• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.12
• /
• pp.1370-1377
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Delineation of serum lipid and lipoprotein values in children after Kawasaki disease(KD) is important because of the predilection of this disease for the coronary arteries. Methods : The KD group was composed of 51 patients who were hospitalized from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2003. Control was 25 patients with non-KD febrile illness. The levels of total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol(HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1(apo A1), apolipoprotein B, and Lipoprotein(a) were measured and compared with Echocardiographic findings. Measurements were obtained in four time periods: acute febrile, subacute, convalescent phase and 1 year after KD. Results : HDL-C($33.64{\pm}7.49mg/dL$ vs $50.43{\pm}14.41mg/dL$, P<0.01) and apo A1($99.75{\pm}6.39mg/dL$ vs $113.34{\pm}11.35mg/dL$, P<0.05) were decreased more in the acute febrile period of KD than in the control, but these changes were not correlated with cardiac complications. All lipid profiles were markedly elevated in the subacute stage and normalized in the convalescent stage; there were no changes until 1-year follow up. There were no significant differences in the changes of lipid profiles, including Lp(a) and coronary dilatation, in any time periods. Conclusion : KD is associated with important abnormalities in lipid metabolism, but these changes were transient and appear to be due to the disease itself. These data lead us to infer that KD dose not cause such permanent changes in lipid abnormalities as to be considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis, beyond that caused by the disease itself.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.129-132
• /
• 2009

We describe here our experience with a neonate presenting with cyanosis, grunting, and cardiomegaly, who was diagnosed with isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) by echocardiography. The patient had high levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) and symptoms of heart failure including poor feeding and tachypnea. During the period in which NT pro-BNP levels steadily increased, the patient suffered sudden cardiac arrest despite heart failure management. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac arrest was resolved, NT pro-BNP levels decreased, and all symptoms showed improvement. We consider that assessment of NT pro-BNP with cardiac functional analysis using echocardiography could help in the prediction of disease progress in IVNC.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.640-648
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Kawasaki disease(KD) is known as an acute multi-systemic vasculitis with various immunologic abnormalities. Adhesion of leukocyte to endothelial cells is a key event in the sequence of inflammatory response. This study was performed to investigate the clinical significance of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in acute and subacute stages of typical KD for diagnostic and prognostic value. Methods : A typical KD group was 32 patients who were hospitalized from Jan. 2002 to Jun. 2004 was enrolled. Control was 16 non-KD patients with febrile illness. sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured and compared by Echocardiographic and clinical findings and cardiac troponin T and I. Results : sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels of acute KD were significantly elevated over control(P=0.019 vs. P=0.049, respectively) and sICAM-1 was significantly decreased in subacute stage(P=0.0015). sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 had positive correlation with each other in both stages(P=0.0067, P=0.015, retrospectively). Neither sICAM-1 nor sVCAM-1 correctly reflected the coronary abnormalities and responsiveness to intravenous gammaglobulin(IVGG) in both stages. But sVCAM-1 was significantly increased in the carditis group in both stages(P=0.025, P=0.014, retrospectively) and had a positive correlation with troponin T(r=0.63, P=0.00063). Conclusion : The levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were not very useful tools for detecting and predicting subsequent coronary abnormalities and responsiveness to IVGG in KD patients. However, sVCAM-1 appears to play a significant role in carditis of KD. Further studies are needed about various adhesion molecules and cytokines in the pathogenesis of KD.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.293-297
• /
• 2022

In 2022, Korea reported a total of 224 perfusionists, employing nurses or clinical laboratory technologists (also known as medical technologists) to provide hospital self-education or reliable education. In 2021, the total number of perfusionists in Japan was 2,100, mainly supported by clinical engineering technologists. During the same period, the number of perfusionists reported in the United States was 4,212, who had received training in the master's program, post-bachelor certificate program, and bachelor's program. Most personnel in the USA were graduates of healthcare sciences or life sciences. Perfusionists must be knowledgeable in heart anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, hemodynamics, laboratory analysis, and quality assurance, as well as techniques to operate the cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung bypass machine). These are jobs similarly handled by clinical laboratory technologists. The importance of perfusionists became more prominent during two major crises: the MERS-CoV and COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, perfusionists play a significant role in the rapidly expanding field of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery. Results of the current study indicate that hospitals offering cardiac surgery and infectious disease hospitalization need to be institutionalized to secure a certain number of qualified perfusionists. In the future, we look forward to establishing a perfusion technology association under the Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Physiology to provide academic exchanges.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.8
• /
• pp.930-937
• /
• 2009

