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Biomedical subjects

J H Sondheimer

Publications and source records attributed to J H Sondheimer.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

The glomerulopathy of homozygous sickle hemoglobin (SS) disease: morphology and pathogenesis.

This morphologic and morphometric study of native-kidney biopsies of six homozygous sickle hemoglobin (SS) nephrotics defines a distinctive glomerulopathy of focal sclerosis developing in maximally hypertrophied glomeruli. In each biopsy, two patterns of segmental glomerulosclerosis were observed: a "collapsing" pattern and an "expansive" pattern. Morphologic analysis comparing group mean glomerular (Bowman's capsular) diameters indicates that glomeruli in SS are routinely markedly enlarged whether nephrotic (group SSN, 233.6 mu +/- SE of 25.3 [N = 6]) or not (control group SSC, 243.5 mu +/- SE of 12.5 [N = 5]). These values are significantly larger when compared with those of matched normal controls (group NC, 158.0 mu +/- SE of 12.7 [N = 6]) or to matched patients with idiopathic focal glomerulosclerosis (group IFS, 188.2 mu +/- SE of 17.9 [N = 6]). Furthermore, based on a previous study, it is most likely that glomerular enlargement in SS represents the maximal hypertrophy attainable in humans. Correlating observations of renal homografts in two sickle hemoglobin patients that developed segmental sclerosis of only the collapsing pattern soon after transplantation, it is proposed that in homozygous sickle hemoglobin nephrotics the collapsing pattern of segmental glomerulosclerosis represents an initial but progressive obliteration of the glomerular capillary bed by red blood cell sickling which cannot be compensated by further glomerular hypertrophy. Hemodynamic glomerular injury then supervenes from the sustained or increasing hyperfiltration in a diminishing capillary bed, manifesting morphologically as the expansive pattern of sclerosis.

Adult↗

Mannitol-induced acute renal failure.

Mannitol is widely used to reduce intracranial pressure and is protective against ischemic and nephrotoxic acute renal failure. However, the capacity of this seemingly innocuous agent to produce acute renal failure is not well recognized. We report herein the clinical course of 8 cases of mannitol-induced acute renal failure. In addition, we reviewed all previously reported cases of mannitol-induced renal failure. In the present series, acute oliguric renal failure developed within 3.5 +/- 1.1 (mean +/- SD) days after receiving daily and total mannitol doses of 189 +/- 64 g and 626 +/- 270 g, respectively, over 3.5 +/- 1.5 days. The peak serum creatinine was 5.7 +/- 2.7 mg/dl and peak osmolal gap was 74 +/- 39 mOsm/kg water. Renal tubular epithelial cells containing vacuoles were seen in the urinary sediments of 6 patients. Renal function improved rapidly upon discontinuation of mannitol and/or removal of mannitol by hemodialysis. In those previously reported cases in which the baseline renal function was normal, acute renal failure developed after receiving total mannitol doses of 1171 +/- 376 g. The peak osmolal gap was 107 +/- 17. In contrast, in those with underlying renal compromise, renal function worsened after a total mannitol dose of 295 +/- 143 g. The pathogenesis of mannitol-induced renal failure is not yet established but may be associated with renal vasoconstriction produced by high concentrations of mannitol. This may be averted in clinical practice by monitoring the osmolal gap, rather than serum osmolality alone, when using mannitol infusions for the treatment of intracranial hypertension.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Elevated plasma copper in chronic renal failure.

Hypercupremia has been described in patients undergoing chronic dialysis. To further characterize dialysis-associated hypercupremia, we studied plasma copper (PCu) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) in patients on hemodialysis (n = 20) and peritoneal dialysis (n = 25), in uremic patients (n = 10) not yet on dialysis, and in normal age-matched control subjects (n = 20). PCu was significantly elevated in all three patients groups (mean +/- SD) (20.6 +/- 4.1, 19.8 +/- 4.6, 19.8 +/- 4.9 mumol/L, respectively) vs control subjects (16.5 +/- 2.7 mumol/L). However, Cp levels were not significantly different among the four study groups (330 +/- 60, 320 +/- 70, 370 +/- 100, and 360 +/- 90 mg/L, respectively). Calculated nonceruloplasmin copper was significantly higher in all uremic groups. The measurement of chelatable Cu confirmed the presence of significantly higher extractable Cu in hemodialysis (2.7 +/- 0.6 mumol/L) and peritoneal dialysis patients (2.4 +/- 0.5 mumol/L) than control subjects (1.5 +/- 0.3 mumol/L). Cu is elevated in uremia regardless of dialysis status and this elevation is not accounted for by an increase in plasma ceruloplasmin.

Adult↗

Toxic nephropathies.

The general topic of kidney damage produced by drugs and toxins is introduced, emphasizing its clinical importance in critically ill patients. Specific toxins are then examined in detail with respect to the mechanisms of toxicity, clinical features, and management.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Cautopyreiophagia. Cause of life-threatening hyperkalemia in a patient undergoing hemodialysis.

A male patient undergoing hemodialysis in whom the cause of severe hyperkalemia (more than 8 mmol/liter) was found to be an unusual pica is described. His pica consisted of ingestion of burnt match heads (cautopyreiophagia). The potassium content of his daily consumption of burnt matches added 80 mmol to his 45 mmol dietary potassium intake. Hypogeusia and hypozincemia were documented. Oral zinc supplementation (zinc sulfate 220 mg per day for 10 weeks) normalized his plasma zinc level and taste acuity. He abandoned his pica and his plasma potassium level dropped significantly to 5.5 to 6 mmol/liter. It is suggested that inquiry about pica should be part of the dietary history in patients with renal failure.

Adult↗

An analysis of the adequacy of preparation for end-stage renal disease care in Michigan. Michigan Renal Plan Task Force.

The Michigan Renal Plan Task Force has been charged with the development of a comprehensive plan to optimize the management of renal disease in Michigan. To assess the preparedness of new patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in Michigan, surveys were sent to all outpatient ESRD facilities in the state concerning all new ESRD outpatients starting treatment during the first quarter of 1994. Responses were received from 69% of these facilities, covering 439 patients; 73% of patients were admitted to the hospital at the initiation of dialysis, and 69% required a temporary dialysis catheter. The median time to first outpatient dialysis was 10 days. Hospital admittance and use of temporary catheters were associated with a lower serum albumin at 1 month of follow-up. Temporary dialysis catheter usage was highest (85%) in rural areas, and lowest (59%) in suburban centers. Fifty-four percent of patients had a 1 month serum albumin of < or = 3.5 g/dl. At 1 month, nearly 60% of patients had a plasma hemoglobin of < or = 10.0 g/dl. These results suggest that better patient preparation for ESRD is needed to reduce the need for hospital admittance, to reduce the use of temporary catheters with their associated risks, and to improve the nutritional and psychosocial rehabilitation of these patients.

Adolescent↗