Myoglobinuria: the importance of reaching a firm diagnosis--a patient with defective fatty acid oxidation

A 52 year old man presented with myoglobinuria-induced acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Despite renal biopsy, the cause of the myoglobinuria was not established until he re-presented a year later with a milder episode. At this stage investigations, including a muscle biopsy, demonstrated a defect in fatty acid oxidation amenable to dietary and lifestyle advice. This report emphasizes the importance of reaching a definitive diagnosis in myoglobinuria.     

切开减压联合血浆置换治疗挤压伤

目的探讨切开减压联合血浆置换治疗伴有肌红蛋白尿挤压伤的疗效.方法伴有肌红蛋白尿挤压伤的病人为研究对象,共68例,随机分成A、B两组.A组36例行切开减压术后联合血浆置换.B组32例行传统方法治疗.比较两组的尿素氮、肌酐、急性肾功能衰竭发生率、伤口感染率及死亡率.结果A组有4例发生急性肾功能衰竭,为11.1%,无1例死亡.B组有10例出现急性肾衰,为31.396(P＜0.05),4例死亡,为12.5%.A组尿素氮、肌酐平均值低于B组(P＜0.05).A、B两组的感染率分别为19.4%(7例)和3.1%(1例).结论与传统方法相比,切开减压联合血浆置换治疗伴有肌红蛋白尿的挤压伤病人能够降低急性肾功能衰竭发生率及死亡率,在急性肾功能衰竭的预防和治疗中起着重要的作用.     

Acute renal failure with myoglobinuria after tiger snake bite.

This report concerns a cause of snake bite by a tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) in which the predominant pathological feature was acute massive rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria, hypocalcaemia and acute renal failure.     

Acute renal failure in association with cosmetic suction lipectomy

A case of severe non-oliguric acute renal failure following cosmetic suction lipectomy in a 33 year old woman is described. The renal failure, although requiring emergency treatment, resolved spontaneously with only negligible residual impairment of renal function. An aetiology involving rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria is proposed and other mechanisms are discussed.     

Acute renal failure after envenomation by the common brown snake

A non-fatal case of acute renal failure after envenomation by a common brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is described. The renal failure required dialysis but resolved rapidly. There were no signs of neurotoxic envenomation or myoglobinuria. A mild disturbance of coagulation was noted with severe thrombocytopenia. This is the first documented case of renal failure (acute tubular necrosis) after envenomation by the common brown snake to present with this clinical picture. It is also the first clinical evidence that an Australian snake venom may contain a direct nephrotoxic component.     

Peripheral venopuncture as temporary vascular access in rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure related to frog leaps: case report

Rhabdomyolysis, or acute muscle destruction, may be accompanied by myoglobinemia, myoglobinuria, and an elevated serum creatine kinase level. The disorder has many potential causes, the most common one in otherwise healthy people being severe exercise. Rhabdomyolysis has many complications, but the most important one is acute renal failure. We describe a man with rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure occurring after frog leaps. During 3 dialytic sessions, we practiced direct puncture of peripheral veins of the antecubital fossa as temporary vascular access for this patient. His renal function improved, after which he was discharged with a smooth clinical course.     

Tularemia and rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis as a complication of tularemia occurred in four patients in Tennessee over a four-year period. All patients were severely ill and had renal failure. Tularemia was not suspected initially in any of these patients. One patient died of complications of rhabdomyolysis. At autopsy, multiple abscesses were present within skeletal muscle, suggesting that rhabdomyolysis resulted from direct muscle involvement with Francisella tularensis. Tularemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with an acute febrile illness and rhabdomyolysis. Conversely, in patients with acute tularemia, the possibility of rhabdomyolysis should be entertained early, especially in those with evidence of myoglobinuria and/or impaired renal function.     

Rhabdomyolysis in a recreational swimmer

Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical and biochemical syndrome resulting from skeletal muscle injury, which may ultimately lead to acute renal failure (ARF) and death. Exertional rhabdomyolysis refers to skeletal muscle injury that is usually induced by strenuous eccentric exercises in a hot and humid environment. It is usually seen in marathoners and military personnel. We present the case of a 32-year-old Malaysian man who had rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria without ARF after two episodes of unaccustomed swimming. He was treated conservatively, and recovered uneventfully. A brief discussion on the pathophysiology of rhabdomyolysis, the principles of management and recuperation is included.     

Peliosis of the spleen: possible association with chronic renal failure and erythropoietin therapy.

Splenic peliosis was identified at necropsy in a 62-year-old woman receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal failure, and erythropoietin therapy for uraemia and anaemia. The immediate cause of death was arrhythmia related to ischaemic heart disease, following an episode of intramuscular haematoma (secondary to platelet dysfunction). The unusual association between peliosis and renal failure, and possibly erythropoietin therapy, is discussed.     

Reversible diminished insulin requirement during acute renal failure.

Very little is known concerning insulin requirements in diabetic patients who develop acute renal failure, although decrease in daily insulin requirement in patients with chronic renal failure is recognized. A 46-year-old diabetic patient is described, whose daily insulin requirement decreased from 56 to 8 units per day during an episode of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis causing acute reversible renal failure. The insulin requirement returned to its previous level after the patient recovered.     

