Comparison of intact, midregion, and carboxy terminal assays of parathyroid hormone for the diagnosis of bone disease in hemodialyzed patients.

The predictive value of three different RIAs of PTH for the diagnosis of the histological type of bone disease has been compared in 24 asymptomatic patients on chronic hemodialysis who had never been exposed to aluminum intoxication and who agreed to have a bone biopsy after double tetracycline labeling. The serum concentrations of PTH were measured using a two-site immunoradiometric assay for intact PTH(1-84) and region specific assays directed against the C-terminal (53-84) fragment or the midregion (44-68) of the molecule. The bone histomorphometric analysis showed that six patients had nonaluminic adynamic bone disease with low bone formation rate (BFR), eight had mild hyperparathyroidism characterized by increased bone resorption and normal BFR, nine had severe hyperparathyroidism with increased BFR, and only one had true osteomalacia with increased osteoid seam thickness. All PTH assays correlated with the various parameters of bone resorption and bone formation and were able to differentiate the histological type of bone disease only when groups of patients were considered. For classifying individual patients into severe hyperparathyroidism and adynamic bone disease groups, the intact PTH assay had the best predictive value with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of at least 70%. A nonaluminic adynamic bone disease was observed in more than 50% of the patients who had normal intact PTH levels (6/11). It is concluded that the intact PTH measurement is superior to C-terminal and midregion assays for the prediction of the histological type of bone disease in hemodialyzed patients and should be of considerable value to adapt their treatment in order to avoid the emergence of both severe hyperparathyroidism and adynamic bone disease. In the absence of aluminum intoxication it seems that maintaining intact PTH concentrations 1 to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal would correspond to the best bone histology.

Non-aluminic adynamic bone disease in non-dialyzed uremic patients: a new type of osteopathy due to overtreatment?

Adynamic bone disease, characterized by a low bone formation rate with normal or reduced amount of unmineralized osteoid, is supposed to be the consequence of aluminum intoxication in uremic patients. However, the emergence of adynamic bone disease has been recently reported in hemodialyzed patients in the total absence of aluminum overload. This study was aimed to assess whether such a histological pattern of adynamic bone disease was already present in uremic patients not yet on dialysis. Twenty-seven asymptomatic uremic patients (mean age +/- SD 43 +/- 10 years, mean creatinine clearance 19 +/- 3 ml/mm) were studied and bone biopsies were repeated in 16 of them after 18 +/- 10 months of treatment with oral calcium carbonate (1-3 g of elemental calcium/day) and calcidiol (21 +/- 14 micrograms/day). None of the patients received aluminum hydroxide, and the search for bone aluminum deposits was negative in all patients both before and after treatment. Two patients fulfilled the criteria of adynamic bone disease on their post-treatment biopsies. They originated from patients classified as having normal bone histology before treatment. Comparison with the other patients showed that they had comparable plasma C-terminal PTH but higher plasma creatinine than patients with normal bone histology and lower plasma C-terminal PTH than patients with osteitis fibrosa but comparable plasma creatinine. The plasma levels of 1,25(OH)2D reached values above normal after treatment in these two patients. It is suggested that adynamic bone disease not related to aluminum intoxication can develop in uremic patients independently of dialysis, and is favored by a relative hypoparathyroidism for the degree of renal failure, possibly induced by elevated plasma concentrations of calcitriol.

Pancreatitis related to severe acute hypertriglyceridemia during pregnancy: treatment with lipoprotein apheresis.

We report a clinical observation of acute pancreatitis due to severe hypertriglyceridemia in a pregnant woman. In order to decrease the serum triglyceride level rapidly, two lipaphereses were undertaken using the double-filtration technique. This lipoprotein apheresis technique is briefly described and the efficacy in reducing rapidly hypertriglyceridemia is outlined. Like in 3 previously published reports, the patient had a rapid recovery, confirming that lipoprotein apheresis should be an adequate and a well-tolerated treatment in such a condition.

