Effects of blast injury on kidneys in abdominal gunshot wounds.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the rate of renal fragmentation resulting from blast effects and perform microscopic examination of renal arteries after gunshot wounds resulting from a high-velocity bullet. METHODS: A total of 194 patients with gunshot wounds due to blast effects underwent surgical exploration. Of the 194 patients, 35 (18%) had 37 renal unit injuries (2 patients had bilateral renal injury). Of the 37 renal units, 32 were treated with nephrectomy and 5 with renoraphy. During surgical exploration, 7 patients were found to have renal fragmentation resulting from blast effects. The distance between the bullet direction in the body and the renal parenchyma was evaluated. Also, the histologic changes in the renal artery were examined microscopically. RESULTS: Although the renal injury rate from abdominal gunshot wounds due to high-velocity bullets was 18%, the renal fragmentation rate due to blast effect was 0.36%. The mean distance between the bullet direction in the body and the renal parenchyma in patients with renal fragmentation was 2.2 cm (range 1 to 5). Two patients had intimal lacerations and one had minimal thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Renal fragmentation from the blast effect in these patients was closely related to the distance between the bullet direction in the body and the renal parenchyma. The possibility was greater for close-range (less than 50 m) gunshots. We believe that the histologic changes in the renal artery are not very important in the patients.

The role of lipoid proteinosis in gingival hypertrophy.

Hyalinosis cutis et mucosae (lipoid proteinosis, Urbach-Wiethe disease) is a rare syndrome with autosomal recessive inheritance. The disease is characterized by diffuse deposition of a hyalinelike substance in the dermis, submucosal connective tissue, and various internal organs. In this study, the patient demonstrated classic signs and symptoms of lipoid proteinosis except for gingival infiltration. Gingival infiltration is still an unexplainable feature of this disease. In the context of this case, the diagnostic significance of the microscopic findings of the gingival tissues and the possible factors playing a role in gingival hypertrophy, are discussed.

Membranous glomerulonephritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and persistent low C3 levels associated with meningococcal disease.

A young male patient with a recent history of meningococcemia was referred to our hospital in his recovery period. He had signs suggesting deep venous thrombosis in the legs but no other abnormalities on physical examination at admission. Laboratory results showed proteinuria (3.1 g/day), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (56.3 s), low level of C3c (0.19 g/l), high titers of both IgM (27.04 MPLU/ml) and IgG (74.88 GPLU/ml) anticardiolipin antibodies and recanalized thrombotic changes in the deep veins of the lower extremities on venography. Histopathological diagnosis of the kidney disease was membranous glomerulonephritis. He was started on an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor to reduce proteinuria and an oral anticoagulant to prevent thromboembolic events. Since no reduction in proteinuria was observed at the 10th month of therapy, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was discontinued. On his last follow-up, approximately 1.5 years after meningococcemia, he had no complaints and no abnormal findings on physical examination. While both IgM and IgG anticardiolipin antibody titers returned to the normal range, he still had persistent proteinuria and hypocomplementemia.

Acute pyelonephritis causing acute renal allograft dysfunction.

In renal transplant recipients, acute pyelonephritis may cause acute deterioration of renal function. We report a case with acute allograft failure due to acute pyelonephritis, which was confirmed by graft biopsy. After appropriate antimicrobial therapy, allograft function recovered.