PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of classic heat stroke in Korea and to identify factors of prognosis for heat stroke by comparing a survival group with a non-survival group. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 27 patients with heat stroke who visited the Emergency Department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from March 2001 to February 2005. First, we divided the patients into two groups, the classic heat stroke group and the exertional heat stroke group, and compared them. Second, we compared the survival group with the non-survival group. Age, sex, cause, place where patients were found, underlying diseases, cooling time, performance of endotracheal intubation, initial Glasgow Coma Scale, initial vital sign, and laboratory findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Five of 27 patients in heat stroke died. The classic heat stroke group had 20 patients. They were old and had more patients in the bathroom than the exertional heat stroke group had. The non-survival group showed lower blood pressure, lower initial GCS score, and higher respiratory rate than the survival group. In laboratory findings, the non-survival group also showed lower HCO3-level, lower albumin level, lower glucose level, more prolonged PT, and higher CK-MB level than the survival group. Delay in recognition of heat stroke and cooling were poor prognostic factors in heat stroke. CONCLUSION: The classic heat stroke group had patients who were old and found in the bathroom. Early recognition and treatment of heat stroke is important to reduce mortality. Cooling time, initial GCS score, mean arterial pressure, resipratory rate, HCO3-, PT, CK-MB, and albumin seem to be meaningful when forming a prognosis for heat stroke patients.
Arterial Pressure ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glucose ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heat Stroke* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prognosis* ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of classic heat stroke in Korea and to identify factors of prognosis for heat stroke by comparing a survival group with a non-survival group. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 27 patients with heat stroke who visited the Emergency Department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from March 2001 to February 2005. First, we divided the patients into two groups, the classic heat stroke group and the exertional heat stroke group, and compared them. Second, we compared the survival group with the non-survival group. Age, sex, cause, place where patients were found, underlying diseases, cooling time, performance of endotracheal intubation, initial Glasgow Coma Scale, initial vital sign, and laboratory findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Five of 27 patients in heat stroke died. The classic heat stroke group had 20 patients. They were old and had more patients in the bathroom than the exertional heat stroke group had. The non-survival group showed lower blood pressure, lower initial GCS score, and higher respiratory rate than the survival group. In laboratory findings, the non-survival group also showed lower HCO3-level, lower albumin level, lower glucose level, more prolonged PT, and higher CK-MB level than the survival group. Delay in recognition of heat stroke and cooling were poor prognostic factors in heat stroke. CONCLUSION: The classic heat stroke group had patients who were old and found in the bathroom. Early recognition and treatment of heat stroke is important to reduce mortality. Cooling time, initial GCS score, mean arterial pressure, resipratory rate, HCO3-, PT, CK-MB, and albumin seem to be meaningful when forming a prognosis for heat stroke patients.
Arterial Pressure ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glucose ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heat Stroke* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prognosis* ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Signs

Dense deposit disease (DDD) is a rare disorder characterized by the deposition of abnormal electron-dense material within the glomerular basement membrane of the kidneys. The diagnosis is made in most patients between 5 and 15 years of age, and within 10 years, approximately half of the affected patients progress to end-stage renal disease. We report a rare case of regressive DDD without C3 deposition after steroid therapy in an 11-year-old boy. The patient presented with edema, gross hematuria, and nephrotic-range proteinuria. Laboratory testing revealed a serum creatinine level of 1.17 mg/dL, albumin level of 2.3 g/dL, and serum C3 level of 125 mg/dL (range 90-180 mg/dL). The results of the renal biopsy were consistent with DDD without C3 deposition. After 6 weeks of steroid therapy, the nephrotic syndrome completely resolved. The follow-up renal biopsy showed a significant reduction in mesangial proliferation and disappearance of electron-dense deposits in the GBM.
Biopsy ; Child ; Creatinine ; Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Proteinuria ; Remission Induction