Safety and Efficacy of Oral Human Parathyroid Hormone (1-34) in Hypoparathyroidism: An Open-Label Study.

The standard treatment of primary hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) with oral calcium supplementation and calcitriol (or an analog), intended to control hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia and avoid hypercalciuria, remains challenging for both patients and clinicians. In 2015, human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) (1-84) administered as a daily subcutaneous injection was approved as an adjunctive treatment in patients who cannot be well controlled on the standard treatments alone. This open-label study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of an oral hPTH(1-34) formulation as an adjunct to standard treatment in adult subjects with hypoparathyroidism. Oral hPTH(1-34) tablets (0.75 mg human hPTH(1-34) acetate) were administered four times daily for 16 consecutive weeks, and changes in calcium supplementation and alfacalcidol use, albumin-adjusted serum calcium (ACa), serum phosphate, urinary calcium excretion, and quality of life throughout the study were monitored. Of the 19 enrolled subjects, 15 completed the trial per protocol. A median 42% reduction from baseline in exogenous calcium dose was recorded (p = .001), whereas median serum ACa levels remained above the lower target ACa levels for hypoPT patients (>7.5 mg/dL) throughout the study. Median serum phosphate levels rapidly decreased (23%, p = .0003) 2 hours after the first dose and were maintained within the normal range for the duration of the study. A notable, but not statistically significant, median decrease (21%, p = .07) in 24-hour urine calcium excretion was observed between the first and last treatment days. Only four possible drug-related, non-serious adverse events were reported over the 16-week study, all by the same patient. A small but statistically significant increase from baseline quality of life (5%, p = .03) was reported by the end of the treatment period. Oral hPTH(1-34) treatment was generally safe and well tolerated and allowed for a reduction in exogenous calcium supplementation, while maintaining normocalcemia in adult patients with hypoparathyroidism. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Body size and serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D response to oral supplements in healthy older adults.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in the northeast United States. Since vitamin D insufficiency is readily amenable to supplementation, it is important to understand what factors are associated with serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) response to vitamin D supplementation. OBJECTIVE: In this study we examined the association of serum 25(OH)D response to vitamin D supplementation with body size in a population of elderly subjects. METHODS: 257 healthy, ambulatory men and women 65 years of age or older were randomly assigned to treatment with either 700 IU/day (17.5 microg/d) of supplemental vitamin D(3) and 500 mg/day (12.5 mmol/d) of supplemental calcium, or to placebo. RESULTS: In multivariate regression analyses, after adjusting for baseline 25(OH)D, season, and sex, we found change in 25(OH)D to be inversely associated with baseline BMI (p = 0.01) in subjects treated with supplements for one year. Change in 25(OH)D was also negatively associated with other baseline anthropometric measurements in these subjects. CONCLUSION: Our study implies that body size should be taken into account when estimating the amount of vitamin D intake needed to raise 25(OH)D to the desired level.

Vitamin D(3) in fat tissue.

The literature describing vitamin D content of fat tissue is extremely limited. We conducted a pilot study that measured the concentrations of vitamin D(3) in the fat tissue and serum of obese adults. These measurements were performed using a new liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method. The objectives of this study were: to measure and report the vitamin D(3) concentration in serum and subcutaneous fat samples from obese individuals and to examine the association of vitamin D(3) in fat with vitamin D(3) in serum. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 obese men and women who were scheduled to undergo gastric bypass surgery. The mean vitamin D(3) concentration in subjects' subcutaneous fat tissue samples was 102.8 +/- 42.0 nmol/kg. The mean vitamin D(3) concentration in serum was 7.78 +/- 3.99 nmol/l. Vitamin D(3) concentrations of fat tissue and serum were positively correlated (r = 0.68, P = 0.003). Consistent with previous findings in obese subjects, subjects in this study had suboptimal vitamin D status as demonstrated by a mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 43.3 +/- 15.4 nmol/l. In conclusion, fat tissue vitamin D(3) can be measured by LC/MS and is detectable in obese subjects with suboptimal vitamin D status. Compatible with the long-standing concept that fat tissue is a storage site for vitamin D, fat tissue and serum vitamin D(3) concentrations were positively correlated.

