• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 1994

Background: Miliary tuberculosis almost always results from the discharge of infected caseous material into the blood stream, usually from a well hidden lymph node in the presentation of this disease in the past four decades, and although it is seen less frequent1y today than previously, its presentation and manifestation may require greater suspicion and diligence by the physician. We investigated the clinical characteristics, predisposing factors and accompanying diseases of miliary tuberculosis and tried to acquire the early diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Methods: A retrospective clinical study was done on 40 cases of miliary tuberculosis admitted to Hanyang University Hospital from Mar. 1989 to Dec.1992. The study investigated age and sex distribution, seasonal distribution, duration of symptoms before admission, pre-disposing factors, clinical symptoms, biochemical findings, chest X-ray findings, extrapulmonary tuberculosis associated with miliary tuberculosis, prognosis and mortality rate. Results: 1) The patients were most common in the age group between 20 and 29(23%) and the ratio of male to female was 1.4:1(male 23 : female 17). 2) Sputum smears for tubercle bacilli were positive in 5 cases(13%). 3) The most common clinical symptoms were fever with chilling(47.5%), coughing(47.5%), second most common symptom was dyspnea(32.5%), and the physical findings on admission were tachycardia(30%), weight loss(27.5%), meningeal signs(17.5%) in order. 4) The predisposing factors were heavy alcohol drinking(6 cases), steroid use(3 cases), pregnancy(2 cases) etc. 5) The chest X-ray findings on admission were miliary shadow only(40%), in addition pneumonic infiltration, pleurisy, and calcification in order. 6) The extrapulmonary tuberculosis associated with miliary tuberculosis were tuberculous meningitis(30%), bone and joint tuberculosis(17.5%), intestinal tuberculosis(15%) in order. 7) Biochemical findings were increased SGOT/SGPT(32.5%), increased alkaline phosphatase(32.5%), hypoalbuminemia(15%), hyponatremia(15%) etc. 8) About 4-6 weeks later after treatment(INH, RFP, PZA, EMB), 26 cases(65%) were improved on clinical symptoms or chest X-ray, 12 cases(30%) were stationary or aggravated, and 2 cases(5%) were died. Conclusion: For the early diagnosis and treatment of miliary tuberculosis, we must see its presentation and manifestation with greater interest and suspicion and investigate its predisposing factors and accompanying diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.805-812
• /
• 1998

Background: Among the variety of opportunistic infections, pneumonia comprises the major morbidity in immunocompromised patients. Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia (PCP) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia are common infectious illness of immunocompromised hosts. Although there are many reports regarding to the co-infection of PCP and CMV diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid examination, the effects of CMV co-infection on the outcome of PCP is still controversial. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of CMV detected by BAL fluid examination on the clinical course of PCP in the immunocompromised patients other than human immunodeficiency virus infection. Method: Ten patients with PCP were enrolled and retrospective analysis of their medical records were done. HIV infected persons were excluded. The PCP was diagnosed by BAL fluid examination with Calcofluor-White staining. CMV was detected in BAL fluid by Shell-vial culture system. Chest radiographic findings were reviewed. We used Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis of data. Results: The underlying disorders of patients were idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=1), renal transplantation (n=4), necrotizing vasculitis (n=l), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1), brain tumor (n=1), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n=1), unidentified (n=1). There were no difference in clinical course, APACHE III score, arterial blood gas analysis, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin concentration, chest radiographic findings and mortality between patients with PCP alone (n=4) and those with CMV co-infection (n=6). Univariate analysis regarding to the factors that associated with mortality of PCP were revealed that the application of mechanical ventilation (p=0.028), the level of APACHE III score (p=0.018) and serum albumin concentration (p=0.048) were related to the mortality of patients with PCP. Conclusion: The clinical course of PCP patients co-infected by CMV were not different from PCP only patients. Instead, accompanied respiratory failure, high APACHE III score and poor nutritional status were associated with poor outcome of PCP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.685-696
• /
• 1999

