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[Melamine related urinary calculus and acute renal failure in infants]
Ning Sun1, Ying Shen, Qiang Sun
1Division of Urology, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China. ying_116sh@sohu.com
Insights
Melamine-contaminated formula caused urinary stones and acute kidney injury in infants. Prompt treatment, including dialysis or medication, is crucial for recovery, with satisfactory short-term outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Context:
- Infants fed with melamine-tainted formula milk in 2008 developed urinary calculus and acute renal failure.
- This study analyzed data from affected infants admitted to two major children's hospitals.
Purpose:
- To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of infants with urinary calculus and acute renal failure secondary to melamine-contaminated formula.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different therapeutic approaches.
Summary:
- 34 infants presented with urinary calculus and acute renal failure, with elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels.
- Calculus analysis revealed melamine and uric acid. Four treatment types showed no significant difference in normalizing creatinine.
- Renal failure resolved within 1-7 days for all affected infants.
Impact:
- Melamine-tainted formula is a significant risk factor for pediatric urinary calculus and obstructive acute renal failure.
- Highlights the importance of prompt management including dialysis or medication for electrolyte imbalances and timely obstruction relief.
- Short-term prognosis for affected infants is generally favorable with appropriate medical and surgical interventions.
Objective:
To summarize clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of infants with urinary calculus and acute renal failure developed after being fed with melamine tainted formula milk.
Methods:
Data of infant patients with urinary calculus and acute renal failure due to melamine tainted formula milk admitted to the Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University and the Xuzhou Children's Hospital in 2008 were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, image features as well as effects of 4 types of therapies.
Results:
All the 34 infants with urinary calculus were complicated with acute renal failure, their blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was (24.1 +/- 8.2) mmol/L and creatinine (Cr) was (384.2 +/- 201.2) micromol/L. The chemical analysis on the urinary calculus sampled from 14 of the infants showed that the calculus contained melamine and acidum uricum. The time needed for the four types of therapies for returning Cr to normal was (3.5 +/- 1.9) d for cystoscopy group, (2.7 +/- 1.1) d for lithotomy group, (3.8 +/- 2.3) d for dialysis group, and (2.7 +/- 1.6) d for medical treatment group, which had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.508). Renal failure of all the 34 infants was relieved within 1 to 7 days, averaging (3.0 +/- 1.8) d.
Conclusion:
Melamine tainted formula milk may cause urinary calculus and obstructive acute renal failure. It is suggested that firstly the patients with urinary calculus complicated with acute renal failure should be treated with dialysis or medication to correct electrolyte disturbances, in particular hyperkalemia, and then relieve the obstruction with available medical and surgical methods as soon as possible. It is observed that the short term prognosis is satisfactory.
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Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
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Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction
