Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Mitchell H Rosner

Publications and source records attributed to Mitchell H Rosner.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Acute renal failure caused by renal infiltration by hematolymphoid malignancy.

Renal involvement by a malignant infiltrative process is often suspected in patients with bilaterally enlarged kidneys and concurrent malignancies. Acute renal failure (ARF) can rarely occur secondary to such an infiltrative process. We present 2 cases in which ARF is attributable to malignant hematolymphoid infiltration. The first case involves diffuse, bilateral involvement of the kidneys by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient's renal function improved dramatically after the initiation of chemotherapy, clearly linking the development of ARF to the malignant process. In the second case, infiltration of the kidneys by plasma cell leukemia resulted in dialysis dependence. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of ARF attributable to documented renal infiltration by plasma cell leukemia. A review of the potential causes of renal failure in hematolymphoid malignancy, focusing on the direct impact of the infiltrative process and on the spectrum of renal disease in plasma cell dyscrasia, is presented.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Management of cirrhotic ascites: physiological basis of diuretic action.

Ascites is a significant complication of cirrhosis that occurs in approximately 50% of patients. The mortality rate is high in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Conventional interventions rest with dietary sodium restriction, diuretic use, large-volume paracentesis, peritoneovenous shunts and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. The mainstay of therapy, however, is the judicious use of diuretics. This article reviews the physiological basis of diuretic use in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, as well as recent concepts on the pathogenesis of ascites formation. Through a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ascites formation and the mechanism of action of diuretics, improved extracellular fluid balance can be achieved in these patients.

Journal Article↗

Cromolyn sodium: a potential therapy for uremic pruritus?

Uremic pruritus occurs in up to 50% of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The pathogenesis of this disabling condition is unknown but likely involves multiple pathways involving the peripheral and central nervous system as well as local chemical and inflammatory mediators. Therapy has involved modification of the dialysis procedure, topical medications such as emollients, physical treatments such as ultraviolet light, and several oral medications such as antihistamines, activated charcoal, and gabapentin. Unfortunately, most of these therapies have not been subjected to rigorous clinical trials and clinical success has been variable. Two patients with disabling uremic pruritus refractory to multiple interventions are reported, who showed significant improvement in pruritus severity as assessed by a visual analog scale when they were treated with the mast cell stabilizer cromolyn sodium. Cessation of cromolyn resulted in return of pruritus, which improved with rechallenge with the medication. Cromolyn sodium may offer an alternative therapy for patients with refractory uremic pruritus, and should be subjected to a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Cromolyn Sodium↗

Natriuretic peptides in ESRD.

Natriuretic peptides are involved in the regulation of volume homeostasis. Their levels generally are increased in the setting of volume expansion and act on multiple effector systems to cause vasodilation and natriuresis in an effort to return volume status back to normal. In patients with end-stage renal disease, the natriuretic capabilities of these peptides are limited. However, there has been much interest in the potential applicability of measurement of these peptides as a surrogate marker of volume status and in the determination of dry weight. Furthermore, atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide can serve as markers of left ventricular dysfunction and may have utility in determining cardiac prognosis in patients on long-term dialysis therapy.

Animals↗

Hemodialysis for the non-nephrologist.

Hemodialysis is now routinely provided to more than 300,000 patients in the United States. An epidemic of end-stage renal disease will nearly double this number by 2010. Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis have high morbidity and mortality rates. Given these facts, most medical providers will be involved in the care of patients undergoing hemodialysis and it is thus important to have an understanding of the dialysis procedure and its attendant risks. This review discusses the basic physiology of the dialysis procedure and its associated complications.

Humans↗

Severe hyponatremia associated with the combined use of thiazide diuretics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Thiazide diuretics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications. Each medication has been associated with the development of severe hyponatremia. The mechanisms involved in the development of hyponatremia differ for each medication. Thiazide diuretics induce hyponatremia by impairment of urinary dilution, renal loss of sodium and potassium, stimulation of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and perhaps from a dipsogenic effect. SSRIs cause hyponatremia through the syndrome of inappropriate ADH release. Two cases of severe hyponatremia in patients taking both a thiazide diuretic and an SSRI highlight the possibility of a synergistic effect in impairment of renal free water clearance when both medications are given. These two cases serve as a cautionary example and should prompt careful monitoring of patients prescribed both an SSRI and a thiazide diuretic (especially in elderly women, who seem to be at increased risk for this complication).

Aged↗

Combination therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aggressive therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal disease is warranted given the natural history of this disease. Although antagonizing the renin-angiotensin system is clearly important, how this is accomplished is of considerable controversy. On the one hand, recent clinical trials of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with renal disease demonstrate unequivocally the renal protective effect of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Although the results of the recently published LIFE trial are encouraging, inconsistencies have been observed with ARBs in reducing cardiovascular end points. On the other hand, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have a dramatic effect in reducing cardiovascular events but have not been shown convincingly to reduce progression of renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These studies leave us in a quandary as to the optimal initial treatment regimen for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal disease despite the recent recommendations from the American Diabetes Association (Alexandria, Va). Given the fact that many of these individuals will require administration of multiple antihypertensive agents, perhaps the initial treatment with a combination of an ARB and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor affords optimal cardiovascular and renal protection for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal disease. Future clinical trials should be designed to address this issue.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

Lipid abnormalities associated with end-stage renal disease.

Patients undergoing chronic renal replacement therapy have a high incidence of dyslipidemia. In general, there are increased concentrations of triglyceride-rich apolipoprotein B-containing particles. These elevations lead to increased levels of non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. This pattern is further modified by the method of dialysis (peritoneal versus hemodialysis) and comorbidities such as diabetes. End-stage renal disease patients also demonstrate increased levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL)both of which are highly atherogenic. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of these lipid abnormalities and their role in the atherosclerotic process.

Dyslipidemias↗

Management of lipid abnormalities associated with end-stage renal disease.

The management of lipid abnormalities in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains controversial. Large, well-designed studies investigating the effects of dyslipidemia on cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and the role of cholesterol lowering drugs in reducing mortality in ESRD patients are lacking. While it seems reasonable to suspect that dyslipidemia and its treatment in ESRD patients will affect CV morbidity and mortality similar to that in the general population, recent studies have suggested that this may not be the case. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of lipid lowering drugs are altered in patients with ESRD and must be considered when treating this group of patients. This article reviews the major classes of drugs used to treat dyslipidemia, emphasizing their role in patients with ESRD.

Antioxidants↗

Acute kidney dysfunction secondary to the abdominal compartment syndrome.

The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) occurs most commonly in the setting of major trauma and complex abdominal surgical procedures. The syndrome reflects the adverse physiological consequences of an acute increase in intra-abdominal pressure (generally >18 mm Hg). The effects of increased abdominal pressures on the kidney were initially described in 1876 and include impairment of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration resulting in oliguria or anuria and acute kidney dysfunction. These effects are magnified by the concomitant effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure to impair venous return and cardiac output. Patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) can be easily detected using simple methodology. If employed early, abdominal decompression to lower IAH is associated with restoration of organ function and avoidance of the ACS. However, the overall mortality associated with this syndrome remains high. In postsurgical, trauma patients, or those at risk, ACS should be considered as a potential etiology for acute kidney dysfunction and intra-abdominal pressures should be measured, monitored and when necessary intervened upon in order to attempt to improve organ dysfunction.

Abdominal Injuries↗