Patients' representations of their end-stage renal disease: relation with mortality.

BACKGROUND: Self-regulation theory explains how patients' illness perceptions influence self-management behaviour (e.g. via adherence to treatment). Following these assumptions, we explored whether illness perceptions of ESRD-patients are related to mortality rates. METHODS: Illness perceptions of 182 patients participating in the NECOSAD-2 study in the period between December 2004 and June 2005 were assessed. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate whether subsequent all-cause mortality could be attributed to illness perception dimensions. RESULTS: One-third of the participants had died at the end of the follow-up. Mortality rates were higher among patients who believed that their treatment was less effective in controlling their disease (perceived treatment control; RR = 0.71, P = 0.028). This effect remained stable after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables (RR = 0.65, P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: If we consider risk factors for mortality, we tend to rely on clinical parameters rather than on patients' representations of their illness. Nevertheless, results from the current exploration may suggest that addressing patients' personal beliefs regarding the effectiveness of treatment can provide a powerful tool for predicting and perhaps even enhancing survival.

Adrenergic activity and peripheral hemodynamics in relation to sodium sensitivity in patients with essential hypertension.

In 25 outpatients with essential hypertension, sodium sensitivity, defined as the difference in mean arterial pressure (delta MAP) between 2 weeks of high-sodium (300 mmol per day) and 2 weeks of low-sodium (LS) intake (50-100 mmol per day), was studied in relation to the plasma norepinephrine (NE) level, NE release, and pressor response to intravenous NE. In addition, forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured by plethysmography. There were two control periods of regular sodium intake, one of 4 weeks' duration at the beginning of the study and one of 2 weeks' duration at the end. The delta MAP ranged from +18 to -8 mm Hg. The eight patients in whom delta MAP was greater than 10 mm Hg were regarded as salt-sensitive. When compared with salt-insensitive subjects, salt-sensitive patients had higher plasma NE levels in the control period (p less than 0.05) and after 2 weeks of HS intake (p less than 0.01). Sodium sensitivity was directly related to the change in plasma NE between the HS and LS periods (p less than 0.001). The NE release decreased in salt-insensitive subjects whereas it increased in salt-sensitive patients between the LS and HS periods. Changes in NE release were directly related to sodium sensitivity (p less than 0.05). The pressor response to NE was not significantly influenced by changes in sodium intake. The FBF fell in salt-sensitive patients and increased in salt-insensitive subjects between the LS and HS periods. Sodium sensitivity was directly related to the change in forearm vascular resistance (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sodium sensitivity in essential hypertension: role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and predictive value of an intravenous frusemide test.

In order to determine factors contributing to sodium induced changes of blood pressure, 20 patients with essential hypertension were studied when on their regular sodium intake and after two weeks of a low sodium diet (50 mmol daily) and two weeks of a high sodium diet (300 mmol daily). There were two periods of regular sodium intake, one of four weeks at the beginning and one of two weeks at the end of the study. The change in mean arterial pressure between the high and low salt diets (delta MAP) was regarded as a measure of sodium sensitivity, and was directly correlated with age and initial blood pressure. Compared with non-responders, responders (delta MAP 10 mmHg or more) showed a lesser activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during the low salt period. The response to the administration of intravenous frusemide was not helpful in predicting sodium sensitivity. A significant but relatively small (4.2 mmHg) reduction in MAP was obtained during low salt period compared with the first period of regular sodium intake. The data suggest that moderate dietary sodium restriction can help to reduce the blood pressure of the relatively older patient with hypertension.

Excretion of urokallikrein in renal transplant patients. Relation to graft rejection, renal function, and blood pressure.

The relation between urinary kallikrein excretion ( Ukal ) and rejection, graft function, and blood pressure was studied in 45 renal transplant recipients. Ukal was assayed by means of an enzymatic (amidolytic) method, as well as with a specific radioimmunoassay. In a group of 10 patients studied longitudinally from the day of transplantation till day 35 +/- 3, an increase in urinary amidolytic activity without a concomitant increase in kallikrein antigen excretion was found to precede 11 out of 14 rejection episodes. This increased amidolytic activity generally persisted for several days. It was demonstrated by chromatography using an immunoadsorbent column of antiurokallikrein that the rejection-associated esterase, or esterases, differed from urokallikrein . In 35 outpatient recipients with stable graft function, Ukal excretion was decreased compared with that of healthy controls (42 +/- 7.5 vs. 107.5 +/- 7.3 micrograms/24 hr by radioimmunoassay and 0.70 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.10 +/- 0.07 U/24 hr, using the amidolytic method); for these patients a significant correlation between Ukal excretion and creatinine clearance was found (P less than 0.02). Both in transplant recipients and in controls there was a close correlation between the results of the two Ukal assays (P less than 0.001). No significant relation between Ukal excretion and blood pressure was found, either for patients or for controls. It is concluded that acute graft rejection is accompanied by an increased excretion of nonurokallikrein esterase(s). The lower Ukal excretion in patients with stable renal function seems to be related to their reduced renal function. No relation between Ukal excretion and blood pressure levels was found.

