A Case of Primary Aldosteronism due to Remnant Adenoma after Adrenalectomy in Pregnant Woman / 대한신장학회지

Primary aldosteronism is present in approximately 1 percent of hypertensive patients, and is rarely associated with pregnancy. We report a case of unilateral aldosterone producing adenoma in a pregnant woman. A 29-year-old woman was referred to with hypertension and proteinuria at 14 weeks' gestation. She had known that she had unilateral aldosterone producing adenoma for 18 months and refused medical or surgical treatment. She was prescribed antihypertensive medication and preformed laparoscopic adrenalectomy in left adrenal gland at 22 weeks' gestation. After adrenalectomy, her blood pressure was normal. At 29 weeks' gestation, she complained headache, and her blood pressure was 200/100 mmHg with pitting edema. We thought preeclampsia and performed cesarean section. After the baby was delivered, she had uncontrolled hypertension, hypokalemia with persistent proteinuria. We checked plasma renin activitity, aldoterone and abdminopelvic computed tomography. We found remnant left adrenal adenoma and perfomed laparoscopic operation. After reoperation, her blood pressure was normal and no proteinuria.

A Case of Lupus-Like Syndrome after Kidney Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

Systemic erythematous lupus is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that develops from drug, viral, or chemical irritants. We report a case of lupus-like syndrome after kidney transplantation with an unknown cause. A 55-year-old woman was admitted with severe myalgia, fever, and arthralgia 2 days previously. She had received a kidney transplantation 8 years ago, because an acute kidney injury had progressed to chronic kidney disease. After transplantation, she had no problems. We performed blood, urine, and sputum cultures but could found no microorganisms. We suspected a connective tissue disease, such as adult Still's disease, and performed autoantibody testing. As a result, antinuclear antibody was positive, and we diagnosed her with lupus-like syndrome due to an unknown cause. We increased the prednisolone dose and her symptoms improved.

A Case of Invasive Aspergillosis in Transplanted Kidney and Perirenal Area / 대한이식학회지

Recently, the incidence of fungal infection increases because of immunosuppressive therapy and chemotherapy. In immunosuppressed transplant recipients, Aspergillus can be a dangerous pathogen, capable of inducing fulminant clinical disease. Invasive fungal infections are life-threatening complications in solid-organ transplantation. Although the rate of fungal infections in transplant recipients is lower than that of other infections, the mortality rate is higher. A 34 year-old male was admitted to our hospital with fever and gross hematuria. He had received renal transplantation 2 years ago and had been transferred the other hospital 1 month ago. Initial laboratory data evaluation showed a pancytopenia and azotemia. We thought that pancytopenia was caused by immunosuppressive agents and infection. The patient was treated with antibiotics but fever was not subsided. After 4 days, he complained of transplant site pain and tenderness to percussion. A percutaneous renal biopsy was performed. Microscopic examination showed invasive aspergillosis in transplanted kidney and perirenal area. We removed the transplanted kidney and perirenal tissue, and prescribed antifungal agents for 3 months.

Transfusion Free Kidney Transplantation in Jehovah's Witness Patients / 대한이식학회지

Transfusion free surgery is of increasing interest as more patients are refusing a blood transfusion because of religious belief, infection or fear of a blood-transmitted disease such as AIDS. Patients of the Jehovah's Witness faith generally do not accept transfusions of blood or blood products but some will accept cadaveric organs for transplantation. Recently, it is possible to perform 'bloodless' autologous or reduced-intensity allogeneic transplants in properly selected patients. The success of these procedures depends on the transplantation technique and on meticulous attention to blood conservation and supportive care. In our center, nine Jehovah's Witness received a kidney transplantations and transfusion free surgery. All the patients received erythropoietin injection and iron supplement before kidney transplantation. They were not serious bleeding in surgery and graft dysfunction after surgery. All the recipients are alive and have well functioning grafts. Elective living donor kidney transplantation allows implementation of a transfusion free strategy. We think that various methods replaced blood transfusion reduced risk of postoperative anemia and unnecessary transfusion.

