• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.229-235
• /
• 1986

Lithium salts are being used increasingly to treat patient with affective disorders, especially acute mania, or bipolar manic-depressive illness. For therapeutic effect the lithium content must be maintained at or above a particular level. Lithium poisoning due to overdosage may be seen occasionally, and its course is determined primarily by the rate of renal lithium elimination. A search is therefore indicated for procedures that could raise the lithium clearance. In a number of reports renal lithium excretion has been studied in relation to the excretion of water, sodium, potassium and hydrogen, but effects of sodium or water on the lithium excretion has not yet been clarified. Hence the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of corticosteroid on the excretion of lithium ion. The female rat(Sprague-Dowley), weighing from 200 to 300g, was injected with 50mg/kg of lithium chloride intraperitoneally, and then injected with graded dosage of fludrocortisone and dexamethasone in each group. During the injected rats were incubated in metabolic cage, 24 hour urine of rats were collected. At 24 hours after injection, the rats were sacrificed with guillotin, the blood were collected. And then the concentratios of $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Li^+$ of collected urine and serum were checked by Flame photometer. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Fludrocortisone decreased the serum concentration of lithium and increased the urinary excretion of lithium. 2. In the group treated with low dose of dexamethasone(0.1mg/kg), the serum concentration of lithium was decreased and high dose of dexamethasone (1mg/kg) increased the urinary excretion of lithium. 3. Fludrocortisone increased the urinary $[Na^+]/[K^+]$ in serum and decreased $[Na^+]/[K^+]$ in urine, but opposite effects were occurred in dexamethasone. By above results, it may be concluded that corticosteroid increased the urinary excretion of lithium and decreased the serum concentration of lithium, but it seems to be there is no relationship between these effects of corticosteroid and of the renal $Na^+$ or $K^+$ transport.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 2017

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is the preferred diagnostic tool for pathologic conditions affecting the spine. However, in patients receiving epidural corticosteroid injection (ESI) for treatment of spinal diseases, there is a possibility of misreading of MR images because of air or fluid in the epidural space after the injection. Therefore, we defined the characteristics of abnormal changes in MRI findings following an ESI in patients with low back pain. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 133 patients who underwent MRI of the lumbar spine within 7 days after ESI between 2006 and 2015. All patients were administered an ESI using a 22-gauge Tuohy needle at the lumbar spine through the interlaminar approach. The epidural space was identified by the loss of resistance technique with air. Results: The incidences of abnormal changes in MRI findings because of ESI were 54%, 31%, and 25% in patients who underwent MRI at approximately 24 h, and 2 and 3 days after ESI, respectively. Abnormal MRI findings included epidural air or fluid, needle tracks, and soft tissue changes. Epidural air, the most frequent abnormal finding (82%), was observed in 41% of patients who underwent MRI within 3 days after injection. Abnormal findings due to an ESI were not observed in MR images acquired 4 days after ESI or later. Conclusions: Pain physicians should consider the possibility of abnormal findings in MR images acquired after epidural injection using the interlaminar approach and the loss of resistance technique with air at the lumbar spine.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2020

Piriformis muscle syndrome is a condition that causes direct muscle pain around piriformis muscle or sciatica from irritated sciatic nerve and the diagnosis remains debatable. The main treatment is symptomatic relief from conservative therapy such as medication and piriformis stretching exercise, and various therapeutic injections including local anesthetic, corticosteroid, botulinum toxin can be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In this case, a 54-year-old male who had sciatica and gait disturbance showed piriformis muscle hypertrophy in the pelvis MRI. From imaging studies, electrodiagnostic study and physical examination, he was diagnosed with piriformis muscle syndrome. He underwent trigger point injection and botulinum toxin injection into the piriformis muscle, and pain and gait disturbance significantly improved. This case reports a case of piriformis muscle syndrome with clinical symptom of gait disturbance, which was improved by botulinum toxin injection.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.205-221
• /
• 2018

This systematic review aimed to analyze the efficacy of corticosteroid premedication compared to placebo or no treatment to reduce postoperative pain in endodontic patients. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing corticosteroids via oral, intramuscular, subperiosteal, intraligamentary or intracanal route compared to passive or active placebo, or no treatment were included. Four databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase up to 2/21/2018. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Risk of bias tool. Fourteen RCTs with 1,462 generally healthy adults in need of endodontic treatment were included. 50% of the studies were at unclear risk and 50% at high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain at 4-6 hours after Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block (IANB) was significantly lower by 21 points (0-100 scale) in the corticosteroid group compared to the control group (95% CI -35 to -7; P = 0.003), however this difference was not statistically significant after 24 hours (P = 0.116). The route of administration was oral and intraligament injection. Patients who received corticosteroids prior to IANB were 70.7% more likely to have none or mild pain 4-8 hours after treatment (P = 0.001) and 13.5% more likely 24 hours after IANB (P = 0.013) than patients in the control group. In conclusion, corticosteroid administration (oral or intraligamental) may clinically reduce the level of postoperative pain at 4-8 hours after IANB, however the quality of the evidence was low/moderate due to risk of bias and heterogeneity. Further studies are recommended.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.28-35
• /
• 2022

