No abstract available.
Hyperthyroidism* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Paraquat* ; Poisoning*

Presence of persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC) is considered to be one of the most frequently encountered anomalies of the systemic venous return. The incidence of PLSVC is reported to be 0.3% to 0.5% in the general population, and in 3% to 10% of patients with congenital heart disease. The presence of PLSVC draining into the coronary sinus is of no hemodynamic significance. However, it is important to recognize this condition, as it can have important clinical implications. The diagnosis can be established by two demensional echocardiography. It should be suspected by the presence of dilated coronary sinus, and confirmed by contrast echocardiography. A 61-year-old man with chronic atrial fibrillation was diagnosed as PLSVC by contrast transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) using agitated saline. Contrast TTE allowed visualization of the time sequence of the echo-contrast within the right atrium first following injection of right antecubital vein. Following injection of left antecubital vein, opacification of the dilated coronary sinus first and then the right atrium was seen.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Coronary Sinus ; Diagnosis ; Dihydroergotamine ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior*

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has recently become one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in Korea. However, not much epidemiologic and demographic data has yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features as well as the prognostic factors of patients with CAD. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 1,665 consecutive patients with CAD who had been admitted to the Catholic University Hospitals from December 1999 to April 2003. RESULTS: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was the most common cause of admission (n=715, 42.9%). Dyslipidemia, hypertension and smoking were the most common risk factors. More than 70% of the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) received stent implantation. A total of 965 (612 males) patients were followed at least for 6 months (the mean follow-up duration was 23.8+/-12.2 months). The incidence rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE: cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization) and cardiac death were 15.1% (n=146) and 2.2% (n=21), respectively. There was no difference in overall survival between the patients treated with medical therapy and those treated with PCI. By Cox regression analysis, the independent prognostic factors for MACE were PCI (95% CI: 1.75-4.85; p<0.01) and multivessel disease (95% CI: 1.03-2.04; p<0.05), and the independent prognostic factors for cardiac death were medical therapy (95% CI: 1.08-14.41; p<0.05) and old age (95% CI: 1.13-16.13; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in overall survival between the patients treated with medical therapy and those treated with PCI. However, PCI was superior to medical therapy for preventing death of the patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death ; Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents