Treatment of lupus nephritis by mycophenolate mofetil.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been increasingly used for the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN). The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of MMF used with low doses of corticosteroids as maintenance therapy in patients with LN. METHODS: The study covered 35 patients, most of them with proliferative types of LN (5 WHO class III, 26 class IV), while 1 had class V and 3 class VI nephritis. MMF was administered in the dose of 1.5-2 g/24 h and prednisone at 10-20 mg/day. The treatment effects were followed over a 12-month period. RESULTS: After 3 months of therapy significant reduction in proteinuria was achieved (2.1 +/- 2.4 g/24 h vs. 1.0 +/- 1.0 g/24 h, p < 0.01) and maintained to the end of the study. In parallel, a significant rise in serum albumin, a fall of cholesterol and a significant increase in mean glomerular filtration rate were noted. Complete remission was achieved in 16 patients (45.7%), including all patients in class III and V plus 10 patients in class IV. Not a single adverse effect was observed. CONCLUSION: MMF combined with low doses of steroids is an effective and safe treatment for the maintenance of stable remission of LN.

Renal biopsy registry from a single centre in Serbia: 20 years of experience.

BACKGROUND: There is not enough epidemiologic data of biopsy proven renal diseases. This is the first report of clinicopathologic correlations over a period of 20 years from central Balkan country-Serbia. METHODS: A retrospective review of reports of 2 362 native renal biopsies performed on patients at the leading nephrology unit in Serbia from 1987 to 2006 was undertaken. Patients were divided in two groups according to age: younger (<60 years old) and older (>or=60 years old). RESULTS: The annual incidence of renal biopsies increased from 3.9 p.m.p./year in 1987 to 12.5 p.m.p/year in 2006. The most common clinical syndrome as an indication for renal biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (NS) (53.6%). Membranous nephropathy was the most frequent cause of NS (21.6%). Primary glomerulonephritis (PGN) accounted for about two thirds of all performed biopsies. Non-IgA mesangioproliferative GN was the most frequent primary GN accounting for almost 25% of all PGN in our whole population, while the prevalence of IgA nephropathy was only 12%. Lupus nephritis was the most frequent secondary glomerulonephritis (75.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This report represents epidemiological overview on biopsy proven renal disease coming from one specific Balkan country, which was under economic sanctions for almost half the studied period. We are hoping that this register will be the basis for developing not only a national register but also a register that will encompass all Balkan countries.

Mycophenolate mofetil in high-risk patients with primary glomerulonephritis: results of a 1-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Glucocorticoids and classic immunosuppressive drugs can improve disease activity in primary glomerulonephritis (GN). However, these drugs have serious toxicity and patients frequently experience inadequate response or relapse, so there is a need for alternative agents. This multicenter uncontrolled study analyzed the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in high-risk patients with primary GN. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with biopsy-proven membranous (n = 12), membranoproliferative (n = 15), mesangioproliferative (n = 10), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 13) and minimal change disease (n = 1) received MMF with low-dose corticosteroids for 1 year. The primary outcome included the number of patients with complete/partial remission. RESULTS: Proteinuria significantly decreased, from its median value of 4.9 g/day (IQR 2.9-8.4) to 1.28 g/day (IQR 0.5-2.9), p < 0.001. The urine protein/creatinine ratio significantly improved, from a median of 3.72 (IQR 2.13-6.48) to 0.84 (IQR 0.42-2.01), p < 0.001. The mean area under the curve for proteinuria significantly decreased, from 4.99 +/- 3.46 to 2.16 +/- 2.46, between the first (visits 1-2) and last (vists 4-5) treatment periods (p < 0.001). The change was similar for every type of GN, without difference between groups. eGFR slightly increased (62.1 +/- 31.8 to 65.3 +/- 31.8 ml/min, p = n.s.) and ESR, total proteins, albumins, total- and HDL-cholesterol parameters improved significantly. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased (p < 0.02 for systolic blood pressure). The age of patients was the only independent predictor of complete or partial remission. CONCLUSION: MMF proved to be efficient in 70% of high-risk patients with primary GN, who reached either complete or partial remission without safety concern after 12 months of treatment. Favorable effects of MMF therapy have to be confirmed in the long term and particularly after discontinuation of the drug.

