Factitious proteinuria - the most dominant feature in a young female patient with Munchausen syndrome.

Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder with predominantly physical signs and symptoms, resulting from the patient's high motivation for assuming a sick role, without any external incentives or boundaries. We report the case of a young female patient with factitious proteinuria in the nephrotic range and a fairly eventful medical history. After performing many expensive and unnecessary investigations and procedures,the real origin of the proteinuria was determined;it was found to be caused by the patient carefully adding calibrated egg albumin to her urine samples. This discovery roused suspicions about multiple, non-corroborated conditions from her history (e.g., multiple miscarriages, breast cancer, and thyroid disorders).The diversity of diseases presented by a single Munchausen patient tends to be bizarre,and thus is a challenge for health care providers to diagnose the condition. Teamwork is therefore of the utmost necessity to diagnose Munchausen syndrome.

Fibronectin glomerulopathy in a 34-year-old man: a case report.

Fibronectin glomerulopathy is an inherited non-immune-mediated glomerulopathy associated with the massive deposition of fibronectin. It presents with proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, and hypertension that lead to end-stage renal failure in the second to sixth decade of life. A 34-year-old male was referred with proteinuria (6 g/day), microscopic hematuria and hypertension (220/130 mmHg). Renal biopsy specimen showed massive deposits of fibronectin in the mesangium and subendothelial spaces. After 20 months of multidrug treatment his renal function is stable.

[Management of adrenal incidentaloma: the position statement of the Croatian referral center for adrenal gland disorders]. / Dijagnostika i lijecenje incidentaloma nadbubrezne zlijezde: preporuke referentnog centra ministarstva zdravstva za bolesti nadbubrezne zlijezde.

Adrenal incidentalomas are tumours of adrenal glands discovered during diagnostic workup for other clinical condition unrelated to adrenal glands. Improvement in imaging techniques and their widespread use in everyday practice have increased detection of adrenal incidentalomas making their management one of the most important challenges of modern endocrinology. Based on the relevant medical literature and guidelines of other international societies a panel of Croatian leading experts in adrenal gland disorders provide practical recommendations for the diagnostics and treatment of adrenal incidentaloma.

Kidney volume and albuminuria as markers of birth weight-blood pressure relationship in essential hypertension.

Our aim was to analyze whether birth weight contributes to future hypertension through reduced kidney volume, and whether albuminuria could be a marker of this pathway. We included 103 patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension and 92 normotensive controls. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer and a ABP monitor. Kidney volume was determined by ultrasound. Data on birth weight were obtained from mothers. Albuminuria was determined in 24-hour urine samples. Hypertensive patients had lower birth weight and higher albuminuria than normotensives. There was no difference in kidney volume between the two groups. We found a negative correlation between birth weight and systolic BP in the hypertensive group. BP was significantly correlated with BMI and albuminuria in the hypertensive group. Multiple regression analysis had shown the greatest impact of BMI on BP and had also demonstrated that 24-hour systolic BP showed the greatest risk for developing albuminuria in hypertensive patients. In conclusion, birth weight influences BP values in adult age, but it is not mediated by a reduced kidney volume. A strong correlation, independent of birth weight, was observed between albuminuria and BP values. Increased BMI is the most important independent risk factor responsible for BP increase, even in an early phase of essential hypertension.

[Guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension. Practical recommendations of the Croatian Working Group for Hypertension. Consideration on the ESH-ESC 2007 guidelines]. / Smjernice za dijagnosticiranje i lijecenje arterijske hipertenzije. Prakticne preporuke hrvatske radne skupine i osvrt na smjernice ESH/ESC 2007.

ESH/ECS guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of arterial hypertension 2007 is a basic paper for all physicians who treat hypertensive patients. Since publishing, this article has been the most cited medical paper. According to ESH/ECS guidelines some local peculiarities in each country should be considered when diagnosing and treating hypertensive patients. Practical recommendations of the Croatian working group for the diagnostics and treatment of hypertension are in agreement with ESH/ECS guidelines. However, few additional issues are added and further discussed in this paper (hypertensive crisis, treatment of hypertension in patients undergoing dialysis and in renal transplanted patients, role of family physicians, role of nurse). We believe that this paper will contribute better control of hypertension in Croatia. All medical societies and institutions that took part in writing this document, have to consider this paper as an official statement.

