Comparison of Urea Kinetic Modeling, Standardized Creatinine Clearance and Indices of Nutrition in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) Patients / 대한내과학회지

OBJECTIVES: Protein-calorie malnutrition has been shown to be prevalent among patients on chronic dialysis, And assessment of nutritional status of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) patients has assumed greater importance because of the association of protein-calorie malnutrition with increasing morbidity and mortality. So we observed the incidence and clinical effect of protein-calorie malnutrition, and we compared the indices of nutrition with dialysis adequacy utilizing urea kinetic modeling and cretinine clearance in CAPD patients. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in which eight parameters, based on anthropometry, blood chemistry and subjective symptoms, were scored according to the degree of abnormalities in 82CAPD patients. A malnutrition index was derived from these scores. We also performed comparative analysis to identify significant correlations of the indices of urea kinetic modeling and creatinine clearance with the other parameters of nutritional status. RESULTS: The malnutrition index classified 47(57%) patients as normal, 30(37%) intermediately malnourished, and 5(6%) as severely malnourished. Malnutrition index showed a significant correlation with the body mass index(BMI), triceps skinfold thickness(TSF), mid-arm circumference(MAC), mid-arm muscle area (MAMA), duration of CAPD, subjective symptoms, serum albumin, transferrin, cholesterol, and triglyceride. The malnutrition index also showed a significant correlation with residual renal function(RRF), and standardized creatinine clearance(SCCr). The TWR-Kt/V(total Kt/Vurea per week with consideration of residual renal urea clearance) was significantly lower in the severely malnourished group than in the normal group. Serum alkaline phosphatase and BUN levels were higher in the severely malnourished group than in the normal and inter-mediate groups. CONCLUSION: In assessing the nutrition status of CAPD patients, body weight, TSF, MAC, MAMA, subjective symptoms, serum albumin, transferrin, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea nitrogen, and alkaline phosphatase were considered useful parameters. There was a trend of increased BUN and decreased TWR-Kt/V in severely malnourished patients, and the value of SCCr was significantly lower in malnourished patients. However, no meaningful relationships between TW-Kt/V and malnutrition index or between NPCR(normalized protein catabolic rate) and malnutrition index were found m this cross-sectional study. As the number of patients with longer duration of CAPD or negligible RRF has increased in the malnourished patients, regular monitoring of these parameters, especially TWR-Kt/V and SCCr, may be helpful to assess dialysis adequacy to keep good nutritional status of each CAPD patient.

A Case of Acute Typhlitis Complicating Drug-induced Agranulocytosis / 대한내과학회지

Increasingly aggressive chemotherapy regimens, advances in transplantation technology, and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have resulted in a growing number of immunocompromised patients. Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. One of the most ominous complications is the development of typhlitis in this immunocompromised patients. Treatment of this process is controversial, and no consensus has emerged. We report a case of typhlitis who complicated agranulocytosis after exposure to drugs to treat "flu" like illness and recovered completely after two operations of appendectomy and ileocolectomy. Reviewing articles and this case, the favorable outcome seemed to be related to following three factors recognition of the acute surgical abdomen by abdominal CT scan, a prompt return of normal circulating white cells by the use of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor and discontinuation of causative drugs, and an appropriately timed surgical intervention.