Improvement of severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients by intravenous 1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3, oral CaCO3 and low dialysate calcium.

Seventeen patients (9 men, 8 women; aged 27 to 75 years) who were on chronic hemodialysis for 1 to 14 years were included in the study because they had severe hyperparathyroidism diagnosed by elevated plasma alkaline phosphatase and on plasma intact PTH levels more than twice the upper limit of normal. They had been previously treated with various combinations of oral calcium and/or Al(OH)3 as phosphate binders, oral 1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3 metabolites and a dialysate calcium concentration (DCa) of 1.6 to 1.75 mmol/liter. When i.v. alpha calcidol was introduced DCa was reduced to 1.25 mmol/liter and CaCO3 taken with the meal was used as the sole phosphate binder. alpha calcidol was i.v. injected after the third dialysis of the week at a dose up to 4 micrograms per dialysis in order to obtain a predialysis plasma concentration of Ca at 2.5 +/- 0.2 and PO4 between 1.5 and 2 mmol/liter. All the other treatments were discontinued. During the six months of follow-up, the mean weekly dose of alpha calcidol was 6 micrograms and CaCO3 700 +/- 50 mmol. Plasma calcium (PCa) increased moderately from 2.35 to 2.47 mmol/liter (P < 0.05) whereas plasma PO4 (PPO4) did not significantly increase (1.56/1.64 mmol/liter). Total alkaline phosphatase and its bone isoenzyme activity decreased significantly to normal values [respectively from 186 to 83 IU (normal: 135) and from 102 to 32 IU (normal < 33)] whereas plasma intact PTH decreased from 485 to 125 pg/ml (normal < 55).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of alkaline calcium salts as phosphate binder in uremic patients.

In order to prevent aluminum toxicity induced by the association of aluminum phosphate binder with 1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3 derivatives and the use of deferoxamine with its own hazards to diagnose and treat this toxicity, we have shown in 1982 that it was possible to replace the iatrogenic association of aluminum phosphate binder with 1 alpha OH vitamin D derivatives by oral calcium carbonate taken with the meals in order to bind phosphate and correct the negative calcium balance. This led to the disappearance of the crippling aluminic osteomalacia and adynamic bone diseases in our center. The effectiveness of CaCO3 without 1 alpha(OH)D3 derivatives in the control of hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients has been proven by the appearance in four patients of our dialysis population of an histological idiopathic adynamic bone disease associated with relative hypoparathyroidism, and by the finding that more than 50% of our dialysis population treated by this sole treatment have plasma concentration of intact PTH below twice the upper limit of normal (that is, the threshold above which only significant histological osteitis fibrosa is observed). Besides the compliance problem, the limit of CaCO3 is the occurrence of hypercalcemia which occurs in about 8% of the measurements. Since calcium acetate binds twice as much phosphate for the same dose of elemental calcium as CaCO3, its use has been recommended. However, clinical experience has shown that in spite of the fact that half the dose of calcium element given as acetate does actually control predialysis plasma phosphate as well as CaCO3, the incidence of hypercalcemia is not decreased, probably because calcium availability at the alkaline pH of the intestine is much greater with Ca acetate. When hypercalcemia is frequent (and not explained by autonomized hyperparathyroidism, adynamic bone disease, overtreatment with vitamin D, granulomatosis or neoplasia) it is necessary either to decrease the dose of calcium and complete the necessary binding of phosphate by adding small doses of Mg(OH)2 or Mg carbonate, provided the dialysate Mg is decreased to 0.2 to 0.35 mmol/liter to prevent hypermagnesemia or to decrease the dialysate calcium (DCa) concentration. The decrease of DCa can be made either just when hypercalcemia occurs or on a systemic basis according to the amount of CaCO3 used and to the necessity of associating 1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3 derivatives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Influence of thromboembolism prophylaxis by low molecular weight heparin CY 216 (Fraxiparine) on several parameters of haemostasis in patients under dialysis and receiving either unfractionated heparin or CY 216.

