Respiratory failure in diabetic ketoacidosis

Respiratory failure complicating the course of diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA)is a source of increased morbidity and mortality.Detection of respiratory failure in DKA requires focused clinical monitoring,careful interpretation of arterial blood gases,and investigation for conditions that can affect adversely the respiration.Conditions that compromise respiratory function caused by DKA can be detected at presentation but are usually more prevalent during treatment.These conditions include deficits of potassium,magnesium and phosphate and hydrostatic or non-hydrostatic pulmonary edema.Conditions not caused by DKA that can worsen respiratory function under the added stress of DKA include infections of the respiratory system,pre-existing respiratory or neuromuscular disease and miscellaneous other conditions.Prompt recognition and management of the conditions that can lead to respiratory failure in DKA may prevent respiratory failure and improve mortality from DKA.

BK nephropathy in the native kidneys of patients with organ transplants: Clinical spectrum of BK infection

Nephropathy secondary to BK virus, a member of the Papoviridae family of viruses, has been recognized for some time as an important cause of allograft dysfunction in renal transplant recipients. In recent times, BK nephropathy(BKN) of the native kidneys has being increasingly recognized as a cause of chronic kidney disease in patients with solid organ transplants, bone marrow transplants and in patients with other clinical entities associated with immunosuppression. In such patients renal dysfunction is often attributed to other factors including nephrotoxicity of medications used to prevent rejection of the transplanted organs. Renal biopsy is required for the diagnosis of BKN. Quantitation of the BK viral load in blood and urine are surrogate diagnostic methods. The treatment of BKN is based on reduction of the immunosuppressive medications. Several compounds have shown antiviral activity, but have not consistently shown to have beneficial effects in BKN. In addition to BKN, BK viral infection can cause severe urinary bladder cystitis, ureteritis and urinary tract obstruction as well as manifestations in other organ systems including the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system and the hematopoietic system. BK viral infection has also been implicated in tumorigenesis. The spectrum of clinical manifestations from BK infection and infection from other members of the Papoviridae family is widening. Prevention and treatment of BK infection and infections from other Papovaviruses are subjects of intense research.