Serum Globotriaosylceramide Assay as a Screening Test for Fabry Disease in Patients with ESRD on Maintenance Dialysis in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive and progressive disease caused by alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GaL A) deficiency. We sought to assess the prevalence of unrecognized Fabry disease in dialysis-dependent patients and the efficacy of serum globotriaosylceramide (GL3) screening. METHODS: A total of 480 patients of 1,230 patients among 17 clinics were enrolled. Serum GL3 levels were measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, we studied the association between increased GL3 levels and cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had elevated serum GL3 levels. The alpha-GaL A activity was determined for the 26 patients with high GL3 levels. The mean alpha-GaL A activity was 64.6 nmol/hr/mg (reference range, 45 to 85), and no patient was identified with decreased alpha-GaL A activity. Among the group with high GL3 levels, 15 women had a alpha-GaL A genetics analysis. No point mutations were discovered among the women with high GL3 levels. No correlation was observed between serum GL3 levels and alpha-GaL A activity; the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.01352 (p = 0.9478). No significant correlation was observed between increased GL3 levels and the frequency of cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fabry disease is very rare disease in patients with end-stage renal disease. Serum GL3 measurements as a screening method for Fabry disease showed a high false-positive rate. Thus, serum GL3 levels determined by tandem mass spectrometry may not be useful as a screening method for Fabry disease in patients with end stage renal disease.

A Case of Acute Theophylline Intoxication Treated with Hemoperfusion / 대한신장학회잡지

Theophylline has been used for more than 50 years to treat bronchial asthma, and theophylline toxicity continues to be an encountered clinical problem. With suicidal intention, a 61-year-old depressive male patient was sent to the hospital after ingestion of overdose theophylline. He had been followed up for bronchial asthma with about 10 microgram/ mL average plasma theophylline level. On arrival, he complained of dyspnea, palpitation and the plasma theophylline level was 252 microgram/mL. After 2 hours of ingestion, hypotension and tachycardia developed (Systolic blood pressure 50 mmHg, heart rate 190/ min). Other symptoms and signs were stuporous mental state and hypoxemia. Patient's peak plasma theophylline level reached 402 microgram/mL after 3 hours. beta-blocker, dopamine and midazolam were used for control of tachycardia, hypotension and prevention of seizure respectively. After Gastric lavage and administration of charchoal, he was treated with hemoperfusion for 3.5 hours, and serum level decreased. The patient was discharged in good health after 17 days.

Impact of Insulin Resistance on Glycemic Control in Diabetic End Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes develops because of defects in both insulin secretion and action. The half-life of insulin in uremia is prolonged because the metabolic clearance rate of insulin in diabetic end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is reduced with consequence that the dose of insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) administered in normal renal function make them increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Therefore, we should usually reduce the dose of insulin and/or OHA, or stop administration of insulin and/or OHA if type 2 diabetic patients are progressed to ESRD. But in some patients, that is not true. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that insulin resistance plays an important role in (re)evaluation of optimal insulin and/or OHA dose for glycemic control after type 2 diabetic patients are progressed to ESRD. METHODS: Insulin resistance was examined in 23 type 2 diabetic ESRD patients with tight control of glycemia using the K index of the insulin tolerance test (Kitt). We divided 23 patients into three groups. Group 1 (n=10) was defined as patients who were administered neither insulin nor OHA after ESRD. Group 2 (n=9) was defined as patients who were changed from insulin to OHA as drug for glycemic control after ESRD. Group 3 (n=4) was defined as patients in whom insulin or OHA was continuously administered after ESRD without a change of them for glycemic control. We compared the degree of insulin resistance among these three groups. RESULTS: Insulin resistance determined by Kitt was significantly different between group 1 (Kitt, 2.1422/0.94-4.01%/min), group 2 (Kitt, 1.3811/0.79- 3.90%/min) and group 3 (Kitt, 0.8550/0.44-1.81%/min) by using Kruskal-Wallis test (p=0.048). Kitt in group 3 was significantly lower than in group 1 by using Mann-Whitney test (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Although metabolic clearance of insulin is reduced by renal failure, demand of insulin/ OHA for optimal glycemic control is not reduced in higher insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic ESRD patients on hemodialysis. Insulin resistance plays an important role in determination of optimal insulin/ OHA dose for glycemic control after type 2 diabetic patients are progressed to ESRD.