Five patients with adrenal insufficiency and large adrenal glands at presentation are reported. Addison's disease was due to adrenal tuberculosis in three patients, with important changes in adrenal configuration on CT reflecting the natural history of the disease. Adrenal infiltration by non-Hodgkin lymphoma and metastatic carcinoma of the lung was the cause of the disease in the fourth and fifth patients, respectively, who developed signs of adrenal insufficiency before the diagnosis of the primary lesion became apparent. Histologic confirmation was established after unilateral adrenalectomy in three patients. In two patients with adrenal tuberculosis, long clinical and laboratory follow-up confirmed the diagnosis. This report indicates that Addison's disease is not infrequently associated with adrenal enlargement. Adrenal size is related to the cause and duration of the various disease states leading to adrenal insufficiency. Moreover, adrenal insufficiency associated with enlarged adrenal glands can be the presenting manifestation of lymphoma or metastasis.
Purpose of review
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The cause of CVD in children with CKD is multifactorial and there are new and emerging data regarding prevalence and risk factors for CVD in this population.
Recent findings
A number of recent publications from longitudinal cohort studies of children with CKD have greatly increased our knowledge about the prevalence and risk factors for CVD including hypertension, obesity and dyslipidaemia. Masked hypertension and isolated nocturnal hypertension both correlate with surrogate markers of CVD in children. Obesity and adiposity are associated with an increased risk of CVD. Markers other than BMI such as waist to height ratio and fat-free tissue to fat tissue ratio better correlate with the presence of CVD in children. Dyslipidaemia is extremely prevalent in the paediatric CKD population, but there is a lack of consensus on treatment. More data on the relationship between bone mineral disease and CVD continue to emerge including an association between hyperparathyroidism and isolated nocturnal hypertension.
Summary
Children with CKD have multiple potentially modifiable risk factors for CVD. Research focused on CVD outcomes in children is needed.
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