[Femoral arteriovenous fistula: a late uncommon complication of central venous catheterization]. / Fistola artero-venosa femorale: rara complicanza tardiva del posizionamento di un catetere venoso centrale per emodialisi.

A 77-year-old woman was admitted due to AV graft thrombosis; given the technical impossibility of performing other native AV fistulas, we chose to insert a tunnelled central venous catheter. Considering the vascular history of the patient, the central venous catheter could not be placed into the internal jugular vein; it was therefore put into the left femoral vein. Following a 3-month-period of the catheter working properly, the patient was hospitalized due to sudden acute pain in the left thigh. In a few days the patient developed an important haematoma with serious anemization in the left lower limb. Ultrasonography showed the presence of a fistula between the left common femoral artery and the femoral vein, leading to the subsequent successful positioning of a stent into the common femoral artery through right trans-femoral access. Angiography examination showed the femoral vein patency along the proximal stretch with respect to the function of the tunnelled venous catheter.

Ash Split Cath in geriatric dialyzed patients.

Vascular access is the essential step in performing hemodialysis in uremic patients. In the absence of a permanent and utilizable native arterio-venous fistula, the use of a tunnelled catheter makes dialysis therapy possible. The Ash Split Cath, a recently introduced chronic hemodialysis catheter, was inserted in five patients (7.1% of our prevalent dialysis population) because of repeated venous thrombosis in three patients and a poor venous tree in two. The mean age of patients was 78 years +/- 7. The average blood flow rate was 250+/-50 ml/minute and the mean venous pressure 140mm Hg +/- 35. Recirculation determined by low flux technique was less than 2%. KT/V calculated 3 months after the catheter placement was 1.2+/-0.02. During the follow-up we did not document any infection of the exit site or related to the catheter. This device is simple to place, gives adequate dialysis treatment and is useful in geriatric dialyzed patients in whom the arterio-venous fistula can no longer be used.

[7-year-follow up (1987-1994) of a population with asymptomatic persistent microhematuria and normal renal function]. / Follow-up di 7 anni (1987-1994) su una popolazione con microematuria persistente asintomatica e funzione renale integra.

A group od 129 patients with persistent asymptomatic microhematuria was studied for 7 years (1987-1994). At the beginning of the study, 31 patients showed mild proteinuria (less than 1 g/day) and in the rest of 98 patients, 21 showed microalbuminuria. At the end of the study none of the patients developed renal failure, urological disease, hypertension. Six patients out of 31 with mild proteinuria (less than 1 g/day), developed an increase of proteinuria over 2 and 3/day and underwent a renal biopsy while 2 out of 21 patients with altered microalbuminuria completely recovered after the follow-up period. The rest of 77 patients at the end of the study still showed isolated microhematuria. The results of this study support the hypothesis that in a population with age range between 16 and 28 years, the presence of persistent microhematuria, also associated with mild proteinuria, even for a long time, does not seem to lead to changes of renal function or to urological diseases.

[Physical exercise during hemodialysis session: effect on quality of life]. / Contributo dell'esercizio fisico in corso di emodialisi sulla qualità di vita del paziente emodializzato.

There are many studies showing beneficial psychophysical effects of exercise in dialyzed patients. Moreover, it has been suggested that exercise positively correlates with better metabolism, better blood pressure control and with total hemoglobin. In our dialysis unit eight dialyzed patients (average age = 66.7 years), for eight weeks participated in physical training with bike (Reck Moto Med Letto) during dialysis treatment. Controls of glucose metabolism, blood pressure and dialysis efficiency index (Kt/V and URR) at rest and during exercise was performed. All patients responded well to exercise and expressed better muscular performance during and after exercise time. Our study showed in all patients improvement of Kt/V and URR index after physical exercise period, compared to exercise free time (p < 0.005). We suggest that exercise during dialysis treatment is safe and consents either better psychophysical performance or better dialytic efficiency.

Vascular calcification of the venous side of an arterious-venous fistula.

While reports of venous calcifications are scarce, vascular calcifications frequently occur in the arteries of uraemic patients. Venous calcification of an aged arterious-venous (a-v) fistula in a young patient with a long-standing history of hyperparathyroidism was detected on a forearm X-ray. Risk factors for vascular calcifications are still under debate, but calcium-phosphate product appears to be involved in its pathogenesis. We suggest that a-v fistula of patients with hyperparathyroidism history should be monitored as calcifications could be a risk factor for access thrombosis.

