Intrapericardial steroid treatment for recurrent pericardial effusion in a patient with acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Intrapericardial corticosteroid therapy for pericardial effusion is an uncommon practice. We had an initial experience with this therapeutic measure but this was our first attempt in the context of malignant diseases and paraneoplastic syndrome. A patient with relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and recurrent pericardial effusion presented.

A novel mutation in the chloride channel gene, CLCNKB, as a cause of Gitelman and Bartter syndromes.

Background: Gitelman syndrome (GS) and Bartter syndrome (BS) are hereditary hypokalemic tubulopathies with distinct phenotypic features. GS has been considered a genetically homogeneous disorder caused by mutation in the gene encoding the NaCl cotransporter (TSC) of the distal convoluted tubule. In contrast, BS is caused by mutations in the genes encoding either the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2), the K+ channel (ROMK) or the Cl- channel (ClC-Kb) of the thick ascending limb.