Polyneuropathy in diabetic and nondiabetic patients on CAPD: is there an association with HRQOL?

BACKGROUND: It is well known that patients with uremia, as well as patients with diabetes mellitus, develop polyneuropathy. OBJECTIVES: The signs of polyneuropathy in diabetic and nondiabetic patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and their relation with age, duration of dialysis, biochemical parameters, dialysis adequacy, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were analyzed in the present study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 65 CAPD patients (37 men, age 29-85 years, duration on dialysis 3 months to 14 years) were divided into two groups: group 1 was comprised of 20 diabetic patients (mean age 50.1+/-13.2 years); group 2 was comprised of 45 nondiabetic patients (mean age 62.3+/-9.7 years). Biochemical parameters, dialysis adequacy, and clinical signs were determined. Motor conduction velocity on the peroneal and tibial nerves and sensitive conduction velocity on the sural nerve were measured. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) was used to measure the CAPD patients' self-assessment of functioning and well-being using 4 component scores: physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), kidney disease target issues, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Subjective symptoms were more intense in the diabetic patients and correlated with changes in peroneal and tibial distal motor latency (DML). Diabetic patients were significantly younger, had lower creatinine and higher glucose levels, and all analyzed pathological neurophysiological parameters were higher. Nondiabetic patients had prolonged latency of the F-wave on the peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve and reduced sensitive conduction velocity on the sural nerve. Significant correlations were found between the analyzed neurophysiological parameters and duration of dialysis and diabetes, glucose concentration, and dialysis adequacy in diabetic patients, and between neurophysiological parameters and age and dialysis adequacy in nondiabetic patients. Analysis of the 4 component scores of the KDQOL-SF revealed that diabetic patients had significantly better scores for PCS and MCS, which can be explained by their younger age. Patient satisfaction was worse in diabetic patients and correlated with duration of diabetes. In addition, significant correlations were established between PCS, MCS, and tibial DML (late neuropathic changes) in diabetic patients, and between MCS and tibial F-wave (early neuropathic changes) in nondiabetic patients. CONCLUSION: Polyneuropathy was significantly worse in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients on CAPD. DML on the tibial nerve correlated with glucose concentration, dialysis adequacy, PCS, and MCS in diabetic patients, whereas in nondiabetic patients, dialysis adequacy and azotemia correlated with F-waves on the peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve but MCS only with F-wave on the tibial nerve.

High risk of hypopituitarism in patients who recovered from hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

CONTEXT: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantaviruses, is a severe systemic infection, with acute shock, vascular leakage, hypotension, and acute renal failure. Pituitary ischemia/infarction and necrosis are known causes of hypopituitarism, often remaining unrecognized due to subtle clinical manifestations. Cases of hypopituitarism after HFRS were previously only sporadically reported. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine, for the first time, the prevalence of hypopituitarism among HFRS survivors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 60 adults (aged 35.8+/-1.3 yr) who recovered from HFRS 3.7 +/- 0.5 yr ago (median 2 yr), assessment of serum T(4), free T(4), TSH, IGF-I, prolactin, cortisol, and testosterone (in males) was followed by insulin tolerance test and/or GHRH+GH-releasing peptide-6 stimulation tests. RESULTS: Severe GH deficiency was confirmed in eight of 60 patients (13.3%): in five with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHDs) and isolated in three. Thyroid axis deficiency was confirmed in five of 60 patients (8.3%), all with MPHD. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis deficiency was observed in six of 60 (10.0%); in five with MPHD and isolated in one. Gonadal axis deficiency was confirmed in seven of 56 male subjects (12.5%): five with MPHD and isolated in two. Overall six patients (10.0%) had a single pituitary deficit (three GH, two gonadal, and one adrenal), and five (8.3%) had MPHD. The prevalence of patients having any endocrine deficiency was 18% (11 of 60). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of hypopituitarism after recovery from HFRS is identified, with magnetic resonance imaging revealing atrophic pituitary and empty sella. Awareness is raised to neuroendocrine consequences of HFRS because unrecognized hypopituitarism significantly affects the physical and psychological well-being.

