Chronic Kidney Disease--Chronic Liver Disease. An Immunologic Cross-talk.

The relationship between the kidney and other organs is notable. The best known is the relation with the cardiovascular system. Relationships with other organs are less studied, although their involvement sometimes dominates the clinical picture and the outcome of disease. The paper analyzes the kidney-liver relationship, namely chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease from an immune viewpoint. The immune system operates as a unitary whole. There is an interdependence between the immune system of the liver, considered a lymphoid organ, and the kidney, whose participation in immune processes is well-known. The most important chronic liver diseases are viral hepatitis B and C. Infection with these viruses can lead to renal involvement, producing mainly glomerular disease. At the same time, secondary glomerulonephritis can cause an unfavorable outcome of the primary disease. The relationship between chronic liver disease and chronic kidney disease during chronic B and C hepatitis occurs via circulating immune complexes or complexes formed in situ. Cell-mediated immunity is also involved. The antiviral treatment of B and C hepatitis is also aimed at secondary glomerular disease. The participation of immune mechanisms raises the question of administering immunomodulating medication, a type of medication that influences viral replication--this is why it is associated with antiviral medication. Other two chronic liver diseases, namely liver cirrhosis, in which the main mechanism is a toxic one, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can produce via immune mechanisms glomerular involvement. In its turn, chronic kidney disease in advanced stages causes lipid metabolism disturbances with hypertriglyceridemia, which can influence fatty loading of the liver in the above-mentioned liver diseases. One can speak about a cross-talk between the liver and the kidney, in which immune mechanisms play an important role.

Surprising good antioxidant status in patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy on hemodialysis undergoing vitamin C therapy. A pilot study.

AIMS: End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) represents a microinflammatory state accompanied by oxidative stress and an imbalance between pro- and antioxidants. Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant, acting to lessen oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to assess the Antioxidant Capacity of Water soluble substances (ACW) and the Antioxidant Capacity of Liposoluble substances (ACL) in patients with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) on hemodialysis undergoing Vitamin C therapy as compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with BEN on hemodialysis (HD), mean age: 63.33 +/- 5.42 years, 6 M and 15 F, were enrolled into the study. All patients received 10 vials of Vitamin C 750 mg/5 ml every 2 months. Eleven apparently healthy subjects, mean age: 63.73 +/- 5.21 years, 6 M and 5 F, served as controls. The photochemiluminescence assay was used to measure the antioxidant activity of plasma samples. The results are presented in equivalent concentration units of Vitamin C for water soluble antioxidants and in equivalent concentration units of Trolox (synthetic Vitamin E) for lipid soluble antioxidants. Both concentrations are expressed in micromols/L. Statistical analysis (non-parametric Wilcoxon test) was performed using NCSS. RESULTS: Mean duration since BEN diagnosis was: 8.24 +/- 3.5 years. Mean duration since HD initiation was: 4.92 +/- 3.4 years. Smoking status was negative in all patients. Hypertension was present in 15 patients (71.42%), cardiovascular disease in 10 (47.61%), HCV infection in 13 (61.9%), 1 patient had HBV + HCV infection, 1 had renal tuberculosis, 1 had upper urinary tract cancer, 1 genital cancer, and I autoimmune thyroid disease. The Antioxidant Capacity of Water soluble substances (ACW) in patients with BEN was 477.6 +/- 177.63 micromols/L, significantly higher as compared to controls: 198.05 +/- 196.63 micromols/L; p = 0.01, whereas the Antioxidant Capacity of Liposoluble substances (ACL) in patients with BEN was 33.9 +/- 22.99 micromols/L, non-significantly different as compared to controls: 27.38 +/- 4.21 micromols/L; p = 0.22. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Vitamin C therapy in patients with BEN on HD significantly increases the Antioxidant Capacity of Water soluble substances (ACW) as compared to controls and could be used to counter oxidative stress in patients with ESRD.

Aspects of renal-pulmonary pathogenic replationships in chronic kidney disease and chronic pulmonary diseases--a less-known connection.

