Recent advances in the understanding of the peritoneal membrane.

Purpose Of Review: The efficiency of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a life-sustaining replacement therapy for patients with kidney failure relies on the integrity and function of the peritoneal membrane. Here, we review the most recent advances in the understanding of the peritoneal membrane and its role in PD.

Recent Findings: A recent update of the ISPD guidelines proposed a revised definition of membrane dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of fluid balance in patients treated with PD and identified three main mechanisms leading to insufficient peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF).

Albumin losses during hemodiafiltration: all dialyzers are not created equal - a case report.

Background: Online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) is associated with better removal of both small and middle molecules and might improve survival compared to conventional hemodialysis (HD). Nevertheless, hemodiafiltration (HDF) can lead to an increase in albumin loss across the dialyzer, especially with high permeability membrane and high convective volume (CV). We present the case of a patient treated by OL-HDF who developed severe hypoalbuminemia resulting from massive albumin loss into dialysate.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis: an atypical abdominal pain.

Septic arthritis of the pubic symphysis is a rare infection mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and is traditionally associated with risk factors (sports, female incontinence surgery). Typical features of pubic symphysis infection include abdominal, pelvic, or groin pain that increases upon standing and walking, causing limping to occur. Acute onset of fever is often associated.

Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with Puumula Hantavirus infection.

We report the case of a 62-year-old man who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following Hantavirus infection. Only three similar cases have been described in the literature so far. GBS is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive symmetrical weakness of lower limbs extending to upper limbs and face and low or absent tendon reflexes.

Azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome: a case report.

We report here the case of a 51-year-old man presenting to the Emergency Department with a febrile cutaneous eruption with diffuse arthralgia 10 days after the onset of azathioprine therapy. The clinical examination did not reveal any inflammatory syndrome and the results of all bacteriological tests were negative. A skin biopsy was performed, which revealed a granulocytary pustula with superficial dermal oedema and a neutrophil infiltration without sign of vasculitis.