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Ochi K, Abe I, Yamazaki Y, Nagata M, Senda Y, Takeshita K, Koga M, Yamao Y, Shigeoka T, Kudo T, Fukuhara Y, Miyajima S, Taira H, Haraoka S, Ishii T, Takashi Y, Lam AK, Sasano H, Kobayashi K. Adrenal Hemorrhage in a Cortisol-Secreting Adenoma Caused by Antiphospholipid Syndrome Revealed by Clinical and Pathological Investigations: A Case Report. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:769450. [PMID: 35185780 PMCID: PMC8850263 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.769450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to its rarity, adrenal hemorrhage is difficult to diagnose, and its precise etiology has remained unknown. One of the pivotal mechanisms of adrenal hemorrhage is the thrombosis of the adrenal vein, which could be due to thrombophilia. However, detailed pathological evaluation of resected adrenal glands is usually required for definitive diagnosis. Here, we report a case of a cortisol-secreting adenoma with concomitant foci of hemorrhage due to antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosed both clinically and pathologically. In addition, the tumor in this case was pathologically diagnosed as cortisol-secreting adenoma, although the patient did not necessarily fulfill the clinical diagnostic criteria of full-blown Cushing or sub-clinical Cushing syndrome during the clinical course, which also did highlight the importance of detailed histopathological investigations of resected adrenocortical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ochi
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Ichiro Abe
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Ichiro Abe, ; orcid.org/0000-0002-7545-9751
| | - Yuto Yamazaki
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mai Nagata
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Yuki Senda
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Kaori Takeshita
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Midori Koga
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Yuka Yamao
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Toru Shigeoka
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Tadachika Kudo
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Fukuhara
- Department of Urology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Shigero Miyajima
- Department of Urology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Taira
- Department of Urology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Shoji Haraoka
- Department of Pathology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Tatsu Ishii
- Department of Urology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Yuichi Takashi
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
| | - Alfred K. Lam
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kunihisa Kobayashi
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan
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Surga N, Makdassi R, Choukroun G, Vandwalle J, Petit J, Saint F. [Adrenal hemorrhage acutised by adrenocorticotropin hormone]. Prog Urol 2010; 20:425-9. [PMID: 20538206 DOI: 10.1016/j.purol.2009.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2009] [Revised: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 12/22/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many spontaneous adrenal hematomas have been observed in patients being treated by Synacthène. The purpose of this study is to define how to take those patients in charge on a short-, mid- and long-term. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2000 to December 2008, five patients (four males and one female), mean age 47, were taken in charge in our service for spontaneous adrenal hematomas. All those patients had been treated with Synacthène for a mid-sciatic pain for 72 hours. We associated a clinical, endocrine and radiologic staging to treat those patients. RESULTS Four patients underwent a watchful waiting, only one patient needed surgery. No adrenal tumor was ever found during the mean two years follow-up (one to four). Two patients suffered of the condition of the antiphospholipid syndrome. CONCLUSION Spontaneous adrenal hematomas are a most uncommon pathology. The clinical attitude has thus to be defined clearly. The patient must be under close clinical evaluation. Biological and morphological parameters have to be often repeated. An adrenal tumor has to be excluded by the evaluation, as that tumor could be secreting or could not be secreting. Antiphospholipid syndrome must also be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Surga
- Services d'urologie-transplantation, CHU hôpital Sud, université Picardie-Jules-Verne, avenue René-Laënnec, Salouël, 80054 Amiens cedex 1,France
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Presotto F, Fornasini F, Betterle C, Federspil G, Rossato M. Acute adrenal failure as the heralding symptom of primary antiphospholipid syndrome: report of a case and review of the literature. Eur J Endocrinol 2005; 153:507-14. [PMID: 16189171 DOI: 10.1530/eje.1.02002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Acute adrenal failure is a potentially fatal condition if overlooked. Occasionally, acute adrenal insufficiency may ensue from bilateral adrenal haemorrhage in patients with known antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS is characterized by recurrent arterial and venous thrombosis, pregnancy complications and detection of autoantibodies to phospholipids. This syndrome may be associated with non-organ specific diseases (e.g. connective tissue disorders) or with malignancies, but it may also appear in isolated form (primary APS). In a very few cases the heralding manifestation is given by adrenal failure. We report here a 63-year-old man presenting with acute adrenal insufficiency as the opening clinical manifestation of an APS. We also carried out a computer-aided search of the literature to identify all cases of primary adrenal failure as the first-recognized expression of a primary APS, a condition that not so infrequently may be tackled by endocrinologists. 20 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The great majority of them were males (75%) with a mean age of 42 years. Abdominal pain was present in 14 patients, followed by fever (13 patients) and hypotension (12 patients). The main morphological findings by computed tomography or magnetic resonance were consistent with bilateral adrenal haemorrhage in 11 patients. Lupus anticoagulant was present in all of the 19 tested patients. Our observations emphasize the importance in the assessment of clotting times, and possibly of antiphospholipid antibodies, in all patients with diagnosis of rapidly progressive adrenal failure and concurrent abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Presotto
- Third Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua School of Medicine, I-35128, Padua, Italy.
