Diagnosis and Treatment > Investigation > Leukocyte esterase (urine)

You are looking at 1 - 2 of 2 items

Maria Cabrer Endocrine Unit, Hospital Comarcal d’Inca, Inca, Spain

Search for other papers by Maria Cabrer in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Guillermo Serra Endocrine Unit, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, Spain

Search for other papers by Guillermo Serra in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
María Soledad Gogorza Endocrine Unit, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, Spain

Search for other papers by María Soledad Gogorza in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Vicente Pereg Endocrine Unit, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, Spain

Search for other papers by Vicente Pereg in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Summary

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a genetic syndrome that may present with hypocalcemia due to primary hypoparathyroidism (PH) at any age. We report a new diagnosis of 22q11.2DS in a 57-year-old man who presented with symptomatic hypocalcemia. It is important to consider genetic causes of hypocalcemia due to PH regardless of age.

Learning points:

  • It is important to discard genetic cause of primary hypoparathyroidism in a patient without autoimmune disease or prior neck surgery.

  • A new diagnosis of a hereditary disease has familial implications and needs genetic counselling.

  • It is also important to discard other syndrome’s comorbidities.

Open access
Prashanth Rawla Department of Internal Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Martinsville, Virginia, USA

Search for other papers by Prashanth Rawla in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Anantha R Vellipuram Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas, USA

Search for other papers by Anantha R Vellipuram in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Sathyajit S Bandaru Senior Research Associate, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Search for other papers by Sathyajit S Bandaru in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Jeffrey Pradeep Raj Department of Pharmacology, St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, India

Search for other papers by Jeffrey Pradeep Raj in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Summary

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA) is a clinical triad comprising increased anion gap metabolic acidosis, ketonemia or ketonuria and normal blood glucose levels <200 mg/dL. This condition is a diagnostic challenge as euglycemia masquerades the underlying diabetic ketoacidosis. Thus, a high clinical suspicion is warranted, and other diagnosis ruled out. Here, we present two patients on regular insulin treatment who were admitted with a diagnosis of EDKA. The first patient had insulin pump failure and the second patient had urinary tract infection and nausea, thereby resulting in starvation. Both of them were aggressively treated with intravenous fluids and insulin drip as per the protocol for the blood glucose levels till the anion gap normalized, and the metabolic acidosis reversed. This case series summarizes, in brief, the etiology, pathophysiology and treatment of EDKA.

Learning points:

  • Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis is rare.

  • Consider ketosis in patients with DKA even if their serum glucose levels are normal.

  • High clinical suspicion is required to diagnose EDKA as normal blood sugar levels masquerade the underlying DKA and cause a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma.

  • Blood pH and blood or urine ketones should be checked in ill patients with diabetes regardless of blood glucose levels.

Open access