Internal medicine
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Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate in cold conditions. Type I cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is associated with hematological malignancies. ⋯ Bortezomib+dexamethasone therapy resulted in a rapid decrease in cryoglobulin and improvement in the symptoms of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. In refractory type I cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, treatment of the underlying gammaglobulinopathy should be considered.
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A 54-year-old man was admitted with obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography showed common bile duct stricture and a tumor around the celiac artery. ⋯ The treatment plan and prognosis of obstructive jaundice differ greatly depending on the disease. It is important to conduct careful follow-up and repeated histological examinations with appropriate modifications until a diagnosis is made.
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Hemichorea-hemiballism (HCHB) due to transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) is rare. An 83-year-old woman had repeated episodes of right-sided HCHB for 3 months. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography demonstrated occlusion of the left carotid and middle cerebral arteries and severe stenosis of the innominate artery, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed a blood pressure decrease of >20 mmHg after each meal. We speculated that HCHB developed as TIAs due to hemodynamic failure in the left cerebral hemisphere, caused by a combination of severe stenosis of the innominate artery concomitant with occlusion of the left carotid and middle cerebral arteries as well as postprandial hypotension.
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Case Reports
Efficacy of Intrathecal Isoniazid and Steroid Therapy in Refractory Tuberculous Meningitis.
Tuberculous meningitis is an infectious disease with high mortality. Literature describing intrathecal therapy for tuberculous meningitis is scarce. ⋯ Intrathecal isoniazid and prednisolone administration was therefore initiated, and the symptoms of severe meningeal irritation improved along with head magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid findings. This case report highlights the efficacy of intrathecal isoniazid and steroid injections for refractory tuberculous meningitis, particularly in patients with severe meningeal irritation.
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A 20-year-old woman with a 10-month history of treatment for Graves' disease (GD), developed hypothyroidism with a high level of thyrotropin (TSH) receptor-blocking antibodies (TBAbs). She conceived at 28 years old and was clinically euthyroid in the first and second trimester, while taking L-thyroxine. ⋯ Her thyroid function normalized, but the neonate became hyperthyroid. We herein report the first case of a shift in dominance from TBAbs to TSAbs in late pregnancy.