Anti-Whole serum polyclonal antibody

Rationale: Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is rarely seen in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We report an intestinal TB case with a clinical presentation similar to that of colon cancer in a patient with ESRD on hemodialysis. Patient concerns: A 49-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of general weakness and anorexia. He had been treated for stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to diabetic nephropathy for the last 3 years. His blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were 96.9 and 8.1 mg/dL, respectively, at the time of admission; azotemia was accompanied by severe anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Hemodialysis was initiated for suspected exacerbation of uremia; however, intermittent fever, night sweats, and abdominal discomfort persisted. Diagnoses: Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and whole-body(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography were indicative of ascending colon cancer with lymph node metastases. However, colonoscopy with biopsy revealed the formation of submucosal caseating granuloma and acid-fast bacillus. Interventions: We initiated quadruple therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. The patient continued the quadruple regimen for the first 2 months before switching to dual therapy and received anti-TB medications for a total of 12 months. Outcomes: After 9 months of standard anti-TB chemotherapy, polypoid residual lesions were noted during follow-up colonoscopy. Laparoscopy-assisted ileocecal resection was performed. No findings suggestive of recurrence of colonic TB were observed on follow-up abdominal CT at 6 months after discontinuation of anti-TB medications. Lessons: If non-specific uremic symptoms persist in patients with advanced CKD, the possibility of extrapulmonary TB such as intestinal TB must be considered. Also, in patients with radiologic suspicion of colon cancer, endoscopy with biopsy should be performed promptly to exclude colonic TB with similar clinical manifestations.

The clinical outcome of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with an indeterminate response after initial therapy is reported to be intermediate, between incomplete and excellent responses. This study evaluated the outcomes of PTC patients with indeterminate response after initial therapy. It was further determined whether the indeterminate findings predicted outcomes more precisely. Patients were further classified into 3 groups based on risk of structural persistence/recurrence: Tg group : detectable thyroglobulin, negative antithyroglobulin antibody, regardless nonspecific imaging findings; TgAb group : positive antithyroglobulin antibody, regardless thyroglobulin levels and nonspecific imaging findings, and Image group: nonspecific findings on neck ultrasonography or faint uptake in the thyroid bed on whole-body scan, undetectable thyroglobulin and negative antithyroglobulin antibody. Sixty-six patients aged 44.1 +/- 12.7 years were studied, of whom 58 (87.9%) were females. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy, and 52 patients (78.8%) received radioiodine. After 5.7 years (P25-75 2.6-9.75 years) of follow-up, most patients (89.4%) were reclassified as having an excellent response or remained in the indeterminate response to therapy. Structural recurrence/persistence disease was detected in 7 (10.6%) patients. The persistence/recurrence rate in groups were as follow: Tg , 2.63%; TgAb , 31.25%; Image , 8.3% (p=0.007). The 10-years disease-free survival rate in the TgAb group was significantly reduced (p=0.022). Our results suggest that patients with PTC and indeterminate response due to positive serum antithyroglobulin antibody have more risk of development of structural disease. These findings suggest a more individualized follow-up strategy for patients with an indeterminate response.