Acute and Long-Term Angiographic Outcomes of Side Branch Stenosis after Randomized Treatment of Zotarolimus-, Sirolimus-, and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent for Coronary Artery Stenosis

This was designed to assess the outcomes of side branch (SB) stenosis after implantation of three drug-eluting stents (DES). From 2,645 patients in the ZEST (Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent with Sirolimus-Eluting and PacliTaxel-Eluting Stent for Coronary Lesions) Trial, 788 patients had 923 bifurcation lesions with SB > or = 1.5 mm were included. SB was treated in 150 lesions, including 35 (3.8%) receiving SB stenting. Of untreated SB with baseline stenosis < 50%, the incidences of periprocedural SB compromise was similar in the zotarolimus (15.8%), sirolimus (17.2%), and paclitaxel (16.6%) stent groups (P = 0.92). At follow-up angiography, delayed SB compromise occurred in 13.9%, 3.2%, and 9.4% (P = 0.010) of these groups. When classified into four groups (< 50%, 50%-70%, 70%-99%, and 100%), 9.0% of untreated SB were worsened, whereas improvement and stationary were observed in 9.6% and 81.4%. In a multivariable logistic regression model, main branch (MB) stenosis at follow-up (%) was the only independent predictor of SB stenosis worsening (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.04; P < 0.001). After MB stenting in bifurcation lesions, a minority of SB appears to worsen. DES with strong anti-restenotic efficacy may help maintain SB patency.

Two Cases of Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome that were Treated with Pentastarch

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a condition that's caused by the shift of fluid and protein from the intravascular space to the interstitial space as a result of repetitive episodes of capillary hyperpermeability. The pathogenesis of SCLS is still unclear, but there's recently been a report showing this syndrome in association with monoclonal gammopathy. This syndrome can be a fatal disease because cardiovascular collapse can occur in the initial capillary leak phase. Although theophylline, diuretics, terbutaline, steroids, calcium antagonist, Ginkgo biloba extracts and plasmapheresis have been suggested as medication, none of them have been proven to be effective. Considering that this disease is self-limiting, conservative treatment in the acute phase is believed to be very important. Because hypoalbuminemia is very a common manifestation of SCLS, Pentastarch, which has a higher molecular weight than albumin, could be efficient to prevent cardiovascular collapse. We used 10% Pentastarch during the acute SCLS attacks of 2 patients and the patients both showed a dramatic response. Pentastarch may be helpful to treat SCLS in its initial capillary leak phase by the elevating blood pressure, and this might contribute to somewhat decreasing the acute mortality of SCLS.

Endoscopic Retrieval of a Proximally Migrated Stent in the Dorsal Duct of Pancreas Divisum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis by stent insertion is an accepted procedure, but various complications can be induced, including proximal migration of the stent. Many techniques are used to retrieve proximally migrated, pancreatic stents. We here report a case of a proximally migrated stent into the dorsal duct of a pancreas divisum, which was retrieved endoscopically by using a mini-snare. A 39-year-old female patient had chronic pancreatitis with divisum. A stent was inserted into the dorsal duct to relieve the chronic pain. After two months, sudden epigastric pain developed due to proximal migration of the stent. The pancreatic stent was retrieved successfully with one endoscopic attempt using a mini-snare. The epigastric pain resolved after retrieval of the stent. Our observation is that pancreatic stent migration may cause severe abdominal pain and that endoscopic retrieval is possible.

A case of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection with purpura fulminans by Streptococcus pneumoniae / 대한내과학회지

The most serious problem after splenectomy is the increased risk of life-threatening infections caused by encapsulated bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis. Purpura fulminans, which is commonly associated with meningococcal sepsis, is characterized by disseminated intravascular coagulation and rapidly progressive purpuric skin lesions. Purpura fulminans can also develop in invasive pneumococcal infection especially after splenectomy, however, there has been no report in Korea. We report a case of overwhelming pneumococcal sepsis manifested as purpura fulminans in a splenectomized patient.

A Case of Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Papilla of Vater / 대한소화기학회지

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the papilla of Vater is a rare tumor and only a few cases have been reported so far. Here, we report a case of adenosquamous carcinoma in a 76-year-old male who presented with jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Ultrasonography and enhanced abdominal CT scans showed dilated common bile duct (CBD) and intrahepatic bile duct (IHD) with a suspicious obstructing mass in distal CBD. On endoscopy, obstructing and ulcerated mass was noted on the papilla of Vater. Histopathological inspection of the biopsied specimens from mass showed adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the papilla of Vater. Since the patient refused operation, we inserted a self-expandable metallic stent in distal CBD. This is the first case report on adenosquamous carcinoma of the papilla of Vater in Korea.

Diagnostic Performance of Routine Objective Tests and Cost-Effective Approach for Chronic Cough / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Despite the clinical clues of bronchial asthma, some chronic coughers fail to be diagnosed due to negative test results. This study was aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of routine objective tests and identifying a cost-effective approach for asthmatics with a chronic cough. METHODS: Patients with a chronic cough of more than 3 weeks duration, and showing normal chest radiograph and spirometry were enrolled. On the first visit, objective tests, composed of serum total IgE, peripheral blood eosinophil count, spontaneous sputum eosinophil count, methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) and paranasal sinus radiograph, were performed, with the simultaneous administration of oral prednisolone (0.5mg/kg) for one week. The final diagnoses were made on the basis of the test results, and the patients grouped according to their steroid responsiveness. The role of the etiologic diagnosis tests was evaluated, and the medical costs of the final management plan simulated with respect to three assumed models. RESULTS: Sixty chronic coughers were finally analyzed. The final diagnoses were as follows: bronchial asthma 21.7%, eosinophilic bronchitis 6.7%, paranasal sinusitis 18.3%, presumptive allergy 8.3% and non-diagnostic case 45.0%. Ninety percent were steroid responder. With the bronchial asthma cases, the positive rate of MBPT was 38.5%, with sputum eosinophil count in 84.6%, serum total IgE in 38.5%, and a peripheral blood eosinophil count rate of 30.8%. When the test results and steroid responsiveness data were applied to the 3 models, the chest radiograph, spirometry, sputum eosinophil count and paranasal sinus radiograph test results, and simultaneous short term steroid treatment seemed to have acceptable diagnostic performances, which could be used as a further guide to cost-effective planning. Conclusion:Objective tests, composed of chest radiograph, spirometry, paranasal sinus radiograph and sputum eosinophil count, with simultaneous short term steroid treatment, are suggested as cost-effective approaches for asthmatics with a chronic cough.