Saw a case in the clinic today of a 40-ish year old woman who was diagnosed about a year and a half ago with Henoch-Schonlein purpura. This is notable in that usually this is a pediatric disease–though as…
Churg-Strauss Syndrome lies within the spectrum of Wegener’s Granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis: all diseases which result from inflammation of small-to-medium-sized vessels. The “classic triad” of Churg-Strauss syndrome is asthma, eosinophilia, and vasculitis, and although “renal involvement”…
Heard a case in Renal Grand Rounds this morning regarding an elderly (72 year-old) 1st-time cadavaric renal transplant recipient who presented during his 3rd month post-transplant with fever, an elevated creatinine, and a CT scan showing mediastinal lymphadenopathy….
Orthostatic proteinuria occurs in between 2-5% of all adolescents–it is primarily a pediatric condition, rarely occurring after age 30. Orthostatic proteinuria refers to the condition of an individual having proteinuria only while upright; the urine protein level returns…
This is probably review as it is such a common occurrence for nephrologists as well as internists. Here’s my protocol, along with useful dosing info (sometimes lacking in textbooks): 1. Get an EKG. Look to see if there…
In the most recent issue of C-JASN there is an intriguing article entitled “Ethical and Legal Obligation To Avoid Long-Term Tunneled Catheter Access” by Rehman et al, in which the authors argue strongly that tunneled catheters should be…
Who was the first doctor to have the idea (and the audacity) to stick a needle into the kidney in order to obtain a tissue diagnosis of kidney disease? The “inventors of the renal biopsy” have been identified…
Licorice–particularly European licorice which contains higher doses of the natural sweetener glycyrrhizic acid (GZA)–needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyperaldosteronism. Here’s how it works: The mineralocorticoid receptor, expressed in cortical collecting duct cells, is the…
The thiazolidinediones (a.k.a. “the glitazones”) are widely used in the treatment of of hyperglycemia. Although they have their side effects (an increased risk of cardiac events according to some epidemiologic studies, plus the possibility of fluid overload or…
MicroRNAs: one of the sexiest topics in the science community these days! Pick up a copy of Science, Nature, or Cell and you can usually find something to do with microRNAs within. What do these have to do…