NEONATAL BARTTER-SYNDROME - SPONTANEOUS RESOLUTION OF ALL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

This baby boy was born after a pregnancy complicated by severe polyhyd ramnios at a gestational age of 28 weeks. Analysis of the amniotic flu id had shown a high chloride content, but normal concentrations of sod ium, potassium, and calcium. After birth he displayed extreme polyuria , severe renal sodium and chloride loss, and marked hypercalciuria. Fi ve weeks after birth, his sodium chloride loss turned into renal potas sium loss, along with a marked decrease in urine output. All these fea tures are characteristic of the neonatal variant of Bartter syndrome. He was discharged after 11 weeks with oral supplements of sodium chlor ide, potassium gluconate, and 500 ml of fluid. The follow-up for a per iod of 6 years showed a surprising evolution: he has no hypokalemic al kalosis, no polyuria, and no hypercalciuria; growth and development an within the normal ranges and, at the time of writing, he is a healthy boy needing no medication and with no medical problems whatsoever.