The kidneys, as an integral part of the body, are in close functional relationship with other organs. Dysfunction of the relationship with one organ will affect the kidney. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads in time to alteration of the relationship of the kidney with other organs, sometimes with severe consequences. Thus, cardiovascular involvement in CKD leads to increased severity of CKD, with an increase in mortality rate. At present, the relationship between the kidney and the lung has been less studied. Many aspects of this relationship are still unknown. The objective of the present paper is to analyze the main situations of the alteration of the kidney-lung relationship in clinical pathology, with special reference to chronic kidney disease. The pulmonary-renal syndrome is at the forefront. This pathology--well known in practice--refers mainly to the kidney-lung relationship in vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Goodpasture's syndrome. The relationship between the kidney and the lung is not limited to this syndrome. Many systemic diseases like sarcoidosis and amyloidosis alter the lung-kidney binomial. Likewise, the association in some patients of an important disorder primarily affecting the lung, such as silicosis, with concomitant renal involvement, highlights the relationship between the lungs and kidneys in clinical pathology. It is very important to know heart-kidney relationships via the lung in pulmonary arterial hypertension. In-depth knowledge of the patient with chronic kidney disease also requires thorough analysis of the lung-kidney relationship. This relationship is very evident in haemodialysed patients, taking into consideration that the pulmonary circulation is influenced by the dialysis membranes, in patients on peritoneal dialysis and especially in transplanted patients whose kidney-lung relationship has a favorable outcome. Although little dealt with, the relationship between the kidneys and the lungs requires more attention, as it can have important consequences, and appropriate therapy.

Serum potassium in stage 5 CKD patients on their first presentation in a dialysis service of a county hospital in western Romania.

UNLABELLED: CKD patients present deficient elimination of potassium. Ambulatory treatment with hypotensors, mainly angiotensin-renin system inhibitors, can be associated in these patients with potassium retention and risk of hyperkalemia. In pre-dialysis stage-5 CKD patients, the use of medication accompanied by hyperkalemia increases risks of developing it. Using diuretics like spironolactone also increases this risk. Serum potassium can also increase in case of inappropriate consumption of potassium-rich food (bananas). Since ambulatory care does not always rigorously control hyperkalemia in CKD patients we consider it is useful to screen patients when they are referred to dialysis services. The screening can reflect the management of ambulatory CKD patients under treatment with ACE-I and ARB hypotensors. We remark that beta-blockers are attributed a (limited) role in increasing the values of serum K. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied a group of 477 stage-5 CKD patients referred for dialysis to The Dialysis Centre of the Emergency County Hospital Timisoara. The average age of the patients was 57.41 +/- 14.26 years. 260 were males and 217 females. All were stage-5 CKD with GFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2, with a group average value of eGFR of 5.72 +/- 2.81 mL/min/1.73m2. Our investigations showed hypokalemia in 14 patients (2.93%). Hyperkalemia was found in 179 patients. Of these, 124 had mild hyperkalemia (5.5-6.4 mEq/L), 45 patients had medium hyperkalemia (6.5-7.5 mEq/L) and 10 (2.09%) had severe hyperkalemia (K > 7.5 mEq/L). DISCUSSION: Hyperkalemia was more frequent in patients who had been treated with blockers of the renin-angiotensin system than in patients who had used other hypotensors or who had not needed hypotensors and had not taken diuretics. Severe hyperkalemia (K > 7.5 mEq/L) was present both in patients treated with blockers of the renin-angiotensin system and in those treated with other hypotensors and in 1 case without hypotensor or diuretic treatment. 2 cases treated with blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with severe hyperpotassemia associated antialdosteronic diuretics, cumulating hyperpotassemic effects. Diuretic treatments with loop diuretics influenced the values of serum K of most patients. Hyperkalemia represents an important problem in nephrology because of the risks it induces in the treatment ofpre-dialysis CKD patients and it requires attentive monitoring.

The solitary kidney--a nephrological perspective.

