Failure to thrive, anemia, and anasarca.

A 5-month-old white girl was admitted to an Infant Intensive Care Unit 
of Jackson Memorial Hospital. According to her mother, the baby had 
been in "her usual state of health" until one week before 
admission, when she began to "spit up" after feedings and her 
lower extremities became puffy. Vomiting increased in frequency until it occurred 
after every meal; eventually the baby refused all feedings; there was 
no diarrhea. Ultimately, the family's physician, when consulted, recommended that she 
be admitted to the hospital. On the fourth day she developed 
renal failure with anuria and rising creatinine concentration despite adequate fluid 
intake; peritoneal dialysis was begun. However, she soon became hypothermic and 
developed pulmonary edema, and she died a few hours later. A 
discussion of the case is presented. 