Hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic syndrome associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure: a case report and review of literature

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue and drowsiness. On admission, a physical examination disclosed dehydration and a laboratory investigation revealed the following values: plasma glucose, 1309 mg/dl; serum sodium, 160 mmol/l; potassium, 3.0 mmol/l; urea nitrogen, 65 mg/dl; creatinine, 2.73 mg/dl; and plasma osmolarity, 403 mOsm/kg. Urine ketone bodies were negative. A diagnosis of hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic syndrome was made, and hydration with an infusion of hypotonic saline (0.45%) and insulin therapy were immediately started. However, despite adequate rehydration and correction of blood glucose, his serum creatinine level increased to 3.1 mg/dl, while oliguria and myoglobinuria developed on the 4th hospital day, with serum creatine kinase increasing up to a maximum level of 16,749 IU/l, suggesting rhabdomyolysis. A final diagnosis of hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic syndrome associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure was made. His renal function gradually improved without hemodialysis, though acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis with hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic syndrome can sometimes be fatal. This rare case is presented along with a review of literature.

Increased urinary atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity excretion but decreased plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in patients with hyperosmolar-hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to measure urinary atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity (ANP-LI) and plasma ANP concentration in patients with hyperosmolar-hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) to investigate the change of renal ANP-LI and cardiac ANP synthesis in volume-depleted diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The urine ANP-LI:creatinine ratio, plasma ANP level, and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured in 12 patients with HHNS during the acute stage and after recovery, in 28 oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA)-treated type 2 diabetic patients, and in 23 normal subjects. ANP and PRA were measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

These HHNS patients had severe hyperglycemia and hyperosmolality as well as increased blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and PRA levels, as compared with normal subjects and OHA-treated type 2 diabetic patients. In these patients, the urinary ANP-LI:creatinine ratio (11.69 +/- 2.11 pmol/mmol) was significantly increased in comparison with the normal group (1.78 +/- 0.11 pmol/mmol) and OHA-treated diabetic patients (2.43 +/- 0.45 pmol/mmol), whereas plasma ANP concentration (5.12 +/- 0.72 pmol/l) was significantly lower than the corresponding values of the normal group (7.39 +/- 0.85 pmol/l) and OHA-treated diabetic patients (8.43 +/- 1.05 pmol/l). All of these abnormalities were significantly ameliorated after insulin, fluid, and electrolyte replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that urinary ANP-LI was significantly increased, whereas plasma ANP concentration was decreased, in the face of raised PRA in HHNS patients. This study indicates that renal ANP-LI substances and cardiac ANP may exhibit different responsiveness in diabetic patients with HHNS.

[Myoglobinuric renal failure in hyperosmolar diabetic coma (author's transl)]

Acute rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuric renal failure occurred in a 66-year-old woman who was in hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma. No previous description of such a case has been found. The clinical picture was characterized by the typical findings of hyperosmolar coma, in addition to excessive serum creatine kinase and myoglobin levels and massive myoglobinuria with acute renal failure. The rhabdomyolysis became fully manifest only under insulin treatment, possibly the result of insulin-induced hypophosphataemia, which seems to be of importance in the causation of the rhabdomyolysis.