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Beltran S, Makdassi R, Robert F, Remond A, Fournier A. [Inaugural unilateral adrenal hematoma of an antiphospholipid syndrome]. Presse Med 2004; 33:385-8. [PMID: 15105780 DOI: 10.1016/s0755-4982(04)98601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A primary antiphospholipid syndrome is a very rare cause of adrenal haemorrhage. OBSERVATION A 51 year-old man presented with a unilateral adrenal haemorrhage, enhanced by the prescription of Synacthène during the 4 days that preceded. There was no adrenal deficiency but the immunological control revealed the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies. After 2 years of follow-up, adrenal controls have not shown any underlying tumour or endocrine insufficiency. COMMENTS Adrenal involvement is described in the anti-phospholipid syndrome and may present in the form of adrenal deficiency in the case of occasionally only microscopic bilateral haemorrhages. Furthermore, Synacthène is known to induce adrenal haemorrhages although this complication remains rare. Moreover, any unilateral adrenal haemorrhage requires subsequent follow-up for several months or even years in order to eliminate any underlying tumour and to control the absence of any adrenal deficiency if the involvement is bilateral.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Beltran
- Service de néphrologie, Hôpital Sud, Amiens
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Espinosa G, Santos E, Cervera R, Piette JC, de la Red G, Gil V, Font J, Couch R, Ingelmo M, Asherson RA. Adrenal involvement in the antiphospholipid syndrome: clinical and immunologic characteristics of 86 patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 2003; 82:106-18. [PMID: 12640187 DOI: 10.1097/00005792-200303000-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To describe the clinical and immunologic characteristics of patients with adrenal involvement and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), we conducted a computer-assisted (PubMed) search of the literature to identify all cases of primary adrenal insufficiency associated with antiphospholipid antibodies published in English, French, and Spanish from 1983 (when APS was first defined) through March 2002. We reviewed 86 patients (80 from the literature plus 6 from our cohort); 55% were male, and the mean age at presentation was 43 +/- 16 years. Sixty-one (71%) patients had primary APS, and 14 (16%) had systemic lupus erythematosus. In 31 (36%) patients, adrenal insufficiency was the first clinical manifestation of APS. Abdominal pain was present in 55% of patients, followed by hypotension (54%), fever (40%), nausea or vomiting (31%), weakness or fatigue (31%), and lethargy or altered mental status (19%). The main finding in imaging techniques was compatible with adrenal hemorrhage (59%) and in histopathologic study was a hemorrhagic infarction with vessel thrombosis (55%). Lupus anticoagulant was detected in 97% of patients and the anticardiolipin antibodies titer was positive in 93% of patients. Most patients (95%) were positive for the IgG isotype of anticardiolipin antibodies, whereas 40% were positive for the IgM isotype. Baseline cortisol levels were decreased in 98% of patients, ACTH hormone levels were increased in 96% of patients, and the cosyntropin stimulation test was positive in 100% of patients tested. Steroid replacement therapy was the most frequent treatment (84%), followed by anticoagulation (52%) and aspirin (6%). Thirty-two of 35 (91%) patients with prolonged anticoagulant therapy were in good health with a mean follow-up of 25 months, whereas 25 of the 69 (36%) patients with outcome data available had died. The results of the present review stress the clinical importance of systematic screening for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies in all cases of adrenal hemorrhage or infarction. An initial screening for hypoadrenalism is mandatory in any antiphospholipid antibody-positive patient who complains of abdominal pain and undue weakness or asthenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Espinosa
- Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Institut Clínic d'Infeccions i Immunologia, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Takebayashi K, Aso Y, Tayama K, Takemura Y, Inukai T. Primary antiphospholipid syndrome associated with acute adrenal failure. Am J Med Sci 2003; 325:41-4. [PMID: 12544085 DOI: 10.1097/00000441-200301000-00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We describe a 48-year-old woman with primary antiphospholipid syndrome who developed acute adrenal failure after an operation for a uterine myoma. After surgery, she developed a preshock state with hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremia. A diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome was made based not only on her past history of skin ulceration and recurrent spontaneous abortions but also on the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies. An abdominal computed tomography showed a bilateral enlargement of the adrenal glands but no high-density region in either gland. The patient recovered from the shock-like syndromes after the administration of glucocorticoids. Because it is possible that patients with antiphospholipid syndrome have acute or chronic adrenal failure caused by repeated hemorrhage or thrombosis, it may be important to monitor adrenal function in patients when the presence of this antibody is detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Takebayashi
- Department of Medicine, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Koshigaya, Japan.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical course of adrenal hemorrhage (AH) by using a systematic review of the presentation, associated conditions, and outcomes in patients with AH seen at our institution between 1972 and 1997 (a 25-year period). PATIENTS AND METHODS A computer search of recorded dismissal diagnoses identified 204 patients with a diagnosis of AH, but only 141 fulfilled our study criteria. Their records were analyzed systematically by presentation, bilateral or unilateral hemorrhage, corticosteroid treatment, and survival. RESULTS AH is a heterogeneous entity that occurs in the postoperative period, in the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome, in heparin-associated thrombocytopenia, or in the setting of severe physical stress and multiorgan failure. Standard laboratory evaluation is not helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Of the 141 cases of AH, 78 were bilateral, and 63 were unilateral. Corticosteroid treatment in situations of severe stress or sepsis had little effect on outcome (9% vs. 6% survival with and without corticosteroid treatment, respectively). This is in sharp contrast to AH occurring postoperatively (100% vs. 17% survival with or without treatment, respectively) or in the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome (73% vs. 0% survival, respectively). CONCLUSIONS A high index of suspicion is required to make a timely diagnosis of AH. Fever and hypotension in the appropriate clinical setting necessitate further investigation. Although the diagnosis of AH is infrequently made while the patient is alive, appropriate imaging techniques are useful for establishing a timely diagnosis. In severe physical stress or sepsis, AH may be a marker of severe, preterminal physiologic stress and poor outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vella
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55905, USA.
