Arthur Leonard

Subdural Hematoma in Regularly Hemodialyzed Patients

Thirteen of 394 (3.3%) regularly dialyzed patients of the Regional Kidney Disease Program developed subdural hematoma. The following factors contributed to formation of subdural hematoma: head trauma, ultrafiltration to control excessive accumulation of fluid and hypertension, anticoagulants, and frequent vascular access infection and clotting. Neurologic symptoms and signs, which may be similar to dialysis disequilibrium, aid only in signifying the presence, not the ultimate localization, of subdural hematoma. Our experience underscores the frequency of bilateral disease, irrespective of neurologic findings. Skull films, lumbar puncture, and electroencephalography were of little diagnostic help. Although valuable and safe, brain scanning was not as useful as desired due to occurrences of false-negative studies and failure to identify bilaterality of lesions. Cerebral angiography was always diagnostic. Surgical intervention yielded disappointing results, and only 2 patients (15%) survived. A review of 9 other patient reports is included.

Irreversible Acute Renal Failure in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

In five adult patients (aged 44 to 74 years) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, irreversible acute renal failure developed. Prior renal disease, associated systemic illness or occlusion of major renal vasculature was not present. All patients continued to excrete large amounts of proteins (8.6 to 15 g/24 hours) despite a minimal glomerular filtration rate and severe oliguria. One patient died after five months without recovering renal function. Four patients have required hemodialysis for a period of 12 to 58 months. The failure to recover renal function could not be explained by the light microscopic findings. It is suggested that the irreversibility of the renal failure may be related to either permanent alterations in renal blood flow or ultrastructural changes, or to both. Clinically, adult patients in whom acute renal failure develops during the course of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome seem to have a grave prognosis. Protracted oliguria or irreversible renal failure can be expected to occur.

Osteomyelitis in hemodialysis patients.

Abstract Five patients receiving regular hemodialysis developed osteomyelitis. Rib and thoracic vertebral column were the most common sites of involvement. The diagnosis was made ante mortem in fou...

Hypercalcemia in Diuretic Phase of Acute Renal Failure

Excerpt To the editor: We recently observed a 19-year-old Marine who developed acute renal failure due to heat stroke with attendant exertional rhabdomyolysis, infection, and disseminated intravasc...