ABSTRACT
Background: Clostridium difficile is the main agent causing antimicrobial associated nosocomial diarrhea. Chronic renal failure is a risk factor for this type of diarrhea. Aim: To study the incidence and complications of Clostridium difficile diarrhea in a university hospital and among patients with renal diseases. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of all cases of Clostridium difficile diarrhea that occurred in a university hospital, between June 2000 and May 2001. Results: In the Nephrology Unit, 48 episodes of Clostridium difficile diarrhea occurred in 35 patients (7 cases per 100 discharges/year). This figure is higher than the global incidence in the hospital (0.53 cases per 100 discharges/year, p <0.001). The mean age of the 33 patients with renal diseases was 63 years old and 17 of them were female. Their main diagnoses were chronic renal failure in hemodialysis in 48 percent , uremic syndrome in 36 percent and renal transplant in 6 percent. Seventy nine percent had a history of antimicrobial use (42 percent quinolones and 36 percent cephalosporins). In 3 patients, the only risk factor was chronic renal failure. Seventy five percent responded to metronidazole and in 27 percent, diarrhea recidivated, compared with a 6 percent recurrence rate in other units, p <0.02). Eight patients died during hospital stay. Conclusions: Among patients with renal diseases, Clostridium difficile is frequent and associated with a high recurrence rate and mortality. Chronic renal failure may be a risk factor for its development
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Clostridioides difficile , Diarrhea , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous , Incidence , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Diarrhea , Feces , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/diagnosis , Immunoenzyme Techniques/methodsABSTRACT
Background: Hypotension occurs in 20 percent of hemodialysis procedures. Aim: To study the effects of midodrine on hypotension during hemodialysis. Patients and methods: Ten patients on chronic hemodialysis and with a history of hypotension during the procedure, were studied. They received midodrine 10 mg per os or placebo during 5 dialytic procedures each, in a double blind cross over design. Results: Blood pressure levels prior to dialysis were similar during the midodrine or placebo administration periods. During dialysis, systolic blood pressure fell 19.3ñ28 mmHg with midodrine and 23.4ñ28 mmHg with placebo. Diastolic blood pressure fell 7.3ñ11.5 mmHg with midodrine and 11.1ñ12 mmHg with placebo. The reduction in median arterial pressure was also less pronounced with midodrine. Conclusions: Midodrine lessens the fall in arterial pressure during hemodialysis, in patients with symptomatic hypotension
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Midodrine , Hypotension/drug therapy , Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complicationsABSTRACT
We report a 30 years old male, recipient of a kidney allograft and treated with azathioprine, who 18 days after transplantation had a clinically asymptomatic elevation of total bilirrubin and alkaline phosphatases. Nineteen months later, he presented with mild ascites, with a total bilirrubin of 3.5 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatases of 308 U/L (normal <170 U/L) and a prothrombin time at 55 percent of control. A liver biopsy showed sinusoidal and perivenular fibrosis without inflammation, compatible with chronic venous obstruction. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease is an infrequent complication of azathioprine use