Salmonella infection-associated acute rhabdomyolysis. Some pathogenic considerations

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by extended myolysis, elevation of serum aminotransferases and creatine kinase, and myoglobinuria. It is a rare but well-established complication of a spectrum of infectious diseases. Salmonella infections have been connected with this syndrome as well. We present here the case of a 58-year-old female affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a type of hereditary neuropathy, who presented with acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis syndrome in the course of Salmonella infantis gastroenteritis. We formed some considerations on the pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis in this specific setting based on certain experimental works on the Salmonella pathogenic cycle. We concluded that the calcium-dependent mechanism coupled with a predisposing factor might be of major significance in the development of this complication.     

Acute renal failure due to non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis

Seventeen patients with acute renal failure of diverse aetiology showed myoglobinuria and elevated levels of serum creatine phosphokinase (mean 119·2 Sigma u./ml) and adolase (mean 88·5 Sibley-Lehninger (SL)u./ml), indicating the presence of diffuse muscle cell injury. The primary conditions which led to rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure were burns, eclampsia, prolonged labour, crush injury, epileptiform convulsions, status asthmaticus, viral myositis and intoxication with chemicals including copper sulphate, mercuric chloride and zinc phosphide. In 10 non-myoglobinuric patients with acute renal failure, serum creatine phosphokinase was normal (mean 8·9 Sigma u./ml) and serum aldolase was only slightly elevated (mean 11·2 SL u./ml). Although uric acid was elevated in both groups, the values were significantly higher in myoglobinuric (mean 0·728 ± 0·199 mmol/l) compared to non-myoglobinuric patients (mean 0·583 ± 0·093 mmol/l). During the oliguric phase, hypocalcaemia was observed in 82·2% of myoglobinuric patients and in 20% of non-myoglobinuric patients. Ten out of 15 patients with myoglobinuric renal failure developed hypercalcaemia during the diuretic phase whereas only 3 non-myoglobinuric patients showed a transient hypercalcaemia. Although the mean serum potassium was somewhat higher in the myoglobinuric patients, the difference between the 2 groups was not significant. It is concluded that acute renal failure associated with non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis is not infrequent and may occur in a variety of conditions where gross evidence of muscle injury is lacking.     

An Initial Experience of Continuous Peritoneal Dialysis in Children in the Armed Forces

Background

Continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) is a modality of renal replacement therapy in children with renal failure. A retrospective study analysis of CPD data over four years at our center was carried out.

Methods

Ten children with renal failure on CPD were included. Depending on the supply, peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids of two different brands were used in the same patients over time. The patient months of CPD were divided into two groups based on the brand of PD fluid used. The rates of complications with the two different fluid brands were compared.

Results

The mean age of our patients was 8.8 ± 2.51 years (range 4 – 13), with a total of 141 patient months of CPD. The mean follow up period was 13.6 months (range 1- 48). The commonest underlying renal pathology was focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 30%, followed by cresentric glomerulonephritis in 20%. Peritonitis rate was 0.48 episodes per patient year. Patients in Group I had one episode of peritonitis per 53.5 patient months and Group II had one episode per 7.25 patient months (p= 0.021, relative risk of 7.3). Patients in Group I had one episode of hypertensive encephalopathy per 107 patient months and Group II had one episode per 4.8 patient months (p= 0.001, relative risk of 21.9). On analyzing the outcome, four patients were eventually transplanted, three continued on CPD awaiting a renal transplant, two died and one recovered spontaneously.

Conclusion

CPD is an effective bridge to renal transplant in children with end stage renal disease. The risk of developing peritonitis and hypertensive encephalopathy varied with the brand of fluid used over time in the same set of patients.Key Words: Continuous peritoneal dialysis, Peritonitis     

Lingual haematoma: yet another unusual cause of upper airway obstruction

An episode of acute upper airway obstruction was caused by a lingual haematoma, when a patient with end stage renal failure suffered a hypocalcaemic fit and bit his tongue. The large haematoma and profuse bleeding caused the patient to obstruct and become hypoxic, and rendered laryngoscopy and intubation impossible, requiring an urgent tracheostomy to secure the airway.     

心肾联合移植1例

目的 总结心肾联合移植治疗终末期扩张性心肌病合并肾功能衰竭的经验和教训。方法 患者男性,53岁。入院诊断：①扩张性心肌病,心功能IV级。②肾功能不全。③糖尿病。供体男性,28岁,脑外伤后脑死亡患者。ABO血型配合,淋巴细胞毒试验阴性。2000年6月26日在全麻中低温体外循环下行标准法原位心脏移植术,术中出现肾功能的衰竭;心脏移植术后6h行肾移植术。结果 术后心肾功能恢复良好,彩色多谱勒超声动态检查：供肾血流灌注良好;供心FS 39～58%,EF55-73%。术后72h发生心脏急性排斥反应,以ATG 200mg/d、甲基强地松龙1.0g/d冲击治疗2d后好转。术后15d再次发生供心供肾急性排斥反应,导致心脏肾脏破裂,急性心包填塞。经心包引流术和肾周血肿清除引流术并ATG 200mg/d、甲基强地松龙1.0g/d冲击治疗后好转。术后25d出现肺部感染,30d呼吸衰竭,治疗无效于术后38d死于绿脓杆菌性脓毒血症。结论 心肾联合移植是挽救终末期心脏病合并肾功能衰竭病人生命的有效方法。解决好供心和供肾的治疗矛盾以及抗排斥和感染的矛盾是手术成功和延长存活的关键。     

Acute lindane poisoning with development of muscle necrosis.

