[Results of a multi-year study of persons with transplanted kidneys]. / Rezultati visegodisnjeg ispitivanja osoba s transplantisanim bubregom.

The authors review their results of five year follow up of renal transplantation. They summarised the results of treatment with three immunosuppressive regimens. There is an analysis of rejection episodes, recurrent glomerulonephritis, infections, surgical complications, a median graft as well as patient survival and other patterns of complications of renal transplantation.

[Urinary infections in patients with transplanted kidneys]. / Urinarne infekcije kod bolesnika s transplantisanim bubregom.

The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary infection frequency in kidney transplanted patients. Infection frequency was assessed in 116 patients (81 males and 35 females; mean age 36.2 years) after renal transplantation. During four year follow-up 41% patients suffered one or more episodes of infection. Bacterial infection caused by Escherichia coli were most frequent. The control group consisted of healthy medical staff and the investigations showed significantly over frequency of infection.

[Clinical and morphologic features in patients with acute nephritis syndrome]. / Klinicke i morfoloske odlike bolesnika s akutnim nefritisnim sindromom.

Acute glomerulonephritis is a distinct clinical entity, more frequently found in younger age. We report 69 patients with AcGN (25 female and 44 male) mean age 26 years (range 15-58). The disease is clinically characterized with hypertension (57%), edema (59%) and oliguria (35%). Urine analysis showed microhaematuria/proteinuria (36%) and micro/macrohaematuria alone in 89%, while azothaemia was observed in 16% pts, and decreased serum complement levels in one third of patients, more often decrease of C3 (33%) than C4 (15%). Initial infection of the upper respiratory tract was seen in 65%, pneumonia in 8%. In 25% of pts. there were no data of previous infection. Cultures of pharyngeal smear revealed. Streptococcus only in 2 pts. Elevated AST titer was found in 32% pts. Eleven kidney biopsies were made, and histological examination showed 2 normal findings, 6 mesangioproliferative GH, 2 endocapillary GN and 1 membranoproliferative GN. Follow ups have showed urinary abnormalities in 25% of pts., without developing renal failure.

[Methylprednisolone pulse therapy in the early phases of lupus nephritis]. / Dejstvo pulsne terapije metilprednozolonom kod ranih faza lupusnog nefritisa.

Renal involvement i.e. lupus nephritis (LN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) mainly determines course and outcome of the disease. Recognition of early manifestations of LN makes adequate therapy possible, with very good therapeutic results. We report 7 patients from a group of 150 SLE patients under our permanent control, 4 female and 3 male, mean age 21 years. All of them had signs of LN: proteinuria 7/7 haematuria 4/7 without azotaemia. Renal biopsy was performed in 6 pts, and histological finding was: class II 1 pt, class IV 3 pts and class V in 2 pts. In 4 pts tubulointerstitial changes were noted, while all showed immunofluorescent deposits of immunoglobulins and complement. Methylprednisolone "pulse" therapy (1000 mg, i.v., 3 days) followed by tapering of the steroid dose was given. Reduction of proteinuria and disappearance of haematuria were observed in all patients. During follow up, kidney function remained normal.

[Nephrotic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Nefrotski sindrom u sistemskom lupusu eritematozucu.

Systemic lupus erythematosus as one of the most important connective tissue diseases represents an outstanding disease commonly associated with nephrotic syndrome. The author reviews important facts relating to ethology and pathogenesis of the disease emphasising the renal involvement. Personal observations concerning systemic lupus erythematosus as an ethological factor of nephrotic syndrome as well as relevant diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are presented.