Salt-losing nephropathy associated with supraventricular arrhythmia.

We present a case of a young man with a new-onset supraventricular arrhythmia accompanied by polyuria and natriuresis with subsequent renal salt-wasting causing hypovolemic hyponatremia. Resolution of the electrolyte imbalance occurred only after successful atrial flutter ablation.

Recurrent Hyponatremia in the Setting of Autoimmune Disease with Sicca Syndrome: A Case Report.

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease associated with xerostomia and xerophthalmia. The association of Sjogren's with hyponatremia has rarely been reported and has been attributed to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Here, we report a case of polydipsia secondary to xerostomia as a cause of chronic hyponatremia in the setting of Sjogren's syndrome. Analysis of the patient's medical record, including medication reconciliation and dietary habits, revealed several underlying causes of her recurrent hyponatremia. A thorough review of the patient's clinical history and good bedside examination may reduce prolonged hospitalizations and improve the quality of life of a hyponatremic population of patients who are predominantly elderly.

Comparison of alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator) high-dose vs. low-dose protocol in restoring hemodialysis catheter function: the ALTE-DOSE study.

Hemodialysis catheter (HDC) dysfunction due to thrombosis is common, and dysfunction incidence can reach up to 50% within 1 year of use. Although administration of intraluminal alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator [tPA]) is the standard of practice to pharmacologically restore HDC function, there are no evidence-based guidelines concerning the optimal tPA dose. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of 1.0-mg vs. 2.0-mg tPA dwell protocols in restoring the HDC function in thrombotic dysfunctional catheters. A retrospective, single-center study was conducted on two independent cohorts of patients; the first (n = 129) received 2.0 mg tPA/catheter lumen, while the second (n=108) received 1.0 mg tPA/catheter lumen. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to compare the catheter survival time between patients who received 1.0 mg tPA and those who received 2.0 mg tPA. Catheter removal occurred in 25 (19.4%) of those catheters treated with 1.0 mg tPA compared with 11 (10.2%) of catheters treated with 2.0 mg tPA (P = 0.05). The hazard ratio (HR) for catheter removal was 2.75 (95% confidence interval [(95%) CI] = 1.25-6.04) for the 1.0-mg tPA cohort compared with the 2.0-mg tPA cohort. Correction added on 3 December 2012, after first online publication: The tPA cohort values were changed. Female gender (HR = 2.51; (95%) CI = 1.20-5.27) and age (HR = 0.96; (95%) CI = 0.94-0.98) were also associated with catheter survival. Our findings suggest that treatment of dysfunctional HDC with 2.0-mg tPA dwells is superior to 1.0-mg tPA dwells.