Variation of clinical manifestations according to culprit drugs in DRESS syndrome

PURPOSE

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare but serious condition that systematically damages various internal organs through T-cell-mediated immunological drug reactions. We aimed to investigate whether clinical manifestations of DRESS syndrome differ according to culprit drugs.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 123 patients with probable/definite DRESS syndrome based on the RegiSCAR criteria (January 2011 to July 2016). The data were obtained from the Korean Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction Registry. Causality was assessed using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria. The culprit drugs were categorized as allopurinol, carbamazepine, anti-tuberculosis drug, vancomycin, cephalosporins, dapsone, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

RESULTS

Differences were observed among culprit drugs regarding the frequencies of hepatitis (P < 0.01), renal dysfunction (P < 0.0001), lymphadenopathy (P < 0.01), and atypical lymphocyte (P < 0.01). Latency period differed among culprit drugs (P < 0.0001), being shorter in vancomycin and cephalosporin. In terms of clinical severity, admission duration (P < 0.01) and treatment duration (P < 0.05) differed among culprit drugs, being longer in vancomycin and anti-tuberculosis drugs, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings, clinical manifestations, including latency period and clinical severity, may differ according to culprit drugs in DRESS syndrome.

Association between pulse pressure at discharge and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: From the KAMIR-Korean-NIH registry

Pulse pressure (PP) is affected by arterial stiffness and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. However, value and utility of PP assessment in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain less clear. We aimed to evaluate the association between PP and cardiovascular events in surviving patients with AMI at discharge. A total of 11 944 surviving patients with AMI at discharge from a Korean nationwide registry were included. Blood pressure was checked just before discharge. Noncardiac death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) including cardiac death, AMI, and stroke after discharge were analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 368 (IQR 339, 388) days. The rate of MACEs and cardiac death was higher in groups with the lowest PP (PP < 20 mm Hg) and highest PP (PP ≥ 71 mm Hg) and lowest in the group with PP of 31-40 mm Hg. With PP of 31-40 mm Hg as reference, univariate analysis showed a U-shaped association between the risk of MACEs (PP ≤ 20 mm Hg: hazard ratio [HR] 2.3; PP ≥ 71 mm Hg: HR 2.7) or cardiac death (PP ≤ 20 mm Hg: HR 2.6; PP ≥ 71 mm Hg: HR 3.1) and PP. In multivariate analysis, the curve changed from being U-shaped to J-shaped, and HR for PP ≥ 71 mm Hg (1.2 for MACEs and 1.4 cardiac death) decreased and HR for PP < 20 (2.1 for MACEs and 2.4 for cardiac death) did not significantly decrease after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings indicate that PP is a strong independent prognostic factor of MACEs and cardiac death in surviving patients with AMI. Low PP is a more significant independent predictor of MACEs and cardiac death than high PP in surviving patients after AMI.

Three-dimensional printing of piezoelectric materials with designed anisotropy and directional response

Piezoelectric coefficients are constrained by the intrinsic crystal structure of the constituent material. Here we describe design and manufacturing routes to previously inaccessible classes of piezoelectric materials that have arbitrary piezoelectric coefficient tensors. Our scheme is based on the manipulation of electric displacement maps from families of structural cell patterns. We implement our designs by additively manufacturing free-form, perovskite-based piezoelectric nanocomposites with complex three-dimensional architectures. The resulting voltage response of the activated piezoelectric metamaterials at a given mode can be selectively suppressed, reversed or enhanced with applied stress. Additionally, these electromechanical metamaterials achieve high specific piezoelectric constants and tailorable flexibility using only a fraction of their parent materials. This strategy may be applied to create the next generation of intelligent infrastructure, able to perform a variety of structural and functional tasks, including simultaneous impact absorption and monitoring, three-dimensional pressure mapping and directionality detection.

Erratum to clinical efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula in patients with acute heart failure

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2019.01.51.].

Analysis of Individual Case Safety Reports of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions in Korea

PURPOSE

Despite morbidities and fatalities, nationwide epidemiologic data for severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), are not widely available. We aimed to investigate SCAR epidemiology over the last two decades in Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed individual case safety reports (ICSRs) of SCARs in the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System from 1988 to 2013. Administered drugs, demographic profiles, and causality assessment according to the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center system were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 755 SCAR cases (508 SJS/TEN, 247 DRESS) were reported. The number of SCAR ICSRs has been increasing with increasing ICSRs for overall adverse drug events. Since 2010, the number of SCAR ICSRs has increased up to 100 cases/year. Allopurinol was the most common causative drug (SJS/TEN: 10.2%; DRESS: 11.3%; SCAR ICSRs: 10.6%), followed by carbamazepine (SJS/TEN: 8.7%; DRESS: 9.7%; SCAR ICSRs: 8.6%). Regarding drug groups, antiepileptics (19.5%) and antibiotics for systemic use (12.7%) were common causative drug groups. Twenty SCAR-related deaths were recorded. Antibacterials were the most common causes of deaths (8 cases), followed by antiepileptics (5 cases). The potential risk of SCARs was not specified in the drug information leaflet for 40.2% of drugs causing SJS/TEN and 82.5% causing DRESS syndrome in Korea.

CONCLUSION

The number of SCAR ICSRs has increased rapidly with recent active pharmacovigilance programs in Korea. Allopurinol and antiepileptics are the most common individual and categorical causative agents, respectively.

Clinical efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula in patients with acute heart failure

Background

High-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula (HFNC) could reduce intubation rate and mortality rate among patients with acute respiratory failure. We evaluated the physiological responses and clinical outcomes of HFNC in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed in single medical tertiary center. Patients with AHF who had a progressive hypoxemia after oxygenation via facemask were divided into intubation group and HFNC group. We analyzed the physiological responses and in-hospital clinical outcomes between two groups.

Results

Seventy-three patients of intubation group and 76 patients of HFNC group were included. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between two groups. There were no differences in changes of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and pulse oxygen saturation during the first 6 hours. Among HFNC group, 66 of 76 patients (86.8%) were successfully recovered from progressive hypoxemia without endotracheal intubation, and there were no differences in in-hospital clinical outcomes between two groups.

Conclusions

This study showed HFNC group had a similar result of improvement of oxygen saturation and in-hospital clinical outcomes compared with intubation group in AHF. Present study supported HFNC could be considered as initial choice of oxygen therapy in selected patients of AHF.

Influence of Amlodipine on Haemostatic Measurements during Clopidogrel Treatment in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Amlodipine has a potential to reduce clopidogrel bioactivation through the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme in vivo, but the clinical impact of this interaction remains controversial. This randomized, open-label, two-period, crossover study was performed to evaluate the influence of amlodipine on the haemostatic profiles of high-risk patients during clopidogrel treatment. We recruited 40 Asian patients (Male/Female: n = 36/4) receiving clopidogrel (75 mg/day), aspirin (100 mg/day) and rosuvastatin for at least 6 months following percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 5 mg daily amlodipine or not for 2 weeks, and then were crossed over to the other treatment for 2 weeks. Haemostatic measurements were conducted with the VerifyNow assay and thromboelastography (TEG). Primary endpoint was P2Y12 Reaction Units (PRU) during on- versus off-amlodipine treatment. The on-amlodipine strategy showed higher level of PRU compared with the off-amlodipine strategy (176.8 ± 75.4 vs. 150.7 ± 65.5 PRU; ∆mean: 26.1 PRU; ∆95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5–47.7 PRU; p = 0.019). Platelet-fibrin clot strength measured by TEG was lower during on- versus off-amlodipine treatment (7,712 ± 1,889 vs. 8,559 ± 2,174 dyne/cm2; ∆mean: –847 dyne/cm2; ∆95% CI: –1,632 to –62 dyne/cm2; p = 0.035). After amlodipine discontinuation, 27 patients (67.5%) showed a decrease in PRU, which was associated with ‘PRU ≥ 160 on-amlodipine’ in multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 62.014; 95% CI: 2.302–1670.328; p = 0.014). In conclusion, amlodipine increases platelet reactivity and decreases platelet-fibrin clot strength during clopidogrel treatment. In addition, the effect of amlodipine discontinuation on clopidogrel responsiveness is associated with on-amlodipine platelet reactivity.

Phenotypes of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Caused by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Purpose

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common cause of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). The present study aimed to investigate the characteristics of SCARs induced by NSAIDs in the Korean SCAR registry.

Methods

A retrospective survey of NSAID-induced SCARs recorded between 2010 and 2015 at 27 university hospitals in Korea was conducted. Clinical phenotypes of SCARs were classified into Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), SJS-TEN overlap syndrome and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Causative NSAIDs were classified into 7 groups according to their chemical properties: acetaminophen, and propionic, acetic, salicylic, fenamic and enolic acids.

