RESUMO
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis comprises several conditions involving vascular destruction that extends into tissue necrosis. There are several autoimmune and environmental causes implicated in the disease progression; among these is drug-induced vasculitis caused by hydralazine use. Hydralazine-induced vasculitis is an uncommon potential complication of the medication and can progress to multisystem involvement and eventually advance to end-organ damage and renal failure. Our patient presented with symptoms of lower extremity edema, dyspnea, and a nonproductive cough eventually resulting in the identification of hydralazine-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis with hypocomplementemia and positive anti-histone antibody. Due to the prevalence of hydralazine as a cardiac drug, physicians managing patients on the medication should have a high index of suspicion of the potential for vasculitis in order to promote prompt diagnosis and treatment of the ANCA-vasculitis.
RESUMO
The use of cocaine is associated with serious complications including coronary vasospasm and myocardial, renal, intestinal, and neurological ischemia. Among these feared complications lies limb ischemia which is a rare potential side effect of chronic cocaine use. We present the case of a 50-year-old female with an extensive history of cocaine use who developed ischemia in all four limbs. Imaging studies revealed pulmonary emboli, multisystem thromboses, and microhemorrhages in the brain. Laboratory studies were significant for leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, schistocytes on blood smear, and normal rheumatologic and hematologic studies. The patient was diagnosed with cocaine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy and she was treated symptomatically and with continuous heparin infusion. However, she ultimately requested to be discharged home and was lost to follow-up. Cocaine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy has been reported in only a few other patients to date and although there are some theories describing the possible pathophysiology, a clearly defined explanation has not yet been widely accepted.
RESUMO
Introducción: El desgaste proteico-energético y la inflamación crónica en el enfermo renal se relacionan con un aumento de la mortalidad, así como con la aparición de anemia refractaria y alteraciones en el metabolismo óseo-mineral. Entre las causas está el aumento del estrés oxidativo, en el que el selenio desempeña un papel a través de la actividad de varias selenoproteínas. Se investiga la relación entre el selenio plasmático y sérico y la desnutrición e inflamación en pacientes adultos en tratamiento sustitutivo renal. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal que incluyó 85 plasmas o sueros de pacientes en diálisis y 118 de sujetos control. Se midieron selenio y marcadores bioquímicos de nutrición, inflamación y otras comorbilidades. Las comparaciones se realizaron mediante U de Mann-Whitney, ANOVA y chi-cuadrado. Las correlaciones se estimaron mediante Rho de Spearman. Resultados: La mediana de selenio fue 58,2μg/L en el grupo de pacientes y 89,3μg/L en el grupo control (p<0,001). El selenio se correlacionó con la albúmina (Rho=0,440), el colesterol (Rho=0,278) y la creatinina (Rho=0,367) en los pacientes. La clasificación en función de la hiposelenemia llevó a 2 grupos con diferencia significativa en el tiempo en diálisis (p=0,018), la albúmina (p=0,003), la creatinina (p=0,004), el colesterol (p=0,038) y el fosfato (p=0,025). Conclusiones: El selenio se correlaciona con los marcadores nutricionales en el grupo de pacientes. La clasificación de los pacientes según hiposelenemia lleva a 2 poblaciones diferenciadas en el estado nutricional y en el tiempo en diálisis. El selenio podría ser un marcador útil en el diagnóstico de desgaste proteico-energético
Introduction: Protein-energy wasting and chronic inflammation in renal patients are related to an increase in mortality, as well as the occurrence of unresponsive anaemia and mineral and bone disease. The increase in oxidative stress, in which selenium plays a role, is among the causes of malnutrition and inflammation. The relationship between plasma or serum selenium and malnutrition and inflammation in adult patients undergoing renal replacement therapy is investigated. Material and methods: Cross-sectional observational study that included 85 plasma specimens from patients on dialysis, and 118 from control subjects. Selenium and biochemical markers of nutrition, inflammation, and co-morbidities were measured. The comparisons were using Mann-Whitney, ANOVA and chi-squared tests. Correlations were estimated using Spearman's Rho. Results: The median selenium was 58.2μg/L in the patient group, and 89.3μg/L in the control group (p<.001). Selenium correlated with albumin (Rho=0.440), cholesterol (Rho=0.278) and creatinine (Rho=0.367) in the patient group. Patients classification based on selenium level led to significant differences between the 2 groups in time on dialysis (p<.018), albumin (p<.003), creatinine (p<.004), cholesterol (p<.038) and phosphate (p<.025). Conclusions: Selenium positively correlates with nutritional markers in the group of patient group. According to selenium level, there are 2 populations differentiated by nutritional status and time on dialysis. Plasma selenium is a potentially useful marker for protein-energy wasting diagnosis