The hemorrhagic risk of an association of the low molecular weight (LMWH), Fraxiparine injected intravenously at the dose of 7.500 AXalCU or of unfractionated heparin (UFH) injected intravenously at the usual dose used during hemodialysis (3.750 +/- 1.280 IU + 1.000 IU after 2 hours of dialysis) to the subcutaneous administration once daily of a thromboembolism preventive dose of Fraxiparine (7.500 AXalCU) was evaluated on the modification of the following hemostasis parameters: thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), anti Xa activity, in 13 uremic patients on hemodialysis. The association of intravenous and subcutaneous Fraxiparine prevented efficiently the clotting of the extracorporeal circulation without inducing a detectable antithrombinic activity. In contrast, the association of I.V. UFH to subcutaneous Fraxiparine induced a significant increase of the thrombin time and of the APTT, so explained by the activity of UFH. It is concluded that subcutaneous Fraxiparine at the thromboembolism preventive dose can be associated as well to I.V. Fraxiparine as to UFH without increasing the potential hemorrhagic risk. Nevertheless the association of SC and IV Fraxiparine 7.500 AXalC u seems preferable to the association of SC Fraxiparine with UFH.

Determination of aluminum in bone in haemodialyzed patients, using inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry.

We propose a new method for measuring aluminium in bone tissue, using argon plasma emission spectrophotometry. The detection limit in the bone nitric digestion liquid was 0.015 mumol/l (corresponding to 0.0075 mumol/g, i.e. 0.2 microgram/g for a tissue sample with 1.0 g wet weight). Within-run CVs were 4.66% and 1.43% for tissues containing 0.15 and 0.64 mumol/g, respectively. Other bone constituents such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, do not affect aluminum results. Normal values obtained in bone of subjects not suspected of aluminium intoxication were: mean +/- SD; 0.09 +/- 0.044 mumol/g (n = 24). In dialysis patients we found a mean bone aluminium content of 0.75 mumol/g for concentrations ranging between 0.16 and 3.38 mumol/g.

Liver granulomatosis is not an exceptional cause of hypercalcemia with hypoparathyroidism in dialysis patients.

In 4 of our patients on chronic dialysis, we were intrigued by the association of hypercalcemia +/- hyperphosphatemia and normal intact PTH, with anicteric cholestasis without cytolysis. This picture occurred in 2 patients after they resumed dialysis because of a transplant rejection and in a third one after discontinuation of corticosteroids, prescribed for an idiopathic thrombocytopenia. No patient was under calcitriol, CaCO3 therapy, and their hypercalcemia persisted on a low calcium dialyzate (1.25 mmol/l). Obvious etiologies of hypercalcemia were not found: vitamin D or A intoxication, hyperparathyroidism, aluminum intoxication, hemopathy, HIV infection. The hypothesis of a granulomatous disease was made and a liver biopsy was performed showing granulomas with giant epitheloid cells. In one case foreign material (silicon ?) was present in the macrophages. Extensive investigations for sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and mycosis were negative. In 2 cases the so-called "dialysis" granulomatosis actually occurred in transplanted patients, suggesting the role of a transplantation related factor (toxic or virus). In the last case HCV seroconversion was present. In the 4 cases, corticotherapy led to the disappearance of hypercalcemia and to an increase of PTH. Our patients had the biological pattern of low bone turnover disease (hypercalcemia and normal intact PTH) and bone biopsy performed in 2 showed osteomalacia or ABD without aluminum. The association of this pattern with cholestasis should evoke liver granulomatosis, which should be confirmed by a liver biopsy and lead to a treatment by corticosteroids. The masking effect of previous corticoid therapy for transplantation should be pointed out. In 2 cases serial monitoring of plasma calcitriol showed a relation between decreasing high normal calcitriol with prednisone and normalization of calcemia, suggesting the role of inappropriate synthesis of calcitriol by the granuloma. In conclusion, liver granulomatosis should be looked for in dialysis patients on the association of unexplained hypercalcemia and normal PTH with anicteric cholestasis, and confirmed by a liver biopsy. Although still of unknown etiology, its evolution is favourable under corticotherapy.