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Satta MA, Corsello SM, Della Casa S, Rota CA, Pirozzi B, Colasanti S, Cina G, Grossman AB, Barbarino A. Adrenal insufficiency as the first clinical manifestation of the primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2000; 52:123-6. [PMID: 10651763 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2000.00903.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We describe a 60-year-old man who developed clinical symptoms and signs of Addison's disease, which was subsequently confirmed biochemically; no cause was apparent. Several months later the patient represented with a fit, followed by a large and extensive venous thrombosis in the right iliac vein and in the veins of the right leg. He had strongly positive antibodies to cardiolipin, strongly suggesting a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome. While Addison's disease is a well-recognized, albeit rare, manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome, the Addison's disease preceded other clinical evidence of the syndrome by several months, in our patient, at variance with previous cases described in the literature. The antiphospholipid syndrome should be considered as a possible pathogenetic process in patients presenting with Addison's disease where the aetiology is not obvious.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Satta
- Departments of Endocrinology and Clinical Surgery, Catholic University, Rome.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Gabbay
- Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
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10
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare complication of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). The objective of this report is to describe a case and review the published literature to enhance recognition of this potentially fatal disorder by emphasizing its course, diagnosis, and cause. DATA SOURCES A bibliographic database with the indexing terms adrenal insufficiency, adrenal hemorrhage, adrenal thrombosis, APS, systemic lupus erythematosus, with the constraints of human subjects only, was used. STUDY SELECTION All 27 reports meeting the indexing terms were selected for review. DATA EXTRACTION The specific criteria used for data extraction articles included course of the disease, causation, clinical and laboratory diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic intervention. DATA SYNTHESIS Our patient is a previously health woman who developed a respiratory tract infection, followed by a prolonged illness with fever, hypotension, nausea, depression, and venous thromboses. She was found to have AI and APS that was alleviated with hydrocortisone and anticoagulation. Initially, her adrenal glands were normal on CT scan but subsequently became enlarged and later atrophic. Of the 27 previous case reports, a majority had thromboses and typical clinical and laboratory manifestations of AI. Hemorrhagic infarction of the adrenal gland appears to be the mechanism for AI in the APS. IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies are most commonly reported in association with AI in APS. CONCLUSIONS The hypercoagulable state in the APS may lead to adrenal vein thrombosis and subsequently to hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal gland. This complication of APS is important to recognize because it may be fatal if untreated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Arnason
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53972, USA
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Abstract
Adrenal hemorrhage can occur in association with postoperative stress, trauma, myocardial infarction, infection, and chronic medical illness. Other risk factors for the development of spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage include a thromboembolic state and anticoagulation therapy, although it has rarely been observed following orthopedic surgery. The authors report the case of an otherwise healthy 61-year-old woman who died suddenly 9 days after bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The only abnormality found on postmortem examination was massive bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with destruction of nearly all adrenal tissue. Surgeons should be aware of this complication that, if recognized early, can be treated with steroid replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Ries
- Mary Imagene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York 13326
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Alarcón-Segovia D, Pérez-Vázquez ME, Villa AR, Drenkard C, Cabiedes J. Preliminary classification criteria for the antiphospholipid syndrome within systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1992; 21:275-86. [PMID: 1604324 DOI: 10.1016/0049-0172(92)90021-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Ten percent of 667 consecutive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were considered to have definite antiphospholipid syndrome (aPLS) because they had two or more antiphospholipid (aPL)-related clinical manifestations and aPL titers more than 5 SD above the mean of normal controls. Another 14% had either one aPL-related manifestation but high titers of the antibody or two manifestations and low aPL titers (probable aPLS). One fourth of the patients had no manifestations but high titers, one manifestation and low titers, or two or more manifestations and negative aPL titers ("doubtful" aPLS); the other half were considered negative for aPLS. In patients with high-titer aPL, the number of aPL-related manifestations was influenced by disease duration and number of pregnancies, indicating potential mobility of category with time or with risk of recurrent pregnancy loss. Patients with two or more manifestations but variable aPL levels differed in immunosuppressive treatment and in the number of times they had been tested, indicating potential mobility of category with lower treatment and/or further aPL testing. Patients with definite aPLS had increased risk of cutaneous vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, psychosis, transient ischemic attacks, and leukopenia. In 11 of 52 SLE patients with definite aPLS the initial manifestation was related to aPL, and in 16 it concurred with an unrelated one. Only two patients fulfilled criteria for aPLS before having other evidence of SLE. The authors conclude that aPLS occurring within SLE is part of the disease rather than an associated condition and propose the use of definite and probable classification categories. These criteria, with appropriate follow-up and clinical and serological exclusion clauses for potential primary conditions, could also be applied to primary aPLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alarcón-Segovia
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
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Al-Momen AK, Sulimani R, Harakati M, Gader AGA, Mekki M. IgA antiphospholipid and adrenal insufficiency: Is there a link? Thromb Res 1991. [DOI: 10.1016/s0049-3848(05)80006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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