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.274-282
• /
• 1993

Background: Pulmonary paragonimiasis is caused by consumption of raw or improperly cooked crabs infected by a laval stage (metacercaris) of the parasite. In our country it had been a highly prevalent endemic disease until th late 1960s, and after then it's prevalence has been markedly decreased. But because some people have continued to ingest undercooked crabs, this disease have yet occured sporadically. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and radiological findings retrospectively in seventy-four patients of pulmonary paragonimiasis including familial infestation in 7 familes (20 cases) who were confirmed by food history, clinical and radiological findings, and labaratory data. Results: The male: female ratio was 2.2:1 and most prevalent age was 40-49 years old. Twen6ty nine patients (39%) had ova-positive infection. The detection sites were sputum (48%), pleural fluid (17%), fine needle aspiration biopsy of nodular or cystic lesion (17%), pleural biopsy (7%), skin nodule biopsy (7%), and stool (3%). The patients had pulmonary symptoms in 63 cases (85%) but 9 cases did not have any symptoms. The 53 cases (72%) had abnormal radiological findings in lung parenchyme (75%) and pleura (63%). However 21 cases (28%) showed no specific findings in their chest X-ray. Serum titers (ELISA) of specific IgG for paragonimiasis in 13 cases were followed for average 9.8 months after treatment, which showed slow decreasement. In the evaluation of family member (7 family, 20 cases), all members having the common dietary history together with a proven patients were confirmed this disease by serological test, regardless of the presence or the abscence of clinical or radilogical symptoms. Conclusion: We evaluated the clinical and radiological findings in 74 cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis including 7 family members who had a history of ingestion of improperly cooked crabs together with patients. The paients of pulmonary paragonimiasis have various findings in clinical and radiological findings. Common diet exposure history and laboratory findings including specific IgG were important in earlier diagnosing and treating in family members of patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.839-845
• /
• 2003

Background: Even today when chemotherapy has been established as a treatment for tuberculosis and the prevalence of tuberculosis is gradually decreasing, multi-drug resistance tuberculosis still results in poor treatment performance and lowered survival periods. This research sought to analyze the surgery of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis, and determine the usefulness and danger of surgery in connection with this disease. Material and Method: Starting from February 1990 to February 2002, retrospective surveys were conducted targeted at 21 cases involving 20 patients who underwent surgery due to multi-drug resistance tuberculosis. The survey included 14 males cases and 6 females cases with the age averaging 42.8$\pm$12.1 years. 10.3$\pm$7.6 years on average passed after patients were initially diagnosed with tuberculosis. 13 patients (65%) tested positive in the pre-operative sputum AFB test, and all showed resistance against an average of 3.5 anti-tuberculosis agents including INH and RFP. Pre-operative radiologic examinations revealed cavitary lesions in 15 patients (75%), and three patients had lesions in the both lung fields, with the major lesions existing in the unilateral area. 13 patients (75%) failed negative conversion with medical treatment, while two patients (10%) with recurrent hemoptysis and five patients (25%) with lesions involving high recurrence-rate received the operation. Operations included nine cases (40%) of pneumonectomy, nine cases (45%) of lobectomy, and three cases of lobectomy with segmentectomy. The average follow-up period of patients stood at 23 months. Result: There was no post-operative death, and found were a total of eleven cases involving complications were found: three cases of long-term air leakage, three cases of bleeding requiring re-operation, two cases of empyemas due to broncho-pleural fistula, and one case of atelectasis, wound infection and chest wall fistula each. Eleven cases (85%) of negative conversion were completed immediately after the operation, and two cases failed negative conversion. Eleven months after the operation, the disease recurred in one case of negative conversion patients, and the patient was cured by completion pneumonectomy. Conclusion: If patients' lung function was sufficient and appropriate resection was possible, multi-drug resistance tuberculosis could achieve high-rate negative conversion and cure using combination of surgical and medical treatment, and also there were not many serious complications.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.309-318
• /
• 2002

Background : Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a fatal progressive fibrotic disorder of the lung with unknown etiology and characterized by a poor response to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. The histologic hallmark of UIP is parchy distribution of subpleural fibrosis and fibroblastic foci(FBF) with interposed normal appearing lung. Because FBF is a collection of actively proliferating myofibroblasts, it can be a marker of activity and prognosis of UIP. However, there were contradictory reports about the correlation between the degree of FBF and survival. Therefore we performed this study to investigate the value of FBF as prognostic marker of UIP. Methods : This was a retrospective study on the 46 patients(M:F=33:13, mean age:$59{\pm}12$ years) with UIP diagnosed by the surgical lung biopsy at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea between 1990 and 2000 and had follow-up of more than a year. All the biopsy specimens were reevaluated and diagnosed as UIP according to the ATS/ERS classification. Semiquantitative grading of FBF(absent, 0; mild 1; moderate 2; marked 3) by the experienced pathologists who did not know the clinical findings were compared to the clinical data and the follow up course. Results : Thirteen patients(28.2%) died of UIP progression during the study period. The median survival time of all the subjects was 26 months after the biopsy. At the univariate analysis, FVC, $D_Lco$, smoking history and the grade of FBF were significantly related to the survial. The survival was longer in subjects with lesser degrees of FBF, higher DLco, higher FVC and history of smoking. However the multivariate analysis with Cox regression test showed the extent of FBF was the only independent prognostic marker of UIP. Conclusion : These data suggested that the extent of FBF on the surgical lung biopsy can be used as a prognostic marker of UIP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.1225-1233
• /
• 1997

