ABSTRACT
We encountered a case of hypercobalaminemia induced by oral intake of an energy drink after total gastrectomy. The patient was referred to our hospital due to findings suspicious for gastric cancer on screening. A 20 mm type 0-IIc lesion was detected in the gastric subcardia on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Total gastrectomy followed by Roux-en-Y reconstruction was performed. He was discharged without complications. His basal serum vitamin B<sub>12</sub> level was initially maintained with monthly intramuscular injections of vitamin B<sub>12</sub>. After 9 months, his serum vitamin B<sub>12</sub> level suddenly increased up to 36-fold higher than the normal range and persisted there for one year without vitamin B<sub>12</sub> injections. The patient ultimately reported consuming half a bottle of an energy drink each day during this time period. This case demonstrates the risk of unexpected hypervitaminemia resulting from self-administration of nutritional supplements.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the urine of renal recipients for the presence of donor DNA in an attempt to establish an alternative diagnostic means of acute rejection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four renal transplant recipients were examined. Thirty-seven were normal after transplantation, while 22 others developed acute rejection, based on serum creatinine levels and/or needle biopsy findings of the graft. Five developed drug-induced renal dysfunction. In female recipients with a male graft, we examined urine for the presence of Y chromosome (SRY and DYZ-1) and in recipients receiving an HLA mismatched graft, we looked for HLA-DR gene (DRB1) using PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 14 female recipients with male grafts demonstrating stable renal function, only one was positive for SRY and DYZ-1 on the Y chromosome. However, SRY and DYZ-1 were found in the urine of four female patients with acute rejection, but these DNA fragments were not detected in 3 of the 4 after anti-rejection therapy. The last patient was referred to hemodialysis. Of 23 recipients of a graft from HLA mismatch donors with stable renal function, DRB1 was negative in 21 (91%). Of 18 patients with acute rejection, DRB1 was positive in 16 (89%) and negative in 2. These DNA fragments were no longer found in 13 patients after anti-rejection therapy. In all patients with drug induced renal dysfunction, donor-derived DNA was negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Presence of door specific DNA in the urine of the recipient is strongly associated with acute rejection. Analysis of DNA derived from donor cells in urine was an effective and accurate method for the diagnosis of acute rejection of a renal transplant.</p>