The solitary kidney (SK) is of special interest for practitioners because of the reduced number of nephrons as compared to persons who have 2 kidneys. It undergoes adaptive phenomena of hypertrophy and hyperfiltration that allow long-term evolution, but pathological situations might occur in the remnant kidney. In some persons with a SK, the adaptive phenomena can be associated with proteinuria, arterial hypertension (AH) and diminished Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). In very rare situations, diminution of renal function in patients with a SK can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and, totally exceptionally, it requires renal replacement therapy. The SK can be congenital or acquired. At present patients with a SK address themselves more and more frequently to nephrology services which monitor the evolution of both the congenital and the surgically acquired SK. The congenital SK possesses a higher number of nephrons (75%, as compared to 2 functional kidneys in a healthy person) than the surgically acquired SK - 50% nephrons. This makes adaptive phenomena differ. Secondary lesions sometimes appear later in case of the congenital SK. In other situations, no significant differences between the evolution of the congenital or acquired SK are registered. The congenital solitary kidney is often associated with congenital abnormalities of the kidney and of the urinary tract (CAKUT). This association increases the risk for chronic kidney disease and for evolution towards chronic renal failure. The congenital SK is also often associated with gynaecological and other abnormalities. The acquired solitary kidney can be due to nephrectomy on a pathological kidney which could not be conservatively treated or due to donation of a kidney for renal transplantation. The SK itself sometimes requires partial nephrectomy intervention, for example sparing surgery. Although the evolution is in most cases favorable, it requires attentive monitoring.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension--a particular pathogenic model. Similarities with other forms of arterial hypertension.

Hypertension is in 85 to 90% of cases of unknown etiology, in spite of efforts undertaken by modern medicine to elucidate it. Numerous experimental studies were conducted in order to explain the pathogeny of this disease. Recent observations revealed that during therapy with anti-VEGF medication,used in treating different forms of cancer, hypertension and proteinuria occur, and at kidney level endothelial injuries appear similar to pregnancy-related hypertension. Antiangiogenic factors, such as sFlt-1, are produced during pregnancy-induced hypertension, especially in preeclampsia. They block the circulating VEGF. Consequently, proteinuria, and sometimes oedema occur together with hypertension. Renal injuries are of glomerular endotheliosis type. It is appreciated that one can draw a parallel between these pathologic situations, as is ablative treatment of antiangiogenic medication (anti-VEGF) and pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, respectively. Since in pregnancy-induced hypertension angiogenic factors have an important role, we analyse their implication in other types of hypertension, in myocardial infarction, and in endothelial dysfunction in the course of CKD. The main pathogenic mechanism of pregnancy-induced hypertension that causes the disease is placental ischaemia. This is followed by the placental release of pressor substances that are involved both in generalised endotheliosis that characterizes the disease, and in hypertension. The prototype hypertension caused by renal ischaemia is renal artery stenosis. Both pregnancy-induced hypertension and hypertension in renal artery stenosis have a similar factor in their pathogeny, that is organ ischaemia with production of consecutive pressor substances. Since this ischaemic factor can intervene in other forms of hypertension, its characterisation becomes of importance at present. Thus, pregnancy-induced hypertension in pregnancy can represent a real pathogenic model of hypertension that is reflected in non-pregnancy hypertension. The paper presents the particularities of pregnancy-induced hypertension, as well as its parallelism with other types of hypertension that are determined by organ ischaemia or that produce ablation of angiogenic factors.

Chronic kidney disease and the involvement of estrogen hormones in its pathogenesis and progression.

