Swallow syncope (also known as deglutition syncope) is a relatively rare type of syncope that is treatable if diagnosed correctly. We report a case of a 39-year-old man with recurrent swallow syncope. The patient did not have structural heart disease. He developed a complete atrioventricular block upon drinking a cold beverage (Chilsung cider) while undergoing a repeated head-up tilt test. The patient was advised to avoid cold beverages and has been symptom free for 5 months.
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; Beverages ; Cold Temperature ; Deglutition ; Drinking ; Eating ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Syncope

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare complication of aortic dissection. We report an unusual case of a 64-year-old woman with DIC associated with chronic aortic dissection who developed catastrophic intracranial hemorrhage. Computed tomography (CT) revealed partially thrombosed false lumen in the chronic dissected aneurysm of the thoracoabdominal aorta, which remained after surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. The laboratory profile showed features of DIC, including thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, and increased D-dimer levels. Bleeding diathesis, including ecchymosis and coagulopathy, showed improvement following treatment with protease inhibitors (nafamostat and camostat).
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Dacarbazine ; Disease Susceptibility ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Ecchymosis ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Guanidines ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Middle Aged ; Protease Inhibitors ; Thrombocytopenia

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering and erosive mucocutaneous syndrome associated with underlying neoplasm. It is primarily associated with lymphoproliferative disorders, and uncommonly with malignancies of epithelial origin. We report on a case of a 68-year-old male who presented with whole body bullous and erosive skin lesions. Findings on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and skin biopsy revealed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and paraneoplastic pemphigus. Palliative chemotherapy and systemic glucocorticoid were started, however, the patient died of overwhelming sepsis on the ninth day of chemotherapy. This case demonstrates that paraneoplastic pemphigus can occur in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and could be a cause of morbidity.
Biopsy ; Blister ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Pemphigus ; Sepsis ; Skin