The Journal of pediatrics
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Mar 1977
Case ReportsHypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and dehydration following a single hypertonic phosphate enema.
Previous reports of hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia following use of phosphate enemas have either been in patients with renal disease or followed prolonged abuse of these products. The two patients described here had marked elevation of serum phosphate and concomitant lowering of serum calcium secondary to absorption of phosphate from a single administered enema. Associated moderate dehydration resulted in poor renal excretion of the absorbed phosphate and prolongation of hypocalcemia. Hydration was effective in permitting clearance of phosphate and restoration of normocalcemia.
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Dec 1976
Case ReportsRecurrent hypernatremia; a proposed mechanism in a patient with absence of thirst and abnormal excretion of water.
A 7-year-old girl twice developed severe hypernatremia (serum sodium values up to 194 mEq/l) without obvious cause. The ability of her kidneys to conserve water was normal, and increasing her plasma osmolality stimulated an appropriate ADH response. Unable to excrete a water load, her kidneys continued to conserve water even with a serum sodium concentration of 133 mEq/l. ⋯ Although there was no demonstrable anatomic lesion, we postulate a localized defect of her thirst center. This may have modified release of ADH and resulted in an inability to dilute the urine by interrupting a pathway that could exist from the thirst center to the supraoptic nuclei. A therapeutic regimen based on these studies has prevented further hypernatremia.
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Oct 1976
Continuous low-dose infusion of insulin in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children.
Twelve diabetic children--eight in ketoacidosis, three with insulin refractory hyperglycemia, and one postoperative patient--were treated with continuous, low-dose, intravenous infusion of insulin. The eight ketoacidotic children with a mean serum glucose concentration on admission of 631 mg/dl and bicarbonate value of 6.8 mM/1 were given regular insulin, 0.1 U/kg, slowly by bolus injection followed by a sustaining infusion of 0.1 U/kg/hour. Plasma glucose concentration fell at a mean rate of 82 mg/dl/hour. ⋯ Mean plasma insulin in those children who had not previously received insulin was 55 muU/ml, well within the normal physiologic range. Growth hormone and serum triglyceride levels, low initially, rose with insulin therapy before returning to control values. Continuous low-dose insulin infusion is simple, safe, and effective, avoids confusion and empiricism, and appears to be the method of choice for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or insulin resistance.