Laparoscopic implantation of the Tenckhoff catheter for the treatment of end-stage renal failure and congestive heart failure: experience with the pelvic fixation technique.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis is a widely accepted route for renal replacement. With the advent of endoscopy, many surgical techniques for the prevention of catheter failure have been proposed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic Tenckhoff catheter implantation using the pelvic fixation technique. METHODS: Data analysis was retrospective. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia. A double-cuffed catheter was inserted using two 5 mm trocars and one 10 mm trocar, fixing its internal tip to the dome of the bladder and its inner cuff to the fascia. Catheter failure was defined as persistent peritonitis/exit-site/tunnel infection, severe dialysate leak, migration or outflow obstruction. RESULTS: LTCI was performed in 34 patients. Mean patient age was 65 +/- 17 years. In 12 of the 34 patients the indication for LTCI was end-stage renal failure combined with NYHA class IV congestive heart failure. Operative time was 35 +/- 15 minutes. A previous laparotomy was performed in 9 patients. Hospital stay was 1.5 +/- 0.6 days. The first continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was performed after 20 +/- 12 days. Median follow-up time was 13 months. There were several complications, including 5 (14%) exit-site/tunnel infections, 27 episodes (0.05 per patient-month) of bacterial peritonitis, 3 (9%) incisional hernias, 1 case of fatal intraabdominal bleeding, 2 (5.8%) catheter migrations (functionally significant), and 10 (30%) cases of catheter plugging, 8 of which were treated successfully by instillation of urokinase and 2 surgically. A complication-mandated surgery was performed in 8 patients (23.5%). The 1 year failure-free rate of the catheter was 80.8%. One fatal intraabdominal bleeding was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: LTCI is safe, obviating the need for laparotomy in high risk patients. Catheter fixation to the bladder may prevent common mechanical failures.

Erythropoietin in heart failure.

The incidence of both congestive heart failure (CHF) and end-stage renal disease both are increasing. Anemia is common in both conditions and is associated with a marked increase in mortality and morbidity in both CHF and chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI). Each of these 3 conditions can cause or worsen the other 2. In other words, a vicious circle frequently is present in which CHF can cause or worsen both anemia and CKI, in which CKI can cause or worsen both anemia and CHF, and in which anemia can cause or worsen both CHF and CKI. We have called this vicious circle the cardio renal anemia syndrome. Optimal treatment of CHF with all the recommended CHF medications at their recommended doses will, in our experience, frequently fail to improve the CHF and CKI if anemia is present and is not corrected. On the other hand, correction of the anemia with subcutaneous erythropoietin and intravenous iron has caused a great improvement in the CHF including a marked improvement in patient and cardiac function and a marked reduction in the need for hospitalization and for high-dose diuretics. It also frequently has caused renal function to improve or at least stabilize. In addition, patients' quality of life and exercise capacity also have improved with the correction of the anemia. In CKI patients, anemia also may play an important role in increasing the risk for death, coronary heart disease, stroke, and progression to end-stage renal disease. Erythropoietin may have a direct positive effect on the heart and brain unrelated to correction of the anemia by reducing cell apoptosis and by increasing neovascularization, both of which could prevent tissue damage. This could have profound therapeutic implications not only in CHF but in the future treatment of myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, strokes, and renal failure.

Childhood overweight and maturational timing in the development of adult overweight and fatness: the Newton Girls Study and its follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Although several studies have suggested that early menarche is associated with the development of adult overweight, few have accounted for childhood overweight before menarche. STUDY DESIGN: A 30-year follow-up of the original participants in the Newton Girls Study, a prospective study of development in a cohort of girls followed through menarche, provided data on premenarcheal relative weight and overweight (BMI >85th percentile), prospectively obtained age at menarche, self-reported adult BMI, overweight (BMI > 25), obesity (BMI > 30) and, for a subset of participants, percentage body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 448 women who participated in the adult follow-up at a mean age of 42.1 years (SD: 0.76 years), 307 had childhood data with which to characterize premenarcheal and menarcheal weight status and age at menarche. After a follow-up of 30.1 years (SD: 1.4 years), reported BMI was 23.4 (4.8), 28% were overweight, and 9% were obese. In multivariate linear and logistic-regression analyses, almost all of the influence on adult weight status was a result of premenarcheal weight status (model R2 = 0.199). Inclusion of a variable to reflect menarcheal timing provided very little additional information (model R2 = 0.208). Girls who were overweight before menarche were 7.7 times more likely to be overweight as adults (95% confidence interval: 2.3, 25.8), whereas early menarche (at < or = 12 years of age) did not elevate risk (odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.66, 2.43). A similar pattern of results was observed when percentage body fat in adulthood was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent influence of early maturation on adult female overweight is largely a result of the influence of elevated relative weight on early maturation. Interventions to prevent and treat overweight should focus on girls before they begin puberty.