Health-related quality of life in patients on peritoneal dialysis in Serbia: comparison with hemodialysis.

Patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator of the effectiveness of the medical care they receive. Patients who reach end-stage renal disease are older and have a considerable extent of comorbidity. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate HRQoL in patients at the initiation of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment (incident cohort) and in patients on long-term CAPD therapy (prevalent cohort), and (ii) to compare influence of comorbidity on HRQoL in CAPD and hemodialysis (HD) patients. In a cross-sectional study we enrolled 99 CAPD and 192 HD patients. HRQoL was assessed with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). HRQoL summary scales in both incident and prevalent groups of CAPD patients were similar for physical component summary score (PCS) and for mental component summary score (MCS). Generally, higher values were found in mental health domains in comparison to PCS. In the incident group of patients, 1 year of peritoneal dialysis treatment was associated with a slight improvement in both PCS and MCS, but statistical significance (P < 0.05) was found in the role-physical limitation (RP), bodily pain (BP), and vitality (VT) scales only. CAPD patients with the highest disease severity (Index of Disease Severity [IDS]-3) and physical impairment (Index of Physical Impairment [IPI]-2) scored significantly higher parameters of HRQoL than HD patients. Comorbidity had negative influence on HRQoL, but statistically significant correlation has been found in HD patients only. In conclusion, comorbid conditions had negative correlation with parameters of HRQoL in both CAPD and HD patients. One year after starting CAPD, patients reported better scores in some domains, especially in RP, BP, and VT scales. Assessment of HRQoL and comorbidity might be useful in clinical practice in the follow-up of patients treated with both CAPD and HD.

[High rate of native arteriovenous fistulas: how to reach this goal?].

The types of vascular accesses for hemodialysis (HD) include the native arteriovenous fistula (AVF), arteriovenous graft (AVG) and central venous catheter (CVC). Adequately matured native AVF is the best choice for HD patients and a high percentage of its presence is the goal of every nephrologist and vascular surgeon. This paper analyses the number and type of vascular accesses for HD performed over a 10-year period at the Clinical Center of Serbia, and presents the factors of importance for the creation of such a high number of successful native AVF (over 80%). Such a result is, inter alia, the consequence of the appointment of the Vascular Access Coordinator, whose task was to improve the quality of care of blood vessels in the predialysis period as well as of functional vascular accesses, and to promote the cooperation among different specialists within the field. Vascular access is the "lifeline"for HD patients. Thus, its successful planning, creation and monitoring of vascular access is a continuous process that requires the collaboration and cooperation of the patient, nephrologist, vascular surgeon, radiologist and medical personnel.

[Influence of blood pressure control on maintenance of residual function in patients treated by haemodialysis].