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for nephropathy and its progression in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy in Type 1 diabetes (T1DM); a few reports support this possibility in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as well. Since heterogeneity among populations could exist, we investigated the association of cigarette smoking and nephropathy, and progression of nephropathy in Italian T2DM patients. A retrospective study was conducted in 273 long-duration T2DM subjects with a 3-year follow-up in the out-patient clinic, and at least one access per year. Albumin excretion rate, serum creatinine, and a number of other parameters implicated in the development of diabetic renal disease were evaluated. Progression of nephropathy was defined as the passage from different stages of renal involvement (no renal derangement, microalbuminuria, proteinuric disease or severe nephropathy). At baseline, 13.2% of the subjects had microalbuminuria, and 3.7% proteinuric disease. Microalbuminuria and proteinuric disease were more frequent in actual smokers than in non- and former smokers (chi2=8.35; p=0.015). Progression of nephropathy was less common in non- and former smokers than in smokers (31 of 134, 23%, and 15 of 67, 22%, and 30 of 72, 42%, respectively; chi2=9.32;p=0.009). From logistic regression analysis, smoking (p=0.0012) emerged as the most important factor associated with progression of nephropathy, followed by packyears (p=0.011), HbA1c mean value at follow-up (p=0.024), and total cholesterol (p=0.038). In conclusion, cigarette smoking is a risk factor for progression of nephropathy also in Italian T2DM patients; reducing or quitting smoking should be part of the therapy or of the preventive measures in these patients and their relatives.

Is the red cell morphology really useful to detect the source of hematuria?

Morphological analysis of urinary red blood cells by phase-contrast microscopy to identify the source of bleeding was, and still is, widely used also as a starting point for workup. To evaluate the reliability of this approach, we studied 129 outpatients presenting with persistent isolated microhematuria; 31 subjects also had mild proteinuria (1 g/day), while 21 had pathological albumin levels. All patients were followed for a period of 6 years. During this time, 6 patients underwent renal biopsy for the onset of macrohematuria episodes and proteinuria of 2-3 g/day. Glomerular bleeding was identified in only 14.7% of the patients, despite the persistent microhematuria and the presence of proteinuria or microalbuminuria. The renal origin of the urinary erythrocytes correlated with histological findings in only 2 of 6 patients with dysmorphic erythrocytes who developed proteinuria (exceeding 1 g/day), and none with isomorphic erythrocytes showed urological abnormalities. These results challenge the validity and reliability of morphological analysis to identify the source of bleeding along the urinary tract.

Water and its effects when drunk cold. The Physician's view (1576-1751).

Starting with Baldassare Pisanelli's book Trattato della natura de' cibi et del bere, published in Venice in 1586, the controversies that have kept physicians busy over the centuries regarding the relative importance of water in human health are traced. These controversies were of considerable importance as the Latin word for water 'aqua' is derived from the phrase 'a qua vinimus' (from whence we come). However, until the studies of Nicolas Lemery, one of the most important pharmacologists of the 18th century, the controversies were debated using more theoretical, philosophical arguments. Lemery's studies shifted the debates from those based on philosophical arguments to more physiologically and scientifically based arguments.

Carotid artery lesions in patients with nondiabetic chronic renal failure.

Atherosclerotic complications are the leading cause of death in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Therefore, we wished to investigate the prevalence of carotid artery lesions (CALs) in these subjects. Two groups were evaluated by high-resolution echo Doppler: group 1 included 103 patients (68 males and 35 females) affected by nonnephrotic CRF and group 2 included 100 control subjects (60 males and 40 females). The prevalence of hypertension was 84% in both groups. The exclusion criteria included diabetes mellitus and symptoms of cerebrovascular disease. In the two groups we evaluated clinical history, physical examination, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, blood cell counts, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, 24-hour proteinuria, and urine analysis. In group 1 patients the following lipid profile parameters were also evaluated: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), ApoAI, ApoAII, and ApoB. Group 1 had higher triglycerides and fibrinogen than group 2. A lower body mass index was found in group 1 than in group 2. The prevalence of CALs was significantly higher in the CRF patients than in the control subjects (62% v 47%; P = 0.04). The difference between the two groups was more striking among normotensive patients (62% v 19%; P = 0.03). All CRF patients affected by peripheral arterial disease and 86% of those having coronary artery disease had associated CALs. In CRF patients the severity of CALs was positively correlated to age, white blood cell count, triglycerides, and fibrinogen. Nondiabetic CRF patients have a higher prevalence of carotid artery lesions than control subjects. Several factors besides hypertension, including lipids, blood coagulation, and leukocytes, could contribute to the accelerated atherosclerosis of CRF patients.