Hypothermia-induced acute kidney injury in a diabetic patient with nephropathy and neuropathy

Abstract

Hypothermia is a life-threatening medical condition defined as an unintentional fall in body temperature below 35°C. Exposure to cold environment stimulates the thermoregulatory system to maintain the body temperature within the physiological range. Patients with malnutrition and/or diabetes mellitus are at high risk for accidental hypothermia, and acute kidney injury, which is mainly caused by pre-renal factors, occurs in relation to hypothermia. However, acute exacerbation of pre-existing chronic kidney disease has been rarely reported. Here, we present a patient with diabetes mellitus and malnutrition who developed two separate episodes of hypothermia followed by acute exacerbation of chronic kidney disease. © 2010 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.