Chemical Pneumonitis due to Exposure to Waterproofing Spray Containing Perfluoroalkyl Acrylate Copolymer

Waterproofing spray is used to ensure that clothing, including mountain wear, leather, and other surfaces are waterproof. Respiratory illnesses related to the use of waterproofing spray have been reported globally. The composition of waterproofing spray varies depending on the manufacturer. We treated a patient with chemical pneumonitis and alveolar hemorrhage due to exposure to waterproofing spray containing perfluoroalkyl acrylate copolymer. We diagnosed the patient with chemical pneumonitis and alveolar hemorrhage based on computed tomography (CT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) test performed within 24 h after symptom occurrence. We believe that further study regarding the exact mechanism of pulmonary toxicity for waterproofing agents is required.

The Stability of Peritoneal Dialysis for the Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure in Cirrhotic Patients Acompanying Ascites / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: When liver cirrhosis patients accompanying ascites need renal replacement therapy because of chronic renal failure (CRF), peritoneal dialysis (PD) can allow direct removal of ascites and prevent anticoagulants use. However, since PD might aggravate hypoalbuminemia and increase chances of peritonitis, clinicians tend to hesitate to apply it to those patients. The aim of the present study is to assess the outcome and stability of PD for the treatment of CRF patient with cirrhosis acompanying ascites. METHODS: A retrospective study based on the clinical records was performed in cirrhotic patients with ascites in whom PD was performed for the treatment of CRF and who were followed up at Samsung Medical Center unit, between January 1995 and July 2005. RESULTS: In our study, 15 patients were enrolled. Child-pugh class was worse in non-survival group than survival group (p<0.01). One-year patient survival was 40% in Class C and 75% in Class B, and patient survival differed between Class C and Class B (p=0.0014). Causes of death were terminal liver failure (n=6) and sepsis due to pneumonia (n=1). Total 27 episodes of peritonitis occurred, and the peritonitis rates were 0.91 episodes/patients-year. CONCLUSION: Although the peritonitis rates turned out somewhat high, the use of PD for the treatment of CRF in patients with liver cirrhosis accompanying ascites seems to be safe and effective. Main cause of death in our study seems to be related to liver disease.

A Case of Polycythemia Vera Combined with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disorder that results from clonal expansion of a transformed hematopoietic stem cell, and this is associated with a prominent overproduction of erythrocytes, and to a lesser extent, expansion of the granulocytic and megakaryocytic elements. Secondary polycythemia is occasionally associated with renal diseases such as renal tumors, cysts, hydronephorosis, renal transplantation, renal artery stenosis and Bartter's syndrome, and it is rarely associated with nephritic syndrome, nephrosclerosis, chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) and membranous nephropathy. Although cases of erythrocytosis with concomitant GN have occasionally been reported, there are few reports regarding PV. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the most frequent forms of GN. However, its association with PV has rarely been described. We report here on one patient with concomitant PV and FSGS along with a review of the previously reported literature.

Serum adiponectin level and cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is a fat-based protein that alters the insulin sensitivity, has anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, this connection is unclear in patients with chronic wasting disease, such as heart failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Therefore, this study examined the relationship between adiponectin and the cardiovascular risk/predictive factors in ESRD patients. METHODS: The serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin were measured in 48 adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis. In addition, the blood levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) as cardiovascular biomarkers were measured, and the CVD history was reviewed in order to determine if there was any correlation with adiponectin. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the adiponectin levels and the serum concentrations of HDL-cholesterol (r=0.456, p=0.001), triglyceride (r=-0.528, p<0.001), and leptin (r=-0.427, p=0.002) and an inverse correlation with the body mass index (BMI) (r=-0.326, p=0.024). The BNP levels were positively correlated with the adiponectin concentrations (r=0.372, p=0.009) and negatively correlated with the BMI (r=-0.310, p=0.032), and there was a slight positive correlation between cTnT and adiponectin (r=0.276, p=0.058). Patients with a history of CVD had higher levels of cTnT (p=0.012) and BNP (p=0.017), and a lower BMI (p=0.026) than patients without such a history. There was no significant difference in the adiponectin levels between the two patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: A higher adiponectin level is related to a favorable lipid profile. However, adiponectin is not directly associated with a history of CVD, and there was a correlation between a higher adiponectin level and a higher BNP and lower BMI, which are cardiovascular predictive factors, in ESRD patients. However, further research with more patients will be needed to properly determine the complicated relationship between adiponectin and the development of CVD.