The kidney is under the influence of sexual hormones. Estrogens have a favourable role in the progression of some chronic renal diseases. Estrogen hormones act upon the nephron component cells, regulating several processes going on at this level. One of the most important actions of the estrogens is represented by the protective effect on the kidneys, estrogens attenuating glomerulosclerosis and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. Thus, estrogens have nephroprotective effects. Phosphorus-calcium metabolism disturbances during chronic kidney disease are influenced by numerous regulatory factors: parathormone, vitamin D fibroblast growth factor, 23. Estrogens play an important part in disturbances of the phosphorus-calcium metabolism, co-operating with these factors. They exert favourable effects on renal osteodystrophy, the main consequence of phosphorus-calcium disturbances. Hormonal dysfunction in chronic kidney disease is clinically accompanied by sexual dysfunction that influences the life quality of these patients. In advanced stages of chronic kidney disease, especially in dialysed patients, these sexual dysfunctions can be more evident. Hormonal replacement therapy and estrogen therapy- receptor modulating therapy have an important role in correcting hormonal dysfunctions manifest in chronic kidney disease. Caution is necessary in case of a would-be pregnancy in patients with chronic kidney disease, given its risks and the complexity of the problem. Renal transplantation corrects to a great extent hormonal dysfunctions in chronic kidney disease.

Has the diversity of clinical and biological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus a correspondent in the diversity of immune mechanisms? Observations based on a Rowell's syndrome case associated with arthritis and nephritis.

This paper draws attention to the relationship between the clinical and biological picture of SLE and the immune mechanisms of this disease. The presence, in the same patient, of erythema multiforme-like skin lesions and erythemato-squamous lesions specific for SLE together with a characteristic immune picture (speckled antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), positive anti-Ro antibodies, positive rheumatoid factor) raise the question of a relationship between the immune mechanisms in SLE and the clinical picture. A case of Rowell's syndrome is discussed: systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed on the occasion of an erythema multiforme-like rash. Starting from this case, we analyse if the clinical and biological picture in SLE is an expression of the immune mechanisms involved in this disease. Our patient presented with speckled antinuclear antibodies, positive rheumatoid factor, anti-Ro antibodies, suggestive of Rowell's syndrome. The patient manifested rheumatoid-like articular pain and high titer rheumatoid factor. Clinically, we found erythema multiforme-like and erythemato-squamous lesions. The patient developed nephrotic syndrome (proteinuria 11.8g/24h), and renal failure (creatinine 3.08 mg/dl). The renal biopsy showed mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis class II (ISN/RPS). Under treatment with prednisone the nephrotic syndrome evolved into remission (traces of proteinuria) and serum creatinine declined (1.03 mg/dl). The cutaneous syndrome had a spectacular evolution, too. The question is raised of the existence in Rowell's syndrome of immune mechanisms commonly encountered in SLE and a subset associated with the cutaneous erythema multiforme-like rash and pseudo-rheumatoid arthritis manifestations.

Histological changes and immunohistochemical markers in the assessment of glomerulosclerosis in patients with glomerulonephritis.

INTRODUCTION: Glomerular cells (mesangial, endothelial, epithelial) are activated during glomerulonephritis, a process indicated by the expression of the immunohistochemical marker α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). Many growth factors participate in the above-mentioned processes, among them of great importance is the transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß). The result of these changes is represented by active lesions (mesangial matrix increase, mesangial cell proliferation) and chronic fibrotic lesions (glomerulosclerosis). METHODOLOGY: We studied a group of 41 patients with primary and secondary glomerulonephritis (24 males, 17 females, mean age 45.5 ± 12.9 years), which underwent kidney biopsies, processed in light microscopy. We performed immunohistochemistry procedures with monoclonal antibodies (performed with the LSAB2-HRP system: anti-α-SMA, and anti-TGF-ß), which were assessed using a semiquantitative score, that was correlated with the histological and biological data. In order to quantify the histological changes and to assess the extent of active-inflammatory and chronic-sclerotic/fibrotic lesions, we adapted a scoring system initially used only for lupus nephritis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis. RESULTS: TGF-ß expression in glomerular endothelial cells correlated with mesangial matrix increase (r=0.28, p<0.05), total activity index (r=0.29, p<0.05) and total chronicity index (r=0.34, p<0.05). Glomerular epithelial cell TGF-ß correlates with mesangial proliferation (r=0.29, p<0.05), mesangial matrix increase (r=0.4, p<0.01) and total activity index (r=0.28, p<0.05). We observed a strong correlation between endothelial immunolabeling of SMA and the mesangial proliferation score (r=-0.96, p<0.005) and also an indirect correlation with the glomerulosclerosis score (r=-0.35, p<0.05) and the total chronicity index (r=-0.39, p<0.05). Concerning biological data there was a correlation between mesangial SMA expression and serum creatinine (r=0.60, p<0.001) and an indirect correlation with GFR (r=-0.37, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that TGF-ß has a key role in determining glomerulosclerosis especially through mesangial matrix increase, but possibly also through mesangial cells proliferation. Another role of this growth factor is related to transdifferentiation, not only epithelial-mesenchymal, but also endothelial-mesenchymal.

