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Hypovolemic shock is not an uncommon presentation in nephrotic syndrome, yet it is seldom mentioned in the literature. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of hypovolemia and hypovolemic shock in the acute nephrotic stage, and the association of hemoconcentration and abdominal pain with hypovolemic status. Two hundred and twenty-five patients with a total of 328 admissions to the pediatric ward of our hospital during 1983 to 1996 were retrospectively reviewed for hypovolemic episodes. Clinical presentation and laboratory data including hemoglobin, serum sodium, albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were investigated. Thirteen patients with 19 episodes (5.8%) of hypovolemic shock were found, and had more severe hemoconcentration (hemoglobin 19.6 +/- 2.2 g/dL) and hyponatremia (127.3 +/- 7.2 mEq/L). Another 33 patients with 41 symptomatic hypovolemic episodes without hypotension (12.5%) were found, and their hemoglobin levels were higher compared to patients without hypovolemic symptoms. Among 61 episodes of abdominal pain and hemoconcentration, 58 were responsive to albumin infusion. This suggested the presence of hypovolemia. Twenty patients had abdominal pain without hemoconcentration, and 18 of them had primary peritonitis. Hypovolemia was found in patients at the acute nephrotic stage, and was usually associated with hemoconcentration and abdominal pain. A combined examination of hemoglobin and serum sodium is the best indicator of hypovolemic status. Both primary peritonitis and hypovolemic episodes should be taken into consideration when managing abdominal pain in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is usually left sided and has a large defect allowing abdominal viscera herniated into thoracic cavity. The chest films usually show air-filled stomach and/or loops of bowel in the ipsilateral hemithorax with mediastinal shift. We report a newborn with CDH, presenting as hyperlucent hemithorax, right-shifted mediastinum, apparently normal pattern of abdominal bowel gas, with the tip of nasogastric tube below the left hemidiaphragm on the radiograph. It was initially misdiagnosed as pneumothorax, and the acute respiratory distress was temporarily relieved by needle aspiration. Hyperlucent hemithorax due to intrathoracic gastric dilatation alone is an unusual presentation of CDH in neonatal period. Absence of stomach bubble in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, in both radiography and abdominal sonography, is an important clue to make diagnosis of CDH in this misleading condition.

From October 1996 to December 1997, ninety normal infants born at full-term were enrolled in this study. There were 59 female infants and 31 male infants. Both serum free thyroxine and thyrotropin levels were measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay in the first week (n = 75), 3 months (n = 66), 6 months (n = 79), and 12 months (n = 77) of age. Serum free thyroxine levels (ng/dL) (mean +/- standard deviation) were 2.2 +/- 0.5, 1.3 +/- 0.2, 1.2 +/- 0.2, 1.0 +/- 0.2 for each age group, respectively. Serum thyrotropin levels (mIU/L) (mean +/- standard deviation) were 9.7 +/- 6.7, 3.0 +/- 1.6, 2.7 +/- 1.3, 2.5 +/- 1.2 for each age group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the levels of these two parameters between male and female. The present study provides the reference data for the normal range of thyroid function during infancy. Our results also show that the serum free T4 and TSH levels tend to decline during the first year of life.

Charts of 16 children with nephrocalcinosis between 1990 and 1997 were reviewed. The cause of nephrocalcinosis was believed to be iatrogenic in 7 patients (43.8%) and non-iatrogenic in 9 (56.2%). Vitamin D therapy was responsible for 5 patients of iatrogenic nephrocalcinosis, and furosemide therapy for the remaining iatrogenic patients. Non-iatrogenic cases consisted of 3 patients with renal tubular acidosis, 3 patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria, and the 3 other patients with rare underlying conditions. Abdominal X-ray detected nephrocalcinosis in only 2 (12.5%) of the total 16 patients. None showed resolution of nephrocalcinosis during these years of follow-up.