Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening clinical syndrome associated with muscle injury which can cause a leakage of intracellular contents, manifested from the range of being asymptomatic to a life-threatening condition causing acute kidney injury and severe electrolyte abnormalities. Rhabdomyolysis has been associated with both diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome, though there is an increased association with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury with hyperosmolar nonketonic state compared with patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Common clinical manifestations are muscle pain, dark urine, and generalized weakness. The causes of rhabdomyolysis are broadly categorized into three groups: traumatic, nontraumatic exertional, and nontraumatic nonexertional. Here, we present a case of rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury in a patient with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. The patient was discharged on insulin and needed intermittent dialysis for two months. Our case highlights the importance of the rare association of rhabdomyolysis causing acute kidney injury in a diabetic emergency.

Recently, the incidence of Clostridium difficile- (C. difficile-) associated infection has increased significantly in hospital and ambulatory care settings in parallel to the increasing use of inappropriate antibiotics. According to the CDC, approximately 83,000 patients who developed C. difficile experienced at least one recurrence and 29,000 died within 30 days of the initial diagnosis. Patients on dialysis (particularly peritoneal dialysis) are predisposed to this infection due to an inherent immunocompromised state and transmural translocation of the bacteria due to the close association of gastrointestinal tract and peritoneal cavity. C. difficile infection in peritoneal dialysis patients is problematic from two aspects: (1) because dialysis patients are immunocompromised, the infection can be devastating and (2) infection directly interferes with their renal replacement therapy. In this article, we present a case of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis caused by C. difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis. In this patient, the peritonitis was caused by transmural translocation of the enteric bacteria. While the peritoneal fluid culture did not grow the organism (possibly because of prior empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics use), the positive PCR on stool analysis suggested C. difficile-related peritonitis, along with the rapid clinical improvement induced by C. difficile-directed therapy (metronidazole) and discontinuation of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The patient was successfully treated with metronidazole without PD catheter removal. C. difficile infection is common and frequently internists are the first contact with such patients. This article highlights C. difficile infection in a PD patient and raises awareness of this infection in dialysis patients.

This study finds that nearly one-third of the patients undergoing transradial percutaneous coronary interventions have advanced chronic kidney disease. Because many of these patients may require dialysis, the use of radial artery to conduct percutaneous coronary interventions must be carefully considered in chronic kidney disease population.