[Glomerulonephritis and thymoma: a case report and review of the literature]. / Glomérulonéphrite et thymome : un cas clinique et revue de la littérature.

The authors present a case of nephrotic syndrome due to focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis, occurring three years after thymectomy and myasthenia gravis. Twenty-three other cases of nephrotic syndrome associated with thymoma and myasthenia gravis have been reported in the literature. The nephrotic syndrome may be related to T-cell dysfunction associated with thymoma.

Early proteinuria is a strong indicator of donor renal lesions, ischemia-reperfusion injury and immunological aggression.

BACKGROUND: Early proteinuria is associated with reduced long-term graft survival. However, the determinants and mechanisms of proteinuria early after transplantation have not been identified. METHODS: Parameters associated with proteinuria within the first 3 months following transplantation were retrospectively assessed among 484 renal transplant recipients. RESULTS: Proteinuria was more abundant in patients with a history of two or more rejection episodes (0.42 +/- 0.68 vs 0.18 +/- 0.39 g/d; P = .02). Proteinuria was greater when donor age was 60 or more (OR: 4.43; P = .003), when recipient death was due to cardiovascular causes (OR: 1.98; P = .002), or when cold (OR: 1.77; P = .006) or warm (1.21; P = .09) ischemia times were prolonged. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria early after transplantation was related to pretransplant renal lesions, ischemia-reperfusion, and immunologic injuries.

Attitude of hemodialysis patients toward renal transplantation: a Moroccan Interregional Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplantation (KT) is considered the treatment of choice for many patients with severe chronic kidney disease because quality of life and survival are often better than in patients who undergo dialysis. This study assessed patients' knowledge and attitudes regarding KT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 2066 hemodialysis patients were investigated as part of the ARTEMIS (Attitude Toward Renal Transplantation and Eligibility Among Dialysis Patients in a Moroccan Interregional Survey) study. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 52.9 years, and the mean duration of hemodialysis was 55.3 months. Among these patients, 73.3% would like to undergo transplantation. Among the subjects wishing to be transplanted, 75.7% would accept the graft from a living or a cadaveric donor; 17.8% would refuse transplantation from a related living donor; and 6.5% would reject organs from donors after brain death. Approximately 17% of patients have a potential related living donor. The main motivating factor for KT was fluid restriction and diet constraints (43.3%). One third of patients believe that Islam does not allow organ donation from a related living donor, and almost one half think that it is prohibited from a brain-dead donor. Independent factors affecting patients' attitude toward KT were young age, male gender, persistence of residual diuresis, availability of a related living donor, and better information on the subject of transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: To improve hemodialysis patients' accessibility to KT, patients, their families, and other support providers need better information. Awareness campaigns are needed to promote organ donation.