Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D J Menke.
A report of septic shock and renal failure after a chorionic villus sampling is presented. Uterine evacuation, antibiotics, and vasopressor therapy were unsuccessful in reversing hypotension, coagulopathy, and anuria. The patient's condition improved only after exploratory laparotomy and removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. The incidence of such serious complications must be determined.
Edema formation in nephrotic syndrome has been attributed to intravascular volume depletion resulting from leakage of plasma water into the interstitial space and activating secondary renal sodium retention. However, clinical studies indicate that edematous patients with nephrotic syndrome may have normal or expanded plasma volumes. We evaluated the relationship between plasma volume and edema formation in control rats and rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) produced by 7/8 nephrectomy. In each group, plasma volume and 22Na space were measured during the control period and after induction of hypoalbuminemia from passive Heymann nephritis. Rats with CRF had expanded plasma volume during the initial period (4.23 +/- 0.46 vs. 3.32 +/- 0.68 ml/100 g body wt) that became significantly more expanded (to 5.44 +/- 1.16 ml/100 g body wt) when they became nephrotic as 22Na space also increased. Plasma volume and 22Na space did not change in the sham-operated rats when nephrosis was produced. Plasma renin activity was lower in the CRF rats during the control period than in the sham-operated rats and fell significantly during the nephrotic period when edema developed. Nonnephrotic rats had a plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) of 17.8 +/- 4.3 mmHg compared with 8.5 +/- 2.9 mmHg when nephrotic. Despite this large difference in COP, both nephrotic and nonnephrotic rats exhibited the same relationship between plasma volume and extravascular sodium space, a measure of edema formation. Hypoproteinemia is not sufficient for edema formation in the rat with passive Heymann nephritis; concomitant plasma volume expansion resulting from CRF is a necessary additional component.
Combined hepatocellular injury and renal tubular necrosis developed in five alcoholic patients who were receiving acetaminophen therapeutically. Two patients were taking doses prescribed by a physician. The hepatitis was characterized by extremely high serum transaminase values that were maximal on admission. Two patients died, and autopsy disclosed hepatic centrizonal necrosis and acute renal tubular necrosis. The three who survived had clinical features typical of acute tubular necrosis. All five had measurable concentrations of acetaminophen in plasma, although measurements were requested on admission only in two patients. When an alcoholic presents with combined hepatic and renal insufficiency, acetaminophen should be considered as a possible inciting agent. This diagnosis should be considered when serum transaminase levels are markedly elevated and when renal failure is due to acute tubular necrosis.
A 28-year-old woman ingested an estimated 58 g acetaminophen and 9 g propoxyphene 20 h before hospitalization. Her serum acetaminophen concentration at 22 h was 485 micrograms/mL and declined with an unusually long half-life of 14 h. Hemodialysis for 4 h (started at 36 h) reduced the acetaminophen concentration from 250 to 32 micrograms/mL. The patient's complete recovery was remarkable because of the large amounts of drugs ingested, the delayed treatment, and prior exposure to enzyme inducers (known to increase acetaminophen hepatotoxicity). Administration of N-acetylcysteine prevented inorganic sulfate depletion usually caused by acetaminophen and may have increased the formation of acetaminophen sulfate. Some patients eliminate large overdoses of acetaminophen very slowly. Measures to enhance the elimination of this drug and its toxic metabolite by these individuals may be useful even when diagnosis or hospitalization is delayed.
Chronic lead exposure resulting in blood lead concentrations that exceed 1.93 mumol/l (40 micrograms/dl) or chelatable urinary lead excretion greater than 3.14 mumol (650 micrograms) per 72 h has been associated with renal disease. A previous study had found greater chelatable urine lead excretion in subjects with hypertension and renal failure than in controls with renal failure due to other causes, although mean blood lead concentrations averaged 0.92 mumol/l (19 micrograms/dl). To determine if chelatable urinary lead, blood lead, or the hematologic effect of lead (zinc protoporphyrin) were greater in hypertensive nephropathy (when hypertension precedes elevation of serum creatinine) than in other forms of mild renal failure, we compared 40 study subjects with hypertensive nephropathy to 24 controls having a similar degree of renal dysfunction due to causes other than hypertension. Lead burdens were similar in both the study and control groups as assessed by 72-h chelatable urinary lead excretion after intramuscular injection of calcium disodium EDTA (0.74 +/- 0.63 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.40 mumol per 72 h, respectively), and by blood lead (0.35 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.20 mumol/l). We conclude that subjects from a general population with hypertensive nephropathy do not have greater body burdens of lead than renal failure controls.