It is often possible to diagnose a pheochromocytoma only when a disastrous cardiac complication like a hypertensive crisis, episodes of unexpected left ventricular failure, myocarditis, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and sudden death appears secondarily. We revealed that a patient who had been treated with a reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction with cardiogenic indeed had a pheochromocytoma. Upon initial admission, a 35 years old man had upper respiratory tract infection and abdominal discomfort. Blood pressure was 140/90 mmHg and EKG showed transiently paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Eight hours after admission, he appeared to be in cardiogenic shock. Echocardiography showed extensive global hypokinesia with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Following conservative management he progressively recovered normal cardiac function although we did not discern the etiology of the left ventricular systolic dysfunction. He was readmitted six months later due to episodic headache and high blood pressure. Fortunately, due to the history of reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction with cardiogenic shock, we were able to quickly assess him as having a pheochromocytoma. The laboratory data and radiological findings were compatible with this tumor, which was subsequently successfully removed through surgery. We suggest that the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma should be considered in young patients presenting with acute heart failure of non-specific origin.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Headache ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypokinesia ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Pneumoperitoneum*

We studied the relationship among hypertension and retinal and retinal vessel change of 200 hypertensive out and in patients in Seoul Red Cross Hospital. The results are: 1) About 50% of hypertensive patients fall in 2nd stage hypertensive retinopathy. Systolic blood pressure is proportion to hypertensive retinopathy. 2) Generalized narrowing accounts for 86% of retinal vessel change, focal constriction 36.5% and increased central reflex accounts for 68%. 3) Concealment account for 57.5% of A-V crossing sign and anterior displacement accounts for 34%. 4) The commonest site of A-V crossing is inferior-temporal branch and superior-temporal branch come after. The former accounts for 45.3% of A-V crossing and the latter accounts for 36.8%. 5) In grade m retinal changes, puntate hemorrhage accounts for 30. 6% of retinal hemorrhages, flame shaped hemorrhages 32.1% punctate exudates 32.1% and cotton-wool patches accounts for 39%.
Blood Pressure ; Constriction ; Exudates and Transudates ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertensive Retinopathy ; Red Cross ; Reflex ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde ; Seoul

Neuromyelitis Optica(Devic's Disease) is characterized by a disease process that is relatively afebrile and strictly limited to the spinal cord and optic nerves. We experienced a case of neuromyelitis optica characterized by binocular blindness and paresthesia below the umbilicus level with paraplegia of both lower legs associated with urinary incontinence and defication difficulty. We report above case with brief review of literatures.
Blindness ; Leg ; Neuromyelitis Optica* ; Optic Nerve ; Paraplegia ; Paresthesia ; Spinal Cord ; Telescopes ; Umbilicus ; Urinary Incontinence