Dialysis as a Treatment Option for a Patient With Normal Kidney Function and Familial Tumoral Calcinosis Due to a Compound Heterozygous FGF23 Mutation.

Primary tumoral calcinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by ectopic calcified tumoral masses. Mutations in 3 genes (GALNT3, FGF23, and KL) have been linked to this human disorder. We describe a case of a 28-year-old man with a history of painful firm masses over his right and left gluteal region, right clavicle region, knees, and left elbow. Biochemical analysis disclosed hyperphosphatemia (phosphate, 9.0 mg/dL) and normocalcemia (calcium, 4.8 mg/dL), with normal kidney function and fractional excretion of phosphate of 3%. Parathyroid hormone was suppressed (15 pg/mL), associated with a low-normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (26 ng/mL) concentration but high 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration (92 pg/mL). Serum intact FGF-23 (fibroblast growth factor 23) was undetectable. Genetic analysis revealed tumoral calcinosis due to a compound heterozygous mutation in FGF23, c.201G>C (p.Gln67His) and c.466C>T (p.Gln156*). Due to lack of other treatment options and because the patient was facing severe vascular complications, we initiated a daily hemodialysis program even in the setting of normal kidney function. This unusual therapeutic option successful controlled hyperphosphatemia and reduced metastatic tumoral lesions. This is a report of a new mutation in FGF23 in which dialysis was an effective treatment option for tumoral calcinosis with normal kidney function.

Fractures in chronic kidney disease: pursuing the best screening and management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoporotic fractures are common and cause increased sickness and death. Men and women with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at particularly high risk of osteoporotic fractures. Currently, however, there are no guidelines concerning noninvasive methods to assess fracture risk in CKD. Further, approved treatments to prevent fractures in otherwise healthy men and women are only recommended for use with caution in those with CKD. This review focuses on the recent data that support the use of noninvasive methods to assess fracture risk in CKD and highlights new therapies that could be used in fracture prevention in CKD. RECENT FINDINGS: Data from prospective studies demonstrate that low bone mineral density predicts fracture in CKD patients. Post-hoc analyses demonstrate that agents approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (bisphosphonates, denosumab and teriparatide) when given to those with CKD are well tolerated and potentially efficacious with respect to fracture risk reduction. SUMMARY: To date, patients, and nephrologists taking care of them, have largely ignored fracture risk assessment and treatment in CKD. This should change given recent data. Further studies are needed, specifically bone histomorphometric studies, which will increase our understanding of CKD-mineral bone disease (MBD) pathophysiology, and randomized clinical trials of therapy in patients with CKD.

Myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary edema post parathyroidectomy: the role of hypocalcemia.

Cardiac disease is a common cause of morbidity in dialysis patients. Traditional and unique risk factors have both been incriminated in the pathogenesis of abnormal cardiac function in these patients. In the present report, we focus on the role of hypocalcemia post parathyroidectomy as a cause of abnormal myocardial function leading to pulmonary edema in a young peritoneal dialysis patient with angiographically-proven normal coronary arteries. The pulmonary edema reversed with correction of the hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia should be added to the differential diagnosis of contributors to cardiac dysfunction in patients on dialysis. Post parathyroidectomy, patients may be at particular risk for this complication because of severe, protracted hypocalcemia.

Quality of life after surgery in secondary hyperparathyroidism, comparing subtotal parathyroidectomy with total parathyroidectomy with immediate parathyroid autograft: Prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: No prospective randomized data exist about the impact of various strategies of parathyroidectomy in secondary hyperparathyroidism patients on quality of life and its possible relationship with metabolic status after the operation. METHOD: In a prospective randomized trial, the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire was applied to 69 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy through various approaches: subtotal parathyroidectomy (n = 23), total parathyroidectomy (PTx) with autotransplantation of 45 fragments (n = 25) and PTx with autotransplantation of 90 fragments (n = 21). The questionnaire was completed at three moments: (1) preoperatively, (2) 6 months after surgery, and (3) 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Quality of life improved significantly in the physical component summary score in all three groups. Subtotal parathyroidectomy scores changed from 30.6 preoperatively to 51.7 6 months after surgery and 53.7 12 months after surgery. Total arathyroidectomy with autotransplantation of 45 fragments scores changed from 33.8 preoperatively to 52.6 6 months after surgery and 55.2 12 months after surgery. Total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation of 90 fragments scores changed from 31.8 preoperatively to 50.5 6 months after surgery and 55.2 12 months after surgery (all groups P < .0001). No significant difference was detected in the physical component summary score change among the three groups. The physical component summary score was negatively correlated to age, parathormone, and alkaline phosphatase preoperatively. CONCLUSION: Parathyroidectomy significantly improves quality of life in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, regardless of the type of operation.