Changes in parathyroid hormone during haemodialysis sessions with two different dialysis membranes: specific adsorption of intact parathyroid hormone.

In patients dialysed with two different membranes (cuprophan and high-flux polysulphone) and using three radioimmunoassays recognizing either intact molecule (iPTH), C terminal (cPTH) or median fragments (mPTH), we compared parathyroid hormone levels at the beginning of and during dialysis. At the beginning of dialysis, cPTH and mPTH levels were always increased but iPTH levels were sometimes within the normal range; during dialysis only iPTH distinctly decreased whichever membrane was used. The behaviour of iPTH cannot be explained by crossing through the membrane because its molecular weight is too high; it cannot be explained by the variation of calcium and phosphate parameters during the session because no correlation exists between the variations in plasma levels of iPTH and the variations in phosphorous and calcium levels. In vitro experimentation with radiolabelled intact iPTH was performed to confirm the specific behaviour of iPTH: these experimental data agree with our in vivo results and suggest an adhesion to the dialysis membrane. Our study shows a specific singular property of iPTH during dialysis and demonstrates the necessity of considering the time of sampling during dialysis and the moiety of parathyroid hormone being measured in patients undergoing dialysis in order to assess osteodystrophy.

Effects of oral glucose on intermediary metabolism in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients versus healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms and metabolic consequences of the insulin resistance of patients treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DESIGN: CAPD patients and healthy subjects ingested a similar mean oral glucose load per kilogram of fat-free mass (FFM) [1.20+/-0.03 g/(kg FFM) vs 1.20+/-0.06 g/(kg FFM); CAPD vs healthy subjects]. Substrate oxidation was monitored over 6 hours using indirect calorimetry. SETTING: Peritoneal dialysis unit of a tertiary-care institutional center. OUTCOME MEASURES: Glycemia, insulinemia, substrate oxidation. PATIENTS: Six CAPD patients (68+/-5 yr) and 6 healthy subjects (24+/-1 yr). The CAPD patients had similar body mass index (21.4+/-1.3 vs 22.9+/-1.1 kg/m2), a higher percent fat (25.8%+/-3.7% vs 16%+/-2.2%; p < 0.05), and a lower FFM (42.2+/-2.2 kg vs 56.5+/-2.6 kg; p < 0.01) than healthy subjects. RESULTS: The CAPD patients displayed a higher glycemic and insulinemic responses to glucose than did healthy subjects (p < 0.05), but similar glucose oxidation and storage. Lipid oxidation and plasma nonesterified fatty acids were not increased in CAPD patients versus healthy subjects, in spite of a higher adiposity. Fat oxidation was related to fat mass in CAPD patients (r2 = 0.77, p < 0.05) but not in healthy subjects (r2 = 0.05). CONCLUSION: CAPD patients display an insulin-resistance not explained by an increased lipid oxidation. The maintenance of intracellular glucose utilization at the expense of higher glycemic and insulinemic responses suggests a defective glucose transport.

[Kidneys and lipids]. / Reins et lipides.

Nephrotic syndrome causes hypercholesterolemia. Chronic renal failure results in hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol and, more often, apolipoprotein abnormalities. This dyslipidemia is not corrected by hemodialysis. Transplantation corrects it but leads to other kinds of lipid abnormalities. Whether the treatment of these potentially atherogenetic abnormalities is beneficial of not remains unproved. There is some evidence of lipid contribution to the constitution of glomerulosclerosis in animals but it remains hypothetical in man.

[Evaluation of nutritional status in chronic renal insufficiency]. / Evaluation du statut nutritionnel dans l'insuffisance rénale chronique.

No nutritional criteria have been validated in uremic patients. Chronic renal failure directly alters biological nutritional criteria. Anthropometric criteria are inadequate to routine follow up, but advisable to compare groups of patients. Quantitative evaluation of nitrogen ingestion and excretion allows to control dietetic compliance. They can not be used to check long term nitrogen balance. Nutritional criteria fail to diagnose mild undernutrition in uremic patients but they help to detect patients at risk to develop undernutrition when ascribed to low protein diets. Food inquiries, conducted by well trained dietitians are quite advisable, and helpful to the patients.

