Urine eosinophils

Eosinophils in the urine can be detected by applying a Hansel’s stain to the urine sediment. The presence of >1% eosinophils of the total urine WBCs constitute a positive test. In general, the same things which cause +urine…

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The Cryocrit

Whenever you recommend that “cryoglobulins” be drawn on a patient, it is important to realize that the specimen must be collected in a very specific way. It cannot be simply “added on” to a specimen already drawn. Cryoglobulins…

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Unusual Causes of Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

The “MUDPALES” acronym, which details the main causes for anion gap metabolic acidosis (Methanol, Uremia, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Paraldehyde, Alcohol, Lactic acidosis, Ethylene glycol, Salicylate toxicity), is one of the most successful medical acronyms of all time. There are…

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NSIAD (not NSAID)

A subset of pediatric patients with a clinical and biochemical profile consistent with SIADH (the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion)–that is, euvolemic hyponatremia with an inappropriately elevated urine osmolarity–have low to undetectable levels of ADH. What’s going on?…

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NODAT

The acronym NODAT stands for “new onset diabetes after transplant”. Diabetes is one of the many complications which occur in the post-renal transplant setting. The reasons for this are manifold. Transplant recipients who require long-term steroids will obviously…

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Collapsing Variant of FSGS

The collapsing form of FSGS is a histologic variant which is characterized by mesangial hypercellularity and resultant collapse of the glomerular capillaries, as illustrated in the photo to the left. Its identification is important for prognostic reasons as…

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Rituxan Dosing

Rituxan is seeing a lot of use these days. Although technically only having formal indications for rheumatoid arthritis and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it is being used for a number of off-label indications, and in general the results seem to…

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Beta-2 Microglobulin Amyloidosis

The two major forms of amyloidosis are AL amyloidosis (in which light chains form the amyloid deposits) and AA amyloidosis (in which a variety of inflammatory molecules may adopt a beta-pleated structure to deposit as amyloid. A specific…

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Nephrotic Syndrome Trivia Question

Nephrotic Syndrome Trivia Question: Name two different athletes, both with nephrotic syndrome due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).Answer: Most people are aware of Alonzo Mourning, the NBA center who was diagnosed with FSGS which forced his temporary retirement…

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