Korean J Nephrol.  2009 Mar;28(2):122-126.

Clinical Characteristics of Renal Insufficiency Patients with Clostridium difficile-Associated Pseudomembranous Colitis

• Jung SW
• Lee YM
• Jung DE
• Lee JH
• Kim HJ
• Lee JE
• Song JH
• Park DS
• Ahn SH

Abstract

PURPOSE:Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a potentially life-threatening illness which has been shown to be more common and more severe in patient with chronic renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of renal insufficiency patients with clostridium difficile-associated pseudomembranous colitis.
METHODS
We reviewed charts of fifty-six patients with clostridium difficile-associated pseudomembranous colitis, who have clostridial toxin A assay in stool and a diagnosis made on histology of colonic biopsies.
RESULTS
There was no difference in age, serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and negative incidence of clostridial toxin A between patients who had renal insufficiency with serum creatinine more than 1.5 mg/dL and those who did not. But duration of antibiotic use administered prior to development of the clostridium difficile infection was more shorter in patients with impaired renal function than in patients with normal renal function.
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that it may take a short period to development of the clostridium difficile infection in patients with impaired renal function, and histologic evaluation by sigmoidoscopy should be performed to make a diagnosis in CDAD-suggested patients, who have impaired renal function and even negative clostridial toxin A.

Keyword

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea; Pseudomembranous colitis; Renal Insufficiency

MeSH Terms

C-Reactive Protein
Clostridium
Clostridium difficile
Colon
Creatinine
Diarrhea
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous
Humans
Incidence
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Renal Insufficiency
Serum Albumin
Sigmoidoscopy
C-Reactive Protein
Creatinine
Serum Albumin