1/3. Is low-dose methotrexate nephrotoxic? Case report and review of the literature.methotrexate (MTX) has become the most commonly prescribed disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. However, toxicity is an important drawback of MTX therapy and permanent discontinuation of MTX for adverse effects occurs in 1 patient out of 10. Although high-dose MTX is known to be nephrotoxic, data on low-dose MTX renal effects are scanty. We report an insidious and progressive deterioration of renal function during long-term low-dose MTX in a 59-year-old woman. kidney biopsy revealed advanced kidney fibrosis with extensive interstitial and glomerular fibrosis, and vascular sclerosis. We suggest that patients on low-dose MTX therapy even alone, should be periodically monitored for creatinine levels.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = kidney (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Successful maintenance of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in a patient after fungal peritonitis and dialysate leakage.Fungal peritonitis (FP) and dialysate leakage have often been reported in association with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), which has to be discontinued in many cases due to these complications. This report describes the first case of dialysate leakage into the urinary bladder of a 70-year-old male patient, after the area of the left ureteral ostium had been very deeply resected. The leakage probably led to severe fungal peritonitis developing 1 day after the ostium resection. The ostium resection was performed in November 2003 after detection of a carcinoma in situ (Cis) in this area and after previous bilateral nephroureterectomies due to multifocal urothelial carcinoma in the kidneys, ureters and bladder. In spite of prior fungal peritonitis and dialysate leakage, CAPD could be successfully initiated 41 days after biochemical manifestation of peritonitis and could be maintained in the patient because of the following reasons: early and effective treatment of FP with fluconazole and voriconazole, spontaneous occlusion of the slitted ostium area, allowance of enough healing time after 2 major abdominal surgeries, during which the patient was placed on extracorporal hemodialysis (which had been started 1 day after nephroureterectomy and ended after the antimycotic treatment) and thorough monitoring of the patient after starting CAPD. In January 2004, the patient could be placed on a cycler peritoneal dialysis and was fully rehabilitated 1 year later.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = kidney (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Primary (AL) amyloidosis in plasma cell disorders.Primary (AL) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis. The morbidity arises from extracellular deposition of immunoglobulin light chain (LC) fibrils in major organs, such as the kidneys, heart, and bowel. Organ dysfunction contributes to a high mortality and poor prognosis, with a median survival time of 1-2 years from diagnosis. Here, we present a 46-year-old man with an exceptional clinical course of an LC multiple myeloma with generalized amyloidosis, causing renal insufficiency, congestive heart failure, and complete intestinal necrosis. We have summarized recent knowledge on AL amyloidosis, its association with monoclonal gammopathies, clinical presentations, diagnostic tools, and treatment strategies. Our comprehensive overview of this rare and often fatal disease aims to increase the awareness of AL amyloidosis. This may facilitate earlier diagnosis, and thus allow initiation of prompt and specific therapies, which are indispensable in order to improve disease prognosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = kidney (Clic here for more details about this article) |