Unawareness of Hypoglycemic Convulsion Due to Overestimation of Capillary Blood Glucose Levels in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient Using Icodextrin / 대한신장학회잡지

In patients on peritoneal dialysis, ultrafiltration can be decreased after long-term dialysis. To solve this problem, icodextrin has been developed and used instead of glucose. Icodextrin infused into the peritoneal cavity is partially absorbed via lymphatics into the systemic circulation and hydrolyzed, and then its metabolites lead to measurement of high capillary blood glucose levels by reacting with the test strip. This excessive measurement of capillary blood glucose levels can lead to unawareness of hypoglycemia, but there has been no report of such cases in our country. A 26-year-old female patient who was on peritoneal dialysis with 7.5% icodextrin (Extraneal: Baxter Corporation, Chicago, IL, USA) presented with convulsion and hypoglycemia. To alert our physicians, we report it with a review of the literature, and recommend when a patient on peritoneal dialysis with icodextrin, blood sugar levels should be cross checked by other laboratory reference methods.

Efficacy and safety of high dose epoetin alfa therapy in CAPD patients by cross-over study / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is an essential and well-established treatment for renal anemia. Rcently, clinicians have moved toward administration of high dose rHuEPO to reduce the inconvenience and time efficient.We aimed to determine whether high dose subcutaneous (SC) epoetin alfa is as efficient and safe as the usual dose for treating anemia in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. METHODS: Twenty-four patients on CAPD were randomly assigned to a high-usual dose group (n=12) and an usual-high dose group (n=12) with a variable interval for 48 weeks. Patients received 10 times treatments by scheduled visiting during Period I lasting 24 weeks and received 4 times treatments by scheduled visiting in Period II lasting 24 weeks by cross-over. The high dose was 10,000 IU and the usual dose was 4,000 IU epoetin alfa regimen. If hematocrit was out of the targeted range, 30~39%, the interval of epoetin alfa was changed within 50% of the previous interval. RESULTS: Fifteen patients, out of 24, completed the study (8 patients in the high-usual dose group; 7 patients in the usual-high dose group). Mean hemoglobin levels at randomization and after 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks were 10.8+/-1.1, 11.5+/-0.9, 11.5+/-1.5, 11.4+/-1.5, 11.5+/-0.8 g/dL, respectively, in high-usual dose group compared with 11.2+/-0.8, 11.4+/-1.2, 11.2+/-0.9, 11.2+/-1.4, 11.4+/-0.9 g/dL, respectively, in usual-high dose group. The mean weekly epoetin alfa dosages at randomization and after 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks were 83.6+/-38.1, 87.1+/-35.8, 89.4+/-34.2, 60.1+/-25.1, 62.8+/-30.7 IU/kg/week, respectively, in high-usual dose group compared with 69.8+/-31.6, 64.9+/-12.2, 69.9+/-46.1, 78.8+/-29.3, 75.9+/-16.4 IU/kg/week, respectively, in usual-high dose group. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were apparent for hemoglobin levels or mean weekly epoetin alfa dosages. Treatment interval at Period I and Period II were 13.3+/-5.3, 8.2+/-4.3 days in high-usual dose group compared with 7.0+/-2.5, 13.4+/-4.0 days in usual-high dose group with statistically significant differences. Treatment interval in high dose was about two times as longer as usual dose. Adverse events were generally mild and transient, and pain on injection site following subcutaneous administration was rarely reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that epoetin alfa 10,000 IU is as efficient and safe as 4,000 IU with a similar weekly dose in CAPD patients. Epoetin alfa 10,000 IU administration can reduce frequency of injections by about one half.

