To maintain homeostasis of the cardiovascular system, the heart and kidney act bidirectionally. Therefore, acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ can cause dysfunction in the other. This phenomenon is characterized as cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). Concurrent dysfunction of the heart and kidney adversely affects one another and eventually worsens patient outcomes through a vicious cycle. Although a CRS classification system has been proposed, the underlying pathophysiology is multifactorial and clinical access continues to be difficult. Although several therapies, including agents that target the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, have been utilized, there is not enough evidence to demonstrate their effectiveness for CRS. Thus, more effort should be made to optimize the diagnosis and treatment strategies for CRS patients. This review will introduce CRS as it is currently understood, discuss the pathophysiology, and examine management strategies.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Cardio-Renal Syndrome ; Cardiovascular System ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Renin-Angiotensin System

Disseminated neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a severe disease with a high mortality rate. Here, we report the patient presented with fulminant hepatic failure secondary to HSV infection followed by renal failure without any mucocutaneous symptoms. The patient recovered after treatment with acyclovir and peritoneal dialysis. This is the first known case of a patient in Korea who survived disseminated HSV infection with fulminant liver failure followed by renal failure without undergoing liver transplantation.
Acyclovir ; Hepatitis ; Herpes Simplex ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Liver Transplantation ; Mortality ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Simplexvirus

BACKGROUND: Although some strategies are used for prophylaxis of contrast induced nephropathy, their efficacy is not fully established. Sarpogrelate can relieve vasospasm and have anti-inflammatory action. This study examined whether sarpogrelate reduces the incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) or subsequent renal impairment during four weeks after coronary angiography compared with a control group. METHODS: Seventy-four participants with chronic renal failure were randomly assigned to the sarpogrelate or control group. Patients assigned to the sarpogrelate group received oral saporogelate from 24 hours before contrast exposure up to one month after contrast exposure. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of CIN within 48 hours after exposure to the contrast agent. RESULTS: Thirty-one subjects in the control group and 35 subjects in the sarpogrelate group were used for the analysis. Cumulative CIN occurred numerically more at 48 hours in the sarpogrelate group and less at one month without statistical significance (11.4% vs. 6.5% at 48 hours and 11.4% vs. 16.1% at one month, respectively). Baseline renal function was similar in both groups, but the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was lower in the sarpogrelate group at 12 and 48 hours compared with the control group (45.6 vs. 54.7 mL/min/1.73m²; P = 0.023 and 39.9 vs. 50.6 mL/min/1.73m²; P = 0.020, respectively). At one month, the eGFR became comparable between the two groups because the eGFR was aggravated in the control group and maintained in the sarpogrelate group. CONCLUSION: This study failed to demonstrate that sarpogrelate has a renoprotective effect against contrast induced acute kidney injury. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01165567
Acute Kidney Injury ; Coronary Angiography ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Insufficiency ; Serotonin

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is often encountered in children with acute kidney injury. Besides the well-known shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated HUS, atypical HUS (aHUS) caused by genetic complement dysregulation has been studied recently. aHUS is a rare, chronic, and devastating disorder that progressively damages systemic organs, resulting in stroke, end-stage renal disease, and death. The traditional treatment for aHUS is mainly plasmapheresis or plasma infusion; however, many children with aHUS will progress to chronic kidney disease despite plasma therapy. Eculizumab is a newly developed biologic that blocks the terminal complement pathway and has been successfully used in the treatment of aHUS. Currently, several guidelines for aHUS, including the Korean guideline, recommend eculizumab as the first-line therapy in children with aHUS. Moreover, life-long eculizumab therapy is generally recommended. Further studies on discontinuation of eculizumab are needed.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ; Child ; Complement System Proteins ; Escherichia ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Plasma ; Plasmapheresis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Stroke

In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), pleural effusion may be attributed to various factors, including infection, hypoalbuminemia, and renal failure. However, leukemic infiltration of the pleural fluid is rarely reported and poorly understood. Extramedullary diseases have been reported with increasing frequency as the survival rates of patients with AML have increased. However, the reported prognostic effects of leukemic pleural effusion in patients with AML range from none to a worse prognosis. Here, we report a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in a patient exhibiting leukemic pleural effusion with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results indicating the presence of the PML-RARA fusion gene. A 52-year-old man presented with pancytopenia, dyspnea, and fever. He had a medical history of hypertension, end-stage renal disease, and hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis. A peripheral blood smear revealed the presence of multiple abnormally hypergranular promyelocytes. White blood cell differential counts were not performed due to severe pancytopenia. A bone marrow examination, immunophenotyping analysis, and cytogenetic and molecular studies revealed APL. The patient was treated with all-trans retinoic acid immediately after abnormal promyelocytes were observed in the peripheral blood smear, but induction chemotherapy was delayed because of his poor condition. His persistent dyspnea and abdominal discomfort led to a thoracentesis and the observation of abnormal promyelocytes that were positive for PML-RARA fusion gene by FISH. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leukemic pleural infiltration with PML-RARA fusion gene-positivity via FISH.
Bone Marrow Examination ; Cytogenetics ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Fluorescence ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; Leukemic Infiltration ; Leukocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; Pleural Effusion ; Prognosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Survival Rate ; Thoracentesis ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is associated with adverse renal outcomes, but obvious evidence for this association is lacking. We investigated the association between PPI use and adverse renal outcomes in patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Of the 1,284 patients hospitalized for percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2007 and May 2012, 934 patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were enrolled. Multivariable Cox models were used to examine whether PPI use was associated with acute and chronic adverse renal outcomes. RESULTS: In adjusted time-dependent Cox models, PPI use was associated with acute kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.05–2.02), especially in patients aged 65 years or younger (HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.09 3.96) or in patients with diabetes (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.23–3.25). In multivariable Cox models, the association between duration of PPI use and chronic kidney disease development was not statistically significant (HR of heavy users, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.61–3.67), but a longer duration of PPI use was associated with mild renal progression in patients younger than 65 years (HR of heavy users, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.09–4.60). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PPI use increases the risk of AKI development, and that PPI use is more significantly associated with acute and chronic renal injuries in younger patients.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps* ; Protons* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors

