Minoxidil is a potent direct-acting peripheral vasodilator indicated in the management of severe or refractory hypertension. Well-known adverse effects include reflex tachycardia, fluid retention and hypertrichosis. This drug has also been reported to cause pericardial effusion in about three percent of nondialyzed patients with compromised renal function and to cause cardiac tamponade less frequently. Many studies have reported that the mean duration of therapy that caused pericardial effusion was about 8 months (range 1 month-53 months). We report a case of cardiac tamponade in nondialyzed patient with chronic renal failure receiving minoxidil for 10 years. A 58-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea of NYHA III. She was a chronic renal failure patient without dialysis treatment and received kidney transplantation from cadaver donor and was dignosed chronic rejection in 1994. Minoxidil 10mg has been used for past 10 years. Lasix has been used for past 2 years, with dosage of 40mg to 240mg. On admission, blood pressure was 90/60mm Hg. Cardiomegaly was seen on chest radiograph. The two-dimensional echocardiogram showed a large amount of pericardial effusion. Emergency treatment with pericardiocentesis removed 2500ml of straw- colored pericardial fluid and resulted in marked improvement of dyspnea and stabilized blood pressure. The minoxidil was discontinued. The evidence of pericardial effusion was not seen for 12 months after minoxidil had been discontinued.
Blood Pressure ; Cadaver ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Cardiomegaly ; Dialysis ; Dyspnea ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Furosemide ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrichosis ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Minoxidil* ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Reflex ; Tachycardia ; Tissue Donors

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is known to occupy about 25+ACU- to 60+ACU- of intestinal infarction. NOMI has been reported to be responsible for 9+ACU- of the deaths in the dialysis population and the postulated causes of NOMI include intradialytic hypotension, atherosclerosis and medications, such as diuretics, digitalis and vasopressors. Clinical manifestations, such as fever, diarrhea and leukocytosis, are nonspecific, which makes early diagnosis of NOMI very difficult. Case: A 66-year-old woman on maintenance hemodialysis for 5 years was admitted with syncope, abdominal pain and chilly sensation. Since 7 days prior to admission, blood pressure on the supine position during hemodialysis had frequently fallen to 80/50 mmHg. Four days later, she complained of progressive abdominal pain. Rebound tenderness and leukocytosis (WBC 13900/mm3) with left shift were noted. Stool examination was positive for occult blood. Abdominal CT scan showed a distended gall bladder with sludge. Under the impression of acalculous cholecystitis, she was operated on. Surgical and pathologic findings of colon colon were compatible with NOMI. Because of recurrent intradialytic hypotension, we started midodrine 2.5 mg just before hemodialysis and increased the dose up to 7.5 mg. After midodrine therapy, blood pressure during dialysis became stable and the symptoms associated with hypotension did not recur. CONCLUSION: As NOMI may occur within several hours or days after an intradialytic hypotensive episode, abdominal pain should be carefully observed and NOMI should be considered as a differential diagnosis. In addition, we suggest that midodrine be considered to prevent intradialytic hypotensive episodes.
Aged ; Case Report ; Colectomy ; Colon/surgery ; Colon/blood supply ; Female ; Human ; Ischemia/therapy ; Ischemia/pathology ; Ischemia/etiology+ACo- ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy ; Mesentery/blood supply+ACo- ; Midodrine/administration +ACY- dosage ; Renal Dialysis/methods ; Renal Dialysis/adverse effects+ACo- ; Treatment Outcome ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/administration +ACY- dosage

Verapamil overdose results in cardiac arrhythmia including the complete A-V block, and hypotension due to decreased peripheral resistance and decreased myocardial contractility. However, sustained-release verapamil overdose frequently has atypical presentations, such as delayed and prolonged course of toxic signs and symptoms. Although several cases of sustained-release verapamil overdose have been reported worldwidely, the specific treatment modalities and prognostic indicators for verapamil overdose have not been well-defined. Recently, we experienced a case of sustained-release verapamil overdose in 30-year-old female. 10 hours after verapamil ingestion she presented in severe bradycardia and hypotensive shock state. Initial EKG showed the complete AV block and her systolic blood pressure was below 60 mmHg. Temporary cardiac pacemaker was performed and she was treated with activated charcoal, glucagon, amrinone, and several sympathomimetics, and 48 hours after admission, she was fully recovered.
Adult ; Amrinone ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Charcoal ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Shock ; Sympathomimetics ; Vascular Resistance ; Verapamil*

