Summary
SUBJECTSThe economy of CI-, K+, and Mg++, extracellular volume (ECV) and plasma volume, and the role of hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism were explored in 22 patients with congenital chloride diarrhea. Stool volume was in significant correlation with its CI-, Na+ and K+ content, the correlation being significantly better with CI-content than with the Na+ content. Low fecal CI-concentrations were seen in chronic hypochloremic contraction, but acute episodes did not cause reduction of fecal CI-concentration from the basal level of 140-150 mmoll liter. The adequate condition (defied as normal serum electrolyte concentrations and blood pH, and presence of CI-in urine) was associated with high total exchangeable C1-and ECV. This excess CI-and ECV roughly equalled the high daily fecal amount of CI-and volume. Reduced ECV was accompanied bv high renin activities and hyperaldosteronism, but in theadequate condition these were normal. Hvperaldosteronism caused a decrease in urinary Na+-K+ ratio-and, after the age of 2-6 months, in the fecal Na+-K+ ratio. Total exchangeable K+ was normal in the adequate condition. No Mg++ depletion was present, although the patients lack Mg++ substitution. The adequate condition could be maintained with an oral supplement of NaCI, KC1 and water.Twenty-two patients, aged 0.5-14.5 years (18), were studied. Their early long term substitution was with a 0.15-0.3 M water solution of KC1 only, the dose (45-204 mmol/m2/24 hr) being adjusted to maintain normal serum electrolyte concentrations. Several episodes of acute dehydration had occurred lasting up to a week during the first years of life, but the subsequent clinical condition of the patients had been good. They passed a constantly Cl--free urine and tended to be slightly alkalotic.Five years ago the therapy was changed to a 0.15-0.3 M NaCl + KC1 solution with the molar ratio of the salts individually varying from 3: 1 to 1: 1. The dose was 60-216 mmol/m2 daily and was adjusted to maintain chloriduria in addition to normal serum electrolyte concentrations and blood pH. Such a state will be referred to as the adequate condition. The recordings of low serum electrolyte concentrations and alkalosis in this study were obtained from observations during acute exacerbations of the diarrhea, due to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, and from observations in our early patients.
METHODS
SpeculationSerum electrolyte concentrations and blood pH were measured according to standard methods. Urinary and fecal electroHyperreninemi% h~~eraldosteronism, and h~~o k a l e m i c a k a -lyte excretion was always measured from 24-hr collections. losis in congenital chloride diarrhea (CCD) are secondary to F~~ measurement of total exchangeable (-1-(TECI-), 0.3 hypochloremic ECV contraction and can be completely cor-p~i / k g of 36C1, NaCl solution ( > 3 mCilg ~1 -) was injected rected with adequate substitution. Mg++ depletion does not intravenously with 5 % glucose. Urines and stools were collected play a Part in CCD. The to h~~eraldosteron-...