Acute leg pain and weakness in pregnancy: A new diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy.

We present a unique case of a 44-year-old woman who presented at 29 weeks' gestation with proximal limb pain and elevated creatine kinase. This occurred in the background of premature cataracts, atrial fibrillation and abnormal liver function. Clinical, pathological and neurodiagnostic findings supported a diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy, confirmed by genetic testing which revealed dystrophia myotonica protein kinase gene expansion. Muscle biopsy found both recent necrotising and chronic myopathic processes. Following delivery, the mother's myalgia resolved and creatine kinase quickly declined. The fetus was diagnosed with congenital myotonic dystrophy. We review the impact of myotonic dystrophy on pregnancy and discuss potential explanations for this patient's clinical course. This case emphasises the importance of considering myotonic dystrophy as a differential diagnosis in the right clinical context and the need for pre-pregnancy assessment and genetic counselling in women with known myotonic dystrophy.

Complete recovery from COVID-19 of a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient: potential benefit from everolimus?

We present a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient who achieved complete recovery from COVID-19. A 45-year-old patient with T3 paraplegia underwent kidney-pancreas transplantation 18 years ago, followed by a subsequent kidney transplant 9 years ago, and presented with fever, hypoxia and hypotension after exposure to two confirmed cases of COVID-19. History of solid organ transplant, pre-existing renal impairment, asthma and an elevated D-dimer were identified as established risk factors for severe COVID-19. Supportive management was provided, baseline immunosuppression with everolimus was continued, and oral prednisolone was increased. A complete recovery was observed. Given the favourable outcome despite risk factors for severe COVID-19, we identify and review the potential mitigating roles of immunosuppression and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in this disease. Further investigation is required to establish whether mTOR inhibitors could be used as therapeutic agents to treat COVID-19, or as alternative immunosuppression implemented early in the COVID-19 disease course.

Long-Term Graft and Patient Outcomes Following Kidney Transplantation in End-Stage Kidney Disease Secondary to Hyperoxaluria.

BACKGROUND: End-stage kidney disease secondary to hyperoxaluria presents a major challenge for transplant physicians given concern regarding disease recurrence. Few contemporary studies have reported long-term outcomes following transplantation in this population. METHODS: This study examined the outcomes of all adult patients with end-stage kidney disease secondary to hyperoxaluria who received a kidney or combined liver-kidney transplant in Australia and New Zealand between 1965 and 2015. Patients with hyperoxaluria were propensity score matched to control patients with reflux nephropathy. The primary outcome was graft survival. Secondary outcomes included graft function, acute rejection, and patient survival. RESULTS: Nineteen transplants performed in 16 patients with hyperoxaluria were matched to 57 transplants in patients with reflux nephropathy. Graft survival was inferior in patients with hyperoxaluria receiving a kidney transplant alone (subhazard ratio [SHR] = 3.83, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-12.08, P = .02) but not in those receiving a combined liver-kidney transplant (SHR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.08-5.21, P = .67). Graft failure risk was particularly high in patients with hyperoxaluria receiving a kidney transplant alone after more than 1 year of renal replacement therapy (SHR = 8.90, 95% CI, 2.35-33.76, P = .001). Posttransplant estimated glomerular filtration rate was lower in patients with hyperoxaluria (10.97 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, 0.53-21.42, P = .04). There was no difference between groups in the risk of acute rejection or death with a functioning graft. CONCLUSION: Compared to reflux nephropathy, hyperoxaluria was associated with inferior graft survival in patients receiving a kidney transplant alone. Long-term graft function was lower in patients with hyperoxaluria, but the risks of acute rejection and death were not different.