Purpose : We evaluated the effectiveness of treatment and cardiac complications of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen for children in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. We also analyzed the possibility of replacing a high dose of aspirin with a high dose of ibuprofen to prevent complications such as Reye󰡑s syndrome caused by aspirin. Methods : One hundred eight children with Kawasaki disease were admitted in the pediatrics department from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008. Echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed during diagnosis, and the children were followed-up at 6-8 weeks after the diagnosis. We retrospectively analyzed their characteristics and clinical results. Results : The children were assigned to receive either a high dose of aspirin with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (aspirin group) or a high dose of ibuprofen with IVIG (ibuprofen group). A total of 55 and 53 children were included in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively. The mean defervescence period was 6.5${\pm}$2.1 days in the aspirin group, and $6.9{\pm}1.9$ days in the ibuprofen group (P=0.309). The number of failed treatments, during and after treatment, was 8 in the aspirin group and 10 in the ibuprofen group (P=0.547). There were 11 initial cardiac complications in the aspirin group, and 14 in the ibuprofen group, but children who showed improvement at follow-up was 7 and 13 in the aspirin and ibuprofen groups, respectively (P=0.133). Laboratory findings were also improved in both groups. Conclusion : We can be considered whether we will replace high dose of aspirin by high dose of ibuprofen in acute phase of Kawasaki disease. Therefore, we can prevent the severe complications of aspirin use, such as Reye's syndrome.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2021

After initial reports of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in April 2020 in Europe, this disease has been known to occur in children with recent history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and most cases have been reported in Europe and the Unites States of America. We report a case of a 14-year-old girl who was diagnosed with MIS-C with acute myocarditis and successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), methylprednisolone, and anakinra. At initial presentation, she had persistent high fever, generalized rash, generalized swelling, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure. She showed a remarkably elevated level of inflammation and cardiac enzyme markers and had a previous history of COVID-19 5 weeks before the initial presentation. After extensive work up, other infectious and non-infectious causes were excluded. She was diagnosed with MIS-C and initially treated with IVIG and high-dose methylprednisolone; however, despite treatment, her heart function deteriorated and coronary artery dilatation progressed. Therefore, anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, was administered on hospital day 6, after which her cardiac function exhibited improvement. She was discharged on hospital day 19 without any symptoms, and follow-up echocardiography after 1 month revealed fully recovered heart function with normal coronary arteries.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2000

Purpose: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is a useful technique to diagnose and to predict prognosis in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the prognostic value of normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to analyze results with regard to those of exercise electrocardiography or coronary angiography. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 301 patients (mean age $52{\pm}10$ years, 166 males and 135 females) with normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT performed for suspected coronary artery disease. Subject were evaluated for cardiac events and followed for 8-55 months (mean $19{\pm}10$ months) after imaging. Results: During the follow-up period, there was no cardiac death but only one non-fatal myocardial infarction (event rate 0.21% per year). In addition, only one patient underwent coronary revascularization. There was no significant difference in cardiac event rate between patients with positive (n=27) and negative (n=235) exercise electrocardiography (p:NS). There was no cardiac event in 17 patients who underwent coronary angiography (4 patients with >50% luminal narrowing, 2 patients with vasospasm and 11 patients with no significant lesion). Conclusion: Patients with normal exercise $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT has a very low risk for cardiac events regardless of exercise electrocardiographic and coronary angiographic findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.11
• /
• pp.1202-1210
• /
• 2006