Background: Given the complications involved in corticosteroid (CS) injections, subacromial platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may provide a valid alternative to CS in the treatment of rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 98 patients affected by RC tendinopathy who were treated with either subacromial injection of PRP or CS. The PRP group received three injections of autologous PRP at 2 weeks interval, and the CS group received one injection of CS. The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) was the primary outcome measure, while the secondary outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and need for cuff repair surgery, which were analyzed at intervals of 6, 12, and 18 months. Results: A total of 75 patients were included in the analysis (PRP, n=35; CS, n=40). The mean follow-up for PRP was 21.1±8.7 months and for CS was 33.6±16.3 months (p<0.001). Both groups showed improvement in WORC, VAS, and ROM. No significant differences were detected between the two groups in any of the primary (WORC) or secondary outcomes over 6, 12, and 18 months (all p>0.05). No adverse events were detected. Conclusions: Both treatments improved patient symptoms, but neither resulted in a significantly better outcome in this series of patients. PRP can be a safe and feasible alternative to CS, even at long-term follow-up, to reduce local and systemic effects involved with CS injections.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.387-391
• /
• 2013

A 64-year-old woman visited our pain clinic with the pain of right lateral side of thigh for one year. Her pain always started from knee and was radiated to buttock area when symptom was severe. She showed significant tenderness at knee lateral side and local tightness at lateral thigh. Magnetic resonance image of the knee was performed and we could identify high signal intensity of iliotibial band through coronal and axial view. In spite of medication and physical stretching exercise of iliotibial band for one month, she did not show any improvement of pain. To alleviate her symptom, ultrasound guided local corticosteroid injection targeting beneath the iliotibial band was performed. After the procedure, the reduction of pain was significant and there was no need for further management.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2016

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is primarily based on the presentation of symptoms and physical examination. Patients usually complain of heel pain at the medial calcaneal tubercle when taking their first step in the morning or when walking after resting. Diagnostic imaging is rarely required for the initial diagnosis of plantar fasciitis; however, it can be used for differential diagnosis. Conservative treatments, such as stretching, rest, ice massage, oral analgesics, foot orthotics, use of night splint, and corticosteroid injection, may be effective. The majority of patients report improvement with conservative treatments, and those who show no response from conservative treatments for a duration of six months or longer can consider extracorporeal shock wave therapy or surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.72 no.5
• /
• pp.448-451
• /
• 2012

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) has emerged as a severe infection in patients with immunocompromised hosts. However, recently, several IPA cases, without an apparent predisposition to immunodeficiency, has been reported. A 72-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of general weakness and poor oral intake. She reported no medical history, except for intraarticular injection of a corticosteroid for joint pain for the duration of two months. A chest radiography revealed multiple cavitary nodules in both lungs. Examination of specimens, obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy, led to a diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. Brain magnetic resonance imagining revealed numerous peripheral thin enhancing cystic nodules in both cerebral hemispheres. We initiated intravenous administration of amphotercin B. However, the patient died after nine days. Here, we report an invasive aspergillosis case, which involves the lungs and brain after a short period of steroid injection.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2013

Background: Local steroid injection is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological effects of local steroid injection in patients with CTS over a 3-months period. Methods: Twenty-one patients (35 hands) with clinical and electrophysiological evidence of CTS were treated by injection of triamcinolone 40 mg to the carpal tunnel. Visual analog scale (VAS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), rates of paresthesia, night awakening, and electrophysiological studies were used as outcomes. Clinical and electrophysiological assessments were performed before, 1 and 3 months after treatment. Results: Prior to treatment, 86% of patients complained of night awakening. At 1 and 3 months after injection, only 17% and 29% of the patients, respectively, had night awakening (p<0.001). All patients complained of paresthesia before the treatment. This symptom disappeared in 60% and 31% of the patients after 1 and 3 months, respectively (p<0.001). Compared to baseline, both BCTQ and VAS show significant improvement during the 3 months of the study (p<0.005). Although significant improvements in clinical parameters were shown, electrophysiological parameters were not significantly improved at 1 and 3 months. Conclusions: Local corticosteroid injection for the treatment of CTS provides significant improvement in symptoms for 3 months. On the other hand, no significant improvement was observed in electrophysiological parameters.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2007

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system granulomatous disorder of an unknown etiology and affects individuals worldwide. It is characterized pathologically by the presence of non-caseating granulomas in more than one involved organ. However, pleural involvement of sarcoidosis is rare and there are no reported cases in Korea. Traditionally, sarcoidosis has often been treated with systemic corticosteroids or cytotoxic agents. In particular, chylothorax with sarcoidosis is usually treated with corticosteroid for approximately 3~6 months, followed by repeated therapeutic thoracentesis, talc pleurodesis, dietary treatment, or thoracic duct ligation where needed. We encountered a 46 years old female patient presenting with cough, dyspnea and both hilar lymphadenopathy (stage I) on chest radiograph. The patient was diagnosed with a non-caseating granuloma, sarcoidosis by a mediastinoscopic biopsy. For one month, she had suffered from dyspnea due to right side pleural effusion, which was clearly identified as a chylothorax on thoracentesis. Corticosteroid therapy with dietary adjustment was ineffective. She was treated successfully with a subcutaneous injection of octreotide for 3 weeks and oral corticosteroid. We report a case of successful and rapid treatment of chylothorax associated with sarcoidosis using octreotide and oral corticosteroid.