Aneurysm, False ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Peritonsillar Abscess

PURPOSE: To report a case of Epstein-Barr virus-related corneal endotheliitis accompanied by secondary glaucoma.CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old male presented with blurred vision in his right eye. In the ophthalmic evaluation, there were dispersed keratic precipitates overlying corneal edema. The anterior chamber showed trace ~1+ graded inflammation and an endothelial density decrease. His best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure in the right eye were 0.2 and 34 mmHg, respectively. Paracentesis was performed on the anterior chamber of the right eye to confirm the diagnosis under the suspicion of corneal endotheliitis with trabeculectomy for the intraocular pressure control. Epstein-Barr virus was confirmed using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and oral and eye drops of Acyclovir were used to treat the patient. There was no evidence of a recurrence over 2 years and his intraocular pressure was 12 mmHg and best-corrected visual acuity was maintained at 0.5.CONCLUSIONS: A case of Epstein-Barr virus-related corneal endotheliitis was diagnosed using PCR of the aqueous humor. The patient was treated with an oral antiviral agent and eyedrops without a recurrence.
Acyclovir ; Aged ; Anterior Chamber ; Aqueous Humor ; Corneal Edema ; Diagnosis ; Glaucoma ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Paracentesis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Trabeculectomy ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: The most common cause of hemorrhage after paracentesis is direct needle puncture of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA). This study examined the relationship between the amount of the ascites and the location of the IEA in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) examinations of patients with liver cirrhosis were reviewed retrospectively and divided into two groups according to the amount of ascites. The distances between the midline and the IEAs of both sides were measured at the umbilicus, McBurney's point, anterior superior iliac spine, and mid-inguinal level. Branching of the IEAs, abdominal wall and mesenteric varices in the abdomen below the umbilicus level were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 120 abdominal CTs were reviewed. The distances from the midline to the IEA in the large ascites group were longer than those in the small ascites group at the level of the right McBurney's point (44.5±14.6 mm vs. 39.6±11.8 mm, P=0.043) and left McBurney's point (48.6±15.3 mm vs. 43.3±11.5 mm, P=0.035). The incidence of abdominal wall varices was higher in the large ascites group (21.7% vs. 5.0%, P=0.014). CONCLUSION: In patients with liver cirrhosis, the large amount of ascites might be associated with lateralizing the location of the IEA. Moreover, it may be necessary to confirm the blood vessels in the abdominal wall and mesentery near the puncture site by bedside ultrasound before the paracentesis.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Ascites ; Blood Vessels ; Epigastric Arteries ; Hemoperitoneum ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver ; Mesentery ; Needles ; Paracentesis ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Umbilicus ; Varicose Veins

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) is an uncommon disease that is accompanied by intestinal eosinophil infiltration without a secondary cause of eosinophilia. Eosinophilic enteritis is a secondary portion of EGID that can present a range of gastrointestinal symptoms according to the affected depth of the intestinal layer. The subserosal type of eosinophilic enteritis presenting as ascites is relatively rarer than the mucosal type. In general, eosinophilic enteritis occurs in patients with food allergies, but its mechanism is unclear. The authors experienced a 29-year-old female patient with a large amount of ascites with diarrhea and abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with an influenza A infection one week earlier. Peripheral eosinophilia (absolute eosinophil count: 6,351 cells/mm³) and eosinophilic ascites (97% of white blood cells in the ascites are eosinophil) were present. Abdominal CT revealed a large amount of ascites and edematous changes in the ileum and ascending colon wall. A diagnosis of eosinophilic enteritis was confirmed as eosinophilic ascites by paracentesis, with eosinophil infiltration of the bowel wall by an endoscopic biopsy. The patient's symptoms improved rapidly after using steroids. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report of eosinophilic enteritis with massive ascites after an influenza A virus infection in a Korean adult.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Colon, Ascending ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Ileum ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza, Human ; Leukocytes ; Paracentesis ; Steroids ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) is an uncommon disease that is accompanied by intestinal eosinophil infiltration without a secondary cause of eosinophilia. Eosinophilic enteritis is a secondary portion of EGID that can present a range of gastrointestinal symptoms according to the affected depth of the intestinal layer. The subserosal type of eosinophilic enteritis presenting as ascites is relatively rarer than the mucosal type. In general, eosinophilic enteritis occurs in patients with food allergies, but its mechanism is unclear. The authors experienced a 29-year-old female patient with a large amount of ascites with diarrhea and abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with an influenza A infection one week earlier. Peripheral eosinophilia (absolute eosinophil count: 6,351 cells/mm³) and eosinophilic ascites (97% of white blood cells in the ascites are eosinophil) were present. Abdominal CT revealed a large amount of ascites and edematous changes in the ileum and ascending colon wall. A diagnosis of eosinophilic enteritis was confirmed as eosinophilic ascites by paracentesis, with eosinophil infiltration of the bowel wall by an endoscopic biopsy. The patient's symptoms improved rapidly after using steroids. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report of eosinophilic enteritis with massive ascites after an influenza A virus infection in a Korean adult.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Colon, Ascending ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Ileum ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza, Human ; Leukocytes ; Paracentesis ; Steroids ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Large-volume paracentesis-induced intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to pseudoaneurysm formation is rarely reported. Here, we present a 56-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis admitted for massive ascites. Large-volume paracentesis was performed. Three days later, he became pale and complained of dyspnea and abdominal distention with hypotension. Percutaneous iliac angiography revealed contrast media leakage from a branch of the left circumflex iliac artery with pseudoaneurysm. He was successfully treated with microcoil embolization. Several days later, ascitic fluid increased and large-volume paracentesis was performed again. Two days later, his hemoglobin level suddenly decreased. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed new active bleeding at the left lower lateral peritoneal cavity, just anterior to the metalic coils. Percutaneous iliac angiography revealed contrast media extravasation from a branch of the left inferior epigastric artery with formation of collateral vessel. Percutaneous embolization was successfully performed again. After coil embolization, there were no further bleeding episodes.
Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Contrast Media ; Dyspnea ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Epigastric Arteries ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Iliac Artery ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Middle Aged ; Paracentesis* ; Peritoneal Cavity