Purpose : A quantitative and easily measured Doppler index of combined systolic and diastolic ventricular myocardial performance (Tei index) was recently proposed as a potentially useful predictor of global myocardial performance. However, presence of heart rate fluctuation makes it unreliable. Therefore, the modified Tei index was introduced by using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) which enables measuring contraction and relaxation velocities from myocardium simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the modified Tei index in the evaluation of global cardiac function. Methods : Forty eight patients in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) were studied. These patients were divided into two groups according to the modified Tei index. TDI and conventional echocardiography were performed. Systolic velocity, systolic displacement, E' velocity, E' displacement, A' velocity and A' displacement were measured at the base, mid-septum and the apex of the interventricular septum. Ejection fraction (EF), Tei index and modified Tei index were estimated. Results : Modified Tei index correlated negatively with systolic displacement, E' displacement and A' displacement at the base. Modified Tei index correlated positively with ESR and CRP. EF and Tei index were normal in KD patients. Conclusion : Modified Tei index is a safe, feasible and sensitive index for evaluating global ventricular functions in spite of normal EF and Tei index in KD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.66-81
• /
• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been continuously spreading throughout the world. As of July 15, 2021, there have been more than 188 million confirmed cases and more than 4.06 million deaths. Although the incidence of severe infections is relatively low in children and adolescents compared to adults, a complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) may occur in some cases at approximately 2-6 weeks after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. MIS-C can be seen in patients of various ages, from young infants to adolescents, and may present with diverse clinical manifestations. While fever present in a great majority of patients, symptoms suggesting the involvement of the digestive or nervous system and the skin and mucous membranes (Kawasaki disease-like symptoms) also appear in many cases. Cardiac involvement may also be observed, including left ventricular dysfunction, myocarditis, coronary artery dilatation, and coronary aneurysm. In some cases, hypotension or shock can occur, and mechanical ventilation or treatment in the intensive care unit may be necessary. Fortunately, recovery is generally reported after appropriate treatment. MIS-C is a rare but important complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents. As such, it is important to recognize the clinical symptoms and provide appropriate treatment at an early stage. In this review, the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, suggested pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and treatment of MIS-C will be discussed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.889-896
• /
• 1996

Aggressive revascularization of the ischemic lower extremities in atherosclerotic occlusive diseases or acute embolic arterial occusion due to cardiac valvular disease by thromboembolectomy or an arterial by- pass operation has been advocated by some authors. To evaluate clinical pattern and operative outcome of the ischemic lower extremity, surgical experience in 101 patients who were admitted to Dong-A Univer- sity Hospital between March 1990 and August 1995 was analyzed. The patients were 92 males and 9 females ranging fro 25 to 87 years of age. The underlying causes of arterial occlusive disease were atherosclerotic obliterances in 54 case, Buerger's disease in 20 cases, thromboembolism in 24 cases, vascular trauma in 3 cases and pseudoaneurysm in 3 cases. - The major arterial occlusive sites of atherosclerotic obliterance were femoral artery in 30 cases, iliac artery in 23 cases, popliteal artery in 10 cases, distal aorta in 6 cases and the major arterial occlusive sites of Buerger's disease were posterior tibial artery in 14 cases, anterior tibial artery in 8 cases, popliteal artery in 5 cases. The operative procedures of arterial occlusive disease were bypass graft operation in 61 cases, thromboembolectomy in 21 cases, sympathectomy in 20 cases. Arterial bypass operations with autogenous or artificial vascular prosthesis were done in 61 cases which Included femoro-popliteal bypass in 21 cases, femoro-femoral bypass in 15 cases, axillo-bifemoral bypass in 7 cases, aorto-bifemoral with inverted Y-gr ft In 3 cases, femoro-profundafemoral bypass in 3 cases, popliteo-tibial bypass in 2 cases, aorto-iliad bypass in 1 case Over all postoperative patency rates were 83.6 oyo at 1 year, 75.5% at 3 years and limb salvage rate was 86.8 oyo . Six patients died in the hospital following vascular surgery for ischemic lower extremities, although the causes of death were not directly related to the vascular reconstructive operative proccedures. The leading causes of death were in the order of multiple organ failure, acute renal failure, and sepsis.