[Arterial hypertension in Croatia. Results of EH-UH study]. / Arterijska hipertenzija u Hrvatskoj. Rezultati EH-UH studije.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most important independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of AH is higher than it was several decades before, and in Europe it is approximately 40%. A higher prevalence of AH has been reported in Europe than in the United States and Canada. According to the results of epidemiology of arterial hypertension in Croatia study (EH-UH), the prevalence of AH in Croatia is 37.5%. Women are more aware, they were treated more often, and blood pressure control was more frequently achieved than in men. However, body mass index and socioeconomic factors have a greater influence on blood pressure values and prevalence of AH in women. A low level of health education and inappropriate treatment are the most important reasons for the poor blood pressure control observed. Measures of primary prevention should be performed continuously and adjusted to special population subgroups. As an increase of obesity and hypertension was observed in school children, these measures should start at that age.

[Treatment and control of hypertension in Croatia. The BEL-AH study]. / Lijecenje i kontrola arterijske hipertenzije u hrvatskoj. BEL-AH istrazivanje.

Poor control of blood pressure (BP) is one of the main reasons for high cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to analyse control of BP in outpatient settings in four biggest towns in Croatia. The study included 412 medical doctors (GP) and 7031 middle-aged patients (62.9 +/- 11.5 years). Mean BP in treated patients was 162.9 +/- 16.8/95.6 +/- 9.9 mmHg. There were no statistically significant differences in systolic (p = 0.173) and diastolic (p = 0.561) BP between men and women. In this group of patients only 8% achieved target BP values. In contrast, and surprisingly, 44.5% of medical doctors and 72% of patients were satisfied with obtained BP control. Higher percentage of male patients vs. female were satisfied with blood pressure control (81.9%:66.9%). BMI < 25 was registered in 22.9% of hypertensive patients, and there was statistically significant difference in BMI between men and women (chi2 = 56.769, p < 0.001). In this study we found a statistically significant difference of hypertension in regard to BMI in both sexes (chi2 = 46.339, p < 0.001; chi(z)2 = 45.992, p = 0.024). BMI was in correlation with severity of hypertension as well as with obtained treatment result. BMI was in correlation with the number of prescribed drugs. According to this, patients with BMI < 25 were prescribed less drugs than those with BMI > 30 (1.4:1,6 p = 0.001). BP control in Croatia is, according to this study, very poor. The main reason for such situation is, beside obesity which determines the stage of hypertension and BP control in both sexes, insufficiently developed conscience in patients and doctors about the importance of stronger blood pressure control. The results indicate the necessity for the more intensive education of the population.

[Antihypertensive agents and the risk of new onset diabetes mellitus]. / Antihipertenzivni lijekovi i rizik od novonastale secerne bolesti.

Arterial hypertension is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and both of these diseases are the major risk factors for cardiovascular complications. During the past few years, a number of large randomized clinical trials examined the frequency of new onset diabetes mellitus during administration of antihypertensive drugs. Application of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers reduces the risk for the onset of diabetes mellitus by 20-27%, and calcium channel blockers by 16%. Despite some uncertainties, novel studies have demonstrated an increased risk for cardiovascular complications related to new onset diabetes mellitus. The duration of patient monitoring is also an important factor, as the onset of diabetes-related complications is closely associated with the duration of this disease. Considering all above, the aim of preventing the onset of diabetes is to recognize patients with an increased risk. The risk factors include basal glycemia, positive family history for diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and some ethnic groups (South Asia, the Caribbeans). Therefore, increased-risk patients should be subjected to therapy with ACE inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, or calcium channel blocker as the first drug of choice. For these patients, application of thiazides and beta blockers or the combination of these two drugs is not advantageous. However, such a view poses a dilemma whether thiazide diuretics should be the first choice in the treatment of hypertension.

[Clinical characteristics of patients with renovascular hypertension]. / Klinicke osobitosti bolesnika s renovaskularnom hipertenzijom.

The aim of our study was to show the value of comparing clinical parameters in patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) and essential hypertension (EH). We examined the differences between renovascular hypertension patients with atherosclerosis (ATH) and those with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The diagnosis of renovascular hypertension was established on the basis of renal angiography finding, which also defined the type of stenosis (ATH or FMD). Our patient group included 108 patients with atherosclerotic RVH (46 male / 62 female, median age 53 yrs), 16 patients with FMD (3 male / 13 female, median age 49 yrs), and 106 patients with EH (61 male / 45 female, median age 38 yrs). In comparison with patients with EH, patients with atherosclerotic RVH were found to be more frequently of female gender with lower body weight and height, older, and more frequently on therapy with antihypertensives. Their hypertension was of later onset and more severe stage. All those differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). When analysis by genders was performed, women were more frequently smokers and had higher serum cholesterol levels, which is an explanation for higher proportion of female gender in atherosclerotic RVH patients. In patients with fibromuscular dysplasia a higher proportion of female gender was also present, but in comparison with ATH patients their hypertension was more often of a less than 5 years duration and they had lower serum creatinine and triglyceride levels. Our results are in agreement with the results of other authors who showed clinical parameters to be useful in screening of patients for further diagnostic procedure. This stresses the importance of good history, physical examination and well-chosen laboratory tests. They can't clearly establish or exclude the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension, but this approach could more easily point out those hypertensive patients who require a thorough work-up. Clinical parameters could furthermore help in determining the type of treatment of RVH.

