A Case of Severe Acute Kidney Injury by Near-Drowning

Acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to near-drowning is rarely described and poorly understood. Only few cases of severe isolated AKI resulting from near-drowning exist in the literature. We report a case of near-drowning who developed to isolated AKI due to acute tubular necrosis (ATN) requiring dialysis. A 21-yr-old man who recovered from near-drowning in freshwater 3 days earlier was admitted to our hospital with anuria and elevated level of serum creatinine. He needed five sessions of hemodialysis and then renal function recovered spontaneously. Renal biopsy confirmed ATN. We review the existing literature on near-drowning-induced AKI and discuss the possible pathogenesis.

Can Cilostazol Improve the Patency Rate of Native Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients? / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Vascular access failure is the most common reason for hospitalization among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Cilostazol, which has antiplatelet action and vasodialtory effects, significantly reduces the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in many patients. We conducted this study to evaluate the relationship between the use of antiplatelet agents, especially cilostazol, and arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patency in HD patients. METHODS: A total of 241 patients underwent native AVF creation from January 2001 to December 2008. Among these patients, we selected 86 patients excluding 38 patients (15.8%) with primary technical failure, 49 patients without complete data and 68 patients used cilostazol less than 1 month. Demographic characteristics, medication history and fistula failure rate were collected and analyzed to elucidate the effect of cilostazol to native AVF. RESULTS: From all groups, AVF failure occurred in 24 patients (27.9%). 28 patients received cilostazol (62.3 %) and mean duration of cilostazol therapy was 229.5+/-115.7 days. All patients were classified into two groups according to cilostazol (Cilostazol [n=28, 32.6%] vs. non-Cilostazol [n=58, 67.4%]. There was no statisticallly significant difference in failure rate between the two groups (32.1% vs. 25.9%, p=0.543). In diabetes group, patients who received statin have much lower AVF failure rate (0% vs. 32.4%, p=0.024). Logistic regression analysis showed that female was independent risk factor for access failure (HR 5.549, CI 1.104-27.877, p=0.037). CONCLUSION: Cilostazol and other antiplatelet agent had a no significant association with AVF patency. Female was an independent risk factor for access failure.

Factors determining renal function in Korean patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in Koreans have been predominantly cross-sectional and insufficient to elucidate factors determining renal function. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients who were diagnosed with ADPKD in our hospital from 1995 to 2005. We surveyed the basal characteristics, symptoms, signs, blood and urine laboratory findings, radiologic extrarenal abnormalities, and kidney length through ultrasonography, and these measures were analyzed to identify their relationship to decreased renal function. RESULTS: The clinical characteristics, such as symptoms and signs, were similar to those reported previously. Following t-tests and simple regression analyses, the statistically significant variables related to renal function deterioration were as follows: hypertension (with decreased renal function, 2.5 mL/min/1.73 m2/year more rapidly than the no-hypertension group, p=0.006), hypercholesterolemia (p=0.007), hypernatremia (p=0.011), mean kidney length (beta=0.378, p=0.029), and albumin (beta=-2.067, p=0.003). The multiple regression analysis revealed that the significant factors were hypertension (beta=0.261, p=0.016), mean kidney length (beta =0.211, p=0.047), and hypernatremia (beta=0.244, p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The independent risk factors for deteriorating renal function in Korean patients with ADPKD were hypertension, hypernatremia, and mean kidney length.

Primary Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma of the Bladder

Primary malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder is a rare disease, and it accounts for only 0.2% of all the cases of extranodal lymphoma. The prognosis of primary bladder lymphoma has been favorable, with many patients being alive and well several years after treatment. We report here on a case of primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the urinary bladder in a 75-year-old man patient who presented with a one-month history of persistent dysuria. The abdominal CT revealed a mass at the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. The tissue obtained by transurethral cystoscopy showed an atypical lymphoid proliferation, which was consistent with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The patient received systemic chemotherapy of rituximab and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) and he achieved a significant partial remission.

A Case of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia in a Patient with Behcet's Disease

Behcet's disease is a relapsing inflammatory disorder characterized by vasculitis of unknown cause and has been reported rarely in association with malignant diseases. In most cases the autoimmune nature of Behcet's disease and the long-term immunosuppressive therapy for disease control have been proposed to be responsible for malignant transformation. Although a few cases of various solid tumor and myelodysplastic syndrome have been reported in association with Behcet's disease, acute leukemia has seldom been associated with Beh?et's disease in Korea. We report a case of 38-year-old man with acute myeloblastic leukemia association with a Behcet's disease who had not received long-term treatment.

Post-operative Bleeding due to Acquired Hemophilia Successfully Treated with Recombinant Factor VIIa: Case Report

Acquired hemophilia is a rare but potentially life-threatening hemorrhagic disorder caused by the development of autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII. Concentrates of human factor VIII, desmopressin, activated prothrombin complex concentrates, recombinant activated factor VII can all be used to control episodes of acute bleeding. The recent availability of bypassing agents like recombinant activated factor VII has been shown to be clinically safe and effective as treatment for acute bleeding. In this case report, a 67 year-old male patient with Rh negative blood type developed gross hematuria and bleeding after transurethral resection due to prostatic hypertrophy. After vesicocutaneous fistular reduction operation, post-operative bleeding was presented. The acute bleeding was controlled successfully by the combined treatment with recombinant activated factor VII (Novo seven(R)) and prednisone.

Endoscopic Treatment of Dieulafoy Lesions and Risk Factors for Rebleeding

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dieulafoy lesions are an important cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of endoscopic treatment for these lesions and to identify the possible predictive factors for rebleeding associated with clinical and endoscopic characteristics. METHODS: Records from 44 patients admitted with Dieulafoy bleeding between January 2006 and December 2007 were reviewed. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and endoscopic findings and then correlated the rebleeding risk factors with Dieulafoy lesions. RESULTS: Primary hemostasis was achieved by endoscopic treatment in 39 patients (88.6%). There were no significant differences between the rebleeding and non-rebleeding groups with respect to age, gender, initial hemoglobin levels, presence of shock, concurrent disease, location of bleeding, or initial hemostatic treatment methods. However, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anticoagulants (p=0.02) and active stages in the Forrest classification (p<0.01) were risk factors for rebleeding after endoscopic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic therapy is effective and safe for treating Dieulafoy lesions, and it has both short- and long-term benefits. Early identification of risk factors such as the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or anticoagulants and the Forrest classification of bleeding predict the outcome of Dieulafoy lesions.