[Significance of brainstem auditory evoked potential determination in chronic renal failure and maintenance hemodialysis patients].

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were measured in 20 chronic renal failure patients and 8 maintenance hemodialysis patients. The BAEP in chronic renal failure patients was showed that wave I, III, V peak latencies (PL) and I-III, I-V interpeak latencies (IPL) were markedly increased. The significant reductions, although not to normal, of wave III, IV PL and I-III, I-V IPL were recorded in postdialysis (average 4.2 months) compared with that in predialysis. A correlation analysis revealed no consistent relationships between plasma proteins, hemoglobin, urea, creatinine serum electrolytes and BAEP PL or IPL. The authors realize that BAEP could be used as a subjective index in deciding the inner ear and nervous system damage in chronic renal failure, and it also provided an electrophysiologic evidence for the relationship of Kidney and ear in traditional Chinese medicine.

Clinical studies in the use of BCG and levamisole in the treatment of glomerulonephritis.

Sixty patients with primary glomerulonephritis and nephrotic range proteinuria (most resistant to corticosteroid therapy) were given killed BCG inoculations as a major part of combined therapy with levamisole, 3 of every 7 days, and corticosteroids in 53 patients. Following treatment 80% of patients showed complete or partial remission of proteinuria with significant improvement in urinary protein excretion, serum albumin, blood urea, and serum creatinine. Thirteen of 15 patients followed up for 1-2 years and more had complete remission at the latest review, as did five of six patients followed for less than 1 year. The longer the course of the combined immunostimulant treatment, the lower the recurrence rate. The beneficial effects of retreatment in recurrent cases were much more rapid in onset than on initial treatment. The phagocytic function of monocytes was examined in a separate group of 24 patients with primary glomerulonephritis. Function was found to be significantly depressed but could be returned to normal following BCG inoculation. Associated with the improved monocyte phagocytic function there was a significant decrease in urinary protein excretion.

Protective role of BCG in the rabbit model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

A study was designed to investigate whether BCG could play a protective role in a rabbit model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Fifteen rabbits were immunised with multiple injections of bovine serum albumin and their mononuclear phagocytic system was depressed by endotoxin from E. coli. The rabbits were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 7) received intravenous BCG from 3 weeks prior to the pathogenic immunisation and until the end of this period; Group 2 (n = 8) acted as a control and received normal saline. In the BCG group circulating immune complex (CIC) titres were significantly reduced, rabbit IgG deposition in glomeruli was significantly less, and mean glomerular cell counts were significantly less than those in the control group. We conclude that BCG stimulates the mononuclear phagocytic system to remove CIC and reduce the deposition of immune complexes in glomeruli, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response.

[Clinical observations and studies of BCG in the treatment of primary glomerulonephritis].

Sixty cases of nephrotic type of primary glomerulonephritis (PGN), who were mostly insensitive to the corticosteroids, received killed BCG inoculation as a main measure of combined therapy. After this treatment the complete and approximate remissions accounted for 80% in all. The urinary protein, serum albumin, BUN and SCr all had very significant improvement. As to those with similar pathologic and clinical findings, the therapeutic effects were much better in the BCG group than in the control. 13/15 cases followed up over 1-2 years had complete remission at the latest follow up and 5/6 followed below 1 year did so. The longer the courses of BCG, the lower the recurrence rates. The therapeutic effects of retreatment to those recurrent cases were much more rapid than those of initial treatment. The phagocytic function of the monocyte in another 24 PGN cases was studied. This function was found to be significantly depressed and could be normalized through BCG inoculation.