Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare autoimmune response to endogenous progesterone that usually occurs in fertile females. Cutaneous or mucosal lesions develop cyclically during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when progesterone levels are elevated. Symptoms usually start 3-10 days before menstruation and resolve 1-2 days after menstruation ceases. We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with intermittent eczematous skin lesions of the legs, forearms, and buttocks. She was diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis, and topical steroids were prescribed. Her skin eruptions waxed and waned for 6 years and were associated with her menstrual cycle. We performed an intradermal test using progesterone, which was positive, and prescribed gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues monthly for 3 months. The patient's skin lesions improved, confirming the diagnosis. Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent eczema that is refractory to treatment in women of child-bearing age.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Buttocks ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eczema ; Female ; Forearm ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests ; Leg ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Middle Aged ; Progesterone ; Skin ; Steroids

High-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) have been used as the treatment of early endobronchial cancer, as well as for palliation of advanced cancer. However, fatal hemoptysis can occur after HDREB at the rate of 7~32%. We report a case of massive hemoptysis due to radiation bronchitis developed after HDREB. A 67-year-old man was treated with HDREB for early endobronchial cancer on the left upper lobe bronchus. He complained of persistent cough from 4 weeks after completion of HDREB. Radiation bronchitis was observed on the bronchoscopy at 34 weeks, and it was progressed from mucosal swelling and exudate formation to necrosis and ulceration without local relapse. In addition, he died of massive hemoptysis after 15 months. The patient had no sign or radiologic evidences to predict the hemoptysis. This case implies that HDREB directly contributes to an occurrence of a fatal hemoptysis, and follow-up bronchoscopy is important to predict a progression of radiation bronchitis and fatal hemoptysis.
Brachytherapy ; Bronchi ; Bronchitis ; Bronchoscopy ; Cough ; Exudates and Transudates ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is steadily decreasing in South Korea. However, PTB is a disease with relatively high mortality and morbidity rates throughout Korea. Although there are many studies and statistics about the risk factors of PTB mortality in many countries, there are only a limited number of domestic papers on this topic. The aim of this study is to determine predictive factors for mortality among in-hospital patients associated with PTB. METHODS: From December 2006 to January 2011, we reviewed medical records of 2,122 adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at a single tertiary hospital in a suburban area. In this study period, 960 patients were diagnosed with PTB by positive Acid fast bacilli smear and/or mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen. We compared the groups of patients deceased and patients discharged alive with PTB. The number of dead patients was 82 (47 males, 35 females). RESULTS: Mortality was significantly associated with increased values of white blood cells (WBC), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), numbers of involved lung field, and length of hospitalization. Also, it was associated with the decreased values of hemoglobin, lymphocyte, sodium, albumin, and cholesterol. Furthermore, admission through the emergency department, initial intensive care unit admission, and drug resistant PTB affected mortality in PTB patients. Independent predictors associated with PTB mortality are BUN, initial intensive care unit care, and admission during treatment of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: In our study, mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis was related with parameters associated with nutritional status, disease severity at the time of admission, and drug resistance.
Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Drug Resistance ; Emergencies ; Hemoglobins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nitrogen ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is steadily decreasing in South Korea. However, PTB is a disease with relatively high mortality and morbidity rates throughout Korea. Although there are many studies and statistics about the risk factors of PTB mortality in many countries, there are only a limited number of domestic papers on this topic. The aim of this study is to determine predictive factors for mortality among in-hospital patients associated with PTB. METHODS: From December 2006 to January 2011, we reviewed medical records of 2,122 adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at a single tertiary hospital in a suburban area. In this study period, 960 patients were diagnosed with PTB by positive Acid fast bacilli smear and/or mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen. We compared the groups of patients deceased and patients discharged alive with PTB. The number of dead patients was 82 (47 males, 35 females). RESULTS: Mortality was significantly associated with increased values of white blood cells (WBC), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), numbers of involved lung field, and length of hospitalization. Also, it was associated with the decreased values of hemoglobin, lymphocyte, sodium, albumin, and cholesterol. Furthermore, admission through the emergency department, initial intensive care unit admission, and drug resistant PTB affected mortality in PTB patients. Independent predictors associated with PTB mortality are BUN, initial intensive care unit care, and admission during treatment of tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: In our study, mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis was related with parameters associated with nutritional status, disease severity at the time of admission, and drug resistance.
Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Drug Resistance ; Emergencies ; Hemoglobins ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nitrogen ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sodium ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We report on a case of a patient with laryngo-tracheobronchial amyloidosis who complained of cough, sputum, and hoarseness. A chest X-ray showed consolidation in the right middle lobe. A chest CT scan showed diffuse, irregular narrowing of the tracheobronchial tree and atelectasis of the right middle lobe, with calcification of bronchial wall. Bronchoscopic findings were multinodular submucosal thickening of the right vocal cord, and yellowish multinodular submucosal thickening from the lower trachea through both main bronchi, as well as the lingular division of the left upper lobe, the right middle lobe, and the right lower lobe. The right middle lobe bronchus was nearly obstructed. The diagnosis of amyloidosis was made by multiple bronchoscopic biopsies on the right vocal cord and both bronchi. Pathologic findings were characteristic apple-green birefringence under polarized microscopy with Congo-red stain. The patient had no evidence of systemic amyloidosis. The patient is under conservative symptomatic treatment.
Amyloidosis ; Biopsy ; Birefringence ; Bronchi ; Cough ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Trachea ; Vocal Cords