Significance of Peritoneal Albumin Excretion in New Peritoneal Dialysis Patients / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: High peritoneal transport status is known to be related with the cardiovascular risk. One of the hypotheses that explain the relationship between peritoneal permeability and atherosclerosis is chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Microalbuminuria is a well-known marker of endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that peritoneal albumin excretion, like microalbuminuria, may be related to the cardiovascular events and chronic inflammation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: We enrolled eighty-five patients who started PD. Pre-existing CVD was defined as angina, history of MI, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral arterial disease. Modified peritoneal equilibration test was performed within 2 months. At that time, peritoneal albumin excretion, serum and dialysate IL-6, CRP were measured. RESULTS: The age was 49.5+/-14 years and male-to-female ratio was 1 to 3. Diabetes mellitus and CVD were present in 40% and 28%, respectively. The dialysate-to-plasma albumin (D/Palb) was correlated with D/P4 Cr (r= 0.552, p<0.001), and was higher in HA/H group than in LA/L group (0.19+/-0.008 vs. 0.12+/-0.005, p<0.001). D/Palb was closely correlated with the dialysate IL-6 (r=0.432, p< 0.001), but not with the serum IL-6 and CRP. There were no differences in the peritoneal albumin excretion with respect to the diabetic status or pre-existing CVD. CONCLUSION: The peritoneal albumin excretion was associated with peritoneal small solute transport and dialysate IL-6 in the new PD patients. Prospective studies will follow in order to verify the role of peritoneal albumin excretion as a predictor of cardiovascular events.

Factors Related to Baseline Peritoneal Solute Transport Rate in Incident Peritoneal Dialysis Patients:Results from Modified Peritoneal Equilibration Test Using 3.86% Glucose Solution / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND:The present study was designed to determine factors related to baseline peritoneal small solute transport rate (PSTR) from incident Korean peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using modified peritoneal equilibration test (PET). METHODS:Incident PD patients whose duration of PD is between 4 weeks and 6 months were enrolled from four major university hospitals in Seoul. Modified PET with 3.86% glucose solution and adequacy test were performed. RESULT: 1) Our PET result from incident Korean PD patients showed results similar to that from the Caucacian patients. 2) The patients were divided into four groups based on the PSTR:serum albumin at time of PET, dip dialysate/plasma sodium, dialysate/plasma albumin ratio and peritoneal albumin excretion were significantly different among the four transport types (p<0.05). 3) D/PAlb was significantly higher in the high transport group than in the low transport. Serum albumin concentration before the onset of PD was not different among the four groups but was significantly different at the time of PET. 4) There was no difference of D/PCr4 between the diabetic (0.72+/-0.10) and the non-diabetic (0.72+/-0.11) groups. 5) PSTR in incidental PD patients was correlated with D/PAlb and dip D/P(Na). CONCLUSION:Our PET results from incidental Korean PD patients turned out to be showed results similar to those from Caucacian patients. There were no differences in age, BSA, BMI, nutrition index, CRP, residual renal function among four transport types in incidental PD patients. PSTR in incidental PD patients was correlated with D/PAlb and dip D/P(Na).

A Case of Primary Aldosteronism with End Stage Renal Disease

A 52-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to chronic renal failure with a 10-year history of hypertension. We found polycystic kidney disease, pulmonary tuberculosis and an aldosterone-producing adrenocortical mass. At this time, her serum potassium level and blood pressure were within the normal range. She refused hemodialysis and then was hospitalized because of uremic encephalopathy. On admission, her serum potassium level was normal without treatment and plasma aldosterone concentration highly elevated. She received hemodialysis, and thereafter hypokalemia developed. We then administered spironolactone, whereupon serum potassium level returned to the normal range. In this case, we thought that normokalemia was balanced hypokalemia of primary aldosteronism with hyperkalemia of chronic renal failure, and that hypokalemia developed after hemodialysis was due to an imbalanced primary aldosteronism with end stage renal disease.