Epidemiological data regarding Balkan endemic nephropathy in relationship with the Pliocene coal etiological hypothesis.

Balkan Endemic nephropathy (BEN) is a tubulointerstitial disease of unknown etiology signaled in a limited geographical area. In the neighbourhood of endemic villages are coal deposits from the Pliocene, that contain toxic substances that by mobilizing groundwater can leach in water sources used by the inhabitants. In the present paper the possible impact of the coal from Pliocene on people that worked many years in mines in the endemic County Mehedinti, Romania, and who lived in this area are analysed. The risk of toxicity of coal was theoretically increased in miners because they consumed frequently water from mine springs that came from coal layers, while at home water from wells could have been contaminated by toxic substances from coal. It has been found that only 5 of the 96 patients with BEN were under dialysis program in 2008. Also out of 34 former miners only 3 had GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 sqm, and only one with creatinine of 3 mg/dl had GFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 sqm. The mean GFR in the 34 miners was: 94.13 +/- 26.58 ml/min/1.73 sqm. We analysed GFR and proteinuria in persons from the endemic zone from 2 types of villages: some with mining activity presently (Husnicioara) others where presently there are no mining activities (Hinova, Bistrita, Livezile). We also analysed comparatively 2 non-endemic localities near the endemic focus: Drobeta Turnu Severin (without mining activity) and Motru with mining activity where different coal deposits are (non-Pliocene). Data were provided from the family doctors databases. The GFR was lower in the inhabitants from the endemic villages Bistrita and Hinova than in the investigated inhabitants from the non-endemic town Drobeta Turnu Severin (p = 0.008 and p = 0.0004 respectively). Inhabitants from the endemic village Husnicioara (Pliocene coal mine still functioning) had a higher GFR than inhabitants from Drobeta Turnu Severin and higher than inhabitants from the endemic village Livezile (mine closed 10 years ago): p = 0.0055 and p = 0.001 respectively, but a lower than the investigated inhabitants from the non-endemic town Motru (where a non-Pliocene coal mine is functioning): p < 0.001. Proteinuria was present in 8.03% of the inhabitants from the endemic village Bistrita and in 7.4% of the inhabitants from the endemic village Hinova. In the non-endemic town Drobeta Turnu Severin, proteinuria was present in 7.08% of the investigated inhabitants. Proteinuria was present in 0.78% of the investigated inhabitants of the non-endemic town Motru (where a non-Pliocene coal mine is functioning) and 2.5% of the inhabitants of the endemic village Husnicioara (Pliocene coal mine still functioning). Our paper does not show any relationship between exposure to Pliocene coal and the etiology of BEN.

Specifics of the renal abscess in nephrology: observations of a clinic from a county hospital in Western Romania.

