BACKGROUND: Several factors had been suggested to contribute to the development of hypertension in chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). This study was conducted to find the association of baseline blood pressure (BP) with pathophysiologic findings and later renal progression in chronic GN. METHODS: Clinico-pathological findings including serum creatinine (Cr), proteinuria, pathological findings, and urinary Na excretion were analyzed in a total of 233 patients with IgA nephropathy from The Kyung-Hee Cohort of GN. Glomerular surface area (GSA) was measured by imaging analysis and urine angiotensinogen (AGT) concentrations by human ELISA kits. RESULTS: Systolic BP was ≥130mmHg in 124 patients (53%). Systolic BP was negatively correlated with follow-up eGFR (r=−0.32, p<0.0001) and positively serum uric acid concentrations, while it had no significant relationships with initial serum Cr and eGFR. As compared with patients with systolic BP<130 mmHg, those with ≥130 mmHg were older and showed higher serum Cr, proteinuria, 24 hr urinary Na excretion, mean GSA, and T-I fibrosis, lower follow-up eGFR, and steeper decline in slope of eGFR. The results in patients with normal serum Cr concentrations were comparable to those in whole group. Systolic BP was positively correlated with age, baseline and follow-up proteinuria, serum uric acid concentrations and IgM deposit and negatively with follow-up eGFR. In subgroup analysis, systolic BP was also positively correlated with mean GSA and urinary AGT concentrations. CONCLUSION This study showed that baseline systolic BP is related to urinary Na excretion, glomerulomegaly, T-I fibrosis and later renal progression in patients with IgA nephropathy.

It is reported that patients with primary hyperparathyroidism(PHPT) have disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism: in particular, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance are characteristic early metabolic aberrations of this disease. However, it is not clear whether changes of insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity are observed in all patients with PHPT, including those with normal glucose tolerance. Also, it is not clear whether these changes are reversible after surgical correction of PHPT. In the present study, glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were evaluated in 2 symptomatic patients with PHPT during 100g oral glucose tolerance test before and after parathyroid adenoma removal. Comparing these patients before and after surgery, glucose tolerance was not significantly different. However, C-peptide and insulin secretion was low after surgical correction of PHPT compared to the preoperative situation. This observation suggests that insulin hypersecretion in patients with PHPT precedes glucose intolerance and this early disturbance is reversible after surgery.
C-Peptide ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin ; Parathyroid Neoplasms

Cryptococcal meningitis is rare but, often fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). It is difficult to differentiate cryptococcal meningitis from neuropsychiatric lupus due to similarity of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF). Earlier diagnosis and effective antifungal therapy improve the prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis in SLE patients. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patients with SLE who had been medicated with low dose steroid.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal* ; Prognosis

Acute renal failure secondary to acute pyelonephritis is developed rarely. But acute pyelonephritis is considered in differential diagnosis of acute renal failure, particularly in elderly patient. Elderly patient showed subtle symptoms or signs of infections and can be missed easily. We experienced two cases of acute renal failure secondary to acute pyelonephritis. In first case, one patient complained fever, chilling and right flank pain for 10 days. Three repeated blood and urine cultures showed E. coli, respectively. At admission serum creatinine showed 2.4 mg/dL and thereafter increased to 4.5 mg/dL, and then decreased to 1.7 mg/dL with antibiotic therapy and hydration at 14 days of admission. In second case, patient complained right flank pain, costovertebral tenderness and urinary difficulty at admission. Two repeated blood culture showed no growth, two repeated urine culture showed > 105 ml/dL of E. coli. At admission serum creatinine level was 2.69 mg/dL and then decreased to 1.7 mg/dL with antibiotic therapy and hydration at 14 days of admission.Acute pyelonephritis should be considered in differential diagnosis of acute renal failure in the elder ages, although this developed rarely. Early recognition and appropriate antibiotic treatment helps recover acute renal failure secondary to acute pyelonephritis.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis*

During advanced prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) using gonadotropin-releasing hormone and antiandrogen is an effective treatment modality. Recently, it has been reported that ADT may result in diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Here, we report the first case in the literature of new-onset DM and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma (HNKC) associated with ADT. A 69-year-old man visited our hospital because of altered mentality. The patient had been taking leuprolide and bicalutamide for metastatic prostate cancer for the past 4 months. In laboratory tests, new-onset DM with HNKC was diagnosed. The patient was immediately treated with intravenous hydration and insulin therapy, and recovered without sequela. Because ADT can cause DM, or rarely HNKC, it is necessary to monitor fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles carefully while ADT is performed.
Aged ; Anilides ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Coma ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Insulin ; Leuprolide ; Nitriles ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Tosyl Compounds

