Nephrol Dial Transplant (2002) 17: 161-162
© 2002 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Nephroquiz for the Beginner
Excessive fluid gain in a chronic laxative abuser: "pseudo-idiopathic" oedema
(Section Editor: M. G. Zeier)
Department of Nephrology Meir Hospital Sapir Medical Center Kfar-Saba, and the Sackler School of Medicine Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel
Case
A 43-year-old Caucasian female, employed as a medical secretary, was initially referred for evaluation of acute renal failure discovered following routine laboratory testing (Table 1
). She had previously been diagnosed as having an obsessive, compulsive personality disorder and was a known chronic laxative abuser. Purgative consumption was in excess of 20 tablets per day for nearly three decades. Notably, for the past several years, severe osteoporosis had been documented
Questions
Answer to quiz on preceding page
Notes
References