During the last years renal abscesses are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in Nephrology departments. Progresses achieved in imaging procedures permit a timely diagnosis of renal abscesses. At the same time modern antibiotic therapies permit the treatment of this disease in Nephrology departments. In the current paper we present some specifics of renal abscess management encountered in a Nephrology department in western Romania. We performed a retrospective analysis of 2793 patients with upper urinary tract infection hospitalised during 2002-2009 in our Nephrology Department, of whom 44 showed renal abscesses. Uropathic factors were identified less frequently, in 28% of the renal abscess cases, compared to cases in the literature where these have been reported in over 50% of the patients. General predisposing conditions were pregnancy in 7%, postviral cirrhosis in 4%, diabetes mellitus in 4%, surgically single kidney in 2%, polycystic kidney disease in 4% of the patients. We diagnosed renal abscesses in relatively young patients (mean age 38.73 +/- 19.64), fact that could be due to a decreased immune resistance of these patients. Renal function impairment was present in 17% of the patients. Urine cultures were positive in 25% with a predominance of E. coli and rarely of other germs (e.g. Citrobacter and Candida albicans). Therapy consisted of broad spectrum antibiotics applied to all patients. Two patients required the insertion of double J catheter. Five patients (11%) were referred to the Urology Department, where one patient underwent nephrectomy. Renal abscess was diagnosed and treated in the majority of cases in the Nephrology Department, and only in special cases is a referral to the Urology clinic required.

Pioglitazone delays proximal tubule dysfunction and improves cerebral vessel endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: The renal and cerebral protective effects of pioglitazone were assessed in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: A total of 68 normoalbuminuric type 2 DM patients were enrolled in a one-year open-label randomized controlled trial: 34 patients (pioglitazone-metformin) vs. 34 patients (glimepiride-metformin). All patients were assessed concerning urinary albumin: creatinine ratio (UACR), urinary alpha1-microglobulin, urinary beta2-microglobulin, plasma asymmetric dymethyl-arginine (ADMA), GFR, hsC-reactive protein, fibrinogen, HbA1c; pulsatility index, resistance index in the internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery, intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery; cerebrovascular reactivity was evaluated through the breath-holding test. RESULTS: At 1 year there were differences between groups regarding ADMA, urinary beta2-microglobulin, urinary alpha1-microglobulin, parameters of inflammation, serum creatinine, GFR, UACR, the cerebral haemodynamic indices. Significant correlations were found between alpha 1-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.143; P=0.001) and GFR (R(2)=0.081; P=0.01); beta2-microglobulin-UACR (R(2)=0.241; P=0.0001) and GFR (R(2)=0.064; P=0.036); ADMA-GFR (R(2)=0.338; P=0.0001), parameters of inflammation, HbA1c, duration of DM, cerebral indices. There were no correlations between ADMA-UACR, urinary alpha1-microglobulin and beta2-microglobulin. CONCLUSION: Proximal tubule (PT) dysfunction precedes albuminuria and is dissociated from endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 DM. Pioglitazone delays PT dysfunction and improves cerebral vessels endothelial dysfunction in normoalbuminuric patients with type 2 DM.

Asymptomatic urinary anomalies, hematuria and proteinuria, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Preliminary study.

The study assesses the presence of asymptomatic urinary anomalies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Asymptomatic urinary anomalies are mainly due to glomerular nephritis, they being one of the forms of its manifestation, together with chronic nephrotic and nephritic syndromes. We identified urinary anomalies in 18 patients (20%) with bowel inflammatory disease that consisted of haematuria in 8 (9%) patients, isolated proteinuria in 5 (6%) patients and haematuria associated with proteinuria in 5 (6%) patients. Asymptomatic urinary anomalies were more frequent in patients with the Crohn disease than in those with ulcerative colitis. We identified RFG under 60ml/min in 4 patients with asymptomatic urinary anomalies. It is very easy to evaluate asymptomatic urinary anomalies with dipstick. This method is also required in current practice for patients with urinary anomalies for identifying the glomerular disease that might have caused them. One must take into consideration differential diagnosis with other diseases that can manifest themselves with proteinuria or isolated proteinuria. One must also take into account the fact that urinary anomalies may also be related to administration of 5-aminosalicylates.

Forensic necroptic epidemiology -- a useful method for the evaluation of renal, cardiac and cerebral lesions. Can it represent an addition to the information provided by clinical studies?