Results

A total of 170 SCARs, consisting of 85 SJS, 32 TEN, 17 SJS-TEN overlap syndrome and 36 DRESS reactions, were induced by NSAIDs: propionic acids (n=68), acetaminophen (n=38), acetic acids (n=23), salicylic acids (n=16), coxibs (n=8), fenamic acids (n=7), enolic acids (n=5) and unclassified (n=5). Acetic acids (22%) and coxibs (14%) accounted for higher portions of DRESS than other SCARs. The phenotypes of SCARs induced by both propionic and salicylic acids were similar (SJS, TEN and DRESS, in order). Acetaminophen was primarily associated with SJS (27%) and was less involved in TEN (10%). DRESS occurred more readily among subjects experiencing coxib-induced SCARs than other NSAID-induced SCARs (62.5% vs. 19.7%, P = 0.013). The mean time to symptom onset was longer in DRESS than in SJS or TEN (19.1 ± 4.1 vs. 6.8 ±1.5 vs. 12.1 ± 3.8 days). SCARs caused by propionic salicylic acids showed longer latency, whereas acetaminophen- and acetic acid-induced SCARs appeared within shorter intervals.

Conclusions

The present study indicates that the phenotypes of SCARs may differ according to the chemical classifications of NSAIDs. To establish the mechanisms and incidences of NSAID-induced SCARs, further prospective studies are needed.

Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Antiepileptic Drugs: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study in Korea

PURPOSE

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) to antiepileptic drug (AED), are rare, but result in significant morbidity and mortality. We investigated the major culprit drugs, clinical characteristics, and clinical course and outcomes of AED-induced SCARs using a nationwide registry in Korea.

METHODS

A total of 161 patients with AED-induced SCARs from 28 referral hospitals were analyzed. The causative AEDs, clinical characteristics, organ involvements, details of treatment, and outcomes were evaluated. We compared the clinical and laboratory parameters between SJS/TEN and DRESS according to the leading causative drugs. We further determined risk factors for prolonged hospitalization in AED-induced SCARs.

RESULTS

Carbamazepine and lamotrigine were the most common culprit drugs causing SCARs. Valproic acid and levetiracetam also emerged as the major causative agents. The disease duration and hospital stay in carbamazepine-induced SJS/TEN were shorter than those in other AEDs (P< 0.05, respectively). In younger patients, lamotrigine caused higher incidences of DRESS than other drugs (P= 0.045). Carbamazepine, the most common culprit drug for SCARs, was associated with a favorable outcome related with prolonged hospitalization in SJS (odds ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.63, P= 0.12), and thrombocytopenia was found to be a risk factor for prolonged hospitalization in DRESS.

CONCLUSION

This was the first large-scale epidemiological study of AED-induced SCARs in Korea. Valproic acid and levetiracetam were the significant emerging AEDs causing SCARs in addition to the well-known offending AEDs such as carbamazepine and lamotrigine. Carbamazepine was associated with reduced hospitalization, but thrombocytopenia was a risk factor for prolonged hospitalization. Our results suggest that the clinical characteristics and clinical courses of AED-induced SCARs might vary according to the individual AEDs.

Magnetic Field Sensing by Exploiting Giant Nonstrain-Mediated Magnetodielectric Response in Epitaxial Composites

Heteroepitaxial magnetoelectric (ME) composites are promising for the development of a new generation of multifunctional devices, such as sensors, tunable electronics, and energy harvesters. However, challenge remains in realizing practical epitaxial composite materials, mainly due to the interfacial lattice misfit strain between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases and strong substrate clamping that reduces the strain-mediated ME coupling. Here, we demonstrate a nonstrain-mediated ME coupling in PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ (PZT)/La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) heteroepitaxial composites that resolves these challenges, thereby, providing a giant magnetodielectric (MD) response of ∼27% at 310 K. The factors driving the magnitude of the MD response were found to be the magnetoresistance-coupled dielectric dispersion and piezoelectric strain-mediated modulation of magnetic moment. Building upon this giant MD response, we demonstrate a magnetic field sensor architecture exhibiting a high sensitivity of 54.7 pF/T and desirable linearity with respect to the applied external magnetic field. The demonstrated technique provides a new mechanism for detecting magnetic fields based upon the MD effect.