Effect of High Dose (10, 000 IU) Epoetin Alfa (Espogen(R)) Therapy in CAPD Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is an established treatment for renal anemia. We aimed to determine that high dose subcutaneous epoetin alfa is as efficient and safe as usual dose for treating anemia in peritoneal dialysis patient. METHODS: Twenty four patients on CAPD were randomly assigned to either 10, 000 IU (high dose group, n=12) or 4, 000 IU (usual dose group, n=12) epoetin alfa regimen with variable interval for 24 weeks. If hematocrit was out of range (30-39%), the interval was changed within 50% of previous interval. RESULTS: Mean hemoglobin levels at randomization and after 12 weeks and 24 weeks were 11.4+/-1.3, 11.3+/-1.1, and 11.6+/-1.2 g/dL in high dose group compared with 10.8+/-0.8, 11.5+/-1.1, and 10.9+/-1.2 g/dL in usual dose group (p<0.05). The mean weekly epoetin alfa dosages at randomization and after 12 and 24 weeks were 93.2+/-45.3, 95.5+/-33.6, and 102.5+/-43.6 IU/kg in high dose group compared with 78.8+/-29.4, 75.9+/-20.6 and 75.5+/-39.7 IU/kg in usual dose group (p<0.05). But, interval in high dose group was two times as longer as usual dose group. Adverse events were generally mild and transient CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that epoetin alfa 10, 000 IU is as efficient and safe as 4, 000 IU with similar weekly dose in CAPD patients. epoetin alfa 10, 000 IU administration reduces frequency of injections about one half.

A Case of Concomitant Interstitial Nephritis by BK Virus with Acute Rejection in a Renal Allograft Recipient / 대한신장학회잡지

Polyomavirus BK viral allograft nephritis is a great challenge in posttransplant management and graft survival because of difficulty in diagnosing and treatment. Initial treatment usually involves reducing immunosuppressive medications. However if concomitant acute rejection exist, it is more challenging in managing these patients, because acute rejection requires increase in immunosuppression. We present a case of a 35-year-old man who developed BK viral allograft nephritis and concomitant acute rejection 3 months after transplantation. BK viral allograft nephritis was missed in diagnosis and only pulse steroids for anti-rejection therapy was done. Initially, renal function was improved, but 4 months later, he presented with deterioration in renal function. Second renal biopsy showed BK allograft nephritis without rejection. BK viral DNA in plasma by PCR and urinary decoy cell were also positive. Reduction in immunosuppression by discontinuing mycophenolate mofetil stabilized the deterioration in renal function, however it failed to clear viremia.

Cytomegalovirus-associated gastritis in immunocompetent adult / 대한내과학회지

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are usually reported in immunocompromised patients. However, it occurs rarely in immunocompetent individuals. A case of CMV associated with stomach ulcers and mucosal nodules is reported in a immunocompetent host. A previously healthy 27-year-old man visited our hospital with a thirty-day history of epigastric pain and a nine-day history of vomiting. The demonstration of intranuclear inclusion bodies in a few gastric glandular epithelial cells contributed to the diagnosis of CMV gastritis. Treatment with a proton pump inhibitor and ganciclovir was successful to mitigate the epigastric pain and vomiting.

A Case of Systemic Vasculitis with Intraperitoneal Aneurysmal Rupture / 대한신장학회잡지

Though systemic vasculitidis are a group of diseases with extremely low incidence and prevalence, vessels with diverse size from aorta to capillaries are involved. It has been argued how to classify and define systemic vasculitidis, especially how to discriminate poly arteritis nodosa (PAN) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Since there are lots of overlapping between them, clinical manifestations, antineuclear cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and angiographic findings besides pathologic findings should be considered altogether. We report a case of systemic vasculitis in which crescentic necrotizing glomerulonephritis with positive perinuclear-type ANCA occurred with intraperitoneal aneurysmal rupture simultaneously. Our case can be a typical one that shows definite overlapping between PAN and MPA.