PURPOSE: To investigate factors associated with pain intensity following intravitreal injection and factors that might be associated with changes in pain intensity in patients who received repeated injections. METHODS: A total of 172 eyes (147 patients) were prospectively enrolled. Patients rated their pain from 0 to 10 using a visual analogue scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with pain score. Sixty-eight patients evaluated their degree of pain more than once and were divided into three groups according to changes in pain during repeated injections. Clinical factors were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: Pain scores of women (women, 3.1 ± 1.5 vs. men, 2.4 ± 1.2; p = 0.003), those who received dexamethasone implant injection (dexamethasone implant, 3.5 ± 1.1 vs. anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, 2.7 ± 1.4; p = 0.028), and those who did not undergo anterior chamber paracentesis (ACP) (ACP, 2.6 ± 1.3 vs. no ACP, 3.0 ± 1.6; p = 0.047) were significantly higher than those of the other groups. On multiple linear regression analysis, only female sex and ACP were significantly associated with degree of pain. The waiting time during the second injection was significantly associated with change in degree of pain in patients who received repeated injections. CONCLUSIONS: Women were more prone to perceive pain, and the ACP procedure reduced pain during intravitreal injections. Most patients who received repeated injections felt that pain was similar or decreased compared to that experienced during the previous injection. However, increased waiting time might have been associated with increased discomfort for patients who received repeated injections.
Anterior Chamber ; Dexamethasone ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Female ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections* ; Linear Models ; Male ; Paracentesis ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diagnostic tests for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in ascites have been performed in various malignant cases, but there is only few data on the applicability of CEA for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We aimed to determine the usefulness of CEA in ascites (aCEA) as a diagnostic parameter for CRC with peritoneal carcinomatosis. METHODS: Between January 2000 and May 2013, the medical records of 259 patients who underwent paracentesis for the evaluation of ascites were retrospectively reviewed. CRC patients with ascites (n=82) and patients with non-malignant ascites (n=177) were evaluated. Patients who had other malignancies, including gastric or ovarian cancer, with ascites were excluded. The optimal diagnostic cut-off value of aCEA for CRC with peritoneal carcinomatosis was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The value of aCEA for predicting the occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis was evaluated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The optimal cut-off value of aCEA to diagnose CRC with peritoneal carcinomatosis was 3.89 ng/mL, and the area under the curve for aCEA was 0.996 (sensitivity 96.3%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 98.3%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aCEA was an independent factor predicting the occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that aCEA may be a useful parameter for diagnosing CRC with peritoneal carcinomatosis, and we propose an optimal aCEA cut-off value of 3.89 ng/mL. Further study that includes patients with other malignant ascites may be necessary to validate these findings.
Ascites* ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen* ; Carcinoma* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Paracentesis ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is defined as bacterial infections that occur in patients with cirrhosis and ascites without any significant intraperitoneal infection, accounting for approximately 10–30% of bacterial infections in hospitalized patients. SBP develops in patients with liver cirrhosis because bacterial translocations are increased by changes in the intestinal bacteria and mucosal barriers. In addition, the decreased host immune response cannot remove the bacteria and their products. The most common cause of SBP is Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species, and infections by Gram-positive bacteria are increasing. SBP is diagnosed by the presence of >250 polymorphonuclear leukocyte/mm³ in ascites after paracentesis. If SBP is diagnosed, empirical antibiotic therapy should be started immediately. Empirical antibiotic treatment should distinguish between community acquired infections and nosocomial infections. Cirrhotic patients with gastrointestinal bleeding or low ascitic protein concentrations should consider primary prevention and those who recover from SBP should consider secondary prevention. This review describes the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of SBP.
Ascites ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Cross Infection ; Diagnosis ; Escherichia coli ; Fibrosis ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Paracentesis ; Peritonitis* ; Primary Prevention ; Secondary Prevention

Ascites is the most common cause of decompensation in cirrhosis, and 5% to 10% of patients with compensated cirrhosis develop ascites each year. The main factor of ascites formation is renal sodium retention due to activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and sympathetic nervous system by the reduced effective volume secondary to splanchnic arterial vasodilation. Diagnostic paracentesis is indicated in all patients with a new onset of grade 2 or 3 ascites and in those admitted to hospital for any complication of cirrhosis. A serum-ascites albumin gradient of ≥1.1 g/dL indicates portal hypertension with an accuracy of approximately 97%. Sodium restriction, diuretics, and large volume paracentesis are the mainstay of treatment in grade 1 to 3 ascites. The refractoriness of ascites is associated with a poor prognosis with a median survival of approximately six months. Repeated large volume paracentesis plus albumin is the first line treatment, and liver transplantation is recommended in patients with refractory ascites. A careful selection of patients is also important to obtain the beneficial effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in refractory ascites. This review details the recent diagnosis and treatment of cirrhotic ascites.
Ascites* ; Diagnosis ; Diuretics ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Transplantation ; Paracentesis ; Portasystemic Shunt, Surgical ; Prognosis ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Sodium ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Vasodilation