Fibrillary-immunotactoid glomerulopathy with renal deposits of IgAlambda: a rare cause of glomerulonephritis.

We describe a 24-year-old patient who presented with a nephrotic syndrome. His renal biopsy revealed a diffuse mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with eosinophilic deposits. Electron microscopy showed organized, Congo-red negative deposits, forming microtubules of about 20 nm width in the capillary walls and in the mesangium, establishing a diagnosis of fibrillary-immunotactoid glomerulopathy. Fibrillary-immunotactoid glomerulopathy is a rare cause of glomerulonephritis, characterized by Congo-red-negative glomerular deposits of fibrils, sometimes organized in microtubules, predominantly containing IgG and C3. Patients clinically present with the nephrotic syndrome, hematuria and hypertension. The pathogenesis of this glomerulopathy has not been elucidated yet. In our patient, the renal deposits contained IgAlambda. This peculiar feature is suggestive of an underlying paraproteinemia. However, in the serum no paraproteins or cryoglobulins were found, and also microscopical examination and immunophenotyping of the bone marrow did not point to the presence of a monoclonal plasma cell dyscrasia. Our patient was not treated with immunosuppressive drugs and he is currently progressing to end-stage renal disease.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma with unique localization in the kidneys presenting with acute renal failure.

An unusual case of acute renal failure due to infiltration of the kidneys by non-Hodgkin lymphoma is described. The diagnosis was made by renal biopsy. Extensive clinical, laboratory, and radiological examination revealed that the kidneys were the only localization of the lymphoma.

A sporadic case of acute Hantavirus nephropathy in The Netherlands.

A 32-yr-old man presented with acute renal failure preceded by a viral-like disease with high fever, bilateral loin pain, nausea, headache and slight thrombocytopenia. Renal biopsy revealed only minor tubulointerstitial abnormalities. Renal function completely normalised within 10 days after hospitalisation. The diagnosis of acute Hantavirus nephropathy was proved by serological examinations.

A patient with postpartum primary hypothyroidism and acquired von Willebrand's disease.

Patients with hypothyroidism often complain about easy bruising. We describe a patient with a postpartum acquired bleeding tendency. Hypothyroidism was suspected and confirmed biochemically. After substitution therapy with levothyroxine the bleeding tendency recovered completely. The coagulation disorder appeared to be based on an acquired von Willebrand's disease, secondary to the hypothyroidism. In patients with von Willebrand's disease underlying diseases have to be excluded.

Outcome and complications in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) at a single centre during 11 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcome and complications in patients treated with CAPD at our centre a retrospective study was performed. METHODS: Relevant data from all 123 consecutive patients on the CAPD program from 1982 to 1994 were reviewed. RESULTS: Patient survival after 1, 2, 3 years was 89, 78, 69 and 50% respectively. The probability of having a functioning catheter after 1, 2, 3 and 5 years was 90, 77 and 68%, respectively. We observed 179 technical complications (42 intra-abdominal pressure, 137 catheter-related). Peritonitis (220 episodes, 62% gram-positive) occurred with a mean incidence of 1 episode in 13 treatment months and was the main reason (26 cases, 68% gram-positive) for catheter removal. (Mixed) Gram-negative peritonitis was associated with a higher mortality, and relatively more often resulted in termination of CAPD treatment when compared to gram-positive peritonitis. Introduction in 1988 of a new fluid exchange system (Twin Bag) and alcohol disinfection of hands was accompanied by a decreased incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infections, but to date patient, technique and catheter survival have not improved. CONCLUSION: Although therapeutic measures have resulted in a reduced incidence of peritonitis and exit-site infections, infectious and technical complications remain a serious threat to patient and technique survival in CAPD treatment.

Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in a family with hyper-IgE syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hyperimmunoglobulin E (hyper-IgE) syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency characterised by recurrent skin and respiratory tract infections, skeletal and dental abnormalities, chronic eczema, and elevated serum IgE. We describe a family with four hyper-IgE syndrome patients (38, 37, 30 and 7 years old), in which we investigated the cytokine response to both specific and non-specific stimulation. METHODS: Whole blood from patients and volunteers was stimulated for either 24 or 48h at 37 degrees C with heat-killed Staphylococcus, C. albicans or a combination of IL-12 and IL-18. Cytokine concentrations in the plasma were measured by specific radioimmuno-assays or ELISA. RESULTS: Serum IgE ranged from 5,000 to 16,670 IU/ml, and neutrophil chemotaxis was normal in all four patients. Tumour necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 production after stimulation of whole-blood cultures with lipopolysaccharide or heat-killed S. aureus did not differ between the adult patients and four healthy controls. In contrast, when blood from patients and controls was stimulated with heat-killed S. aureus or C. albicans, a severe imbalance towards a Th2 phenotype was found, with 10- to 30-fold reduction in the IFNgamma/IL-10 ratios in the hyper-IgE syndrome patients. The IFNgamma production in the patients was less severely impaired when blood was non-specifically stimulated with a combination of IL-18 and IL-12. CONCLUSION: In this family with hyper-IgE syndrome, the imbalance in the Th1/Th2 cytokine production may have been involved in the pathogenesis of the recurrent infections and/or chronic eczema characteristic of this disease.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies with myeloperoxidase specificity in a patient with anti-glomerular basement membrane disease.

