Disseminated Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and massive protein-losing enteropathy. (1/22)

Symptomatic involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a prominent symptom in Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is uncommon, occurring in less than 1 to 5% of all cases, even when the disease is in its disseminated form. Up to now, there have been reports of 18 cases of LCH with GI manifestations, including our 2 cases, with diarrhea (77.7%), protein-losing enteropathy (33.3%) and bloody stool being the most frequent findings. The authors present two patients with severe diarrhea and refractory hypoalbuminemia, and with the protein-losing enteropathy documented by Cr51-labeled albumin studies. A review of the literature indicated that the presence of GI symptoms is often associated with systemic disease as well as with poor prognosis, mainly under 2 years of age. Radioisotopes are useful for documenting protein loss in several diseases with high specificity and sensitivity, and their utilization in the cases reviewed here permitted diagnoses in 6 children, as well as improved therapeutic management.  (+info)

Functional expression of a pseudohypoaldosteronism type I mutated epithelial Na+ channel lacking the pore-forming region of its alpha subunit. (2/22)

The autosomal recessive form of type I pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA-I) is an inherited salt-losing syndrome resulting from diminution-of-function mutations in the 3 subunits of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). A PHA-I stop mutation (alpha(R508stop)) of the ENaC alpha subunit is predicted to lack the second transmembrane domain and the intracellular COOH-terminus, regions of the protein involved in pore function. Nonetheless, we observed a measurable Na+ current in Xenopus laevis oocytes that coexpress the beta and gamma subunits with the truncated alpha subunit. The mutant alpha was coassembled with beta and gamma subunits and was present at the cell surface at a lower density, consistent with the lower Na+ current seen in oocytes with the truncated alpha subunit. The single-channel Na+ conductance for the mutant channel was only slightly decreased, and the appearance of the macroscopic currents was delayed by 48 hours with respect to wild-type. Our data suggest novel roles for the alpha subunit in the assembly and targeting of an active channel to the cell surface, and suggest that channel pores consisting of only the beta and gamma subunits can provide significant residual activity. This activity may be sufficient to explain the absence of a severe pulmonary phenotype in patients with PHA-I.  (+info)

Prerenal azotemia in a diabetic patient with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and autonomic neuropathy. (3/22)

Patients with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism show mild to moderate renal insufficiency, with a creatinine clearance of 20-75 ml/min, and asymptomatic hyperkalemia. A low degree of sodium wasting and mild hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis are also usually present. However, severe sodium wasting and volume depletion are not typically seen unless the patient is placed on severe sodium restriction or has some other cause of extrarenal sodium loss. In fact, acute renal failure has not been reported in such patients. We describe a diabetic patient with hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism and autonomic neuropathy who developed recurrent episodes of acute renal failure due to prerenal azotemia during acute exacerbations of diarrhoea. In our case, despite significant hypovolemia, the renin-aldosterone axis was markedly suppressed, implying that sympathetic tone played a decisive role in renin regulation.  (+info)

Isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency presenting with impaired renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and suppressed parathyroid hormone-vitamin D axis. (4/22)

We report here a 47-year-old woman with isolated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) deficiency (IAD). She presented impaired renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (R-A-A) system and suppressed parathyroid hormone (PTH)-vitamin D system. She showed severe hyponatremia due to secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, which was deteriorated by hypoaldosteronism. She also showed hyperphosphatemia and relative hypercalcemia with suppressed PTH-vitamin D axis. Moreover, she showed hypothyroidism, which was thought to be important to maintain normal Ca levels under secondary hypoadrenalism via decrease in bone resorption by T3. Replacement with glucocorticoid completely normalized PTH-vitamin D axis and R-A-A system. Thus, the present case implicates that severe adrenocortical deficiency due to IAD might affect both R-A-A system and PTH-vitamin D axis. These findings suggest that the ACTH-cortisol axis has an important role in mineral metabolism in vivo.  (+info)

Pseudo-hypo aldosteronism Type II. (5/22)

A 50-day-old infant diagnosed as meningitis had persistently elevated serum potassium, low serum bicarbonate and normal serum sodium. She had metabolic acidosis with low TTKG, low serum renin and low normal serum aldosterone with no renal failure or extra renal causes of hyperkalemia. Hence a diagnosis of Type II pseudo-hypoaldosteronism was made. She was started on oral thiazide following which her serum electrolytes normalized.  (+info)

Treating proteinuria in a diabetic patient despite hyperkalaemia due to hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism. (6/22)

Diabetes mellitus is a common cause of hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism that might result in significant hyperkalaemia. We describe a patient with diabetic nephropathy and proteinuria who developed a remarkable hyperkalaemia on treatment with an angiotensin-receptor blocker. The management of hyperkalaemia and the pathophysiological background of hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism are discussed.  (+info)

Successful treatment of chyluria, glomerular and tubular abnormalities in a young lady with silver nitrate instillation. (7/22)

A 21- year-old lady presented with chyluria, severe malnutrition, secondary amenorrhea, profound hypoalbuminemia, heavy proteinuria and renal tubular abnormalities suggestive of Type IV renal tubular acidosis. No particular cause for chyluria could be ascertained. She was successfully treated with an injection of 2% silver nitrate into the left ureter and urinary bladder. She continues to be well after 15 years of follow-up.  (+info)

Pseudohypoaldosteronism: case report and discussion of the syndrome. (8/22)

A 41-year-old man, complaining of leg cramps, was found to have persistent hyperkalemia. Except for mild hypertension, his physical examination and laboratory values to exclude connective tissue diseases and diabetes mellitus were normal. Renal function testing revealed a normal glomerular filtration rate and tubular capacity to acidify and dilute, as well as near-normal ability to concentrate his urine. Hormonal evaluation revealed a normal cortisol, as well as normal resting and stimulated renin and aldosterone levels. A selective defect in tubular potassium secretion was demonstrated. In the absence of aldosterone deficiency or renal dysfunction, it was assumed that the patient had primary renal resistance to aldosterone, known as pseudohypoaldosteronism. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide controlled his hyperkalemia and hypertension. His case emphasizes the diagnostic and therapeutic factors that should be considered in evaluating and treating a non-hospitalized patient with sustained hyperkalemia.  (+info)

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