Primary Sjogren's Syndrome with Renal Pseudolymphoma Featuring Interstitial Nephritis / 대한신장학회잡지

A 65 year-old woman with Sjogren's syndrome was found to have renal mass and acute renal failure. Immunopathologic analysis of renal biopsy specimens showed polyclonal lymphocytic interstitial infiltration. Gene rearrangement study of T cell receptor showed a polyclonal pattern. The degree of azotemia and the size of pseudolymphoma diminished dramatically with steroid therapy. This is a case of proven pseudolymphoma that was found as renal mass in Sjogren's syndrome.

Hemodialysis Using Heparin Bound Hemophan Hemodialysis in ESRD Patients at High Risk for Bleeding: A Seven-Year Experience / 대한신장학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Positively charged N, N-diethyl-aminoehtyl groups on Hemophan enable negative charged heparin to be bound with the dialyzer membrane and hemodialysis using heparin bound Hemophan (HBH- HD) could be a hemodialysis modality in patients at risk of bleeding. We designed simplified heparin binding technique and evaluated the bleeding risk and efficiency of HBH-HD in chronic renal failure patients at risk of bleeding. METHODS: During the period from April 1995 through April 2002, 159 patients at high bleeding risk received 1057 HBH-HD (dialyzer: GFS plus 11, Gambro). The duration of each HBH-HD was standardized to 4 hours at blood-flow rate of 200-250 mL/min. To evaluate safety of HBH-HD, we measured serum heparin concentration (HC) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) at baseline, 15, 60, 120 minutes and endpoint (240 minutes) (n= 40). To evaluate the dialysis efficiency, HBH-HD and routine hemodialysis with systemic heparinization (R-HD) were compared for total blood compartment volume (TBCV) loss, dialyzer urea clearance (K) and Kt/V in same study group patients (n=20). RESULTS: Clotting of dialyzer necessitating termination of dialysis occurred in 11 (1.0%) out of 1, 057 dialyses at 150 minutes, and clotting requiring change of blood line occurred in 64 dialyses (6.1%) between 150 and 230 minutes. There was a slight increase in the aPTT (mean+/-SD, 49.8+/-10.5 sec) and HC (0.14+/-0.06 U/mL) at 15 min, compared to predialysis levels of 44.3+/-12.9 sec and 0.11+/-0.06 U/ mL, respectively (p>0.05). But no increase in aPTT, HC was observed in measurements at 60 min, 120 min, and at the endpoint. TBCV loss was significantly higher in HBH-HD (mean+/-SD, 17.2+/-9.6%), compared to R-HD (2.8+/-1.2%) (p0.05). CONCLUSION: HBH-HD could be a safe and efficient HD technique in patients at high risk of bleeding. Extracorporeal clotting, however, should be observed carefully during HBH-HD.

A Case of Light Chain Deposition Disease without Significant Proteinuria / 대한신장학회잡지

A 67-year-old male was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of incidentally detected anemia and mild azotemia. Urinalysis showed no abnormal finding and 24 hr urine protein amount was clinically insignificant (270 mg/day). Urine and serum protein electrophoresis were negative for a monoclonal spike. However, urine and serum immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated the presence of monoclonal free kappa light chains. Renal biopsy showed the features of chronic tubulointerstitial disease and on the immunofluorescence studies, kappa light chain was in a linear pattern in basement membranes of glomeruli and tubules. Work-up for multiple myeloma including bone marrow biopsy showed results compatible with multiple myeloma. Treatment was started with vincristine, adriamycin and doxorubicin at monthly interval for three months followed by autologus peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. At follow-up 5 months after autologus peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the patient is well with a serum creatinine of 2.3-2.6 mg/dL and 24 hr urine protein of 200-350 mg.