Neonatal Pseudo-Bartter's Syndrome with Hypokalemia and ECG Changes Born to a Mother with Eating Disorder: A Case Report / 日本農村医学会雑誌

It is essential to differentiate pseudo-Bartter's syndrome from Bartter's syndrome because both are accompanied by hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis. In this study, we encountered a newborn girl with marked hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis who was born vaginally at 41 weeks' gestation to a mother with pseudo-Bartter's syndrome and associated eating disorder. Venous blood gas analysis for transient respiratory distress revealed hypokalemia. Because hypokalemia did not improve, the newborn was transferred to our hospital 3 days after birth. Hema tological findings on admission showed serum potassium 2.6 mEq/L, bicarbonate 36.3 mmol/L, and base excess 12.8 mmol/L, with pH 7.56 and metabolic alkalosis. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed sinus bradycardia as well as ST-segment depression, T-wave flattening, and prominent U-waves in all chest leads. Administration of enteral potassium began on postnatal day 5 but was terminated on postnatal day 7 because of rapid elevation of serum potassium, with consequent reversion of ECG abnormalities to age-appropriate levels. We later learned that the mother's serum potassium level was around 2 mEq/L because of the eating disorder, which frequently caused vomiting. Our findings suggest that this was a case of neonatal pseudo-Bartter's syndrome accompanied by severe electrolyte abnormalities and ECG changes due to maternal pseudo-Bartter's syndrome.

Spontaneous Renal Artery Dissection: An Important Differential Diagnosis for Sudden Onset of Back Pain / General Medicine

Spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) is uncommon and hence diagnosis is often delayed when ideally a quick one is preferred. We report a case of a 53 year-old male, with a known history of nephrolithiasis, who was admitted into hospital complaining of sudden onset left-sided back pain. Ultrasound showed a right-sided calculus instead of the expected left. A subsequent contrast computed tomography (CT) scan was done showing an infarcted segment of the left kidney. Further investigation with angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed the presence of two left renal arteries with the distal originating left renal artery having dissected.