BACKGROUND: Malignancies are a common and important causes of exudative pleural effusions. Several tumor markers have been studied because the pleural fluid cytology and pleural biopsy specimens do not provide a diagnosis in a high percentage of malignant effusions. In an attempt to overcome this limitation, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pleural effusions and serum, which are known to be inflammation markers, were measured to determine if they can differentiate an exudate from trasndate as well as the diverse causes of exudative pleural effusion. METHODS: 178 consecutive patients with pleural effusion (malignant 57, tuberculous 51, parapneumonic 31, empyema 5, miscellaneous benign 7, transudative 27)were studied prospectively. The standard parameters of pleural effusion and measured serum and pleural procalcitonin were examined using in immunoluminometric assay. The level of CRP in serum and pleural fluid was determined by turbidimetric immunoassay. RESULTS: The pleural procalcitonin levels in the exudate were significantly higher than those in the transudate, 0.81+/-3.09 ng/mL and 0.12+/-0.12 ng/mL, respectively (p=0.007). The pleural CRP levels were significantly higher in the exudate than the transudate, 2.83+/-3.31 mg/dL and 0.74+/-0.67 mg/dL, respectively (p<0.001). The pleural procalcitonin levels in the benign effusion were significantly higher than those in the malignant effusion, 1.15+/-3.82 ng/mL and 0.25+/-0.92 ng/mL, respectively (p=0.032). The pleural CRP levels were significantly higher in the benign effusion than in the malignant effusion, 3.68+/-3.78 mg/dL and 1.42+/-1.54 mg/dL, respectively (p<0.001). The pleural procalcitonin levels in the non-tuberculous effusion were significantly higher than those in the tuberculous effusion, 1.16+/-3.75 ng/mL and 0.13+/-0.37 ng/mL, respectively (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Measuring the level of procalcitonin and CRP in the pleural fluid is helpful for differentiating between transudates and exudates. In addition, it is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant pleural effusions.
Biopsy ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Diagnosis ; Empyema ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Inflammation ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; Prospective Studies ; Biomarkers, Tumor

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. Normally, it does not progress to a condition requiring hospitalization but improves spontaneously or has a mild clinical course. We report two cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia with different clinical manifestations from the normal course. The patients were young healthy individuals. The diagnoses were made by serology. However, it could not be determined beforehand that they had M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Based on the empirical treatment strategy of severe community acquired pneumonia, the patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics including cephalosporin, quinolone and macrolide. After administering the antibiotics, they showed a gradually favorable clinical course and recovered without residual complications. A M. pneumoniae infection should be considered as a cause of severe community acquired pneumonia, and empirical treatment targeting this organism might be helpful in treating patients with the severe manifestation.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Young Adult

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. Normally, it does not progress to a condition requiring hospitalization but improves spontaneously or has a mild clinical course. We report two cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia with different clinical manifestations from the normal course. The patients were young healthy individuals. The diagnoses were made by serology. However, it could not be determined beforehand that they had M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Based on the empirical treatment strategy of severe community acquired pneumonia, the patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics including cephalosporin, quinolone and macrolide. After administering the antibiotics, they showed a gradually favorable clinical course and recovered without residual complications. A M. pneumoniae infection should be considered as a cause of severe community acquired pneumonia, and empirical treatment targeting this organism might be helpful in treating patients with the severe manifestation.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Young Adult

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by heterogenous multisystemic dysplasia of the vascular tissue. Prevalence of HHT is 1 in 5,000~8,000. HHT commonly presents with recurrent epistaxis, but may have more serious consequences if visceral vascular beds are involved. Approximately 30~50% of HHT cases also present with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM). Spontaneous hemothorax is less common, and PAVM is one of the causes leading to hemothorax. Our case involved an 18-year-old female who had suddenly developed right chest pain. The reason for chest pain was due to right spontaneous hemothorax accompanied by PAVM in the right middle lobe. The patient was additionally diagnosed with HHT upon examination of her family history, specifically through her mother's symptom that included recurrent epistaxis and mucosal telangiectasia.
Adolescent ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Chest Pain ; Epistaxis ; Female ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; Telangiectasis