Colonic necrosis following sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)-sorbitol enema in a renal transplant patient. Report of a case and review of the literature.
The authors present the case of a patient who developed near total colonic necrosis shortly after renal transplantation. The onset of symptoms was temporally related to the administration of sodium polystyrene (Kayexalate; Sanofi Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY)-sorbitol enemas for treatment of hyperkalemia. Three similar cases have been reported in the literature. The presence of uremia and the use of sorbitol appear to be common denominators in the pathophysiology of this complication. It is suggested that Kayexalate-sorbitol enemas be avoided in renal transplant patients.
Scott
T R
TR
Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
Graham
S M
SM
Schweitzer
E J
EJ
Bartlett
S T
ST
D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D004733:Enema / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D011137:Polystyrenes; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid