• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.736-741
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• 2008

Purpose : The incidence of thromboembolic episodes in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) is low; however, these episodes are often severe. Moreover, both pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and renal vein thrombosis (RVT) rarely show clinical symptoms. This study was performed to determine the benefits of routine screening in the detection of thrombosis in childhood NS. Methods : Among 62 children with nephrotic syndrome, a total of 54 children (43 males, 11 females) were included in this study. When the patients experienced their first NS episode, we performed renal Doppler ultrasonography in order to detect RVT. To rule out the possibility of PTE, a lung perfusion scan was performed. Computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography was recommended to patients who showed possible signs of PTE. All patients were evaluated for clinical signs of thrombosis, biochemical indicators of renal disease, as well as clotting and thrombotic parameters. Results : RVT or related clinical symptoms were not observed in any children. Based on the findings of the lung perfusion scans, 15 patients (27.8%) were observed with as a high probability of PTE. We were able to perform a CT pulmonary angiography only on 12 patients, and 5 patients were diagnosed with PTE (prevalence 8.1%). The serum fibrinogen level in the group with PTE was significantly higher ($776.7{\pm}382.4mg/dL$, P<0.05) than that in the group without PTE, and other parameters were not significantly different between each group. Conclusion : Further studies are required for clarifying the role of renal Doppler ultrasonography for the detection of RVT in NS. Children with NS who developed non-specific respiratory symptoms should be evaluated for the diagnosis of PTE. In the management of NS, a lung perfusion scan should be performed at the time of the initial episode of NS regardless of the pulmonary symptoms, since patients having PTE are either often asymptomatic, or present with nonspecific symptoms.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2011

Neonatal coagulation disorders and thromboembolism require timely management. Failure to treat these conditions at the appropriate time may lead to death or the development of significant long-term sequelae. However, most current guidelines for managing neonatal coagulation disorders and thromboembolism are empiric and not based on randomized clinical trials. Thus, it is not easy to choose an appropriate management strategy for these conditions in clinical settings. In this review, therapeutic guidelines currently utilized in clinics and novel therapeutic options still under investigation are presented and reviewed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2008

Thromboembolic disease associated with assisted reproductive techniques is considered to be extremely rare but most serious complication. The reasons for this are thought to hypercoagulable state characteristic of OHSS due to high serum levels of estrogen, hemoconcentration and reduced circulating blood volume, but is still unclear. The risk is increased those with rare hypercoagulable conditions such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, and those with a personal or family history of thromboembolic disease. The majority of thrombosis reported were venous site but arterial thrombosis mostly intracerebral was reported 5 cases in Korea so far. We present a case of basilar a. thrombosis at 11 days after hCG injection. The patient developed the right hemiparesis, and recovered after intraarterial thrombolysis and transluminal angioplasty. Protein S activity was decreased and vWF antigen was increased. Decreased protein S activity was also found in previous reported 4 cases, so we suggest screening test for protein S in OHSS patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

Background : According to the study in ICOPER (International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry), the overall mortality rate of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) at 3 months is 17.4%. According to the study for current status of APTE in Japan, the hospital mortality rate is 14%. Although the incidence and mortality rate of APTE has been increasing, patient characteristics, management strategies, and outcome of APTE in the Korean population have not yet been assessed in large series. We therefore performed the national survey for the current status of APTE in the Korean population. Methods : 808 registry patients with APTE were analyzed with respect to clinical characteristics, risk factors, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and clinical outcome. Results : Main risk factors were immobilization, recent major surgery, and cancer. Common symptoms were dyspnea and chest pain. Common signs were tachypnea and tachycardia. The majority of registry patients underwent lung perfusion scanning. Spiral CT was used in 309 patients(42.9%), and angiography in 48 patients(7.9%). Heparin was the most widely used treatment. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, onset in hospital (odds ratio 1.88, p=0.0385), lung cancer (odds ratio 9.20, p=0.0050), tachypnea (odds ratio 3.50, p=0.0001), shock (odds ratio 6.74, p=0.0001), and cyanosis (odds ratio 3.45, p=0.0153) were identified as significant prognostic factors. The overall mortality rate was 16.9% and mortality associated with APTE was 9.0%. Conclusions : The present registry demonstrated the clinical characteristics, diagnostic strategies, management and outcome of patient with APTE in Korea. The mortality rate was 9.0%, and the predictors of mortality were onset in hospital, lung cancer, tachypnea, shock, and cyanosis. These results may be important for risk stratification as well as for the identification of potential candidates for more aggressive treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.867-870
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• 2007