Peroperative localization of pheochromocytoma is the very crucial step for the successful removal of tumors. Computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance(MR) imaging have been commonly used for tumor localization, but in some cases of pheochromocytoma, such as extraadrenal location or distant metastasis of malignant tumor, their localization is somewhat difficult. Recently ^131 I-metaiodobenzylguanidine(MIBG) scintigraphy has been developed and increasingly used for the localization of pheochromocytoma and reported to be more sensitive and specific than CT or MR imaging in the cases of extraadrenal tumor location.We report a case of multiple extraadrenal pheochromocytoma in which ^131 I-MIBG scintigraphy clearly localized two intraabdominal and one bladder tumors, after failure of localization with conventional CT and MR imaging.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pheochromocytoma ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Scrub typhus is a zoonotic disease, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and characterized by a typical primary lesion(eschar), rash and non-specific symptoms such as fever and chills, headache, myalgia. Although it is an acute febrile illness, severe complications of this disease are very rare since the introduction of specific antibiotic therapy. The authors report two cases of scrub typhus complicating acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although appropriate diagnosis and treatment were performed, all two patients expired. They were diagnosed as scrub typhus by travel history, clinical manifestations, eschars, serologic test and polymerase chain reaction(PCR).
Chills ; Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Myalgia ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Scrub Typhus* ; Serologic Tests ; Zoonoses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The early morning blood pressure surge (EMBPS) has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) parameters and conventional cardiovascular risk factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients (n=346) never-treated for essential hypertension with no other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nephropathy were enrolled. The EMBPS was defined as the early morning systolic BP minus the lowest night systolic BP. We compared the 24-hour ABPM parameters in two groups divided by age (<60 and > or =60 years) and examined the association between the 24-hour ABPM parameters and cardiovascular risk factor. RESULTS: The EMBPS (18+/-14 vs. 24+/-14 mmHg, p=0.002), 24-hour mean blood pressure {MBP; 102+/-9 vs. 105+/-11 mmHg, p=0.044}, and 24-hour mean pulse pressure (PP; 52+/-10 vs. 58+/-11 mmHg, p<0.001) were significantly increased in the elderly subjects compared to the younger subjects. The degree of decrease was less in the elderly subjects (10+/-8 vs. 7+/-10%, p=0.002). Based on multivariate analysis, age was an independent risk factor for the highest quartile of EMBPS (>28 mmHg) after adjusting for gender differences, body mass index, and various 24-hour ABPM parameters (odds ratio, 1.051; 95% confidence interval, 1.028-1.075; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Age is an independent risk factor for EMBPS in patients with never-treated hypertension. BP control in the early morning period is more important in elderly patients so as to prevent cardiovascular events.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Body Mass Index ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion lesions is technically difficult despite equipment advances. Changes in electrocardiographic patterns, such as Q and T waves, during chronic total occlusion can provide information about procedural success and myocardial viability. In this study, we investigated clinical, electrocardiographic, and procedural characteristics of chronic total occlusions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients (2,635) who underwent coronary angiography between January 2006 and July 2007 at six Catholic University Hospitals were identified using a dedicated Internet database. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients had total occlusion lesions (7.4%). Percutaneous coronary interventions were attempted in 136 total occlusion lesions (66.0%) in 134 patients. Successful recanalization with stent implantation was accomplished in 89 lesions, with a procedural success rate of 66.4%. One procedure-related death occurred because of no-reflow phenomenon. After excluding 8 patients with bundle branch block, Q and T wave inversions were observed in 60 (32.1%) and 78 patients (41.7%), respectively. The presence of Q waves was associated with severe angina, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, regional wall motion abnormality, and T wave inversion, but was not related to procedural success. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous coronary intervention is a safe and useful procedure for the revascularization of coronary chronic total occlusion lesions. The procedural success rate was not related to the presence of pathologic Q waves, which were associated with severe angina and decreased left ventricular function.
Angioplasty ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Occlusion ; Electrocardiography ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Internet ; No-Reflow Phenomenon ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is well known that the higher the blood pressure, the greater the chance of cardiovascular disease, but the factors that are responsible for this association remain largely unknown. We sought to determine whether blood pressure, in a dose-dependent way, is associated with systemic inflammation, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data from 5,626 participants, aged 40-65 years, of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). We quantified the blood pressure by dividing the participants into the normal, pre-, stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension groups based on the Joint National Committee 7 (JNC) classification. We used multiple linear and logistic regression models to determine the relationship between blood pressure and the levels of inflammatory markers. RESULTS: After adjustments were made for various co-morbidities, participants with stage 2 systolic hypertension had higher circulating leukocyte levels [840/microliter (95% confidence interval [CI], 374 to 939/microliter)] and fibrinogen levels [24.5 mg/dL (95% CI, 8.9 to 31.9 mg/dL)] than those participants with normal blood pressure. They also showed higher circulating C-reactive protein levels (C-reactive protein>10.0 mg/L: p for trend=0.001). There was a dose-dependent increase for the circulating levels of the risk factors across the different levels of systolic blood pressure, but not for diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that an elevated systolic blood pressure is an independent risk factor for systemic inflammation and this may explain why systolic hypertension is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Classification* ; Fibrinogen ; Hypertension* ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Leukocytes ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Risk Factors*