Anaemia as a contributor to morbidity and mortality in congestive heart failure.

Anaemia is present in approximately 40% of cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) and is associated with a higher mortality, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, a lower cardiac functional status, a higher rate of hospitalization, signs of malnutrition, a lower exercise capacity, a progressive fall in renal function, an increased need for high dose diuretics, hyponatraemia, an increased plasma volume, a reduced red cell volume and a lower quality of life. In both uncontrolled and controlled studies, correction of the anaemia with subcutaneous erythropoietin and, in some cases, with the addition of intravenous iron, has been shown to improve these parameters. A vicious circle is present between CHF, chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI) and anaemia, each capable of causing or being caused by the other, the so-called cardio renal syndrome. If larger randomized, controlled, double-blind studies confirm these observations, correction of the anaemia may prove to be a useful addition to the prevention and progression of both CHF and CKI. Cooperation between nephrologists, cardiologists and other internists to identify and treat these anaemic CHF patients early will help prevent progression of both the cardiac and renal disease.

Effects of treatment with epoetin beta on outcomes in patients with anaemia and chronic heart failure.

UNLABELLED: Anaemia is frequently found in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and has been associated with an increase in mortality and morbidity, impaired cardiac and renal function and a reduced quality of life (QoL) compared with non-anaemic CHF patients. Correction of anaemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) has been associated with an improvement in CHF in both controlled and uncontrolled studies. The present study describes our findings in a series of 78 consecutive patients with symptomatic CHF and anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) level <12.0 g/dl) treated with epoetin beta and, if necessary, intravenous iron sucrose. Over a mean observation period of 20.7 +/- 12.1 months, mean Hb levels increased from 10.2 +/- 1.1 to 13.5 +/- 1.2 g/dl, p < 0.01. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly improved and the number of hospitalizations was significantly reduced with the period before treatment (all p < 0.01). Serum creatinine and creatinine clearance (CCr) were 2.2 +/- 0.9 mg/dl and 32.5 +/- 26.5 ml/min, respectively, at baseline, and remained stable over the observation period. Interestingly, >90% of the patients had concomitant mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease at baseline and study end (CKD), as defined by the accepted diagnostic criterion of a CCr <60 ml/min. CONCLUSIONS: The correction of the anaemia with epoetin beta together with initial intravenous iron supplementation, resulted in significant improvements in NYHA class and cardiac function, and a reduction in hospitalization rate. Moreover, renal function was maintained stable in most patients.

The association between congestive heart failure and chronic renal disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent findings on the relationship between congestive heart failure and renal failure are summarized in this review. RECENT FINDINGS: Congestive heart failure is found in about one-quarter of cases of chronic kidney disease. The most common cause of congestive heart failure is ischemic heart disease. The prevalence of congestive heart failure increases greatly as the patient's renal function deteriorates, and, at end-stage renal disease, can reach 65-70%. There is mounting evidence that chronic kidney disease itself is a major contributor to severe cardiac damage and, conversely, that congestive heart failure is a major cause of progressive chronic kidney disease. Uncontrolled congestive heart failure is often associated with a rapid fall in renal function and adequate control of congestive heart failure can prevent this. The opposite is also true: treatment of chronic kidney disease can prevent congestive heart failure. There is new evidence showing the cardioprotective effect of carvedilol in patients on dialysis, and of simvastatin and eplerenone in patients with congestive heart failure. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs doubles the rate of hospitalization in patients with congestive heart failure. Anemia has been found in one-third to half the cases of congestive heart failure, and may be caused not only by chronic kidney disease but by the congestive heart failure itself. The anemia is associated with worsening cardiac and renal status and often with signs of malnutrition. Control of the anemia and aggressive use of the recommended medication for congestive heart failure may improve the cardiac function, patient function and exercise capacity, stabilize the renal function, reduce hospitalization and improve quality of life. Congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease and anemia therefore appear to act together in a vicious circle in which each condition causes or exacerbates the other. Both congestive heart failure and anemia are often undertreated. Cooperation between nephrologists and other physicians in the treatment of patients with anemic congestive heart failure may improve the quality of care and the subsequent prognosis for both congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease. SUMMARY: Adequate and early detection and aggressive treatment of congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease and the associated anemia may markedly slow the progression of both diseases.