The dependency of calcium set point on basal plasma calcium in dialysis patients: a better explanation for the discrepancies regarding its link with PTH secretion than methodological differences.

BACKGROUND: The increase of calcium (Ca) set point in uremic hyperparathyroid patients and its decrease with calcitriol therapy are controversial. Besides methodological differences regarding the experimental protocol for obtaining the sigmoidal curve, mainly differences in definitions of maximal PTH (peak or steady value) and of calcium set point itself have been proposed for the discrepant conclusions. However, two other explanations are possible: the various aluminum load of the patients and the dependency of Ca set point upon the basal plasma ionized calcium (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Therefore the Ca set point was measured in 2 groups of patients on maintenance dialysis never exposed to aluminum, one of 7 patients with normosecretion of PTH (NPT) and the other of 8 patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT) before and after 3 intravenous administration of 4 microg of alfacalcidol in a week. The sigmoidal curve was established during a zero Ca dialysis, without Ca replacement for the first 90 minutes and with intravenous infusion of 41 mmoles of Ca during the 150 last minutes. The curvilinear decrease of PCa induced a peak of PTH followed by a decrease while PCa was still decreasing up to the 90th minute. Therefore PTHmax was taken both at the peak and at its lower value observed at the 90th minute (steady PTHmax). Experimental determinations of the Ca set point were made using both definitions of Brown and Felsenfeld and both PTHmax values. In basal conditions, while using any of the values given by the same calculation methodology, Ca set point was not different in NPT and HPT patients. After alfacalcidol, no change in plasma PTH nor in Ca set point was observed in HPT patients. In contrast, in NPT patients alfacalcidol induced a significant decrease of plasma PTH concentrations in association with an increase in basal PCa and in Ca set point, whatever the definitions of the latter and of PTHmax. Calcitriol induced changes in Ca set point and basal PCa were correlated. CONCLUSIONS: 1) In normocalcemic dialysis patients never exposed to aluminium hyperparathyroidism is not explained by an increased Ca set point 2) Calcitriol suppressive effect on PTH secretion is neither explained by a decrease in Ca set point. 3) Ca set point as measured in vivo does not reflect an intrinsic characteristic of the parathyroid glands since it varies with basal PCa. Better than methodological differences, this dependency may explain the discrepant conclusions between the various clinical investigations.

1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3 increases plasma aluminum in hemodialized patients taking AI(OH)3.

1 alpha(OH) vitamin D3 at the dose of 6 micrograms per week was given for 4 weeks to 16 stable patients on chronic hemodialysis with a low dialysate aluminum while taking a constant dose of Al(OH)3. A significant increase of their plasma aluminum was observed from 1.2 +/- .25 mumol/l before 1 alpha(OH)D3 to 1.7 +/- .35 during the second fortnight of 1 alpha(OH)D3 administration and this increase surprisingly was maintained at 1.71 +/- .3 up to 6 weeks after 1 alpha(OH)D3 discontinuation. Increases in plasma calcium and decreases in plasma PTH were observed during 1 alpha(OH)D3 administration and these changes were correlated to the changes in plasma aluminum. It is concluded that the increase in plasma aluminum observed with 1 alpha(OH)D3 and after its discontinuation is either due to body aluminum burden redistribution or to increased aluminum intestinal absorption whatever the mechanism is, this effect should lead to close monitoring of plasma aluminum in uremic patients taking 1 alpha OH vitamin D3.

Risk factors of renal failure progression two years prior to dialysis.

