Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior

Acute renal failure after massive honeybee stings

Two clinical cases of patients who survived after numerous attacks of Africanized bees (600 and 1500 bee stings, respectively) are reported. Clinical manifestation was characterized by diffuse and widespread edema, a burning sensation in the skin, headache, weakness, dizziness, generalized paresthesia, somnolence and hypotension. Acute renal failure developed and was attributed to hypotension, intravascular hemolysis, myoglobinuria due to rhabdomyolysis and probably to direct toxic effect of the massive quantity of injected venom. They were treated with antihistaminic, corticosteroids and fluid infusion. One of them had severe acute renal failure and dialysis was required. No clinical complication was observed during hospital stay and complete renal function recovery was observed in both patients. In conclusion, acute renal failure after bee stings is probably due to pigment nephropathy associated with hypovolemia. Early recognition of this syndrome is crucial to the successful management of these patients.

Renal tuberculosis in the modern era.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease remains as an important public health problem in developing countries. Extrapulmonary TB became more common with the advent of infection with human immunodeficiency virus and by the increase in the number of organ transplantation, which also leads to immunosuppression of thousand of persons. Urogenital TB represents 27% of extrapulmonary cases. Renal involvement in TB can be part of a disseminated infection or a localized genitourinary disease. Renal involvement by TB infection is underdiagnosed in most health care centers. Most patients with renal TB have sterile pyuria, which can be accompanied by microscopic hematuria. The diagnosis of urinary tract TB is based on the finding of pyuria in the absence of common bacterial infection. The first choice drugs include isoniazide, rifampicin, pirazinamide, ethambutol, and streptomycin. Awareness of renal TB is urgently needed by physicians for suspecting this disease in patients with unexplained urinary tract abnormalities, mainly in those with any immunosuppression and those coming from TB-endemic areas.

Risk factors for death among critically ill patients with acute renal failure

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Acute renal failure is a common medical problem, with a high mortality rate. The aim of this work was to investigate the risk factors for death among critically ill patients with acute renal failure. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective cohort at the intensive care unit of Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Fortaleza. METHODS Survivors and non-survivors were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to establish risk factors for death. RESULTS Acute renal failure occurred in 128 patients (33.5%), with mean age of 49 +/- 20 years (79 males; 62%). Death occurred in 80 (62.5%). The risk factors most frequently associated with death were hypotension, sepsis, nephrotoxic drug use, respiratory insufficiency, liver failure, hypovolemia, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction, need for vasoactive drugs, need for mechanical ventilation, oliguria, hypoalbuminemia, metabolic acidosis and anemia. There were negative correlations between death and: prothrombin time, hematocrit, hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, arterial pH, arterial bicarbonate and urine volume. From multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for death were: need for mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.15; p = 0.03), hypotension (OR = 3.48; p = 0.02), liver failure (OR = 5.37; p = 0.02), low arterial bicarbonate (OR = 0.85; p = 0.005), oliguria (OR = 3.36; p = 0.009), vasopressor use (OR = 4.83; p = 0.004) and sepsis (OR = 6.14; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS There are significant risk factors for death among patients with acute renal failure in intensive care units, which need to be identified at an early stage for early treatment.

Urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

OBJECTIVES Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Brazil and appears to occur in epidemic form in the state of Ceará. Few epidemiologic studies have been done on VL in this state. The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiologic pattern of VL in Fortaleza City and to show how urbanization has occurred in recent years. METHODS Data were obtained from the State Health Department of Fortaleza, Ceará, and included all cases of VL registered in Fortaleza from January 2001 to December 2006. RESULTS There were a marked increase and an elevated incidence of cases of VL in urban areas. Children and young people were the most affected group. CONCLUSION The epidemic occurrence of VL in the region must convince authorities to adopt more adequate policies of disease control.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after strenuous exercise and alcohol abuse: case report and literature review

CONTEXT Rhabdomyolysis is a severe and life-threatening condition in which skeletal muscle is damaged. Acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis has been widely described and its main pathophysiological mechanisms are renal vasoconstriction, intraluminal cast formation and direct myoglobin toxicity. OBJECTIVE To report on a case of acute renal failure (ARF) induced by rhabdomyolysis due to strenuous exercise and alcohol abuse and to describe the pathophysiology of this type of ARF. CASE REPORT A 39-year-old man arrived at the hospital emergency service with swollen legs and lower extremity compartment syndrome. He was oliguric and had serum creatinine and urea levels of 8.1 mg/dl and 195 mg/dl, respectively. The diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made through clinical and laboratory findings (creatine kinase activity of 26320 IU/l). The initial treatment consisted of fluid replacement and forced diuresis. The specific treatment for compartment syndrome, such as fasciotomy, was avoided in order to prevent infection. Partial recovery of renal function was recorded, after ten hemodialysis sessions. Complete recovery was observed after two months of follow-up.

