Hypertension is a risk factor for developing fatal aortic dissection. Aortic dissection occurs 2~3 times as often in men than in women between ages of 50~70 years old. Among other risk factors, aortic dissection occurs especially in women below the age of 40 years old in pregnancy-related cases. In pregnancy-related cases, aortic dissection occurs in the third trimester and in puerperium, as well as in multiparous women. The writers experienced an aortic dissection related pregnancy. The patient was 32 years old, diagnosis of dissection occurred in the postpartum period. Although, aortic dissection is a rare complication of pregnancy, the knowledge of this may assist the emergency physician save the lives of patients.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately 10–15% of children with Kawasaki disease (KD) do not respond to initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and have higher risk for coronary artery lesion (CAL). The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors from laboratory findings in patients who do not respond to IVIG treatment and develop CAL from KD. METHODS: We retrospectively collected nationwide multicenter data from the Korean Society of Kawasaki Disease and included 5,151 patients with KD between 2012 and 2014 from 38 hospitals. RESULTS: Among 5,151 patients with KD, 524 patients belonged to the IVIG-resistant group. The patients in the IVIG-resistant group had a significantly higher serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level (1,573.91±3,166.46 vs. 940.62±2,326.10 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) (70.89±15.75% vs. 62.38±32.94%; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that significantly increased PMN, NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were the predictors of IVIG resistance (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses also showed that only CRP was associated with the risk of CAL (p < 0.01), while PMN, NT-proBNP, AST, and ALT were not. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated PMN, serum NT-proBNP, CRP, AST, and ALT levels are significantly associated with IVIG resistance in patients with KD. Moreover, serum CRP is significantly increased in patients with KD with CAL.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Logistic Models ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately 10–15% of children with Kawasaki disease (KD) do not respond to initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and have higher risk for coronary artery lesion (CAL). The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors from laboratory findings in patients who do not respond to IVIG treatment and develop CAL from KD. METHODS: We retrospectively collected nationwide multicenter data from the Korean Society of Kawasaki Disease and included 5,151 patients with KD between 2012 and 2014 from 38 hospitals. RESULTS: Among 5,151 patients with KD, 524 patients belonged to the IVIG-resistant group. The patients in the IVIG-resistant group had a significantly higher serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level (1,573.91±3,166.46 vs. 940.62±2,326.10 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) (70.89±15.75% vs. 62.38±32.94%; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that significantly increased PMN, NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were the predictors of IVIG resistance (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses also showed that only CRP was associated with the risk of CAL (p < 0.01), while PMN, NT-proBNP, AST, and ALT were not. CONCLUSIONS Elevated PMN, serum NT-proBNP, CRP, AST, and ALT levels are significantly associated with IVIG resistance in patients with KD. Moreover, serum CRP is significantly increased in patients with KD with CAL.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Clomipramine* ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors* ; Serotonin*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography*

PURPOSE: We conducted a study to determine which factors may be useful as predictive markers in identifying Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with a high risk of resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and developing coronary artery lesions (CAL). METHODS: We enrolled 287 patients in acute phase of KD at a single center. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 34 patients in the IVIG resistant group. The IVIG resistant group had significantly higher serum N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic protein (NT-proBNP) levels (P<0.01) and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) percentage (P<0.01) in comparison to the IVIG responders. The results yielded sensitivity (78.8%, 60.6%), specificity (58.2%, 90%) and cutoff value (628.6 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, in predicting IVIG resistance. Despite IVIG administration, 13 of the 287 patients developed CAL. The patients in the CAL group had higher NT-proBNP levels (P<0.01) and higher PMN percentage (P<0.01). In these patients, the results yielded sensitivity (73.3%, 56.7%), specificity (67.9%, 88.9%) and cutoff value (853.4 pg/mL, 80.3%) of NT-proBNP and PMN respectively, for predicting CAL. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting resistance to IVIG was NT-proBNP 0.712, PMN 0.802. The AUC for predicting CAL was NT-proBNP 0.739, and PMN 0.773. CONCLUSION: Serum NT-proBNP levels and PMN percentage were significantly elevated in patients with KD with IVIG resistance and CAL. Thus, they may be useful predicting markers for IVIG resistance and development of CAL in KD patients.
Area Under Curve ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, three quarter of the tumors are benign, and nearly half of the benign heart tumors are myxomas. Cardiac myxoma usually originate in the left atrium about 75 percent, however, only 3 to 4 percent of myxoma are detected in the left ventricle. We report on a 32 years old woman with left ventricular myxoma who presented with shortness of breath, chest tightness, and general weakness. Acute pulmonary embolism and left ventricular myxoma were found on a perfusion lung scan and echocadiogram. A mass located on septal wall of left ventricle was excised en bloc. The patient recovered uneventfully and careful follow up has be performed periodically.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Myxoma* ; Perfusion ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thorax

No Abstract available.
Fetal Heart*

No Abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Defects, Congenital*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Flowmeters* ; Magnets* ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Penile Erection* ; Rats*