Prevalence of anemia in patients admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of anemia in patients hospitalized with the primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that anemia is common in CHF and may contribute to the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. However, there is considerable disagreement about the prevalence of anemia in this condition. METHODS: In 338 consecutive patients who were admitted to the medical wards with a primary diagnosis of CHF we extracted from the charts the hemoglobin (Hb), serum creatinine, age, sex, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, presence of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and the primary cardiac etiology of the CHF. Anemia was considered to be present when the Hb on admission was <12 g/dl. RESULTS: All the patients were NYHA functional class III-IV. One hundred seventy seven (52.4%) of the 338 patients had a Hb on admission that was <12 g/dl. The mean Hb for the entire group was 12.0+/-1.8 g/dl. One hundred three (51.0%) of the 202 males were anemic compared to 74 (54.4%) of the 136 women. The mean serum creatinine was 1.7+/-1.1 mg/dl. The prevalence of renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.5 mg%) was 47.6%. There was a negative correlation between the level of serum creatinine and Hb (r=-0.294) P<0.00001. Of the 177 patients who were anemic, most of 114 (64.4%) had a serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a common finding in patients hospitalized with CHF and most anemic CHF patients have some degree of renal insufficiency. In view of the negative effect of anemia on cardiac function, it may be a common and important contributor to the mortality and morbidity of CHF in these patients.

The interaction between heart failure, renal failure and anemia - the cardio-renal anemia syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI) and anemia. AIMS: The purpose of this review is to clarify the relationship between these three factors and to study the effect of correction of anemia in CHF and CKI. FINDINGS: Anemia, CHF and CKI are each capable of causing or worsening each other. Thus they form a vicious circle which can result in progressive CHF, CKI and anemia. Aggressive therapy of CHF, CKI and control of the associated anemia with erythropoietin and i.v. iron can prevent the progression of CHF and CKI, reduce hospitalization, and improve quality of life. CONCLUSION: CHF patients are a major source of end-stage renal failure patients and deserve special attention. If treated well and early, progressive heart failure and renal failure can be prevented. Cooperation between nephrologists, cardiologists, and other internists will improve the care of all three conditions and prevent their progression.

Augmented arginine uptake, through modulation of cationic amino acid transporter-1, increases GFR in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: It is suggested that either arginine or its metabolites, nitric oxide and polyamines play a role in the renal hemodynamic alterations observed in the early stages of diabetes. Yet, the regulation of arginine transport in diabetic kidneys has never been studied. METHODS: Arginine uptake was determined in glomeruli harvested from control rats; diabetic rats (2 weeks following an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, 60 mg/kg body weight); rats, 4 days following left nephrectomy (a nondiabetic model of hyperfiltration); diabetes + lysine (0.5% in the drinking water to attenuate arginine uptake); and control + lysine. RESULTS: Glomerular arginine transport was significantly increased in diabetic rats, but remained unchanged following uninephrectomy. Lysine abolished the increase in arginine uptake in diabetic rats but had no effect in controls. The increase in creatinine clearance observed in diabetes was completely abolished by lysine. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Northern blotting, and immunohistochemistry, we found a significant increase in glomerular cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1) expression in diabetic animals, which was unaffected by lysine. When human endothelial cells were incubated with arginine end products no effect on arginine transport was observed. However, only in the presence of 0.5 mM/L sodium nitroprusside (SNP) an augmented steady-state CAT-1 mRNA was demonstrated by RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: In a rat model of early diabetes, glomerular arginine uptake is elevated through modulation of CAT-1 expression, thus, contributing to the pathogenesis of hyperfiltration. Increased nitric oxide formation may play a role in this process.

The cardio-renal anaemia syndrome: does it exist?