Severe thrombocytopenia as a complication of acute Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Severe thrombocytopenia is an extremely rare complication of acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV infection usually causes hematological abnormalities, mainly atypical lymphocytosis, which is a feature of infectious mononucleosis, and uncomplicated cases often present with mild decreases in platelet counts. Our otherwise healthy, 21-year-old male Caucasian patient had thrombocytopenia and bleeding diathesis with platelet counts of 8 x 10(9)/L without other signs and symptoms of infectious mononucleosis. We commenced treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone before the acute EBV infection was serologically confirmed. Platelet counts initially rose and then fell after we stopped administrating corticosteroids. Repeated administration of methylprednisolone was followed by full recovery of the platelet count and normalization of formerly elevated transaminases. EBV infection may happen in children, adolescents and adults and this differential diagnosis should be considered in every patient presenting with acute thrombocytopenia.

[Lipoprotein (a)--a mysterious factor in atherogenesis]. / Lipoprotein (a)--misteriozni kotacic aterogeneze.

Etiopathogenesis of arterial hypertension and coronary disease involves interaction of numerous exogenous factors which determine the clinical course and therapeutic response in genetically predisposed individuals. The role of numerous cardiovascular risk factors has been reevaluated during the past few years, yet some unresolved issues and gaps still remain. One of the still insufficiently studied factors is lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] which belongs to a subclass of LDL lipoproteins. Its important component is apolipoprotein (a) which is structurally similar to plasminogen. This characteristic can be followed through evolution and is probably crucial for its physiologic but also pathophysiologic role. Actually, through its competition with plasminogen, Lp (a) interferes with the process of fibrinolysis and may contribute to tissue healing and restoration but also support and accelerate atherothrombotic process. Lp (a) concentration is stable and genetically determined in an individual and the indication that persons with elevated levels are permanently exposed to increased risk is supported by the data on twofold incidence of myocardial infarction in mothers of children with highest Lp (a) concentrations. Apart from competing with plasminogen via apolipoprotein (a), Lp (a) increases the activity of inhibitors of plasminogen-I activator and reduces the activity of transforming growth factor-beta. This results both in the absence of fibrinolysis and promotion of migration and proliferation of media smooth muscle cells, which are important in the onset of atherosclerotic process. Lp (a) binds to elastin via apolipoprotein B, resulting in oxidation and facilitated entry into macrophages and their transition into the so-called foam cells, also an important sign of early atherosclerosis. Although many pathophysiologic processes by which Lp (a) contributes to atherosclerosis have also been confirmed by animal experiments as well as by the presence of histologic evidence, clinical significance of elevated Lp (a) concentration is still questionable. However, results of prospective studies and metaanalyses were published few months ago and identified decisively Lp (a) as a factor that increases cardiovascular risk primarily in patients in whom other risk factors were also present. According to currently prevailing attitude, routine determination of Lp (a) is not justified and, according to most authors, its determination is useful in patients who had a cardiovascular incident at the age under 55 years, in those with recurrent coronary stenosis, or those with positive family history of such incidents. As Lp (a) is genetically determined, its detection in the early stages of essential hypertension might be a useful prognostic marker but a period of observation is still necessary for correct selection of hypertensive patients. Apart from the observation that hormone replacement therapy significantly decreases the Lp (a) level, there is currently no information on the effectiveness of either dietary or drug therapy. Due to Lp (a) antifibrotic effects, small aspirin doses may be beneficial to these patients, as well as B complex vitamins since hyperhomocysteinemia enhances atherogenicity of Lp (a). Therapeutic approach to patient with increased Lp (a) levels is currently based on as strict regulation of arterial pressure, glycemia and other dislipidemias as possible. In the present clinical practice, the elevated level of this lipoprotein indicates a patients with elevated cardiovascular risk, regardless of the fact whether Lp (a) is only a marker or an active factor of pathophysiologic process. Increased Lp (a) concentration may refer to the need for therapy, frequent monitoring and determination of even stricter aims for these individuals by selecting metabolically neutral and best tolerated drugs.