Background : Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis(CTL) is one of the most common extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Recently overall incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has decreased, but the incidence of tuberculous lymphadenitis has not decreased. Its duration of treatment is still controversial and the pathogenesis, prognosis and relationship with other site tuberculous are poorly published. So we did a retrograde study of 120 cases of confirmed CTL about its clinical manifestations. Method : All patients were applied fine needle aspiration(FNA) of palpable enlarged cervical lymph nodes and 114 patients were examined for AFB smear and 34 patients for TB culture with aspirated fluid. 57 patients were examined Mantoux test(5TU with PPD-S). With above methods, a total of 120 patients was diagnosed as having CTL. Results : 1) CTL is most prevalent in young women between the age of 20~30 years and the incidence of CTL in female is 2.5 times higher than that of male. It is located most commonly in the posterior cervical area. The most common presenting symptom is painless palpable enlarged cervical lymph nodes. 2) With FNA of enlarged cervical lymph nodes, the percentage of histopathological positivity is 82.3%. The percentage of AFB smear positivity is 38.6%, and that of TB culture positivity is 17.6%(p<0.001). 3) Pulmonary tuberculosis is noted in 79 cases(65.8%). And 42 cases(53.5%) of them had minimal pulmonary tuberculosis. In 14 cases(11.7%), other extrapulmonary tuberculosis coexsisted and pleural tuberculosis was most Common in the order. 4) CTL was treated with anti-tuberculous medication(first line drug) and median treatment duration was 18.5months. During treatment, the size of involved lymph nodes decreased gradually in 62 cases(75.8%), newly developed lymph nodes were found in 25 cases(30.4%), fluctuation formation in 22 cases(26.8%) and fistula formation in 14 cases(17.0%). Conclusion : CTL is prevalent in women between the age of 20~40 years and it involves posterior cervical area most commonly. CTL is treated with long-term anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. We think it is one manifestation of systemic disease and frequently coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, the size of involved lymph nodes was increased, new lymph nodes were developed or fluctuation and fistula formed in involved lymph nodes. After sufficient medication, when the patient felt pressure discomfort from enlarged lymph node or fistula was formed, we recommended total excision of involved lymph nodes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.8
• /
• pp.832-838
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is relatively common in childhood. Its extrapulmonary manifestations have been reported so much, but hepatitis associated with it has been reported rarely in Korea. Methods : A clinical study was performed on 556 patients of M. pneumoniae pneumonia diagnosed serologically at Gil hospital from January 2001 to December 2004. We reviewed 65 cases among these patients, who had elevated level of serum AST and ALT greater than 50 IU/L respectively without evidence of hepatitis A, B, C, Cytomegalovirus and Ebstein-Barr virus infections. Results : Hepatitis occurred in 11.7% of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, especially in fall and winter times. Male to female ratio was 1.2 : 1 and the mean age was 4 years and 3 months. Besides hepatitis, cough(95.4%), sputum(52.3%) and dyspnea(12.3%) were common as pulmonary manifestations. And among gastrointestinal manifestations, nausea/vomiting(26.2%) was the most common symptom, followed by poor oral intake(12.3%), diarrhea(12.3%) and abdominal pain(6.2%). In addition to hepatomegaly(4.6%) and splenomegaly(4.6%), coarse breathing sound was the most common physical manifestation, followed by rale(63.1%), pharyngeal injection(26.2%), and rash(10.8%). Anemia was noted in 20.0%, neutrophilia in 10.8%, eosinphilia in 38.5% and thrombocytosis in 6.2%, respectively. Mean level of ESR and CRP was 32.02 mm/hr and 6.69 mg/dL, respectively. Mean level of AST and ALT was 293.80 IU/L and 181.48 IU/L, respectively. Hyperbilirubinemia was noted in 7.7% and hypoalbuminemia was noted in 58.5%. Lobar or lobular pneumonia(78.5%) was the most common finding in chest X-ray and left lower lobe(39.2%) was most commonly affected. Pleural effusion was noted in 26.2%. Mean duration of hospitalization was 9.91 days. Serum AST/ALT level was normalized within 9.94 days and pulmonary consolidation resolved within 14.29 days. Conclusion : The prognosis of M. pneumoniae hepatitis is good. However, liver function should be considerately checked in M. pneumoniae infection because its incidence is not so low.