INTRODUCTION: Residual renal function (RRF) in the patients treated by haemodialysis (HD) is associated not only with better volume and blood pressure control but also with better metabolic control.The condition of the cardiovascular system significantly affects RRF. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to find if there was any association between blood pressure regulation and the achieved HD ultrafiltration in the first year of haemodialysis treatment and the maintenance of RRF. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 53 patients were analyzed in the period 1994-2002. Residual clearance of urea (RCU) was measured for the first time at the beginning of HD treatment, and for the second time one year later. Laboratory data and values of blood pressure as well as the achieved HD ultrafiltration were taken from the electronic database of the Nephrology Hospital. RESULTS: The value of RCU less than 1 ml/min was considered as the loss of RRF and, at the beginning of HD treatment, 14 patients (26.4%) had that result. The rise of mean arterial pressure (MAP) was associated in linear regression analysis with a drop of residual diuresis volume (beta = -0.28; p = 0.04), but there was no association with RCU. The patients with MAP > 105 mm Hg had RKU less than the patients with MAP < 105 mm Hg (t = 2.23; p = 0.03). The rise of the HD ultrafiiltration significantly affected the loss of RRF obtained by the linear regression analysis (beta = -0.44; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The greater HD ultrafiltration is related to a drop of RCU values. Only prospective randomised trials with the use of multiple regression analysis could define a more precise association between hypertension and RKU.

[The significance of Goodpasture antigen in hereditary nephritis].

INTRODUCTION: Two types of hereditary nephritis, nonprogressive and progressive, clinically present as asymptomatic haematuria, sometimes combined with proteinuria. At the onset, in both types, light microscopic changes are minimal, immunofluorescence findings are negative, and diagnosis can be made only upon electron microscopic findings that are considered to be specific. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the significance of Goodpasture antigen detection in diagnosis of progressive and nonprogressive hereditary nephritis in its early phase. METHOD: Analysis of renal biopsy specimens was done in patients with hereditary nephritis that were followed from 1990 to 2005. Progression of renal disease was examined in 14 patients with Alport's syndrome, 10 patients with thin basement membrane disease, and 6 patients with unclassified hereditary nephritis diagnosed. For all these cases, indirect immunofluorescence study with serum from a patient with high titer of Goodpasture autoantibodies that recognize the antigenic determinants in human glomerular and tubular basement membrane was performed. RESULTS: In 11 out of 14 cases diagnosed as Alport's syndrome, there was negative staining with Goodpasture serum, and in 3 additional cases with Alport's syndrome, expression of Goodpasture antigen in glomerular basement membrane and thin basement membrane was highly reduced. In all 10 patients with thin basement membrane disease, immunofluorescence showed intensive, bright linear staining with Goodpasture serum along glomerular and tubular basement membrane. In 2 out of 6 patients with unclassified hereditary nephritis, Goodpasture antigen expression was very strong, in one patient it was very reduced, and in 3 patients it was negative. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that Goodpasture antigen detection plays a very important role in differential diagnosis of progressive and nonpregressive hereditary nephritis, particularly in early phases of the disease.

[Frequency of polyneuropathy signs in CAPD patients].

INTRODUCTION: It is well known that polyneuropathy has been an important cause of disability in patients maintained on hemodialysis as well as on peritoneal dialysis. The present study was aimed to analyze frequency and causes of polyneuropathy in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty three CAPD patients (37 men), aged between 30 and 85 who were on dialysis from 1 to 290 months, were analyzed. Biochemical parameters and dialysis adequacy (KT/V) were determined. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) of peroneal and tibial nerve, and sensitive conduction velocity (SCV) on sural nerve were measured. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Biochemical parameters and dialysis adequacy were satisfactory in patients on CAPD. Polyneuropathy symptoms like paresthesias, pain, cramps and disability were found in more than 50% of patients. Over 80% of analyzed patients had pathological neurophysiological parameters: latency of F wave of n. peroneus and all analyzed parameters of n. tibialis, as the well as SCV on the sural nerve. A significant correlation was found between peroneal MCV and age, glycemia and serum creatinine; peroneal terminal latency (TL) and age; peroneal F wave and glycemia and serum urea; tibial MCV and glycemia; tibial F wave and glycemia, serum urea and KT/V. CONCLUSION: The most frequent signs of uremic polyneuropathy are reduced SCV on sural nerve and prolonged latency of F wave on peroneal and tibial nerves. Neurophysiological parameters on the lower extremities in patients on CAPD are in correlation with dialysis adequacy, glycemia and age.

