The incidence of MALA estimated from metformin serum concentration measurements in type 2 DM patients is 5-16 times higher than reported in literature. MALA is probably caused by the frequent use of metformin in the presence of risk factors for lactic acidosis. Metformin serum concentration measurements may aid in the timely diagnosis and therapy of MALA. The outcome of MALA is determined by the severity of the underlying disease, rather than by metformin itself.

Dietary excesses in animal protein and/or salt have been implicated as risk factors in calcium oxalate urolithiasis. The underlying physicochemical mechanism is, however, not known. Eight healthy men were given four different diets varying in animal protein and in sodium content for 1 week each. On a high protein intake (2 g/kg.day) significant changes in urinary calcium, uric acid, and citrate excretion rates were found. Similar changes in calcium and citrate were induced by a high sodium intake (310 mmol/day). The changes were more pronounced when a high protein was combined with a high sodium diet. Urinary calcium increased from 3.79 +/- 0.31 to 6.42 +/- 0.61 mmol/24 h and urinary uric acid from 4.69 +/- 0.26 to 8.0 +/- 0.47, whereas urinary citrate decreased from 3.93 +/- 0.53 to 2.79 +/- 0.34 mmol/24 h. All three dietary regimens induced a significant decrease in the ability of urines to inhibit calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal agglomeration, which was most marked during the combined diet (from 345 +/- 39 to 205 +/- 28 min). The ability of urines to inhibit crystal agglomeration was related to their citrate content (r = 0.69, P less than 0.0001). These results show that high animal protein and/or sodium intake decrease the ability of urines to inhibit the agglomeration of calcium oxalate crystals and provide a possible physicochemical explanation for the adverse effects of dietary aberrations on renal stone formation.

We describe an elderly man who presented with life-threatening hematuria and gastrointestinal bleeding caused by acquired von Willebrand disease associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Standard therapy with desmopressin, von Willebrand factor-containing factor VIII concentrate, tranexamic acid, and immunoglobulin failed to achieve adequate hemostasis. However, treatment with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) arrested the bleeding completely. Since acquired von Willebrand disease can lead to life-threatening hemorrhage, clinicians should consider rFVIIa as an effective treatment option if standard therapy fails. Am. J. Hematol. 66:292-294, 2001.

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Salt substitutes may cause severe hyperkalaemia in patients with impaired renal potassium handling