Acute interstitial nephritis. A case characterized by increase in serum IgG, IgM, and IgE concentrations. Eosinophilia, and IgE deposition in renal tubules.

A case of acute interstitial nephritis with a distinct immunopathologic pattern was seen. The relevant findings included elevated levels of serum IgG, IgM, and IgE; persistent eosinophilia; prominent granular and electron-dense depositions of IgE and C3 in renal tubules, as demonstrated by direct immunofluorescent and electron microscopic procedures; persistent failure to demonstrate anti-basement membrane antibodies (both glomerular and tubular); and hypocomplementemia. The findings in our case suggest a type of acute interstitial nephritis with a somewhat different clinical outlook. In this respect, serial assays of complement components and IgE in serum and kidney tissue and determinations of circulating anti-basement membrane antibodies (both glomerular and tubular) may be of particular importance.

Glycosylated hemoglobin in patients treated by chronic dialysis.

A glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) test was used to evaluate the role of dialysate glucose in the development of carbohydrate intolerance and hyperlipidemia in chronic hemodialysis patients and chronic peritoneal dialysis patients. HbA1 levels were significantly elevated in all groups of patients. HbA1 levels were not ameliorated with 8 weeks of glucose-free hemodialysis. There was no correlation between HbA1 and serum glucose, triglycerides, or cholesterol. Thus, HbA1 elevation cannot be explained solely by glucose reabsorption from dialysate. This test is helpful in the detection of carbohydrate intolerance, but its usefulness in evaluation of hyperlipidemia of dialysis patients is uncertain.

Prediction of radiographic severity of renal osteodystrophy by serum values.

Renal osteodystrophy, a frequent complication of chronic renal failure, is usually assessed by periodic X-rays of bone which are both poorly reproducible and expensive. Seeking a better screening test for osteodystrophy, we evaluated the usefulness of serum alkaline phosphatase as a predictor of bone disease and of hyperparathyroidism. Alkaline phosphatase, despite nonspecificity, correlates with the severity of osteodystrophy and with the increase in serum parathyroid hormone concentration. Serial measurements of alkaline phosphatase can predict changes in these parameters.

Hemorrhagic pleural effusion in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

Three patients maintained on chronic hemodialysis developed hemorrhagic pleural effusion. The effusions seemed to be solely related to the uremic state, other causes having been excluded. Pulmonary restriction requiring decortication occurred in one patient. We concluded that hemorrhagic pleural effusion may be a complication of uremia in the chronically dialyzed patient and that fibrous pleuritis causing pulmonary restriction may result.

Hemodialysis for acute anuric uric acid nephropathy.

A patient with acute oliguric uric acid nephropathy was treated with hemodialysis. Recovery in this disorder is based on treatment of both the uremic state and the intrarenal crystal obstruction. Hemodialysis with high uric acid clearance is much more efficient than other forms of therapy in this disorder.

Factors in the dialysis regimen which contribute to alterations in the abnormalities of uremia.

While hemodialysis therapy in its present form is capable of sustaining life, dialysis patients are not metabolically normal and we are unable to say what technical factors contribute adequate therapy. Recent efforts to resolve these problems have led to the assumption that substances in the molecular weight range of 800 to 3000 daltons may be pathogenic in uremia and these may not be effectively removed by dialysis. Accordingly, four groups of patients (ten each) underwent changes in their routine which were theoretically designed to alter independently the concentration of small (urea) and "middle" molecules in the blood. In two groups, the concentration of urea was theoretically increased or decreased while the concentration of so-called middle molecules was maintained unchanged. In the remaining two groups, middle molecule concentration was theoretically increased or decreased while small molecule concentration was unchanged. Patients were evaluated prior to and after completing altered dialysis therapy. The results suggest three related conclusions. First, the uremic syndrome may be viewed as a constellation of abnormalities which can be subgrouped by association so that azotemia may be correlated with neuropathic disease and hypertension with weight gain or body size, for example. Second, those physiologic variables which changed after altered dialysis tended to deteriorate with increasing concentration of small molecules in the blood and remained independent of theoretical changes in middle molecules. Finally, when patients are relatively under-dialyzed, they may spontaneously modulate the reduced removal of metabolites such as urea by decreasing the dietary intake of nutrients.

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with IgM deposits. Clinicopathologic analysis and evidence for morphologic transitions.

To determine the natural history of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) with IgM deposits and its relationship to minimal change disease (MC) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FGS), we studied the clinical characteristics and outcome in 20 patients with MesPGN, 8 with MC, and 10 with FGS. IgM deposits were present in glomeruli of all MesPGN patients. Progression to FGS was documented in 2 patients with MesPGN, 1 of whom developed renal failure. Transition from MC to MesPGN occurred in 1 patient. 2 MC patients developed FGS, with decline in renal function in 1 of them. These data suggest the possibility of histologic transition from MC to FGS directly or through the stage of MesPGN.

The effects of varying dialysis regimens on lymphocyte stimulation.

A protocol was designed to alter mean time average serum concentrations of "middle" (B12) and "small" (urea) molecules. Serum before and after studies was tested for its effect on the blastogenic response to PHA. From this study we have concluded that: 1. Serum of patients on hemodialysis inhibits the mitogenic response of normal lymphocytes to PHA when compared to normal sera. 2. This phenomenon is not responsive to pertubations in dialysis designed to alter the concentration of ""middle'' and ""small'' molecules. 3. The inverse correlation between PHA response and serum PO4 and likewise the inverse correlation with changes in bone X-rays suggest that PTH, fragments thereof, or other factors related to bone and calcium metabolism, could conceivably be involved. This could mediated via cyclic AMP.