An unusual case is described of a patient with both anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies with myeloperoxidase specificity (MPO-ANCA) presenting with acute renal failure. Four years before a seronegative arthritis of the left wrist was diagnosed. Tests for ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence were repeatedly negative. The diagnosis was made by renal biopsy and by testing the serum with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for MPO-ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies. To our knowledge, this is the first patient presenting with such findings in the Dutch literature.

Nasal carriage and peritonitis by Staphylococcus aureus in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether or not patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) using current infection control measures who are nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus are at risk for the development of S. aureus peritonitis. DESIGN: A prospective 22-month study analyzing nasal and skin/nasal (i.e., nasal and/or exit-site) carrier status for S. aureus and peritonitis episodes. Nasal swab cultures for S. aureus were taken with 1- to 3-month intervals; swab cultures from the catheter exit site were taken only when infection was suspected. SETTING: Renal unit, tertiary-care center. PATIENTS: All patients on CAPD at our center that could be observed during at least 2 months. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nasal and skin/nasal carrier status, occurrence of peritonitis. RESULTS: Of 54 enrolled patients, 31 (57%) were nasal carriers for S. aureus: 6 of these 31 developed S. aureus peritonitis as opposed to none of 23 non-carriers (p = 0.03). The S. aureus peritonitis rate in 28 skin/nasal carriers was increased when compared to non-carriers (p = 0.02), but there was no difference between chronic and intermittent skin/nasal carriers (p = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: In our population, nasal carriers are at increased risk for the development of S. aureusperitonitis. Further studies should evaluate the effect of eradication of nasal carriage of S. aureus and the effect of additional preventive hygienic measures on the occurrence of peritonitis by S. aureus.

Vascular complications in 400 consecutive renal allotransplants.

The vascular complications, their management and results of treatment in 400 consecutive renal allotransplants performed at the Leiden University Hospital from March 1966 through July 1979, are presented. There were 50 (12.5%) vascular complications. Among them renal artery stenosis (RAS) occurred in 40 cases (10%), renal artery thrombosis in 7 cases (1.8%), renal vein thrombosis in 2 cases (0.5%) and disruption of the arterial anastomosis in one. Arterial reconstruction was made in 25 patients with RAS, the blood pressure was normalized in 18 patients (72%), in 3 a recurrence of the RAS was found, in another 3 bad results were achieved regarding the blood pressure and in one patient a recurrence of the original glomerulonephritis had taken place. Of the 50 vascular complications 12 patients underwent a removal of the transplant and 3 resulted in death of the patient.

[Tubulointerstitial nephritis caused by mesalazine (5-ASA) agents]. / Tubulo-interstitiële nefritis door mesalazine (5-ASA)-preparaten.

In five patients (4 men aged 34, 20, 22 and 29 years, and a woman of 34 years) tubulo-interstitial nephritis developed during treatment with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) containing drugs for colitis ulcerosa, proctocolitis or Crohn's disease. Two patients had an impaired renal function before treatment with 5-ASA medication. In all patients there was only an incomplete recovery of renal function after cessation of the therapy. It is therefore necessary to monitor renal function regularly in patients receiving 5-ASA containing preparations.

[Ocular infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a mechanically ventilated patient]. / Ooginfectie door Pseudomonas aeruginosa bij een mechanisch beademde patiënt.

A 59-year-old man developed bilateral keratitis several weeks after the initiation of mechanical ventilation because of respiratory failure and sepsis following abdominal surgery. Colonisation of the upper airways by P. aeruginosa had been established before. Invasion through corneal epithelial defects based on dehydration keratitis was the presumed route of infection. Despite aggressive treatment, including antibiotics, the infection was rapidly progressive in both eyes. The patient died of deterioration of his general condition. In order to prevent such eye infections in a patient on mechanical ventilation, there is a need of good eye care, prevention of corneal lesions and alertness, especially when the patient is colonised by virulent micro-organisms like P. aeruginosa.

Clinical biochemical and haemodynamic correlates of sodium sensitivity in essential hypertension.

Factors contributing to the blood pressure (BP) response to changes in dietary sodium intake were studied in 25 patients with essential hypertension (EH). Relevant clinical, biochemical and haemodynamic variables were measured after two weeks on a low sodium diet (LS, 50 mmol) and after two weeks on a high sodium diet (HS, 300 mmol). BP was significantly higher during HS. The difference in mean arterial pressure between HS and LS (delta MAP) was taken as a measure of sodium sensitivity. delta MAP was directly related to age, initial BP, plasma noradrenaline during HS and changes in forearm vascular resistance. It was indirectly related to plasma aldosterone during LS. No correlation was found with renin or with the excretion of urinary kallikrein. It is concluded that sodium sensitivity in EH is related to age and blood pressure and is predominantly mediated by changes in vascular resistance to which aldosterone and adrenergic mechanisms are likely to contribute.