Periodontal disease and pneumonia mortality in haemodialysis patients: A 7‐year cohort study

Aim

To evaluate the association between periodontal disease and pneumonia mortality in haemodialysis patients.

Materials and Methods

This prospective cohort study included 211 patients (mean age, 64.4 years) undergoing haemodialysis at a single medical centre. The patients underwent a baseline clinical dental examination in 2008 and were then followed up until July 2015. Periodontal disease was defined as the presence of clinical attachment loss of ≥4 mm in ≥30% of the probed sites. The primary endpoint, that is death from pneumonia, was determined by reviewing death certificates and was analysed using the competing‐risks regression model.

Results

At baseline, 92 patients (43.6%) had periodontal disease. The median follow‐up period was 84 months (interquartile range, 36–86 months). Of the 68 deaths that occurred, 21 were from pneumonia. The multivariable competing‐risks regression model showed that periodontal disease was significantly associated with death from pneumonia (adjusted subhazard ratio, 3.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–10.64), after adjusting for other baseline health characteristics.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that periodontal disease is independently associated with pneumonia mortality in haemodialysis patients. Future studies evaluating the potential effect of oral interventions for periodontal health improvement on pneumonia in haemodialysis patients would be of great interest.     

Primary esophageal mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection

Primary esophageal mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rare. There have been few reports about early primary esophageal MALT lymphoma being treated endoscopically. The clinical profile of primary esophageal MALT lymphoma is currently unclear, so it is important to accumulate more information about early esophageal MALT lymphoma. To achieve early detection of esophageal MALT lymphoma, we need more accurate knowledge and information about the macroscopic and morphological features of this tumor. Endoscopic resection is one of the most effective treatments. With respect to the lateral andvertical margins of the resected specimen, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) may be superior to endoscopic mucosal resection for treating early esophageal MALT lymphoma. Here we report the macroscopic appearance of the tumor which is the first successful case of ESD for early esophageal MALT lymphoma.     

Intracardiac Abscess with Cutaneous Fistula Secondary to Ventricular Septal Defect Repair Simulating Sternal Wound Infection

Cutaneous fistula as a clinical presentation of intracardiac abscess of the right side is such an unusual occurrence that it has not until now been reported in the English-language medical literature. We present a rare case of right-sided infective endocarditis caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans in which recurrent infection presented as sternal wound discharge. The infection was found to have an intracardiac origin and was successfully managed by radical débridement on cardiopulmonary bypass.