[Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis: Clinical Variability in the Same Family]. / Acidose Tubular Renal Distal: Expressão Clínica Variável na Mesma Família.

Primary distal renal tubular acidosis is a genetic disorder characterized by the inability in acidification of urine. Symptoms are usually non-specific and highly variable. We described six cases in a family with four generations affected. The first case was diagnosed in a 3-year-old child presenting with hematuria and urolithiasis. Later, his sister, sons and two nephews were studied. Although asymptomatic, they all had nephrocalcinosis and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis with normal anionic gap, except one case with normal arterial blood gas test but with nephrocalcinosis and inability of urinary acidification. At follow-up, they all maintained nephrocalcinosis, the index case had acute renal damage and developed hypertension, but none developed chronic renal disease. The diagnosis of autosomal dominant distal renal tubular acidosis is generally made later and patients tend to present with milder disease. But the condition may manifest early and have a variable phenotypic severity spectrum. Carrying out screening through assessment of family history enables an earlier diagnosis while also allowing treatment to start sooner.

A acidose tubular renal distal primária deve-se a um defeito genético caracterizado pela incapacidade de acidificar a urina. A sintomatologia é inespecífica e muito variável. Descrevem-se seis casos de acidose tubular renal distal numa família em que a doença afetou quatro gerações. O primeiro caso foi diagnosticado aos três anos por hematúria e urolitíase. Posteriormente foram estudados a irmã, os dois filhos e dois sobrinhos do caso índex. Apesar de assintomáticos, todos apresentavam nefrocalcinose e acidose metabólica hiperclorémica, à exceção de um caso com gasimetria normal mas com nefrocalcinose e incapacidade de acidificação urinária. Na evolução todos mantiveram nefrocalcinose, o caso índex desenvolveu hipertensão arterial mas nenhum evoluiu para insuficiência renal crónica. O diagnóstico da acidose tubular renal distal autossómica dominante é geralmente mais tardio e com sintomatologia mais ligeira. A doença pode contudo manifestar-se precocemente e com espectro de gravidade variável. O rastreio pela história familiar permite antecipar o diagnóstico e iniciar tratamento mais precocemente.

Two new families with hereditary minimal change disease.

BACKGROUND: Steroid-sensitive idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SSINS) is most often encountered in sporadic cases of minimal change disease (MCD). Only rare cases of familial forms of MCD have been reported and most of them only in one generation. The scarcity of data has precluded unraveling the underlying genetic defect and candidate gene approaches have been unsuccessful. Here we report two families with related SSINS cases and review the related literature. CASE PRESENTATION: Two siblings and a cousin (first family), and a father and his son (second family), are reported with SSINS due to MCD. Patients have been followed up for more than 12 years and a renal biopsy was performed in three cases, demonstrating typical features of MCD. The course of the disease was remarkable because of several relapses treated with steroids. In three cases, mycophenolate mofetil or cyclosporine was added. CONCLUSION: Familial SSINS due to MCD is extremely rare and no genetic defect has been identified so far. Reporting cases of hereditary MCD will allow further genetic studies which will ultimately help unravel the molecular basis of this disease.

[Fetopathy associated with exposure to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors]. / Fetopatia pelo uso de inibidores da enzima de conversão da angiotensina.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACEI) are commonly used antihypertensive drugs, although contraindicated during pregnancy by fetopathy association such as renal dysgenesis, oligohydramnios, hipocalvaria, pulmonary hypoplasia, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal anuric renal failure. The authors present a clinical report of a child that developed neonatal anuric renal failure with peritoneal dialysis support by an in uterus exposure to ACEI with very good recovery. This case and literature review states the need to avoid ACEI prescription to Young women and it's suspension as soon as possible during pregnancy.

Improvement in growth after 1 year of growth hormone therapy in well-nourished infants with growth retardation secondary to chronic renal failure: results of a multicenter, controlled, randomized, open clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the growth-promoting effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment in infants with chronic renal failure (CRF) and persistent growth retardation despite adequate nutritional and metabolic management. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The study design included randomized, parallel groups in an open, multicenter trial comparing GH (0.33 mg/kg per wk) with nontreatment with GH during 12 months. Sixteen infants who had growth retardation, were aged 12+/-3 months, had CRF (GFR

[Rickets vitamin-D-dependent type 2]. / Raquitismo vitamina D dependente tipo II.

Rickets is a rare child disease especially in developed countries. Nutritional rickets remains the most prevalent condition, although congenital forms are well known. In the latest group, vitamin D dependent rickets type II is the rarest form and it can course with or without alopecia. There is a mutation on the receptor for vitamin D, with peripheral resistance to the vitamin D action. The authors present two clinical cases of vitamin D dependent rickets type II, in which the alopecia was a peculiar clinical sign that allowed the diagnoses. With prolonged calcium infusions, we achieved normal seric levels of calcium and correct bone disorders; alopecia persisted. This treatment is the most effective way to control the disease.