common complication of inhaled corticosteroid use.