Blood Eosinophilia in Patients Undergoing Continous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis / 대한신장학회잡지

PURPOSE: The prevalence of blood eosinophilia in patients who are maintained on regular hemodialysis has been well established. Blood eosinophilia in patients initiating peritoneal dialysis has been mentioned, but its prevalence and etiologic factors have not been well delineated. Therefore, we performed this retrospective study to find out prevalence and possible etiologic factors of blood eosinophilia in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. METHODS: Between May 2001 to May 2004, the patients who began continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis at one renal center were included in this study. Patients with allergic history or allergic reaction during observed period were excluded. The routine peripheral WBC counts of 47 patients were reviewed and possible predisposing factors of eosinophilia were investigated. RESULTS: Blood eosinophilia was observed in 17 of 47 patients (35% of all patients). In most patients with blood eosinophilia, the time in which the eosinophil count began to be rise was within 40 days, and duration of eosinophilia was variable (mean+/-SD;74+/-67 days). The mean of the peak eosinophil count was 750+/-257/mm3 (mean+/-SD). Possible predisposing factors included recent parenteral iron therapy, but not statistically significant (p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Our retrospective study showed that the eosinophil counts in patients with end stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis were frequently elevated. Predisposing factors for this eosinophilia were not clear, suggesting that immunologic disturbance by uremia or dialysis itself might have influence on eosinophil homeostasis.

Scalp Edema and Insufficient Maturation of Arteriovenous Fistula Due to Cephalic Vein Variation in Patient with End Stage Renal Disease / 대한신장학회잡지

Vascular access is the prerequisite and mainstay of extra-corporeal renal replacement therapy and its management is central to maintain the health and quality of life of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Success of maturation of AVF depends on the quality and size of the vessels and anatomic structure. There have been several reports on non-maturation by vascular stenosis or small vascular size after AVF procedure, but reports demonstrating that AVF non-maturation is due to by latent vessel variation are uncommon. We report a rare case of scalp edema and insufficient maturation of AVF due to cephalic vein variation in a 27 year-old female patient with ESRD on hemodialysis. Conclusively, meticulous observation on not only vessels used for AVF but also its proximal connection to other vessels should be considered.

A Case of Focal Myositis Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

Focal myositis is an uncommon benign inflammatory myopathy of unknown cause affecting skeletal muscle, and presenting as a localized painful swelling within the soft tissue of an extremity. According to some reports, focal myositis may occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and other connective tissue diseases. To our knowledge, there has been no case report of focal myositis associated with rheumatoid arthritis. We report first case of focal myositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.