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as venous and/or arterial thromboses, recurrent fetal losses, thrombocytopenia in combination with repeatedly positive tests for the lupus anticoagulant (LAC), and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). The pulmonary manifestation is APS are relatively rare. We report a rare case of antiphopholipid syndrome with systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient who presented with pulmonary hypertension secondary to a chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. A bilateral thromboendarterectomy was performed satisfactorily and the incision was extended to the left intrapleural pulmonary artery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.460-465
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• 2008

Incidences of pulmonary thromboembolism markedly increase with age. Risk factors of pulmonary thromboembolism are surgery, trauma, acute medical illness, immobilization, pregnancy, usage of hormone, and advanced age. In the cases of thrombomembolism occurred in young age, the possibility of thrombophilc state is needed to be investigated. Among many diseases or state associated thrombophilic state, homocyteinemia should be considered a cause of thromboembolism before fifth decade. Homocyteinemia is caused by deficiency of N-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, cystathionie ${\beta}$-synthase and vitamin B12. The presence of the mutation of 5,10-methyleneterahydrofolate lead to homocyteinemia by deficiency of N-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Homocysteine is acknowledged the risk factor of cardiovascular event, and storke. Homocysteinemia can be the cause of thromboemboism via damaging endotheial cell. We present two cases of pulmonary thromboembolism in young age which seem to be associated with homocysteinemia precipitated by mutation of 5,10-methyleneterahydrofolate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.475-478
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• 2002

A 45 year old man was admitted for aggravated dyspnea, abdominal distension and poor oral intake. On Echocardiogram, mitral stenosis(severe), tricuspid regurgitaion(IV), and LA thrombus were diagnosed. We used heparin with continuous infusion for prevention of systemic thrombo embolism. On the 11th day of admission, the patient showed thrombocytopenia and we suspected Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Hirudin was used in this case as alternative anticoagulant during cardiopulmonary bypass to prevent serious complication of heparin. The patient was recovered without any complication as postoperative bleeding or systemic thromboembolism.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.792-796
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• 2001

Chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism is a relatively rare phenomenon causing hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension that eventually leads to respiratory failure and right heart failure. Patients with acute pulmonary artery thromboembolism are generally treated with antithrombotics and thrombolytics. However, in cases with chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism the fibrinized thrombus is so strongly adhered to the pulmonary artery wall that medical treatment becomes ineffective and surgical treatment must then be considered. We report a 47year old patient, with a history of repeated admission due to unresolved chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism at a local hospital, who underwent a successful endarterectomy of pulmonary artery thromboemboli using intermittent total circulatory arrest.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2008

Ovarian hyperstimuation syndrome (OHSS) is the most serious complication of controlled ovarian stimulation. It causes symptoms such as, ovarian enlargement, ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, hemoconcentration, electrolyte imbalance, and thromboembolism. Although proper management is done, thromboembolism could occur and is difficult to predict. Moreover it can cause death. Consequently thromboembolism is the most dangerous complication of OHSS. We experienced a OHSS patient with thromboembolism of the brain after having IVF-ET.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.232-236
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• 2007

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from the pulmonary artery. Diagnosis of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is quite difficult and the conditon is often misdiagnosed as a more common disease, such as a pulmonary embolism. PET can help in diagnosing a pulmonary artery sarcoma due to the increased uptake of $^{18}F-FDG$ in the area of the tumor. However, the poor anatomic resolution of PET has limited its clinical applications in pulmonary vascular disease. The recently developed PET/CT is the fusion of PET and CT that improves the anatomical resolution of PET. We report a case of a primary pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking a pulmonary embolism that was diagnosed with PET/CT and confirmed with a surgical resection.