Charcot neuroarthropathy in a non-diabetic patient with renal failure: A case study

Abstract

Charcot Neuroarthropathy (CN), a limb threatening disease, has previously been documented and studied extensively in the diabetic population. Within this population most individuals who suffer from CN also have documented peripheral neuropathy secondary to their diabetes. While many patients with CN are diabetic, there remains a small population of non-diabetic patients. Etiology in these non-diabetic cases has been attributed to other causes of neuroarthropathy such as leprosy, spina bifida, rheumatoid arthritis, glucocorticoid use, and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Non-diabetic individuals are reported mainly in case studies and remain an enigma in the Charcot population. The purpose of this case study is to document a non-diabetic patient with end stage renal disease suffering from CN. In an extensive literature review no such case study has been documented in recent history. Although kidney failure has been noted in many Charcot patients, the correlation remains understudied. The Charcot event in this case was monitored through serial radiographs and treated conservatively. Corresponding bloodwork from periods of prolonged hospitalization due to unrelated coinciding events confirm normal serum glucose measurements and monitor the status of renal failure. Although this patient does not represent the majority of patients who suffer from CN, much remains to be learned from the study of outlying cases like this one.