Refractory ascites is a rare complication after liver transplantation, and its incidence ranges from 5% to 7%. A 56-year-old man diagnosed with HBV-LC with massive ascites underwent living donor liver transplantation. After transplantation, more than 1000 ml/day of ascites was steadily drained until two weeks after LT. CT showed intrahepatic Rt. portal vein thrombosis and many remnant collaterals with splenomegaly. We decided to embolize the proximal splenic artery and use apixaban to reduce portal flow and resolve the intrahepatic portal thrombosis. One day after splenic artery embolization, the patient’s ascites dramatically decreased. Three days later, he was discharged from the hospital. Three months later, a follow-up liver CT showed resolution of thrombosis and no ascites. Splenic artery embolization was an effective and safe procedure for portal flow modulation in portal hyertension. Apixaban was effective for partial portal vein thrombosis in a liver transplant recipient.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome defined by elevated intracranial pressure without any abnormal findings. In the present study, we report a rare case of IIH in a patient after ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) due to infant hydrocephalus. A 13-year-old girl with a history of VPS due to infant hydrocephalus was admitted to emergency room with the complaint of severe headache and visual disturbance. Brain computed tomography showed normal findings. However, based on the measurement by lumbar puncture, her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was observed to be very high. The shunt function test revealed a VPS malfunction. Thus, we conducted VPS revision in this patient. All symptoms improved immediately after the revision. Thus, it is proposed that IIH should be considered for patients with visual disturbance and severe headache after VPS due to infant hydrocephalus without ventriculomegaly.
White-coat hypertension is defined as high blood pressure (BP) on clinical assessment but normal BP elsewhere or on ambulatory measurement. Autonomic dysfunction may be one of the mechanisms causing white-coat hypertension. Slowed heart rate recovery and excessive BP response during exercise test are associated with autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between white-coat hypertension and abnormal autonomic nervous system response.
We assessed 295 patients stratified into three groups via 24hr ambulatory BP monitoring, following 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines: normal BP group, white-coat hypertension group, and a hypertension group. We analyzed medical history, blood test, echocardiography, 24hr ambulatory BP monitoring, and exercise test data.
There was no difference in basement characteristics and echocardiography among the groups. Blunted heart rate recovery of each group showed a significant difference. Control group had 0% blunted heart rate recovery, but 33.3% in white coat group and 27.6% in true hypertension group (
These results confirmed that white-coat hypertension has an autonomic nervous system risk. Therefore, white-coat hypertension can be a future cardiovascular risk factor.
Citations
Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD), especially proximal to the transplant artery, in kidney transplant patient activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system by limiting graft renal perfusion and causes symptoms that can occur with transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) such as refractory hypertension, water retention, and graft renal dysfunction. Immediate clinical suspicion is difficult due to the nature of the progressive disease unlike TRAS. Herein, we present an interesting case of bilateral common iliac artery occlusion (AIOD, TASC II, type C) that manifested as uncontrolled blood pressure and decreased allograft function in a patient who had kidney transplant 17 years ago. The patient was successfully diagnosed with duplex scan, ankle-brachial index (ABI) and computed tomography angiography and treated with percutaneous luminal angioplasty and stent graft insertion.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the presence of café au lait spots, axillary and inguinal freckling, Lisch nodules, and neurofibromas. Hypertension is a relatively frequent complication, usually caused by renal artery stenosis or pheochromocytomas. We describe the case of a 15-year-old boy with neurofibromatosis type 1 who was also diagnosed with resistant hypertension. Despite an extensive evaluation, the etiology of his hypertension remained indeterminate. Estimation of the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ambulatory arterial stiffness index could validate the existence of arterial stiffness. Further, a combination of carvedilol and angiotension receptor blockers was administered, which successfully controlled his resistant hypertension. We propose that the estimation of the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measure and ambulatory arterial stiffness index is a noninvasive method, and these two parameters are relatively simple tools that can be used for the detection of arterial stiffness due to neurofibromatosis type 1-related vasculopathy.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare genetic disease. Precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) with NF1 is an extremely severe complication. A 65-year-old woman was admitted in our hospital with 3-year history of gradually worsening dyspnea on exertion (New York Heart Association functional class III-IV). Considering her clinical feature and examination findings, she could be diagnosed as PH associated with NF1. She was treated with endothelin receptor antagonist. However her dyspnea was not significantly improved. This is the first Korean case of NF1 patient with PH which confirmed with right heart catheterization.
Citations
Blood pressure variation (BPV) and metabolic syndrome is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. Ambulatory blood Pressure (ABP) has been shown to be more closely related to cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients than conventional office BP (OBP). Using both OBP and ABP, 4 groups of patients were identified: (1) normotensive patients (NT); (2) white coat hypertensives (WCHT); (3) masked hypertensives (MHT); and (4) sustainedhypertensives (SHT). We investigated the significance of BPV and metabolic risks of these 4 groups.
This study is a retrospective analysis of patients between January 2008 and May 2013. Echocardiography and 24 hour ABP monitoring were performed.
BMI was significantly higher in the MHT compared with the NT. There were progressive increases in fasting glucose level from NT to WCHT, MHT, and SHT.MHT and SHT had higher 24h and nighttime BPV than NT.MHT was significantly related with BMI (r = 0.139,
BPV and metabolic risk factors were found to be greater in MHT and SHT compared with NT and WCHT. This suggests that BPV and metabolic risks may contribute to the elevated cardiovascular risk observed in patients with MHT and SHT.
Propofol, midazolam and remifentanil are commonly used for clinical anesthesia. We compared the effects of midazolam-propofol-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil on hemodynamic responses during anesthesia induction in hypertensive patients.
Seventy-six hypertensive patients with ASA II-III were assigned to receive midazolam-propofol (group MP; n = 38) or propofol (group P; n = 38). Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.03 mg/kg (group MP) or saline 0.03 ml/kg (group P). After two minutes, propofol 1.0 mg/kg (group MP) or 1.5 mg/kg (group P) i.v. bolus was administered. Simultaneously, 4 ng/ml of remifentanil target controlled infusion (TCI) was administered in both groups. Anesthesia was maintained using sevoflurane and 2 ng/ml of remifentanil TCI. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and MBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before induction, 2 min after midazolam or normal saline, 2 min after propofol, 1 min after rocuronium, and immediately, 1 min, 2 min, and 3 min after intubation.
SBP, DBP, and MBP decreased after propofol administration and increased immediately after intubation in both groups (
Our results suggest that midazolam-propofol-remifentanil has similar hemodynamic effect with propofol-remifentanil during anesthesia induction in hypertensive patients.
A few cases of severe pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure associated with Graves’ disease were reported in the literature. However, cases of pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure recurred by Graves’ disease is very rare. We describe the case of a 60-year old woman who had been treated pulmonary hypertension caused by right pulmonary artery thromboembolism seven years ago. Recently, her pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure was recurred by Graves’ disease. The patient’s symptoms of pulmonary hypertension was resolved after treatment of Graves’ disease.