Low-grade dorsal spinal cord astrocytoma presented with paraplegia following minor trauma

Although they constitute about one third of spinal cord glial neoplasms, low-grade astrocytomas can present variably. Post-traumatic neurologic dysfunction due to low-grade spinal cord gliomas is an uncommon event. The authors report a case of paraplegia following minor traumatic event in an 18-month-old boy where subsequent imaging was directed to exclude intracranial hemorrhage. Upon further investigations which included spine-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, a hemorrhagic intraspinal neoplasm was discovered and confirmed to be a low-grade astrocytoma. This case illustrates an instance of significant neurological deficit caused by intratumeral hemorrhage and swelling

Transport characteristics of patients on automated peritoneal dialysis may not affect their lipid profile

Introduction: End-stage renal disease patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis usually have significant hyperlipidemia. The peritoneal membrane permeability and residual renal function [RRF] may affect lipid profile in these patients

Objective: To study the correlation of lipid profile with peritoneal membrane transport characteristic and RRF as well as cancer antigen [CA]-125 in patients on automated peritoneal dialysis [APD]

Materials and Methods: The present study is a retrospective analysis of forty end-stage renal disease patients on APD. Lipid profile [total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein], serum albumin and CA-125 were correlated with various peritoneal membrane transporters, assessed by peritoneal equilibration test [PET]. Lipid profile was also correlated with residual renal function and KT/V

Results: The study included 21 female and 19 male patients on APD. The duration of peritoneal dialysis was 18-70 months. There was no significant difference in lipid profile at baseline and at one year in patients with different peritoneal transporter status. There was no correlation between lipid profile and residual renal function as well as CA-125

Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is no relation of lipid profile with peritoneal membrane transporter status and residual renal function in patients maintained on automated peritoneal dialysis