Distal renal tubular acidosis secondary to vesico-ureteric reflux: A case report with review of literature.

Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is the most common congenital anomaly of the urinary tract that occurs in 30%-50% of children presenting with recurrent urinary tract infections. Long-standing untreated VUR results in renal scarring and hydronephrotic changes ultimately leading to chronic renal failure and arterial hypertension. However, it may also result in diffuse tubulopathy compromising the concentrating capacity of tubules and urinary acidification defects. Renal tubular dysfunction should be considered in all children with VUR presenting with failure to thrive, rickets, bony deformity/pain, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis. We report such a case of a 16-year-old male adolescent who presented with rickets, failure to gain weight and height, bony pains, and muscle weakness with a history of VUR. On investigation, he was found to have normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with hypokalemia suggestive of distal renal tubular acidosis. He responded well to oral alkali and potassium replacement therapy.

Distal renal tubular acidosis in sickle cell anemia.

We report a rare case of two young male siblings with sickle cell anemia who presented with bilateral lower limb deformities, failure to thrive, polyuria, and polydipsia. On investigations, they were found to have normal anion gap metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, and nephrocalcinosis were seen on ultrasonography of the kidneys. These reports were suggestive of distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). They were started on oral alkali replacement and potassium therapy with which clinical improvement was seen. Conventionally, renal tubular dysfunction is thought to occur infrequently in patients with sickle cell anemia. Hence, we report this rare association between sickle cell anemia and dRTA.