Prognostic value of total triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels for the heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Although a low triiodothyronine (T3) state is closely associated with heart failure (HF), it is uncertain whether total T3 levels on admission is correlated with the clinical outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of total T3 levels for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in patients with AMI undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

A total of 765 PCI-treated AMI patients (65.4 ± 12.6 years old, 215 women) between January 2012 and July 2014 were included and 1-year MACCEs were analyzed. We assessed the correlation of total T3 and free thyroxine (fT4) with prevalence of 1-year MACCEs and the predictive values of total T3, fT4, and the ratio of total T3 to fT4 (T3/fT4), especially for HF requiring re-hospitalization.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (3.9%) were re-hospitalized within 12 months to control HF symptoms. Total T3 levels were lower in the HF group than in the non-HF group (84.32 ± 21.04 ng/dL vs. 101.20 ± 20.30 ng/dL, p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the cut-offs of total T3 levels (≤ 85 ng/dL) and T3/fT4 (≤ 60) for HF (area under curve [AUC] = 0.734, p < 0.001; AUC = 0.774, p < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, lower T3/fT4 was an independent predictor for 1-year HF in PCI-treated AMI patients (odds ratio, 1.035; 95% confidential interval, 1.007 to 1.064; p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower levels of total T3 were well correlated with 1-year HF in PCI-treated AMI patients. The T3/fT4 levels can be an additional marker to predict HF.

A Systematic Review of Benefit of Silicone Intubation in Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy

Objectives

Insertion of a silicone stent during endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is the most common procedure to prevent rhinostomy closure. It has been claimed that silicone intubation improves the surgical outcomes of endoscopic DCR. However, many reports have documented an equally high success rate for surgery without silicone intubation. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the outcomes of endoscopic DCR with and without silicone intubation and determine whether silicone intubation is actually beneficial for patients.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify relevant controlled trials evaluating endoscopic DCR with and without silicone intubation. The search was restricted to English articles published between January 2007 and December 2016. Relevant articles were reviewed to obtain information pertaining to interventions and outcomes. We also performed a meta-analysis of the relevant literature.

Results

In total, 1,216 patients included in 12 randomized controlled trials were pooled. A total of 1,239 endoscopic DCR procedures were performed, and silicone stents were used in 533 procedures. The overall success rate for endoscopic DCR was 91.9% (1,139/1,239), while the success rates with and without silicone intubation were 92.9% (495/533) and 91.2% (644/706), respectively. There was no statistically significant heterogeneity among the included studies. A meta-analysis using a fixed-effects models showed no significant difference in the success rate between endoscopic DCR with silicone intubation and that without silicone intubation (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.89 to 2.12; P=0.148; z=1.45). Furthermore, there were no significant differences with regard to surgical complications such as synechia, granulation, and postoperative bleeding.

Conclusion

The findings of our meta-analysis suggest that the success rate and postoperative complication rate for endoscopic DCR is not influenced by the use of silicone intubation during the procedure.

Pembrolizumab for Refractory Metastatic Myxofibrosarcoma: A Case Report

Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare tumor, refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Pembrolizumab is an innovative immunotherapy drug consisting of programmed death receptor ligand 1 antibody proven to be useful for numerous types of cancer cells. A patient had been diagnosed with metastatic myxofibrosarcoma, refractory to radiotherapy and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The patient achieved a partial response during palliative chemotherapy with pembrolizumab for 14 cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report demonstrating the efficacy of pembrolizumab for refractory myxofibrosarcoma.

Long-term Prognosis and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Detected after First Acute Myocardial Infarction: from KAMIR-NIH Registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

After the first acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a considerable proportion of patients are newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, in AMI, controversy remains regarding the disparity in prognosis between previously diagnosed DM (known-DM) and newly diagnosed DM (new-DM).

METHODS

The study included 10,455 patients with AMI (non-DM, 6,236; new-DM, 659; known-DM, 3,560) admitted to one of 15 participating centers in Korea between November 2011 and January 2016 (average follow-up, 523 days). We compared the characteristics and clinical course of patients with known-DM and those with new- or non-DM.

RESULTS

Compared to patients with known-DM, those with new-DM or non-DM were younger, more likely to be male, and less likely to have hypertension, dyslipidemia, prior stroke, angina, or myocardial infarction. Compared to patients with new-DM or non-DM (reference), those with known-DM had higher risks of major adverse cardiac events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.35; p=0.004), cardiac death (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.57; p=0.042), and congestive heart failure (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.20-2.08). Unlike known-DM, new-DM did not increase the risk of cardiac events (including death).

CONCLUSIONS

Known-DM was associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events after AMI, while new-DM had a similar risk of cardiac events as that noted for non-DM. There were different cardiovascular outcomes according to diabetes status in patients with AMI.