FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON HOMEOSTATIC DISTURBANCE IN ACRODYNIA

¹ Children's Hospital Research Foundation, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati

On the basis of data obtained from four cases of acrodynia, it was found that deficits of total body chloride and water were present. Normal concentrations of electrolytes and acid-base balance were, for the most part, preserved while the volumes of the fluid compartments were reduced.

Investigations relating to sweat in one patient showed that the volume was excessively high while the concentration of electrolyte was low—circumstances that arise to a lesser degree when a normal infant is subjected to heat stress. It was demonstrated that such losses could lead to chloride deficiency when the intake of food is inadequate. The insensible water loss was also very high, a prediction of increase in body metabolism.

Balance studies did not suggest a stable restoration of chloride and water. It was postulated that mercury gives rise to loss of salt through the kidneys with polyuria and sharp loss of weight early in the course of the disease, followed by a continued state of water and chloride deprivation.

The venous pressure was significantly elevated in three patients and in one patient the concentration of 17-hydroxcorticosteroids in the plasma was at the upper limit of normal. The findings concerning urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids confirmed once again an increased production. Evidence was cited that patients with acrodynia can be resistant to the sodium-retaining action of desoxycorticosterone.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?