Many patients in our nephrology department who have anaemia and chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI) show evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). This triad of anaemia, CKI and CHF is known as the cardio-renal anaemia syndrome. The three conditions form a vicious circle, in which each condition is capable of causing or being caused by another. Anaemia can increase the severity of CHF and is associated with a rise in mortality, hospitalization and malnutrition. Anaemia can also further worsen renal function and cause a more rapid progression to dialysis than is found in patients without anaemia. Uncontrolled CHF can cause rapid deterioration of renal function and anaemia. CKI can also cause anaemia, as well as worsen the severity of CHF, and is associated with increased mortality and hospitalization in patients with CHF. Aggressive therapy against CHF with all the conventional medications at the accepted doses often fails to improve the CHF if anaemia is also present but is not treated. In studies in which the anaemia was corrected with s.c. erythropoietin and, in some cases, with i.v. iron, however, the cardiac function improved, as assessed by measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction and oxygen utilization during maximal exercise. Symptomatic patient functioning improved, as monitored by shortness of breath and fatigue on exertion, and the need for hospitalization and oral and i.v. diuretics markedly decreased. The quality of life, as judged by different criteria, also improved. The glomerular filtration rate, which fell rapidly when the anaemia was untreated, stabilized in patients when their anaemia was treated. Nephrologists need to assess the cardiac status of all patients with CKI carefully, and this includes an echocardiogram along with possibly measuring the levels of B-type natriuretic peptide. Nephrologists also need to use the indicated agents for CHF at the recommended doses, while cardiologists and internists need to be more aware of the importance and lethal effects of even mild anaemia and the benefits of its treatment in CHF and CKI. Cooperation between these specialists will allow better and much earlier treatment of the anaemia, CHF and CKI, and prevent the deterioration of all three conditions.

Erythropoietin should be part of congestive heart failure management.

BACKGROUND: Up to 64% of patients referred to nephrologists with chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI) have evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF), and most of these patients are also anemic. We have called this triad of anemia, CKI, and CHF the cardio renal anemia (CRA) syndrome. The 3 components of this syndrome form a vicious circle, with each one capable of causing or worsening the other 2. Anemia is found in one-third to one-half of CHF patients and can either cause or worsen the CHF, and can increase the mortality, hospitalization, and malnutrition in this condition. Anemia is also associated with a worsening of renal function in CHF and CKI, causing a more rapid progression to dialysis than is found in those without anemia. Uncontrolled CHF can cause rapid deterioration of renal function and may also cause anemia. Chronic kidney insufficiency can cause anemia and worsen the CHF. METHODS: Aggressive therapy of CHF with all the accepted CHF medications in the accepted doses will often fail to improve the CHF if anemia is also present but is not corrected. However, when the anemia was corrected with subcutaneous erythropoietin and, in some cases, with intravenous iron, the cardiac and patient function and quality of life improved, the need for hospitalization and for high-dose oral and intravenous diuretics was strikingly reduced, and renal function, which had previously been deteriorating, stabilized. RESULTS: Nephrologists should carefully assess the cardiac status of all CKI patients, including routinely getting an echocardiogram and possibly measuring B-type natriuretic peptide. Where CHF is present, the indicated CHF agents in the indicated doses should be used. CONCLUSION: Studies show that most cardiologists and internists do not recognize, investigate, or treat the anemia frequently seen in their CHF patients. In our experience cooperation between nephrologists and these specialists has increased their awareness about anemia, resulting in its earlier correction, and thus preventing the deterioration of the CHF, the CKI, and the anemia itself.

Effect of correction of anemia with erythropoietin and intravenous iron in resistant heart failure in octogenarians.

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure is extremely common in octogenarians and is associated with severe fatigue, shortness of breath, recurrent hospitalizations, and death. These patients, many of whom are anemic, are often resistant to standard CHF therapy including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers and diuretics. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether correction of the anemia (hemoglobin < 12 g/dl) in CHF patients can improve their clinical condition. METHODS: Forty octogenarians with anemia and severe resistant CHF were administered a combination of subcutaneous erythropoietin and intravenous iron sucrose. RESULTS: This combination therapy led to a marked improvement in cardiac function, shortness of breath and fatigue, a marked reduction in the rate of hospitalization and a stabilizing of renal function. CONCLUSION: Anemia appears to be an important but ignored contributor to the progression of CHF, and its correction may improve cardiac and renal status as well as the quality of life in elderly patients.

The effect of correction of anaemia in diabetics and non-diabetics with severe resistant congestive heart failure and chronic renal failure by subcutaneous erythropoietin and intravenous iron.