AIM: The respective contribution of sex, type of nephropathy, degree of proteinuria, blood pressure, protein and sodium daily intakes, blood lipid profile, protidemia, hemoglobinemia, acidosis and CaPO4 product on the rate of renal failure progression is debated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The link between these parameters and the decrease of creatinine clearance, deltaCcr (according to Cockroft) was assessed in uni- and multivariate analysis in a population of 49 patients (26 women; age 60+/-15 years, weight 79+/-15 kg) selected out of 173 presently treated hemodialysis patients on the basis of availability of a quarterly follow-up for 2 years before starting dialysis. The patients were advised a moderate protein and salt restriction which could be retrospectively assessed (on urinary excretion of urea and sodium) at, respectively, 0.82 g/kg/day and 6.5 g/day. RESULTS: The 2-year deltaCcr was 14+/-14 ml/min. It was not different in men and women. This decrease in Ccr was neither significantly different in gomerular disease (17+/-8, n = 14), diabetic nephropathy (12+/-6, n = 7), nephroangiosclerosis (15+/-8, n = 5), interstitial nephritis (12+/-10, n = 14), and PKD (11 +/-12, n = 9). Patients with antihypertensive drugs (n = 42) had a faster progression than those without drugs (n = 7): deltaCcr = 15+/-14 vs 7+/-7 ml/min (p < 0.05) in spite of comparable blood pressure but with higher proteinuria. Linear regression of deltaCcr with the initial and 2-year averaged values of the quantitative parameters showed a significant positive link for both values with cholesterol, hemoglobine and proteinuria and a negative one with protidemia. A positive link was observed with the initial value of bicarbonate and the 2-year mean of diastolic and mean blood pressures. No link at all was observed with urea and Na excretion, CaPO4 product and triglycerides. Multiple regression disclosed a significant link only for protidemia (negative with both initial and 2-year averaged value), diastolic BP (only for the 2-year averaged value and hemoglobinemia (for the initial value). When the patients were classified according to a threshold value of their protidemia, DBP, hemoglobinemia, and cholesterolemia those with the combination of 2 risk factors of progression (protidemia > or = 66 g/l, DBP > or = 90 mmHg, hemoglobinemia > 11 g/dl, proteinuria > or = 3 g/d, CT > 5 mmol/l) had a significantly greater decrease of Ccr than those with the 3 other combinations at the exception of the association of low protidemia with DBP. CONCLUSION: Diastolic hypertension and low protidemia are the 2 most important factors predicting progression of renal failure. A predictive synergy was furthermore pointed out between low protidemia or diastolic hypertension with proteinuria and cholesterol. On the contrary anemia attenuates progression linked to low protidemia, diastolic hypertension, proteinuria and high cholesterol.

Pulsed flow cascade filtration. Long-term experience in low density lipoprotein and lipoprotein a removal.

The authors present the results of pulsed flow cascade filtration (PFCF) for low density lipoprotein (LDL) and lipoprolein a (La) removal in four patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Forty-six treatments were performed. Pressure and flow pulsations were superimposed on the retentate of the secondary filter using a modified single roller peristaltic pump. The pulsation frequency was adjusted to achieve, on average, zero retentate flow (dead end filtration). The transmembrane pressure and sieving coefficients of immunoglobulin G, apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B of the secondary filter remained constant during filtration periods of 150 min. The PFCF technique was found to remove more LDL and La than did adsorption on dextran sulfate columns, while maintaining adequate albumin recovery (90%).

[Evaluation of factors promoting vascular calcinosis in long-term hemodialysis patients]. / Evaluation des facteurs favorisant la calcinose vasculaire des hémodialysés chroniques.

The length of calcifications on the aorta and on the iliac and femoral arteries have been measured in hemodialyzed patients who did not take Vit D derivates but variable amount of calcium carbonate just before beginning hemodialysis then once a year for 3 years. The extension of these calcifications was exponential. The most important factors of arterial calcification extension are the male sex, the age only in the male sex, diastolic blood pressure, triglyceridemia, glycemia and calcemia. The treatment by calcium carbonate is however not by itself responsible of arterial calcification since no correlation was found between calcification extension and the doses of CaCO3.