[The most important factor for active urinary stone formation in patients with urolithiasis].

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis, which affects 1-5% of western world population causing significant morbidity, is heterogeneous disorder with varying pathophysiologic milieu. Patients with recurrent stone formation are the particular problem because the understanding of the risk factors for active stone formation is deficient. The aim of the present study was to determine the most important metabolic and clinical parameters for active stone formation in order to recommend the best preventive therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 134 consecutive outpatients (57 males, 46.9+/-14.4 years old) were referred and evaluated for urinary stone disease at our Institute. Clinical and metabolic parameters were determined by standardized procedures of questionnaire, serum biochemical profiles and urinalyses. An active stone former group was defined by an increase in the size or number of stones, or a recurrent stone event within 2 years. RESULTS: In the evaluated cohort, 51 patients (38.1%) created the active stone former group. These patients were younger in the moment of the first stone elimination, had higher serum creatinine concentration, lower urine citrate concentration, as well as citrate/calcium ratio, higher urine pH and more frequently had clinical important urine sediment with eritrocituria and lenkocituria compared to the non-active stone group. Significant positive correlations were found between the active stone former and serum creatine concentration (r=0.227), urine pH (r=0.223), urine sediment (r=0.255) but negative with urine citrate (r=-0.275) and citrate/calcium ratio (r=-0.227). However, multivariate analysis indicated that clinical important urine sediment with eritrocituria and leuokocituria (p=0.033) and low urine citrate (p=0.04) were the only determinants of active urinary stone formation. CONCLUSION: Further study is required to investigate efficacy of alkaline citrate substitution and rigorous diagnosis and treatment of infections in order to prevent urinary stone recurrence.

[Anemia in peritoneal dialysis patients].

A normocytic normochromic anemia is one of the first signs of renal failure. Since anemia increases morbidity and mortality, its elimination is one of the essential objectives of the treatment. Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has changed the therapeutical approach to anemia. The aim of the present study was to compare efficacy of anemia correction in peritoneal dialysis patients depending on treatment and dialysis modality. The study is the retrospective analysis of 64 patients who presented to our Clinic in 2003. Eighteen (28.13%) patients were treated with rHuEPO, 14 (28%) underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), 2 (100%)--automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and 2 (33.3%)--intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD). Mean hemoglobin level was 98.6 +/- 17.82 g/l in patients treated with rHuEPO versus 98.81 +/- 15.14 g/l in patients without rHuEPO treatment. Erythropoietin requirements were 3392.85 +/- 1211.77 IU/week All patients received iron supplementation during rHuEPO therapy. Mean serum ferritin levels were 463.41 +/- 360 ug/l. Transferrin saturation (TSAT) was 0.35 +/- 0.16%. No difference of serum iron and TSAT levels was found between CAPD and IPD patients. The degree of anemia significantly differed between CAPD and IPD patients. A total of 17.11% of PD patients were given blood transfusions, most frequently during the first three months after the onset of dialysis. Our conclusion is that the number of patients receiving rHuEPO should be increased, as 50% of our patients should be substituted, while only 28% are being treated. As 50% of patients receiving rHuEPO failed to reach target Hgb levels, higher EPO doses should be considered. Iron stores should be continuously monitored, particularly in patients receiving rHuEPO, since iron deficiency is an important problem for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, especially during erythropoietin therapy. Oral iron supplementation is satisfactory in the majority of patients, and iron-gluconate is absorbed better than iron-sulphate. If required, intra-venous iron bolus is safe and efficient. Continuous peritoneal dialysis treatment improves blood count more effectively compared to intermittent procedures, as hemoglobin levels are significantly higher in patients with comparable iron stores. Peritoneal dialysis is particularly efficient in improving the blood count in diabetics, since no significant difference of anemia between patients affected by diabetes mellitus and the others could be found in our study.

[Effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis].

