Periodic discharge of adrenocorticotropin and vasopressin associated with focal glomerulosclerosis.

Abstract

We report the first case of the syndrome of periodic adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and vasopressin (ADH) discharge associated with focal glomerulosclerosis. Approximately 30 cases of this syndrome have so far been reported in Japan, but no cases associated with renal dysfunction have yet been reported. The patient, a 10-year-old Japanese boy, was referred to our hospital because of recurrent attacks of vomiting. He was diagnosed as having this syndrome from clinical and laboratory findings. While various drugs were tried to manage his vomiting attacks, only valproic acid appeared to be effective in reducing the frequency of the attacks. Chronic nephritis was manifested when the patient was 12 years old, which required treatment with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Valproic acid was proved to be effective in reducing the number of attacks over 4 months.