Our paper reviews the value of necroptic epidemiology in the evaluation of renal, cardiac and cerebral lesions. The necroptic epidemiology studies performed on American war casualties from Korea and Vietnam had practical implications in the prophylaxis of atherosclerosis in young age groups. The special interest they initially raised has been diminished by the advance of clinical studies that are nowadays dominant in the field of epidemiology. Given the fact that for the evaluation of certain diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, the morphological criterion is useful for the diagnostic, necroptic epidemiology can complete the epidemiological data provided by clinical studies. The use of data offered by forensic necroptic epidemiology can represent a reliable method for evaluating the epidemiology of certain diseases and of their complications.

Immune compartments of the nephron in relation to the immune system.

The paper presents data regarding the compartmentalization of the nephron related to immune processes taking place at this level. The morphofunctional compartments of the nephron (glomerular, tubulo-interstitial and juxtaglomerular) become immune compartments during immune processes. The paper shows the immune cells located in the morphofunctional compartments of the nephron and the relationship between them. It is considered that the presence of immune cells in these compartments is a dynamic process; the number of infiltrating cells is reduced under physiological conditions and increases during pathological immune processes. The paper presents also the resident cells of the nephron and their immune capabilities. It also presents the professional immune cells originating in the bone marrow, which are involved in immune processes. The complex relationship between these cells by means of the cytokine network, chemokines as well as other mediators, as well as the role of immune receptors, mainly Toll-like receptors is outlined. During an immune aggression immune aggregates defined as tertiary lymphoid organs are formed at the level of the nephron. These lymphoid follicle-like structures might represent an intrarenal immune system. The compartmentalization of the nephron is part of the recently described concept of compartmentalization of the immune system.

Elements of renal injury in patients with erysipelas.

Erysipelas is an infectious disease caused by group A beta hemolytical streptococci which may produce renal lesions, most frequently glomerular disease. Renal injury although known is less studied in practice. Rarely bioptical exams have been performed, thus the problem of the relationship erysipelas glomerular disease is practically not solved. The aim of this study was a cross-sectional analysis of renal involvement produced by erysipelas in two departments where patients with erysipelas are diagnosed and treated: Dermatology and Infectious Diseases. We investigated 166 patients (86M, 80F; mean age 61.66 +/- 18.42) with erysipelas hospitalized in the Departments of Dermatology (55 patients-33%) and Infectious Diseases (111 patients-66%) during 2005-2009. The diagnosis was established on clinical and biological data. In these patients clinical and biological exam has been performed. We assessed GFR and urinalysis (hematuria and proteinuria). The control group consisted of 110 apparently healthy persons. Of the 166 patients with erysipelas we found asymptomatic urinary abnormalities in 82 (47%), isolated proteinuria in 19 (11%) patients and proteinuria associated with hematuria in 21 (13%) patients, and isolated hematuria in 38 (23%) patients. We did not find patients with nephrotic or nephritic syndrome. In the control group we found asymptomatic urinary abnormalities in 25 (23%) of the patients. A statistically significant difference was between the two groups (p < 0.01). Asymptomatic urinary abnormalities have been more frequent in patients with erysipelas from the Infectious Diseases Department compared to those from the Dermatology Department. A statistically significant difference has been found (p < 0.03). In patients with recurrent erysipelas (43 patients-26%) we found asymptomatic urinary abnormalities in 26 (54%) of the patients compared to the presence of asymptomatic urinary abnormalities in patients with acute erysipelas in 56 out of 123 (46%). Mean GFR in patients with erysipelas was of 73.94 +/- 27.79 ml/min. It was lower in patients with recurrent erysipelas, 72.13 +/- 24.74 mL/min respectively. Association of proteinuria with hematuria was more frequent in patients with recurrent erysipelas. Patients with asymptomatic urinary abnormalities during the course of erysipelas need to be closely monitored during antibiotic treatment.

Hypertension in lupus nephritis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, an inflammatory disease, has lupus nephritis as severe complication. Hypertension, secondary of the lupus nephritis represents a major cardiovascular risk factor. The impact of hypertension on the evolution and prognosis in lupus nephritis patients as well as the need to initiate pathogenic, antihypertensive and cardiovascular risk factors therapy have been evaluated.