BACKGROUND: A mild anaemia is often found in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), but its significance is uncertain. In an open uncontrolled study we investigated the effect of correcting this anaemia [haemoglobin (Hb) 9.5-11.5 g%] with subcutaneous (s.c.) erythropoietin (Epo) and intravenous (i.v.) iron (Fe) in 179 patients, 84 type II diabetics and 95 non-diabetics, with moderate to severe CHF which was resistant to maximally tolerated doses of standard CHF medications. METHODS: Epo, s.c., was given every 1-3 weeks to achieve and maintain the Hb at 12.5 g%. Fe (Fe sucrose-Venofer) was added i.v. as necessary to maintain the Fe stores. Duration of treatment was 11.8 + 8.2 months. RESULTS: With the Epo-Fe treatment the Hb increased from 10.41 +/- 1.0 to 13.1 +/- 1.3 g% in diabetics and from 10.5 +/- 1.0 to 12.9 +/- 1.2 g% in non-diabetics. Comparing the diabetics and non-diabetics, the New York Heart Association functional class improved by 34.8 and 32.4%, respectively. breathlessness and/or fatigue, as measured by a self-administered Visual Analogue Scale, improved by 69.7 and 67.4%, and the left ventricular ejection fraction improved by 7.4 and 11.5%, respectively. The number of hospitalizations fell by 96.4 and 95.3%, respectively, compared with the pre-treatment period. Although the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was falling at a rate of approximately 1 ml/min/month before the study in both groups, neither the mean serum creatinine nor the GFR changed significantly during the study period. The mean dose of Epo needed, measured in IU/week/kg body weight, was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The correction of the mild anaemia that was found in diabetics and non-diabetics with resistant CHF and mild to moderate chronic renal failure improved the cardiac function and patient functional status, stabilized the renal function and markedly reduced the need for hospitalization.

Differential regulation of glomerular arginine transporters (CAT-1 and CAT-2) in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats.

The decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that is characteristic of sepsis has been shown to result from inhibition of glomerular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by nitric oxide (NO) generated from the inducible isoform of NOS (iNOS). Although l-arginine is the sole precursor for NO biosynthesis, its intracellular availability in glomeruli from septic animals has never been investigated. Arginine uptake was measured in freshly harvested glomeruli from the following experimental groups: 1) untreated rats; 2) rats pretreated with LPS (4 mg/kg body wt, 4 h before experiments); 3) rats treated with LPS as above with either l-N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)lysine hydrochloride (l-NIL), a selective iNOS antagonist, or 7-nitroindazole, a selective neuronal NOS antagonist; and 4) rats treated with l-NIL only. Both glomeular and mesangial arginine transport characteristics were found compatible with a y(+) system. Arginine uptake was augmented in glomeruli from LPS-treated rats. Treatment with l-NIL completely abolished this effect whereas l-NIL alone had no effect. Similar results were obtained when primary cultures of rat mesangial cells were preincubated with LPS (10 microg/ml for 24 h) with or without l-NIL. Using RT-PCR, we found that in vivo administration of LPS resulted in a significant increase in glomerular cationic amino acid transporter-2 (CAT-2) mRNA expression whereas CAT-1 mRNA was undetected. Northern blotting further confirmed a significant increase in glomerular CAT-2 by LPS. In mesangial cells, the expression of both CAT-1 and CAT-2 mRNA was augmented after incubation with LPS. In conclusion, in vivo administration of LPS augments glomerular arginine transport through upregulation of steady-state CAT-2 mRNA while downregulating CAT-1 mRNA. These results may correspond to the changes in glomerular iNOS and eNOS activity in sepsis.

Glomerular arginine transport is attenuated in chronic renal failure in rats.

UNLABELLED: L-Arginine supplementation was found to have a reno-protective effect in different models of chronic renal failure (CRF) in spite of normal plasma levels. Experiments were designed to determine if changes in glomerular uptake of arginine occur in 5/6 nephrectomized rats as a model of CRF. Renal function and glomerular uptake of radiolabeled arginine {[3H] L-arginine} was measured in sham operated, 5/6 nephrectomy, and right nephrectomy rats. Renal failure and proteinuria was found in the CRF animals only. Arginine uptake by glomeruli harvested from rats with CRF was significantly lower than that by glomeruli from sham operated and unilateral nephrectomy rats. IN CONCLUSION: glomerular arginine uptake is decreased in CRF. This phenomenon can explain the beneficial effect of L-arginine supplementation in CRF.