Making weight: acute muscle weakness and hypokalaemia exacerbated by thyrotoxicosis factitia in a bodybuilder.

Summary: A 32-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency department with a one-day history of acute severe bilateral lower limb weakness, three days after competing in a bodybuilding competition. He consumed large quantities of carbohydrate-rich foods following the competition. His past medical history was significant for anxiety, and family history was non-contributory.

Acute interstitial nephritis with podocyte foot-process effacement complicating Plasmodium falciparum infection.

Background: Malarial acute renal failure (MARF) is a component of the severe malaria syndrome, and complicates 1-5% of malaria infections. This form of renal failure has not been well characterized by histopathology.

Case Presentation: A 44 year-old male presented to the emergency department with a 5-day history of fever and malaise after returning from Nigeria.

Increased Weight Gain During the Long Interdialytic Period Is Associated with Minor Effects on Blood Pressure Control in Clinically Stable In-Centre Haemodialysis Patients.

Background/aims: Three-day-a-week chronic haemodialysis (cHD) involves 1 long (72 h) and 2 short (48 h) inter-dialytic periods (IDPs). We aimed to determine whether BP control following the long IDP is inferior to the short IDPs.

Methods: All pre- and post-dialysis BP and weight measurements over a 4-week period were retrospectively analyzed among 135 clinically stable cHD patients at 2 academic centres with comparisons between measurements recorded following short and long IDPs.

A comparison of long-term graft survival rates between the first and second donor kidney transplanted--the effect of a longer cold ischaemic time for the second kidney.

Prolonged cold ischaemic time (CIT) is associated with delayed initial graft function and may also have a negative impact on long-term graft outcome. We carried out a study comparing the long-term graft survival rates between those recipients who received the first of a pair of donor kidneys versus the recipient of the second graft. Adult kidney transplant recipients who received one of a pair of donor kidneys at our institution between 1989-1995 were included.

Pretransplant cardiac investigations in the Irish renal transplant population--the effectiveness of our current screening techniques in predicting cardiac events.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is prevalent among endstage renal failure patients and remains the major cause of mortality following renal transplantation. Death with a functioning transplant institute remains the most common cause of kidney graft failure. In this study we attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical history and current screening techniques available in predicting posttransplant CAD and also assess the role of coronary angiography as a pretransplant screening technique.

Acute interstitial nephritis: clinical features and response to corticosteroid therapy.

Background: Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a recognized cause of reversible acute renal failure characterized by the presence of an interstitial inflammatory cell infiltrate.

Methods: In order to evaluate the clinical characteristics and management of this disorder, we performed a retrospective study of all cases of AIN found by reviewing 2598 native renal biopsies received at our institution over a 12 year period. Presenting clinical, laboratory and histological features were identified, as was clinical outcome with specific regard to corticosteroid therapy response.

Reversal of pulmonary hypertension after ligation of a brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula.

The arteriovenous (AV) fistula is the access method of choice for long-term hemodialysis according to DOQI guidelines. Among the recognized complications of upper extremity AV fistulae fashioned for hemodialysis are infection, aneurysm formation, and high-output left ventricular failure. We describe a novel cardiopulmonary complication--secondary pulmonary hypertension resulting from an aneurysmal brachiocephalic AV fistula.