The American Journal of Medicine Blog

A 63-year-old man with a history of nephrolithiasis and neurogenic bladder requiring chronic indwelling urinary catheter was admitted for the management of urinary tract infection and acute kidney injury (AKI) with a serum creatinine level of 3.6 mg/dL (baseline approximately 1.9-2.2). He was initially brought to the emergency room for altered mental status. The patient […]

A screening colonoscopy identified an unexpected diagnosis in a 64-year-old male patient. He was an asymptomatic landscaper who presented for a first-time screening colonoscopy based on age. His only active medical issue was psoriasis, for which he took apremilast. At the time of colonoscopy, he denied any bright red blood per rectum, melena, changes in […]

Solid organ transplantation is increasingly used in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and is accumulating favorable outcomes from kidney and liver transplants in HIV-1 positive patients.1, 2 Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) is used for prevention and treatment of acute rejection following renal transplantation.3 It promotes T-cell depletion as well as modulation of cell surface antigens.4 It is possible that […]

A 78-year-old female was admitted to the cardiac critical care unit with concerns for acute on chronic heart failure exacerbation. She had a history of nonischemic cardiomyopathy that had previously remained stable over a period of 15 years through standard medical management. Six months prior to admission, she developed dyspnea and lower extremity edema. She […]

Frailty and acute kidney injury are independently associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The degree of frailty can be assessed by the Clinical Frailty Score (CFS). This study assessed whether an individual’s CFS was associated with acute kidney injury in acute elderly medical admissions and recorded the short-term outcomes. Methods This was […]

Kidneys play an essential role in K+ homeostasis, but the role of the colon in K+ homeostasis is not well recognized. Increased colonic K+ excretion plays a vital role in regulating plasma K+ level in patients with end-stage renal disease.1 We present a case of hypokalemia in a patient with end-stage renal disease with colonic pseudo-obstruction. […]