OBJECTIVE: Statins are known to prevent only 30–50% of cardiovascular disease(CVD) by reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). There is a controversy about whether metabolic syndrome(MS) can increase the risk of CVD. The aim of this study is to investigate whether MS can increase the risk of CVD, even after LDL-C is ideally controlled by taking statins. METHODS: As a retrospective observational study, we investigated CVD events of 909 patients (61.3±10.2 years old) by reviewing medical records for at least 1 year before and after taking statins respectively, from June 2005 to February 2008, and analyzed the risk factors of CVD. RESULTS: During the study period (881.4±232.8 days), 46 cases of CVD events occurred in patients with a very high risk of CVD and in patients with a high risk of CVD. In patients with a very high risk of CVD, 56.8% (21 cases over 37) of CVD events occurred in patients who achieved LDL-C goal (< 70 mg/dL). A total of 9 events developed among high risk patients who reached LDL-C goal (< 100 mg/dL). The patients with MS revealed significantly higher rates of CVD events [p=0.015; hazard ratio (HR) 3.033; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.184–7.768]. Significantly higher rates of CVD events were also found in subgroup analysis of the patient with a past history of CVD events [p=0.017; HR 3.431; 95% CI 1.183–9.956]. Similar pattern was demonstrated in patients with diabetes [p=0.049; HR 2.738; 95% CI 0.963–7.782]. Cox regression analysis identified metabolic syndrome [p=0.025; HR 5.237; 95% CI 1.235–22.204], a past history of CVD events [p=0.000; HR 5.349; 95% CI 2.321–12.327], basal LDL-C level [p=0.024; HR 1.013; 95% CI 1.002–1.025] and total cholesterol level after statin therapy [p=0.024; HR 0.978; 95% CI 0.959–0.997] as independent predictors of CVD among LDL-C goal achieved patients. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome is the independent risk factor of CVD events in high risk patients with or without a past history of CVD events or diabetes. In these patients, statins could not prevent CVD events effectively.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cholesterol ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* ; Lipoproteins ; Medical Records ; Observational Study ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare and fatal disease that often mimics chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); therefore, diagnosis of PAS is often delayed. Herein, a healthy 74-year-old man was presented with a 4-month history of dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed wall thickening and stenosis in the main pulmonary artery as well as in both proximal pulmonary arteries. In order to differentiate between unusual CTEPH, vasculitis, and PAS, we performed right heart catheterization and pulmonary angiography. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 21 mmHg, and there was severe pulmonary artery stenosis. Thrombi on the pulmonary arterial wall lesions were observed in intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. Furthermore, the patient had a history of deep vein thrombosis. Therefore, we diagnosed unusual CTEPH. After 6 months of rivaroxaban anticoagulation therapy, a chest X-ray revealed a left lower lobe lung mass, and a positron emission tomography later showed hypermetabolic lesions in the main pulmonary artery wall, in both pulmonary arteries walls, in the lung parenchyma, and in the bones. A biopsy of the right proximal humerus lesion revealed undifferentiated intimal sarcoma. Pulmonary sarcoma is rare, but should be considered when differentially diagnosing main pulmonary artery wall thickening and stenosis. A positron emission tomography may aid in this diagnosis.
Aged ; Angiography ; Arterial Pressure ; Biopsy ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18* ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography* ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rivaroxaban ; Sarcoma* ; Thorax ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Ultrasonography ; Vasculitis ; Venous Thrombosis

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare and fatal disease that often mimics chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH); therefore, diagnosis of PAS is often delayed. Herein, a healthy 74-year-old man was presented with a 4-month history of dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed wall thickening and stenosis in the main pulmonary artery as well as in both proximal pulmonary arteries. In order to differentiate between unusual CTEPH, vasculitis, and PAS, we performed right heart catheterization and pulmonary angiography. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 21 mmHg, and there was severe pulmonary artery stenosis. Thrombi on the pulmonary arterial wall lesions were observed in intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. Furthermore, the patient had a history of deep vein thrombosis. Therefore, we diagnosed unusual CTEPH. After 6 months of rivaroxaban anticoagulation therapy, a chest X-ray revealed a left lower lobe lung mass, and a positron emission tomography later showed hypermetabolic lesions in the main pulmonary artery wall, in both pulmonary arteries walls, in the lung parenchyma, and in the bones. A biopsy of the right proximal humerus lesion revealed undifferentiated intimal sarcoma. Pulmonary sarcoma is rare, but should be considered when differentially diagnosing main pulmonary artery wall thickening and stenosis. A positron emission tomography may aid in this diagnosis.
Aged ; Angiography ; Arterial Pressure ; Biopsy ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Humerus ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rivaroxaban ; Sarcoma ; Thorax ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Ultrasonography ; Vasculitis ; Venous Thrombosis

A 65-year-old female visited the emergency room for severe back pain radiating to the neck. Aortic dissection computed tomography revealed a ruptured liver abscess and large pneumoperitoneum. Although emergent percutaneous drainage of the liver abscess and aggressive resuscitation were performed, massive hemolytic anemia and disseminated intravascular hemolysis developed and she subsequently died, 11 hours after her visit to the emergency room. Clostridium perfringens was identified in a blood culture obtained at the emergency room. We report this case because refractory septic shock due to a liver abscess and massive intravascular hemolytic anemia caused by Clostridium perfringens in a healthy female is rare.
Aged ; Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Back Pain ; Clostridium perfringens* ; Clostridium* ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Drainage ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Neck ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Resuscitation ; Shock, Septic*

Palonosetron is a 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT-3) receptor antagonist used for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Compared with ondansetron and granisetron, it is a better drug because of prolonged action and minimal side effects. Some adverse effects of palonosetron have been reported. In this report, we describe a 37-year-old male who developed severe hypersensitivity reactions to palonosetron during surgery for kidney donation. His medical history was unremarkable, except for inguinal hernia with herniorrhaphy 8 years ago. The surgery was uneventful until 2 hours 20 minutes. After palonosetron injection, his blood pressure dropped to 80/50 mm Hg, and facial edema, rash, conjunctival swelling, and wheezing developed. The patient was resuscitated by administration of ephedrine, hydrocortisone, and peniramine. Following the surgery, the patient was monitored for 3 days, and there were no subsequent anaphylactic reactions or other complications. The skin test on postoperative day 54 was positive for hypersensitivity to palonosetron. Although palonosetron is known for its safety, other hypersensitivity events have been reported. Ondansetron is another widely used 5-HT-3 antagonist, which has been reported to cause anaphylaxis. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of patients experiencing severe adverse reactions to palonosetron.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Anesthesia, General* ; Blood Pressure ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Edema ; Ephedrine ; Exanthema ; Granisetron ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypersensitivity ; Kidney ; Male ; Ondansetron ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Respiratory Sounds ; Skin Tests