High-intensity aerobic training improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to compare the effect of physical exercise program on the endothelial function of patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Patients were randomized for high intensity aerobic training (HI: 80% maximum heart rate, n=10), low intensity aerobic training (LI: 55% of maximum heart rate, n=10) and control (n=11). Before and after 6 weeks of training, subjects performed the maximal exercise test and a study of the endothelial function, through a high resolution ultrasound of the brachial artery, which was assessed after reactive hyperemia (endothelium dependent vasodilation) and nitrate administration (endothelium independent vasodilation). RESULTS A total of 31 patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied, with mean age of 58±6 years, The percentage diameter difference of the vessel after hyperemia was significantly higher for the high intensity group (HI before 2.52±2.85% and after 31.81±12.21%; LI before 3.23±3.52% and after 20.61±7.76%; controls before 3.56±2.33% and after 2.43±2.14%; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS High intensity aerobic training improved the functional capability and endothelium dependent vasodilator response, but it does not improve the endothelium independent vasodilation in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Nefrotoxicidade por lítio

Lithium is widely used in the therapy of bipolar disorder. Its toxicity includes urinary concentration deficit and natriuresis, renal tubular acidosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis which complicates with chronic kidney disease and hypercalcemia. The most common adverse effect is diabetes insipidus, which occurs in 20-40% of patients some weeks after initiation of treatment. Such chronic nephropathy correlates with duration of lithium use. Early detection of renal dysfunction should be achieved by rigorous monitoring of patients and collaboration between the psychiatrist and nephrologist. Recent experimental and clinical studies are now clarifying the mechanisms by which lithium induces renal abnormalities. The aim of this work is to review the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, histopathologic aspects and treatment of lithium nephrotoxicity.

Osteoarticular involvement in sickle cell disease

The osteoarticular involvement in sickle cell disease has been poorly studied and it is mainly characterized by osteonecrosis, osteomyelitis and arthritis. The most frequent complications and those that require hospital care in sickle cell disease patients are painful vaso-occlusive crises and osteomyelitis. The deoxygenation and polymerization of hemoglobin S, which results in sickling and vascular occlusion, occur more often in tissues with low blood flow, such as in the bones. Bone microcirculation is a common place for erythrocyte sickling, which leads to thrombosis, infarct and necrosis. The pathogenesis of microvascular occlusion, the key event in painful crises, is complex and involves activation of leukocytes, platelets and endothelial cells, as well as hemoglobin S-containing red blood cells. Osteonecrosis is a frequent complication in sickle cell disease, with a painful and debilitating pattern. It is generally insidious and progressive, affecting mainly the hips (femur head) and shoulders (humeral head). Dactylitis, also known as hand-foot syndrome, is an acute vaso-occlusive complication characterized by pain and edema in both hands and feet, frequently with increased local temperature and erythema. Osteomyelitis is the most common form of joint infection in sickle cell disease. The occurrence of connective tissue diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, has rarely been reported in patients with sickle cell disease. The treatment of these complications is mainly symptomatic, and more detailed studies are required to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the complications and propose more adequate and specific therapies.

Insuficiência renal aguda associada à leptospirose

Leptospirosis is the most important zoonosis in the world. Patients are typically young men. Several factors are involved in acute kidney injury (AKI) in leptospirosis, including direct nephrotoxic action of the leptospira, hyperbilirubinemia, rhabdomyolysis and hypovolemia. The major histological findings are acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis. Leptospirosis-induced AKI is usually nonoliguric and hypokalemic. Tubular function abnormalities precede a decline in the glomerular filtration rate, which could explain the high frequency of hypokalemia. Antibiotic treatment is efficient in the early and late and/or severe phases. For critically ill leptospirosis patients, the following measures are recommended: early and daily hemodialysis; low volume infusion (due to the risk of pulmonary hemorrhage); and lung-protective strategies. Mortality in leptospirosis-associated AKI is around 22%.

ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY CAUSED BY Crotalus AND Bothrops SNAKE VENOM: A REVIEW OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND TREATMENT

SUMMARY Ophidic accidents are an important public health problem due to their incidence, morbidity and mortality. An increasing number of cases have been registered in Brazil in the last few years. Several studies point to the importance of knowing the clinical complications and adequate approach in these accidents. However, knowledge about the risk factors is not enough and there are an increasing number of deaths due to these accidents in Brazil. In this context, acute kidney injury (AKI) appears as one of the main causes of death and consequences for these victims, which are mainly young males working in rural areas. Snakes of the Bothrops and Crotalus genera are the main responsible for renal involvement in ophidic accidents in South America. The present study is a literature review of AKI caused by Bothrops and Crotalus snake venom regarding diverse characteristics, emphasizing the most appropriate therapeutic approach for these cases. Recent studies have been carried out searching for complementary therapies for the treatment of ophidic accidents, including the use of lipoic acid, simvastatin and allopurinol. Some plants, such as Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae seem to have a beneficial role in the treatment of this type of envenomation. Future studies will certainly find new therapeutic measures for ophidic accidents.