An Outbreak of Acute Febrile Reaction Developed after the Administration of Teicoplanin

An outbreak of acute febrile reaction which developed after the administration of teicoplanin was identified in seven patients. Fever, with hypotension in some, developed during or soon after infusion and persisted for several hours. Laboratory abnormalities including leukocytosis and elevation of liver enzymes and creatine phosphokinase in serum were observed for two or three days. Contamination of the drug with endotoxins was identified.

An Outbreak of Acute Febrile Reaction Developed after the Administration of Teicoplanin

An outbreak of acute febrile reaction which developed after the administration of teicoplanin was identified in seven patients. Fever, with hypotension in some, developed during or soon after infusion and persisted for several hours. Laboratory abnormalities including leukocytosis and elevation of liver enzymes and creatine phosphokinase in serum were observed for two or three days. Contamination of the drug with endotoxins was identified.

Clinical Analysis Of Iga Nephropathy In Patients Over 50 Years Of Age / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy is recognized as a disease affecting primarily young men under 30 years of age but it is relatively uncommon over 50 years of age. Findings on clinical and histological presentation and outcome of over 50 years of age have rarely published in Korea. METHODS: Between Febrary 1994 and July 2003, one hundred and thirty nine IgAN patients were recruited over 8 years. Nineteen patients over age 50 were compared to one hundred and twenty patients under age 50 clinical, histological findings, 5-Yr renal survival rate. Mean post-biopsy follow-up month was 23.8 +/- 23.5 months. RESULTS: Both group of patients were similar to baseline for gross hematuria, Male and female ratio. But older patients had a higher incidence of daily for 24 hour urine protein (p=0.010), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.010, p<0.01), serum C3 (p=0.001) and serum C4 (p=0.003). Albumin (p=0.011), creatinine clearance (p<0.01) were significantly lower in the older patients at the time of renal biopsy. Histologic grade IV was more common in the older patients (p=0.001). Moderate to severe mesangial proliferation (p=0.001) and crescent formation (p=0.043), arteriolosclerosis (p=0.006) were more common in older patients. Mesangial small deposition of IgA (p=0.007) and glomerular peripheral deposition of IgG, IgA, C1q (p=0.024, p=0.014, p=0.009) were more common in older patients than in under 50 years of age. Mesangial small electron dense deposits were more common in older patients than in younger patients (p=0.031). CRF (Ccr < 60 mL/min) was confirmed 55.6% over age 50 and 27.4% under age 50 (p=0.017). Renal replacement therapy was done 15.8% over age 50 and 4.3% under age 50 (p=0.048). 5-Year renal survival curves showed that kidney survival rate was 44.4% over age 50 and 72.6% under age 50 (p=0.0248). CONCLUSION: Poor prognostic factors were more common over age 50 than under age 50. CRF and renal replacement therapy were more common over age 50. Analysis of renal survival curves shows that the probability of developing ESRF increase after age 50. But, prolonged prospective follow-up is necessary to confirm this trend.

A clinical consideration about clinical manifestations of the Bromate poisoning / 대한내과학회지

Bromate which is an oxidant exists as a form of potassium bromate (KBrO3) and sodium bromate (NaBrO3) and has been primarily used as a permanent neutralizer in a household. In 1985, that has been reported for clinical course of bromate poisoing. After 1985, many variable clinical manifestation of the bromate poisoning were reported in Korea. In 2003, three patients of the bromate poisoing admited in Sanggye Paik hospital,Inje university school of medicine, Korea. In this work, the bromate poisoning was investigated based on 3 cases experienced previously 8 cases reported in Korea and compared with the case report of foreign country.

A Case Report of Acute Encephalopathy by Aluminum Intoxication with Subdural Hematoma in End Stage Renal Failure / 대한신장학회잡지

Despite of the improved water purification system, the decreased use of aluminum based phosphate binding gels and periodic determination of serum aluminum levels, aluminum accumulation cannot be eliminated. We experienced a case of acute encephalopathy in aluminum intoxication with subdural hematoma presenting myoclonic jerk and mental change in a end stage renal failure. She was treated succesfully with low dose DFO treatment for 3 month.