INTRODUCTION: In the last few years, an increasing number of patients suffering from terminal renal disease of various leading causes was treated with renal replacement therapy. Peritonaeal dialysis involves an exchange of water and solutes between blood in the peritonaeal capillaries and dialysate in the peritonaeal cavum throughout the peritonaeum. Effective dialysis treatment should provide good quality of life, decrease the number of physical complaints, and bring the incidence of morbidity and mortality closer to the incidence of morbidity and mortality in the healthy population. AIM: The aim of this study was the evaluation of peritonaeal transport characteristics and dialysis effectiveness in 58 patients affected by terminal renal disease who underwent peritonaeal dialysis treatment during August 2003 at the Clinic of Nephrology of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. METHOD: We examined 30 male and 28 female patients, with an average age of 52 years (range 26 to 78 years). The average duration of peritoneal dialysis treatment was 20 months (ranging from 2 to 66 months), and the end-stage renal failure was caused by different leading disease in our patients. We applied different dialysis modalities: continuous ambulatory peritonaeal dialysis (CAPD) with three to five 2- or 3-litre exchanges daily, cyclic peritonaeal dialysis (CCPD), intermittent peritonaeal dialysis (IPD), or automatic peritonaeal dialysis (APD), according to the transport characteristics of the peritonaeal membrane, the residual renal function (RRF), and the clinical status of the patients, in order to perform adequate depuration as suggested by the new international criteria. A peritonaeal equilibrium test (PET) was performed according to the new international advice; urea and creatinine clearances (Kt/V and Ccr) as well as RRF were calculated using the internationally suggested formulas. RESULTS: Most of our patients received effective dialysis treatment, thanks to the modulation of number, volume, and timing of exchanges. CONCLUSION: Adequate dialysis improved blood count, nutritional status, and quality of life in our patients, while reducing the incidence of infection to a significant degree.

[Efficacy of bolus intravenous iron treatment in peritoneal dialysis patients].

INTRODUCTION: Normocytic, normochromic anemia is one of the first signs of chronic renal failure and it is common in patients on chronic dialysis treatment. It causes decrease in oxygen supply to tissues, increases cardiac minute volume, causes left ventricular hyperthrophy, cardiac insufficiency, disorders related to cognitive functions and immune response, and increases morbidity and mortality rates. The leading cause of anemia in patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) is iron depletion and most patients on PD need oral or parenteral iron supplementation. The aim of this study was to evaluate our first experience with bolus intravenous ferrogluconate therapy in patients on chronic peritoneal dalysis at the Nephrology Clinic of the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 11 patients, 7 males and 4 females, mean-age 49 years (range 31 to 68 years) on chronic PD. All patients received blood transfusions, oral or intramuscular iron supplementation before 465 to 665 mg ferrogluconate therapy was given in 500 ml. saline intravenous infusion: 5 of them were on erythropoietin therapy and 2 of them started with EPO therapy after the ferrogluconate therapy. RESULTS: The blood count improved during the first 3 months after application of bolus intravenous iron therapy (ferrogluconate); erytrhopoietin dose was not increased during the follow-up. Some patients suffered from side effects during infusion and 6 patients received the complete treatment. DISCUSSION: Blood count improves in a number of patients affected by endstage renal desease during the first months on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment. But a large number of patients on chronic CAPD treatment are iron-depleted and they require oral or parenteral substitution. Side effects and complications of intravenous iron therapy were not severe and only one patient suffered from allergic manifestations. Ferremia and blood count improved in patients who did not receive erythropoietin during the follow-up, and patients on erythropoietin therapy required lower doses after receiving the intraveonous iron therapy. CONCLUSION: Blood count improvement and the lack of severe side effects speak in favor of further iron supplementation with bolus intravenous iron replacement.

[HIV infection and the kidneys (Part II): Morphologic changes and their diagnostic significance].

