Breath analysis as promising indicator of hemodialysis efficiency.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of trimethylamine and isoprene in exhaled breath collected from dialysed patients indicates the changes in concentration of both compounds during dialysis. The aim of the presented study was to confirm diagnostic usefulness of TMA and isoprene detected in breath, as potential biomarkers of hemodialysis efficiency. METHODS: The samples of exhaled breath were collected from 22 dialyzed patients (9 women, 13 men) before and after hemodialysis (HD). All analyses were carried out using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer. Thermal desorption was used as breath sample enrichment method. RESULTS: Chromatographic analysis of breath samples indicated statistically significant differences in trimethylamine (TMA) and 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene) concentrations in patients' breath collected before and after HD. TMA concentrations measured in breath samples, before dialysis, ranged from 0.024 to 0.461 nmol/L. After dialysis, the values of detected TMA were lower versus output values and ranged from 0.008 to 0.050 nmol/L. Isoprene concentrations before dialysis were present in the range from 0.236 to 9.718 nmol/L, after dialysis in the range from 0.478 to 26.182 nmol/L. Additionally, the dependences of TMA and isoprene concentrations, detected in breath with renal efficiency parameters detected in blood, were studied. The relationships between TMA and urea (r = 0.67; p < 0.00001) and creatinine (r = 0.61; p = 0.00002) were checked. In case of isoprene considerably higher concentrations were observed after dialysis, but no statistically significant correlation of isoprene with blood parameters was noticed. CONCLUSION: The observed decrease of TMA concentrations during dialysis could be useful as a measure of dialysis efficiency. The explanation of isoprene increase in breath during dialysis requires further investigation.

[Lipid abnormalities in kidney diseases--significance of radical hypolipemic therapy (LDL-apheresis)]. / Zaburzenia gospodarki lipidowej w chorobach nerek--znaczenie radykalnej terapii hipolipemicznej (LDL-aferezy).

In several renal diseases such as nephrotic syndrome or terminal renal insufficiency changes in lipids metabolism may lead to increase of cholesterol level or changes in its fractions proportions. There are many clinical and experimental observations demonstrating direct toxic effect of lipids on endothelium leading to impairment of endothelial function what can increase damage of glomeruli. It is associated with passive filtration of lipoprotein to mesangium and active fagocytosis by mesangial cells and infiltrating macrophages, which release cytokines and growth factors increasing mesangial proliferation. There are first publications suggesting possibility of application LDL-apheresis-radical cholesterol removing procedure in renal disease. Periodical cholesterol lowering in the blood reduces proteinuria in patients with resistant for pharmacotherapy nephrotic syndrome, especially with focal glomerulonephritis.

[Long-term good results of surgical treatment for spontaneous epi- and subdural hematoma in a female patient on maintenance hemodialysis]. / Dlugotrwaly dobry wynik leczenia operacyjnego spontanicznego krwiaka nad- i podtwardówkowego u chorej objetej programem powtarzanych hemodializ.

Spontaneous intracranial hematoma is not rare, but with bad prognosis, complication in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Diagnostic difficulties result from a fact that symptoms of acute hematoma such as headaches,, nausea, vomitis, apathy, sleepiness, parestesia and seizures may also suggest dysequilibrium syndrome, dialytic dementia as well as hypertensive encephalopathy. We describe a case of female patient with 20-year interview data of hypertension on HD since 1981 because of end-stage renal failure in a course of chronic glomerulonephritis, who developed spontaneous epi- and subdural hematoma four year ago in 47 age of life. Performed CT examination confirmed diagnosis and on the same day the patient underwent right frontoparietotemporal craniotomy and the hematoma was removed. During postoperative period, HD sessions were performed without heparin. After surgery the patient developed transcient hypertonia, epileptic sizures and left-sided paresis. Currently, 48 months after craniotomy the patient is fully rehabilitated, with normal blood pressure, without epileptic sizures or palsy. Gradually we discontinued anticonvulsans and antihypertensives.