Wet Beriberi Associated with Hikikomori Syndrome.

Wet beriberi, characterized by high cardiac output with predominantly right-sided heart failure and lactic acidosis, is a disease caused by thiamine deficiency, and is rarely seen in modern society. However, patients with social withdrawal syndrome, also known as hikikomori syndrome, may be a new population at risk of thiamine deficiency. Hikikomori syndrome, first recognized in Japan, is becoming a worldwide issue. A 39-year-old Japanese patient was brought to our hospital, with a 3-week history of progressive shortness of breath and generalized edema. The patient had right-sided high-output heart failure, lactic acidosis, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Because of his history of social isolation, we diagnosed hikikomori syndrome according to the Japanese government's definition, which is as follows: lifestyle centered at home; no interest or willingness to attend school or work; persistence of symptoms beyond 6 months; and exclusion of other psychiatric and developmental disorders. Considering his diagnosis of hikikomori syndrome and social isolation, we suspected malnutrition, particularly thiamine deficiency, and successfully treated him. Clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of thiamine deficiency associated with hikikomori syndrome and initiate thiamine replacement in cases of high-output heart failure associated with lactic acidosis.

Progressive Ischemic Stroke due to Thyroid Storm-Associated Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare but fatal complication of hyperthyroidism that is induced by the hypercoagulable state of thyrotoxicosis. Although it is frequently difficult to diagnose CVT promptly, it is important to consider it in the differential diagnosis when a hyperthyroid patient presents with atypical neurologic symptoms. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old Japanese female with unremarkable medical history came in with thyroid storm and multiple progressive ischemic stroke identified at another hospital. Treatment for thyroid storm with beta-blocker, glucocorticoid, and potassium iodide-iodine was started and MR venography was performed on hospital day 3 for further evaluation of her progressive ischemic stroke. The MRI showed CVT, and anticoagulation therapy, in addition to the anti-thyroid agents, was initiated. The patient's thyroid function was successfully stabilized by hospital day 10 and further progression of CVT was prevented. CONCLUSIONS Physicians should consider CVT when a patient presents with atypical course of stroke or with atypical MRI findings such as high intensity area in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping. Not only is an early diagnosis and initiation of anticoagulation important, but identifying and treating the underlying disease is essential to avoid the progression of CVT.

Dialysate temperature adjustment as an effective treatment for baroreflex failure syndrome in hemodialysis patient.

BACKGROUND: Baroreflex failure syndrome is a rare disorder which causes labile blood pressure, headache, flushing, diaphoresis and emotional lability. It is caused by history of trauma or radiotherapy in the cervical legion, bilateral carotid-body tumor or resection of glossopharyngeal nerve. We experienced a case of hemodialysis patient who had difficulty in controlling blood pressure during dialysis because of his baroreflex failure syndrome and successfully controlled his blood pressure by adjusting dialysate temperature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 68-year-old CKD5 patient who had difficulty in hemodialysis treatment because of severe fluctuations in blood pressure with hypertensive attacks and hypotensive episodes which caused him a severe discomfort. His dialysis treatment was started in 2010 and since that time baroreflex failure syndrome has been suspected because of his clinical manifestations and history of radiotherapy in the cervical region for his lingual cancer in 1994. Baroreflex failure syndrome is diagnosed by symptoms and cold stressor test. We performed a cold stressor test on an experimental baroreflex failure syndrome mouse and induced a significant elevation of blood pressure. From this experimental finding of model mouse, we changed the patients dialysate temperature between 34-38° according to his change in blood pressure though 80-240 mmHg. From this attempt, his blood pressure was successfully controlled between 100-180 mmHg and he was able to continue hemodialysis without any discomfort. CONCLUSION: In our case, environmental stimulation such as temperature change modified the patients fluctuating blood pressure. Change of dialysate temperature could be an option for controlling the unstable blood pressure due to baroreflex failure syndrome.