Endogenous Erythropoietin and Hepatic Dysfunction in Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Renal Replacement Therapy.

Backgrounds/Objectives: Elevated erythropoietin (EPO) is observed in human acute kidney injury (AKI). Whether blood EPO level is associated with mortality or other organ dysfunction in critically ill patients is unknown. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study of 162 AKI patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) was conducted in our intensive care unit (ICU) during October 2013 through October 2016. We evaluated the relation with plasma EPO at RRT initiation and 90-day mortality, hemoglobin, urine output, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score until day 7 or discharge from the ICU. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that EPO was significantly associated with 90-day mortality with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.13 (95% CI 1.11-5.78). Hemoglobin levels, RRT dependence, and daily urine output on days 1 through 7 did not differ between the high EPO group (≥56.2 mIU/mL) and low EPO groups (< 56.2 mIU/mL). As for organ dysfunction, hyperbilirubinemia patients (≥2.0 mg/dL; hepatic SOFA ≥2) were more frequent in the high EPO group (62.1 vs. 37.9%; p < 0.05), while other SOFA scores did not differ between both groups. Exacerbation of hepatic dysfunction was observed more frequently in the high EPO than the low EPO group (49.3 vs. 27.2%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Elevated EPO was not associated with anemia or RRT dependence. However, higher rates of mortality and hepatic dysfunction were observed in high EPO patients than in low EPO patients.

Left pleural effusion caused by pancreaticopleural fistula with a pancreatic pseudocyst.

Pancreaticopleural fistula is an uncommon complication of chronic pancreatitis. The authors described a case of a man with medical history of alcohol-related chronic pancreatitis, presented with dyspnoea. The roentgenogram showed a massive left pleural effusion. Additional work-up revealed a pancreaticopleural fistula and amylase-rich pleural effusion. His respiratory state improved after the insertion of chest drainage tube. During his admission, conservative and endoscopic therapy was required for the treatment of his complication of mediastinal abscess and arterial aneurysm in the pancreatic pseudocyst.

Primary Effusion Lymphoma in an Elderly HIV-Negative Patient with Hemodialysis: Importance of Evaluation for Pleural Effusion in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis.

Pleural effusion is a ubiquitous complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Common etiologies of pleural effusion in this patient group are heart failure, volume overload, parapneumonic effusion, tuberculotic pleuritis, and uremic pleuritis. Although thoracentesis is a useful diagnostic method of pleural effusion, empirical reduction of the dry weight is often attempted without thoracentesis because pleural effusion is commonly caused by volume overload and responds to the dry-weight reduction. However, this empiricism has a risk of overlooking or delaying the diagnosis of potentially fatal etiologies that need specific treatments. We report an 86-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative male on HD with primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma presenting with characteristic lymphomatous effusions in the absence of solid tumor masses, which is in association with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) infection in immunocompromised individuals. The patient presented with left-sided pleural effusion. This is the first case report of PEL developing in a patient receiving HD. Thoracentesis and cytological analysis of the effusion was key to the diagnosis. We also review the literature regarding pleural effusion in HD patients. Further, we examine Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus/HHV8-negative effusion-based lymphoma, a newly proposed distinct lymphoma that clinically and cytomorphologically resembles PEL, because it can be cured without chemotherapy. This report may arouse clinicians' attention regarding the importance of evaluation for pleural effusion in HD patients, especially when the effusion or symptoms associated with pleural effusion are refractory to volume control.

Renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraception and smoking: a case report from Japan, with literature review.

Renal vein thrombosis, one of the common thrombotic complications of nephrotic syndrome or renal cell carcinoma, is reportedly a rare complication of hormonal contraception. Solitary renal vein thrombosis in the Japanese population is thought to be very rare because the incidence of venous thromboembolism is comparatively very low in Asian populations. We report a 38-year-old Japanese female with left renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraception and concurrent smoking as the first Japanese case of solitary renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraceptives, with a review of the literature. Seven cases were previously reported. The results revealed that all patients complained of acute onset of pain around the involved kidney without urinary symptoms or fever, and were effectively treated with anticoagulants. Other remarkable facts include that nausea and vomiting were frequently seen, and that the renal outcome was benign, despite various initial urine abnormalities. This report may alert clinicians to the importance of these risk factors as an etiology of renal vein thrombosis even in Asian populations. Clinicians should regard renal vein thrombosis as one of the differential diagnoses for acute flank pain in patients using oral contraceptives. A detailed history taking that reveals oral contraception, smoking, and other thrombophilic predispositions as well as timely computed tomographic scans would be the keys to diagnosis. Smoking cessation should be strongly recommended to oral contraceptive users, especially women over 35 years of age, regardless of dosage.