CIRCADIAN RHYTHM OF BLOOD PRESSURE RESTORATION AND NEPHROTIC PROTEINURIA ALLEVIATION IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AFTER RENAL SYMPATHETIC DENERVATION.

Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) could be an effective antihypertensive treatment of resistant hypertension that triggers additional positive effects on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We report the effects of RSD in a patient with chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and resistant hypertension, manifesting as blood pressure reduction with dipping pattern restoration, followed by nephrotic proteinuria alleviation. The non-dipping blood pressure pattern and proteinuria increase the risk of cardiovascular complications and accelerate kidney disease progression. Thus, further research documenting the frequency and investigating the mechanisms of these effects reported after RSD in chronic kidney disease patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and resistant hypertension is necessary for the benefit of this high-risk patient population.

Pegylated interferon for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients in Croatia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a frequent complication among long-term dialysis patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of pegylated interferon-α(2a) (PEG-IFN-α(2a)) treatment in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 16 HCV-RNA-positive hemodialysis patients. RESULTS: There were 11 male and 5 female patients treated with dialysis for 6-28 years. Twelve patients had HCV genotype 1b, 2 patients had 3a, and 1 patient had genotype 2a. Although only 10 out of 16 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment, early virological response and end-of-treatment virological response were achieved in 9 and 13 patients, respectively. Sustained virological response was recorded in 9 patients. The most common side effect was anemia. A flu-like syndrome was documented in 6, myalgia in 4, and arthralgia in 5 patients. Rectorrhagia, endocarditis and severe cough were recorded in 1 patient each. Nine patients received a renal transplant, and all 6 responders remained HCV-RNA-negative. CONCLUSIONS: PEG-IFN-α(2a) has limited efficacy in dialysis patients. A significant proportion of patients discontinued treatment because of side effects. Additional studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine the optimal treatment of HCV infection in the dialysis population.

[Uremic pruritus]. / Uremicki svrbez.

Uremic pruritus is a common and sometimes severe complication of chronic renal failure. Itch affects 50-90% of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis and 25% of patients with preterminal chronic renal failure. The mechanism underlying uremic pruritus is poorly understood; possibilities include histamin, proteases, interleukin-2 and TNF- produced by skin mast-cells, substance P, neuropathy and neurological changes, high level of Ca, P, PTH, Al, Mg, divalent ion abnormalities, hypervitaminosis A, inflammation, or some combination of these. Therapeutic measures include regular efficient dialysis, transplantation, topical measures as an emollients, topical steroids, systemic measures as diet, opioids and physical treatment with phototherapy, acupuncture etc. Treatment results are highly variable and more research is needed to understand the patophysiology of this condition and to establish more reliable treatments. Most effective treatments in this moment are efficient dialysis, dietary restrictions, phosphate-binding therapy and phototherapy.