[Anticoagulation in hemodialysis sessions with a low molecular weight heparin (CY 222, Choay). Dosage studies in chronic hemodialysis. Its use in patients at high risk of hemorrhage]. / Anticoagulation des séances d'hémodialyse par une héparine de bas poids moléculaire (CY 222, Choay). Etudes de posologies en hémodialyse chronique (HDC). Utilisation chez les patients à haut risque hémorragique.

Efficacy of CY 222 for providing anticoagulation during hemodialysis was evaluated in three successive trials by rating quality of blood restitution (degree of coagulum formation in extracorporeal circulation) and by assay of fibrinopeptide A. Its safety was assessed by measurement of manual compression time necessary to ensure hemostasis of puncture points at end of session. Details of the first preliminary study were: 60 sessions in 11 chronic uremia patients; CY 222: 75, 150 and 300 A-Xa IC U/kg + 1,000 A-Xa IC U/h, then 150 and 300 A-Xa IC U/kg without continuous injection, compared with standard heparin (SH) at the usual dosage for each patient (60 +/- 13 IU/kg). Results showed CY 222 at 150 U/kg + 1,000 U/h to possess the same efficacy as SH and to give a shorter compression test time: for 150 U/kg the efficacy was satisfactory, although less than with SH, and compression times were shorter (interest in patients at risk of hemorrhage). For 300 U/kg, efficacy was superior (improved restitution and lower FPA level at end of seance: 6 ng/ml instead of 15 ng/ml.p less than 0.002) and compression times were identical. The second study to evaluate optimal dosage of CY 222 in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) involved: 10 patients; CY 222: 200 A-Xa IC U/kg and 250 A-Xa IC U/kg by single-dose injection. Results failed to demonstrate any significant difference in evolution of FPA levels, but restitution was better at 250 U/kg. In addition, investigation of the effect of rinsing of ECC with standard heparin before the session showed that its suppression did not alter effectiveness but improved tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Monitoring therapeutic arteriovenous fistulas in chronic hemodialysis patients. Value of the continuous Doppler test combined with real-time echotomography]. / Surveillance des fistules artério-veineuses thérapeutiques chez des hémodialysés chroniques. Intérêt de l'examen au Doppler continu couplé à l'examen échotomographique en temps réel.

Continuous doppler investigation of functioning of therapeutic arteriovenous fistula is a well-established routine. The availability for the last few years of high frequency (10 mg/Hz) real-time ultrasound has enabled visualization of superficial arteries and veins. Total afferent and efferent branches of these therapeutic fistulae can be visualized. Examination should therefore include continuous doppler recordings combined with real-time ultrasound of both transverse and sagittal sections of the different arteries and veins participating in the fistula. The indication for examination is clinical in cases with low or high output or during the immediate postoperative period to detect early thrombosis.

[Real-time ultrasonographic study of the parathyroid glands. Apropos of 100 explorations]. / Etude ultrasonographique temps réel des parathyroïdes. A propos de 100 explorations.

The authors using high resolution (8 MHz) real-time echotomography have explored 100 patients. They certify that the presence of little hypoechogenic spicules at the periphery of a mass is strongly in relation with a parathyroid. They found in 17 patients signs of hypertrophic parathyroid; 8 of these had surgery with very good results for echotomography in 7 cases. Localizing parathyroid masses before surgery did not shorter time of exploration in these 8 cases. Ultrasonography, if positive, may relate biological troubles to a parathyroid etiology. It appears, that echotomography is a method of choice to survey chronic hemodialysis.

[Percutaneous recanalization of proximal venous thromboses in chronic hemodialysis patients]. / Recanalisation percutanée des thromboses veineuses proximales chez les hémodialysés chroniques.

Occlusion of the proximal vein in chronic hemodialysis patients results in vein hypertension and a "swollen arm". The usual treatment for this "swollen arm" consists in closing up the fistula and making another access on the contralateral member. But this is not always possible and, with some patients, recanalization is the only solution. We have performed 4 recanalizations successfully: 2 accesses remain permeable after 10 and 24 months, another patient needed to be fitted with two endoprosthesis just after recanalization and access, in his case, remained permeable until he died of intestinal ischemic syndrome six months later. The fourth patient presented a reocclusion two months later but could not be reoperated on because of bad general state of health. An attempt to perform recanalization on a fifth patient was a failure. Such results show that recanalization of a thrombosed proximal vein is worth attempting before closing access for good.