We had experienced 2 cases of acute phlegmonous gastritis confirmed by endoscopy, microbiological study and surgical pathologic findings. The first was a 61- year-old female who had been diagnosed as the communicating hydrocephalus and the other was a healthy 60-year-old female. Enterococcus fecalis & Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus fecalis & E.coli were cultured from the gastric tissue and juice obtained by endoscopy in each patient. In both patients, endoscopic findings showed numerous large ulcers and edema with necrotic material and exudate over the whole stomach. Operation findings were markedly edematous and overall ulcerative mucosa in one patient, and hyperemic outlet stricture in the other. Pathologic findings were acute necrotizing inflammation, involving the mucosa and submucosal layer, consistent with acute phlegmonous gastritis. After operation and antibiotics therapy, the patients were rapidly improved. We reported 2 cases of acute phlegmonous gastritis with the review of literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cellulitis* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Edema ; Endoscopy ; Enterococcus ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Gastritis* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Inflammation ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a rare disease in children and is characterized by conspicuous skeletal and renal changes. A 12 year old male patient presented with symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, general weakness, nausea, and vomiting which had begun 3 months earlier, and showed typical laboratory findings of primary hyperparathyroidism. Confirmatory diagnosis was made by elevated parathyroid hormone concentration in serum, technetium-thallium subtraction scan imaging method and histopathologic finding of chief cell hyperplasia. The laboratory findings revealed elevated levels of BUN, creatinine and decreased GFR. Kidney biopsy showed typical calcium deposits in tubules with marked tubulointerstitial infiltration. After subtotal parathyroidectomy, clinical findings improved remarkably.
Case Report ; Child ; Human ; Hypercalcemia/*etiology ; Hyperparathyroidism/*complications/pathology ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney/pathology ; Kidney Diseases/*etiology ; Male ; Parathyroid Glands/pathology

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in chronic renal failure patients. The benefits of anemia correction using recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) are well established but because of high cost, several studies increasing the efficacy of it were described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an anemia management protocol using subcutaneous Epo and intravenous iron therapy. METHODS: We enrolled seventy-eight maintenance hemodialysis patients for at least 3 months from January 2000 to November 2002. They received a practice of anemia correction in two other settings. One (control) group performed an irregular administration of Epo and iron, the other (protocol) group performed a regular administration according to anemia management protocol. Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Dosage of Epo and IV iron were compared. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients in control group and forty-seven patients in protocol group were enrolled. There were no significant differences between two groups in age, gender, existence of diabetic mellitus, vintage of hemodialysis, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, BUN, prealbumin, parathyroid hormone and Kt/Vurea. Mean arterial pressure, creatinine and albumin were significantly lower and hematocrit was significantly higher and well-maintained on the target level in protocol group. There were no significant differences in serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin but total iron binding capacity was significantly lower in protocol group. Doses of erythropoietin and IV iron showed no significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: The protocol based erythropoietin administration was more efficient in achieving target hematocrit without increment of dosage of erythropoietin and intravenous iron and side effect of hypertension.
Anemia ; Arterial Pressure ; Creatinine ; Erythropoietin* ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Prealbumin ; Renal Dialysis* ; Transferrin

Aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) -344C/T polymorphism has been reported to be associated with serum aldosterone level, urinary aldosterone excretion, blood pressure, and left ventricular size and mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between CYP11B2 polymorphism and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the Korean population and the association with CYP11B2 polymorphism and cardiovascular morbidity in ESRD patients on hemodialysis. Genotyping was performed in 134 control subjects and 271 ESRD patients for CYP11B2 polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction through subsequent cleavage with restriction enzyme. Also current blood pressure, demographic, anthropometric and biochemical variables were investigated. The genotype distribution did not differ between ESRD patients and controls and there were no significant differences in blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medication, left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiovascular disease among the three genotypes in ESRD patients on hemodialysis. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that CYP11B2 polymorphism may be associated with prevalence of ESRD and suggest that CYP11B2 polymorphism may not be a genetic marker for cardiovascular morbidity in Korean ESRD patients.
Aldosterone ; Aldosterone Synthase ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis

BACKGROUND: Up to now, no study have been reported about clinical features of ESRD patients at the initiation of dialysis and their outcomes in Korea. We studied the clinical features and survival predictors of ESRD patients at the initiation of dialysis therapy and their outcomes and we tried to identify the optimal point of starting dialysis therapy according to age, underlying disease, and other variables. METHODS: We studied retrospectively clinical and laboratory variables of initiation in 364 patients who started dialysis therapy first at Korea University Guro hospital from 1987 to 1997. We divided patients into 3 groups by age, into 2 groups by underlying renal disease(DM vs. nonDM) and compared the above variables between 3 or 2 groups. We evaluated the outcome(alive vs. death) in 258 patients whoes outcomes were identified. We identified the poor survival predictors of outcome according to alive / death group, and analized the relative risk of death according to level of serum creatinine (reference: 12.5-15.0 mg/dL) and serum albumin (reference: 4.0-4.5 g/dL). RESULTS: 1) The distribution of patients by age, young age group, middle age group, old age group were 135, 140 and 89. Those of patients by underlying renal disease, DM and nonDM were 80 and 284 respectively. 2) The most common underlying renal disease of young age group was chronic glomerulonephritis but that of old age group was diabetes mellitus. In old age group, levels of BUN, serum creatinine, and serum phosphate were lower than those in young age group(P<0.001). In old age group, the indication of dialysis tended toward relative(p=0.098) and early referral was more common than in young age group. 3) DM group was older and more early referred than nonDM group. In DM group, blood cholesterol level was higher, but level of BUN, serum creatinine, albumin, phosphate and uric acid were lower than those in nonDM group. 4) In 258 patients whose outcomes were identified, elderly and DM had poorer outcomes in the respect of mortality and survival by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method. In the comparison of death group and alive group, death group was older and had more DM as underlying renal disease and lower level of serum creatinine than alive group. 5) Relaive risk of death was higher in lower concentrations comparing to reference level of albumin and creatinine. CONCLUSION: Old age, DM as underlying renal disease, hypoalbuminemia and hypocreatinemia were poor survival predictors. Then close observation and follow-up are warranted in patients with old age, DM, hypoalbuminemia, and hypocreatinemia. For more favorable prognosis in ESRD patients, early initiation of dialysis must be considered in patients who have these characteristics.
Aged ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Uric Acid

PURPOSE: We checked the levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitmain D (25OHD) in the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to survey the status of vitamin D levels, to see the seasonal variations of 25OHD, and to evaluate the relationships among the levels of intact PTH, corrected calcium, and phosphorus. METHODS: We defined vitamin D insufficiency and vitamin D deficiency as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL and below 20 ng/mL, respectively. 185 patients in a single center were enlisted who categorized into 3 groups, CKD2-3, CKD4, and CKD5 by eGFR using MDRD7 equation. To see the seasonal differences of the levels of 25OHD, we collected laboratory data two times per each patient during summer division (April to September) and winter division (October to March). RESULTS: Prevalences of hypovitaminosis D were 42.8% (CKD2-3), 66.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in summer division and 48.7% (CKD2-3), 73.1% (CKD4), 92.8% (CKD5) in winter division. Seasonal difference of the levels of 25OHD was evident only in CKD stage 2-3 (p=0.018). Negative correlations were recognized between 25OHD and intact PTH (r=-0.2048, p<0.001), phosphorus (r=-0.1711, p=0.0011). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D is prevalent even in patients with early stages of CKD. The levels of 25OHD decreased significantly in winter division in patients with CKD stages 2-3. The levels of 25OHD were inversely correlated with those of intact PTH, phosphorus, respectively.
25-Hydroxyvitamin D 2 ; Calcium ; Humans ; Phosphorus ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Seasons ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency