Andrew P. Lundin

Tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

Tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and occurred with an incidence 10 times that of the general population. Dialysis-associated tuberculosis is characterized by intermittent fever, anorexia, weight loss and hepatomegaly. Ascites was present in 50 per cent of the patients. A recently converted positive tuberculin skin test was observed in five of eight patients. Tuberculosis was extrapulmonary in seven of eight cases and consequently the diagnosis was frequently delayed. Over-all mortality was 37.5 per cent and correlated with the duration of symptoms prior to initiation of therapy. A trial of antituberculous therapy is warranted in patients undergoing dialysis in whom fever of unknown origin, anorexia, weight loss and/or hepatomegaly develop particularly in areas endemic for tuberculosis.

β-thromboglobulin levels in the nephrotic syndrome

Beta-thromboglobulin (BTG), a platelet-specific protein released on platelet aggregation, was measured in 13 patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of the nephrotic syndrome. All 13 patients had increased concentrations of BTG compared to both 10 normal controls and to 12 non-nephrotic azotemic patients (p < 0.001). In five patients with the nephrotic syndrome in remission, the BTG levels returned to normal. These results support the contention that the nephrotic syndrome is associated with a state of hypercoagulability and suggest that increased platelet aggregation may be the primary underlying mechanism.

Aggressive ophthalmological management in diabetic end-stage renal disease: a study of 31 consecutively referred patients.

We prospectively followed the course of eye disease in patients with diabetic end-stage nephropathy from the time of initial referral by the renal unit. A total of 31 patients (62 eyes)--9 of whom had functioning renal transplants and 22 of whom were on maintenance dialysis--were consecutively evaluated for 6-24 months (mean follow-up of 18 months). Visual acuity and diabetic retinopathy stabilized or improved in all 18 eyes of the transplant patients and in 41 of 44 (93%) eyes of the dialysis patients. When first evaluated, economically useful vision (20/200 or better) was present in 11 of 18 (61%) eyes in the transplant group and in 25 of 44 (57%) eyes in the dialysis group. At the most recent evaluation, economically useful vision was present in 13 of 18 eyes (72%) in the transplant group versus 28 of 44 eyes (64%) in the dialysis group. Ambulatory vision (counting fingers or better) was present in 15 of 18 eyes (83%) in the transplant group versus 37 of 44 eyes (84%) in the dialysis group.

Effect of hemodialysis on plasma beta thromboglobulin levels.

BTG levels are significantly elevated in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The increased levels are not due to turbulent flow within the vascular access, but may be due to platelet aggregation within the hemodialyzer during the first hour of dialysis. This effect is observed with the Travenol CF series hollow fiber (cuprophane) but not the Cordis-dow artificial kidney (regenerated cellulose).

Persistence of Dialysis Osteomalacia Despite Treatment with 24R,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol

Five patients with symptomatic osteomalacia undergoing chronic hemodialysis took 24R,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, 10 micrograms/day, for periods of 6-20 months. Four patients took calcitriol simultaneously in doses consistent with normocalcemia, but the 5th was unable to do so because of recurrent hypercalcemia. In the group as a whole, despite achievement of physiologic plasma concentrations of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, we could demonstrate no metabolic or histologic benefit of therapy. Substantial osteomalacia persisted in all posttreatment biopsy specimens, appearing more severe in some cases and less severe in others. At the doses prescribed, the results of treatment of dialysis osteomalacia with 24R,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol were clinically unsatisfactory.