A 35-year-old man ingested food contaminated with lindane, an insecticide containing almost pure gamma hexachlorocyclohexane. Grand mal seizures and severe acidemia developed rapidly. The seizures recurred for nearly 2 hours, then ceased. In addition, the patient had muscle weakness and pain, headaches, episodic hypertension, myoglobinuria, acute renal failure and anemia. Pancreatitis developed 13 days after the ingestion of lindane. A muscle biopsy on the 15th day of illness demonstrated widespread necrosis and regeneration of muscle fibres. The patient's condition improved and he was discharged 24 days after the onset of his illness. During the year following the poisoning the patient noted difficulty with recent memory, loss of libido and easy fatigability. One year after lindane ingestion the results of physical examination, including those for muscle power and bulk, were normal.     

Retrospective study of 10 cases of transplant renal artery stenosis]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and cause of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) and explore its diagnosis and management. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted in 10 TRAS cases confirmed by selective artery angiography between 2000 and 2001. RESULTS: Seven patients had a history of acute rejection episode, balloon angioplasty was per-formed in 9 patients, and stent implantation in 1 patient. Revascularization resulted in a decrease in arterial pressure and renal function improvement in all but 1 case. Restenosis occurred in 2 of the 9 patients receiving balloon angioplasty, but after stent implantation, their renal function was improved. Serious graft failure occurred in 1 case, resulting eventually in renal graft loss. CONCLUSIONS: TRAS is related to episodes of acute rejection. Doppler ultrasonography is useful in screening of TRAS, the definite diagnosis of which relies on artery angiography, and angioplasty constitutes an effective therapeutic modality.     

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CRPD)--an initial Indian experience

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is a widely accepted mode of renal replacement therapy. CAPD is largely underutilised in India. Twenty patients of chronic renal failure (CRF) were started on CAPD-10 on the standard straight set, 10 on the Y-set. The efficacy of CAPD was evaluated by assessment of laboratory parameters at the onset and after three months of CAPD. Significant improvements in blood, urea, serum creatinine, serum bicarbonate, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, haemoglobin level and blood pressure were observed. There was a significant deterioration in the serum lipid and protein levels on CAPD. Peritonitis was a major complication observed. On the standard set the incidence of peritonitis was one episode per 5.92 patient months compared to one episode per 19.33 patient months with the Y-set (P value = 0.05). Peritonitis occurred more frequently in the summer months. At the end of one year, 70% patients continued on CAPD, with 3 deaths, one each due to malnutrition, myocardial infarction and tunnel infection. Three patients switched over to other replacement therapies. To conclude, CAPD can emerge as a safe, viable mode of renal replacement in developing countries like India.     

移植肾动脉狭窄10例临床分析

目的探讨移植肾动脉狭窄的发病情况、相关因素、诊断与治疗方法。方法对10例同种异体肾移植术后出现血压升高及肾功能损害、经彩色多普勒超声筛查并经动脉造影证实为移植肾动脉狭窄患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析结果移植肾动脉狭窄的发病率为2.1%,其中7例有急性排斥反应病史。行球囊扩张术9例、支架置入术1例,除1例治疗无效外,其余患者术后高血压均有改善,血肌酐下降。单纯行球囊扩张术的9例病人中,2例出现再狭窄,行支架置入术后肾功能改善。结论移植肾动脉狭窄与术后急性排斥反应相关;彩色多普勒超声可用于筛查,移植肾动脉造影是诊断的金标准,介入治疗为有效治疗方法。     

Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis associated with lovastatin-gemfibrozil combination therapy

The Food and Drug Administration documents the receipt of 12 case reports of severe myopathy or rhabdomyolysis associated with concomitant use of lovastatin and gemfibrozil, including 10 voluntary postmarketing, and 2 required, reports. All patients had serum creatine kinase levels of more than 10,000 U/L, 4 tested showed myoglobinuria, and 5 had acute renal failure. The patients' symptoms resolved when both drugs were discontinued. For the first year of marketing of lovastatin, spontaneous reports of myopathy with documentation of creatine kinase level were reviewed for the use of lovastatin, gemfibrozil, and combination therapy. The median creatine kinase level in reports involving concomitant lovastatin and gemfibrozil use was 15,250 U/L, 20 times that in reports with gemfibrozil use alone and 30 times that in reports with lovastatin use alone. Because of the potential for severe myopathy and life-threatening rhabdomyolysis, and given alternative drug combinations for treating hyperlipoproteinemia, the use of lovastatin in combination with gemfibrozil is to be discouraged.