IgA Nephropathy in a Patient Presenting with Pseudotumor Cerebri.

IgA nephropathy is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide and typically has minimal signs for chronicity in histopathology at the time of initial presentation. Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is characterized by increased intracranial pressure in the absence of any intracranial lesions, inflammation, or obstruction. PTC has been reported in renal transplant and dialysis patients, but we are unaware of any reports of pseudotumor cerebri in patients with IgA nephropathy. We report a case of a young female who presented with signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri and was subsequently diagnosed with IgA nephropathy and end-stage renal disease. To our knowledge this is the first report of IgA nephropathy presenting as end-stage renal disease in a patient who presented with pseudotumor cerebri.

Review of Hyperkalemia in End Stage Renal Disease.

Potassium balance is maintained in the body by balancing the intake with the excretion and the transcellular shifts of potassium. Excretion of potassium is mainly renal as the contribution of the colon to the net potassium secretion of the colon to the net potassium secretion is trivial in patients with normal renal function. As the majority of potassium excretion is renal, it is not surprising to note that patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are at an increased risk of developing hyperkalemia in ESRD patients has been estimated to be 3-5%. Maintenance of a stable serum potassium level in patients with ESRD is crucial. We will review the various measures for the management and prevention of hyperkalemia in ESRD patients such as dietary restrictions, dialysis and drugs enhancing extra renal elimination of potassium.

Frequency and characteristic features of portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with viral cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and specific characteristic features of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) in cirrhosis due to viral etiology. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from June 2006 till June 2008. METHODOLOGY: Patients with hepatitis B and C cirrhosis were included who underwent screening esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for varices. Baveno III consensus statement was used for diagnosing PHG on endoscopy and divided them into two subgroups i.e. mild and severe. Data related to platelet/spleen ratio, MELD score and Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) score indicating severity of cirrhosis were recorded in all patients. Findings were compared by using independent sample t-test. RESULTS: Out of 360 patients who underwent screening EGD, 226 (62.8%) were males. Two hundred and eighty one (78%) had hepatitis C while 79 (22%) suffered from hepatitis B related cirrhosis. Three hundred patients (83.3%) had PHG while 71 (24%) had severe PHG. Higher proportion of esophageal varices (89.7%) was present among those who had PHG (p < 0.001). On univariate analysis lower platelet counts (117±55 vs. 167±90; p < 0.001), increased spleen size (14.1±2.9 cm vs. 12±2.4cm; p < 0.001) were found in PHG patients as compared to those without it. Similarly, lower platelet/spleen ratio was noted in patients with severe PHG (916±400 vs. 1477±899; p < 0.001). Furthermore, on multivariate analysis CTP score > 8 MELD score > 12 and platelets/spleen ratio < 900 were significantly associated factors with severe PHG. CONCLUSION: Frequency of PHG was 83% while severe PHG was seen in 24% cases of viral hepatic cirrhosis. MELD score > 12, CTP score ³ 8 and platelets/spleen ratio < 900 were significant factors of severe PHG.

Precipitating factors and the outcome of hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine precipitants of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and their impact on hospital stay and mortality. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional, analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, from January 2005 to December 2007. METHODOLOGY: Consecutive patients admitted with different grades of HE were evaluated between January 2005 and December 2007. The precipitants of HE were correlated with the different grades of HE, and length of hospital stay and mortality. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportion of precipitating factors versus hospital stay and grade with significance at p<0.05. RESULTS: Of the 404 patients 252 (62%) were males. Hepatitis C virus was the cause of cirrhosis in 283 (70%); Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) class C was present in 317 (78%) patients. On presentation, 17% patients had grade 1 HE while 44%, 29% and 10% had grades 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The most common precipitant of HE was spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in 83 (20.5%), constipation in 74 (18.3%) and urinary tract infection in 62 (15.3%). One hundred and forty (35%) patients had (3) 2 precipitating factors while no precipitant was noted in 50 (12%) patients. Mean hospital stay was 4+/-3 days. The lesser the number of precipitants, shorter was the length of stay (p<0.01) and lesser was the grade of HE (p=0.025). Complete reversal of HE was noted in 366 patients (91%) while the remaining had grade 1 HE on discharge. Nine (2.2%) patients died during the hospital stay. No mortality was noted in patients without precipitants. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with (3) 2 precipitating factors and advanced grade of HE had a prolonged hospital stay. Moreover, patients without precipitants had better outcomes.

Cost saving by reloading the multiband ligator in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation: a proposal for developing countries.

AIM: To assess the cost savings of reloading the multiband ligator in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) used on the same patient for subsequent sessions. METHODS: This single centre retrospective descriptive study analysed patients undergoing variceal ligation at a tertiary care centre between 1st January, 2003 and 30th June, 2006. The multiband ligator was reloaded with six hemorrhoidal bands using hemorrhoidal ligator for the second and subsequent sessions. Analysis of cost saving was done for the number of follow-up sessions for the variceal eradication. RESULTS: A total of 261 patients underwent at least one session of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation between January 2003 and June 2006. Out of 261, 108 patients (males 67) agreed to follow the eradication program and underwent repeated sessions. A total of 304 sessions was performed with 2.81 sessions per patient on average. Thirty-two patients could not complete the program. In 76 patients (70%), variceal obliteration was achieved. The ratio of the costs for the session with reloaded ligator versus a session with a new ligator was 1:2.37. Among the patients who completed esophageal varices eradication, cost saving with reloaded ligator was 58%. CONCLUSION: EVL using reloaded multiband ligators for the follow-up sessions on patients undergoing variceal eradication is a cost saving procedure. Reloading the ligator thus is recommended especially for developing countries where most of the patients are not health insured.

Brain abscess in children.

OBJECTIVES: Brain abscess is a serious life-threatening complication of several diseases. The objective of this study was to look at the clinical profile of patients, predisposing conditions, microbiology and outcome of children suffering from brain abscess. METHODS: Thirty children aged less than 15 years were reviewed. There were 15 males and 15 females. The mean age of presentation was 5.6+/-4.4 years. RESULTS: The duration of illness at the time of admission was 17.6+/-24.6 days. Typically patients presented with fever, vomiting, headache and seizures. The predisposing conditions found were cyanotic congenital heart disease in 11 (37%) of children, meningitis in 6 (20%), septicemia in 7 (23%) and no underlying cause was found in 5 (17%) children. The most common microbe in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease was of the Streptococcus milleri group (52%). Computerized tomography confirmed the diagnosis and the most common location of the abscess was the parietal lobe of the cerebral hemisphere. All abscesses were large, more than 2 cm in diameter and were aspirated surgically. Excision was performed in 6 children. Five children expired, one due to a intracranial bleeding and the others due to severe cerebral edema and tentorial herniation. Complications were seen in 20 children and 16 had sequelae, hemiparesis in 11 and seizure disorder in 5. CONCLUSION: Brain abscess is a serious infection with poor outcome if diagnosed late. Delayed surgical drainage has high morbidity and mortality. The threshold for diagnosis should be low, particularly in children with a predisposing condition like cyanotic congenital heart disease.