HIV-infected patients may be faced with a variety of renal problem patterns. HIV-associated nephropathy is a unique pattern of sclerosing glomerulopathy and represents the most rapidly progressive form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. This study involved the examination of 32 renal biopsies: by light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, in order to determine the most accurate and reliable diagnostic procedure. The findings show that the most sensitive and accurate procedure is electron microscopy, capable of detecting specific EM changes very early on, which is sufficient for the diagnosis of HIV-associated nephropathy.

[Comparative study of the efficacy of different regimens of intermittent subcutaneous dosing of erythropoietin beta in treatment of renal anemia in chronic dialysis patients].

INTRODUCTION: The use of erythropoietin (EPO) in the treatment of renal anemia is justified by more than 15 years of experience. Clinical trials have shown that subcutaneous erythropoietin beta (Recormon - F. Hoffmann-La Roche) therapy once weekly, or even once every two weeks has proven successful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different regimes of Recormon therapy in maintaining stable levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) in hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An open, comparative, multicenter study was divided into three arms of patients and lasted for 24 weeks. 98 patients with stable Hb level (>100 g/l), were treated with a stable dose of Recormon, and had a ferritin level > 200 microg/l and transferrin saturation >20%. During the first 8 weeks all were on the usual 2-3 times weekly epo dosage. 8 weeks later, 70 patients received epo once weekly, while 28 patients (group 1) maintained the same regimen for the entire study period. After another 8 weeks, 21 of those 70 patients receiving epo once weekly, received it once every two weeks (group 3), while 49 patients continued once weekly regimen to the end of the trial (group 2). The primary efficacy parameter was the percentage of patients maintaining their target Hb and HCT levels (>100 g/l and >30% for HB and HCT respectively). RESULTS: 86 patients (87.75%) completed the study (25 from group 1, 42 from group 2 and 19 from group 3). One patient was excluded because he was transplated during the study, one due to uncontrolled hypertension, while 10 patients, all from the same center, were excluded due to protocol violation (4-week gap in epo therapy due to problems with epo supply). Efficacy analysis included per-protocol population (86 patients). Hb levels remained stable (>100 g/l) in all three groups. Although there were statistically significant differences in Hb levels between visits (p=0,026), there were no statistically significant differences between groups throughout the study (p=0,439). HCT levels remained stable (>30%) in all three groups throughout the study, without statistically significant differences between visits (p=0,053) and between groups (p=0,155). The average epo doses were not statistically significantly different between visits (p=0,676) or between groups (p=0,512). The main tolerability parameters: sitting systolic (SSBP) and diastolic (SDBP) blood pressures were monitored at all visits. Statistical analysis showed that there were no differences in SSBP or SDBP between visits or groups of patients throughout the study. CONCLUSION: All three dosing regimens of subcutaneous epo beta were statistically equivalent in maintaining target Hb and HCT levels. Once weekly or once every two weeks administration of epo beta does not lead to dose increase, and provides greater opportunities to individualize treatment for every single patient and may lead to better compliance.

[Effect of uremia and peritoneal dialysis on peritoneal mesothelial cells]. / Uticaj uremije i peritoneurske dijalize na celije mezotela peritoneuma.

The aim of the study was to investigate the morphology of mesothelial cells of the peritoneum of patients with terminal renal failure (TRF), taken by the biopsy immediately before the onset of peritonal dialysis (PD), and to compare it with the findings in patients with PD. The samples were prepared in the way standard for light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In patients with TRF intracytoplasmatic inclusions could be observed, unusual protrusions of mesothelial apical surfaces, deformation of mesothelial cells and their detachment from the basal membrane, as well as the dilatated cisternae of granulated endoplasmatic reticulum with filamentous structures in some of them. In patients on PD cytoplasmic protrusions of different shapes and contents were observed at the surface of mesothelial cells, multiplication of basal membrane, occurrence of young forms of mesothelial cells as well as the detachment of those cells from the basal lamina.