Patient blood management (PBM) is an evidence-based, patient-focused approach to optimize the management of patient and blood transfusion. While PBM is relatively well established in perioperative care, it is not as well established in the medical field. Since anemia in medical patients is heterogeneous and complex in its pathogenesis, the evidence for the threshold of hemoglobin for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is not strong. While anemia seems to be an adverse risk factor for mortality, it is uncertain if rapid correction of anemia through RBC transfusion can reverse the negative impact of anemia on clinical outcomes. The introduction of ESA is a breakthrough in reducing RBC transfusion and managing anemic patients with renal disease and cancer. Despite promising results from early trials, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning for ESAs in 2007 because of concerns about higher mortality, serious cardiovascular and thromboembolic events, and tumor progression. Therefore, the individualized approach to each patient with anemia is recommended in various medical conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and malignancies.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Anemia ; Blood Transfusion ; Drug Labeling ; Erythrocytes ; Erythropoietin ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Iron ; Mortality ; Perioperative Care ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is rarely caused by radiocontrast media (RCM). The role of skin tests for the diagnosis and evaluation of cross-reactivity in a delayed type of RCM-induced hypersensitivity have yet to be determined. Here, we report a case of iodixanol-induced AGEP where we safely administered alternative RCM using patch tests. A 44-year-old woman had coronary artery angiography (CAG) for the evaluation of ischemic heart disease. She was on regular hemodialysis because of end-stage renal disease. She was given iodixanol (Visipaque) during CAG. Approximately 1 day after CAG, she developed AGEP. The patient was rehospitalized for CAG again after 1 year. We performed skin tests to choose safe alternative RCM. Intradermal tests with iodixanol, iohexol (Bonorex) and Iopamidol (Pamiray) showed negative responses. Patch tests showed a positive response to iodixanol, equivocal to iohexol, and negative to Iopamidol. We finally chose Iopamidol and performed CAG successfully without any adverse reaction. Patch tests may be a useful tool for the diagnosis and choice of safe alternatives in RCM-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions such as AGEP.
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis* ; Adult ; Angiography ; Contrast Media* ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Intradermal Tests ; Iohexol ; Iopamidol ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Patch Tests* ; Renal Dialysis ; Skin Tests

Chronic silica nephropathy has been associated with tubulointerstitial disease, immune-mediated multisystem disease, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. On the other hand, acute intentional exposure is extremely rare. The authors' experienced a 44-year-old man who took rapid cement hardener (sodium silicate) in a suicide attempt whilst in a drunken state. He visited the emergency department approximately 1 hour after ingestion. Information on the material was obtained after 3 L gastric lavage. The patient complained of a sore throat, epigastric pain, and swollen to blood tinged vomitus. Proton pump inhibitors, hemostats, steroid, and fluids were administered. Nine hours after ingestion, he was administered 200 mL hematochezia. Immediately after, a gastroenterologist performed an endoscopic procedure that revealed diffuse hyperemic mucosa with a color change and variable sized ulceration in the esophagus, whole stomach, and duodenal 2(nd) portion. Approximately 35 hours later, persistent oligouria and progressive worsening of the renal function parameters (BUN/Cr from 12.2/1.2 to 67.5/6.6 mg/dL) occurred requiring hemodialysis. The patient underwent 8 sessions of hemodialysis for 1 month and the BUN/Cr level increased to 143.2/11.2 mg/dL and decreased to 7.6/1.5 mg/dL. He was discharged safely from the hospital. Follow up endoscopy revealed a severe esophageal stricture and he underwent endoscopic bougie dilatation. Acute cement hardener (sodium silicate) intoxication can cause renal failure and strong caustic mucosal injury. Therefore, it is important to consider early hemodialysis and treatment to prevent gastrointestinal injury and remote esophageal stricture.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Caustics ; Dilatation ; Drug Overdose ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Lavage ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mucous Membrane ; Pharyngitis ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Silicates ; Silicon Dioxide ; Stomach ; Suicide ; Tolnaftate ; Ulcer

Newborn infants with huge and highly vascular sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) are frequently subjected to renal hypoperfusion secondary to high-output cardiac failure. Any underlying renal dysfunction is a significant risk factor for the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, reports on CIN in infants are rare. I report here a case of a premature infant born at 28 weeks and 3 days of gestation with a huge SCT who survived preoperative embolization and surgical resection but presented with persistent non-oliguric renal failure that was suggestive of CIN. During radiological intervention, a contrast medium had been administered at about 10 times the manufacturer-recommended dose for pediatric patients. Despite hemodynamic stabilization and normalization of urine output immediately following surgery, the patient's serum creatinine and cystatin-C levels did not return to baseline until 4 months after birth. No signs of reflux nephropathy were observed in follow-up imaging studies. Dosing guidelines for the use of a contrast medium in radiological interventions should be provided for infants or young patients.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Creatinine ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Renal Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Teratoma*