A rare case of type-I auto-immune hepatitis and thyroiditis presenting with crescentic glomerulonephritis.

A middle-aged female patient with a past history of non-alcoholic liver disease and hypothyroidism presented with swelling of the body, off and on, for six months and rapidly worsening renal function. Renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis with negative immunofluorescence. Serological tests were positive for anti-thyroglobulin, anti-nuclear antibody (1:80), p-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; gamma globulin was 5.23 g/dL and viral markers were negative. The patient was diagnosed to have autoimmune hepatitis type-1 and treated with injection methylprednisolone pulse (500 mg/day for 3 days) and maintained on oral steroids and azathioprine 100 mg. She responded dramatically to this treatment and has remained in complete remission at last follow-up.

Analysis of case series of milky urine: A single center and departmental clinical experience with emphasis on management perspectives: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Milky urine can be due to chyluria or lipiduria due to nephrotic syndrome. Filarial chyluria usually responds to medical management while non-filarial cases may require surgical intervention. AIM: To perform a prospective observational study in patients presenting with milky urine in our centre over a period of one year from July 2011 to June 2012, a complete biochemical work up and imaging to find out the site of leakage of lymph if it is a case of chyluria, its response to medical management and the requirement of surgical intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine blood and urine investigations, 24 hour urine protein excretion, USG abdomen, serum lipid profile and rapid filarial antigen test were done in all. MRI abdomen was done in affordable patients. Renal biopsy was done in some chyluria patients for academic purpose and in milky urine with negative urine ether test. Sclerotherapy was done with 50% dextrose and 0.2% povidone iodine. Patients were followed up with 24 hour urine protein and triglyceride estimation. RESULTS: 18 cases of milky urine were encountered. 8 were filarial chyluria, 9 non- filarial and 1 MCD. Mean urine TG level and median 24 hour urinary protein excretion were 37.2 ± 24.6 mg% and 4.96 g respectively. The mean age for filariasis (22.9 ± 4.5 years) was significantly different from that of non-filarial etiology (31.5 ± 4.8 years) (P = 0.005). The mean 24 hour urinary protein for normal MRI cases (4.64 ± 0.70 g) was significantly different from those with dilated lymphatics (8.15 ± 2.55 g) (P = 0.02). All the non- filarial and 4 filarial cases required sclerotherapy. One patient required a second sitting. CONCLUSION: Milky urine is most commonly due to chyluria and occasionally due to nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is managed in its own way while chyluria not amenable to pharmacological intervention is managed with sclerotherapy.

A Rare Case of Type I RenalTubular Acidosis with Membranous Nephropathy Presenting as Hypokalemic Paralysis.

Type 1 renal tubular acidosis (RTA), or distal RTA (dRTA), is a disorder of renal tubular acidification, which is generally asymptomatic but may rarely present as hypokalemic paralysis. Here, we report the case of a young male who presented with sudden onset weakness of all 4 limbs and a 2-month history of swelling of the legs. An investigation revealed hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, and nephrotic syndrome. Additional analyses revealed normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with a positive urine anion gap and dRTA. Renal biopsy showed evidence of membranous nephropathy (MN). The patient's weakness improved with potassium supplements. Normalization of the serum potassium level and disappearance of proteinuria were established with an ACE inhibitor and potassium supplementation. This case is an unusual combination of dRTA with MN coupled with the rare presenting symptoms of hypokalemic paralysis and medullary nephrocalcinosis.