[Hyperparathyroidism secondary to renal insufficiency. Physiopathology, clinicoradiological aspects and treatment]. / Hyperparathyroïdie secondaire à l'insuffisance rénale. Physiopathologie, aspects clinicoradiologiques et traitement.

Stimulation of PTH secretion and synthesis in chronic renal failure involves direct and indirect factors. The indirect ones are those contributing to a decrease of plasma ionized calcium concentration which stimulates the release of PTH (1) primarily the negative calcium balance due to the iatrogenic reduction of dietary calcium intake associated with an inadequate synthesis of calcitriol, this latter being explained by a reduction in the nephronic mass, the phosphate retention, the acidosis and the retention of uremic toxins (2) more accessorily, the physicochemical dysequilibrium induced by the late occurring hyperphosphatemia. The factors acting directly on the parathyroid gland stimulating synthesis of prepro PTH at its transcription level: not only hypocalcitriolemia but also hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. The clinicoradiological manifestations appear late, mostly only after the patient has been put on dialysis. The most precocious sign is the subperiosteal resorption assessed on the hand X-rays. Therefore diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism relies mainly on the measurement of plasma concentration of intact PTH. In dialysis patients the optimal range corresponding to the best bone histology is between 1 an 3 times the upper limit of normal. No such data exist for predialysis patients. Medical treatment of hyperparathyroidism should primarily be preventive, probably in predialysis lipin patient as soon as plasma intact PTH is greater than the normal upper limit. This treatment is based primarily on the prevention of phosphate retention, of negative calcium balance and acidosis by the use of oral alkaline salts of calcium given with the meals in association with appropriate dietary protein and phosphate restriction. Native vitamin D depletion should also be prevented but use of 1 alpha OH vitamin D3 metabolites in controversial: it is reasonable to administer them only when plasma intent PTH is above 3-7 the normal upper limit and when plasma phosphate is below 1.2 in predialysis patients below 1.5 mmol/l in dialysis patients and plasma calcium remains below 2.3 mmol/l in spite of CaCO3 administration. This situation is encountered in less than 50% of the dialysis patients and rarely in predialysis patients. In dialysis patients the calcium concentration in the dialysate should be chosen in relation to the dose of oral calcium and the use of 1 alpha OH vitamin D3. The superiority of the intermittent (oral or intravenous) over the daily oral administration is not yet clinically proven. The surgical parathyroidectomy is indicated when hypercalcemia and/or hyperphosphatemia occur under medical treatment, whereas the intact PTH levels remain very high (> 500 pg/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Goodpasture's syndrome presenting as acute respiratory distress. Favorable evolution with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis]. / Détresse respiratoire aiguë inaugurant un syndrome de Goodpasture. Evolution favorable sous corticoïdes, cyclophosphamide et plasmaphérèses.

The authors report a case of a seventeen year old woman who was admitted to hospital for an extremely acute respiratory distress syndrome, which was revealed to be an exclusively pulmonary form of Goodpasture's syndrome. The positivity of the IgG immunofluorescence on open lung biopsy contrasted with the absence of circulating antibasement membrane antibody (ELISA). The combination of plasmapheresis, steroid therapy and cyclophosphamide enabled a rapidly favourable outcome and the patient could be weaned of the support therapy.

Lost at sea: genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal.

For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging movements have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi-disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered 'downstream' at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents. As such, storms may be a route by which unexpected areas are encountered by juveniles which may in turn shape adult migrations. Increased stormy weather predicted under climate change scenarios suggests an increasing role of storms in dispersal of sea turtles and other marine groups with life-stages near the ocean surface.