[Recto-sigmoid carcinoma after uretero-sigmoidostomy. One case, with a review of the literature (author's transl)]. / Cancer recto-sigmoïdien après urétéro-sigmoïdostomie. A propos d'un cas revue de la littérature

A case of recto-sigmoid adenocarcinoma, developing 25 years after bilateral uretero-sigmo dostomy for extrophia vesicae in a 29 year old man. A study of the literature emphasises the long delay before its appearance, the gastrointestinal nature of the tumour and its grave prognosis. The pathogenesis of this lesion is unknown at present, and consideration should be given to the effects of urine on the digestive mucosa and the role of a possible inflammatory granuloma, but also the possibility of a urinary tract origin, despite the apparent histological contradiction.

[The contribution of color-coded Doppler in early vascular complications of kidney transplantation]. / Apport du Doppler à codage couleur dans les complications vasculaires précoces de la transplantation rénale.

Ultrasound techniques and radionuclide studies are very often used to assess vascularization of renal transplants. Although, in acute tubular necrosis or acute rejection, it is difficult to choose between these two techniques, in 3 recent cases of renal artery thrombosis, we conclude that color coded Doppler is preferable to nuclear medicine or duplex system to diagnose this form of thrombosis.

Glucose oxidation after a peritoneal and an oral glucose load in dialyzed patients.

Glucose oxidation and thermogenesis were studied after a peritoneal (P) and an oral (O) glucose load in nine chronically uremic patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for 24.4 +/- 5.8 months. The O load (50 g) given was equivalent to the amount of glucose absorbed over six hours through the peritoneum of the subjects (51.7 +/- 3.3 g). Glucose oxidation and energy expenditure were obtained using indirect calorimetry in basal state and over the six hours following the glucose load. Glucose oxidation rate was higher from 60 to 180 minutes after O than after P (P < 0.05), with peak values of 3.85 +/- 0.28 mg.kg-1.min-1 and 2.80 +/- 0.17 mg.kg-1.min-1 respectively (P < 0.05). Cumulated glucose oxidation over six hours was 53.6 +/- 0.6 versus 47.0 +/- 3.4 g after O and P respectively (NS). Glucose-induced thermogenesis was 8.7 +/- 2.9% versus 5 +/- 1.9% after O and P, respectively (NS). The route of administration of glucose induces different kinetics of the glucose oxidation rate, but a similar amount of glucose absorbed either by the peritoneum or by the gut contributes in a similar extent to glucose and energy balance.

Effects of severe protein restriction with ketoanalogues in advanced renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a severe protein restriction diet supplemented with ketoanalogues to a moderate protein restriction diet in order to limit glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decrease in an advanced renal insufficiency stage. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study conducted to compare a severe protein restriction diet (0.30 g/kg/day) supplemented with a preparation of ketoanalogues, hydroxyanalogues of aminoacids and aminoacids (Group A) to a moderate protein restriction diet (0.65 g/kg/day) (Group B). PATIENTS: 50 uremic patients included (25 in each group) with GFR is <20 mL/min/1.73m2. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two dietary regimens for the renal survival. But uremia decreased significantly in Group A (22.7+/-5.2 to 18.5+/-6.7 mmol/L) and increased in Group B (26.8+/-9.0 to 34.9+/-9.9 mmol/L). Calcemia increased in Group A from 2.28+/-0.18 to 2.42+/-0.17 mmol/L, p<0.01 with a stable phosphoremia while calcemia decreased in Group B (2.33+/-0.18 to 2.25+/-0.17 mmol/L, p<0.05). At the end of the study, Group A was different from Group B for calcemia (2.42+/-0.17 vs. 2.25+/-0.17 mmol/L, p<0.01), phosphoremia (1.39+/-0.30 vs. 1.80+/-0.65 mmol/L, p<0.02), alkaline phosphatase (61.42+/-22.93 vs. 78.8+/-27.0, p<0.05) and parathormone plasma levels (2.71+/-1.55 vs. 5.91+/-1.41 ng/mL, p<0.001). COMMENTS: Compared to a moderate protein restriction (0.65 g/kg/day), a severe protein restriction (0.3 g/kg/day) supplemented by ketoanologues does not limit GFR decrease when GFR is below 20 mL/min/1.73m2, but improves phosphocalcic plasma parameters.

[Vaccination against hepatitis B in man]. / La vaccination contre l'hépatite B chez l'homme

The preparation of a vaccine against hepatitis B is described. The vaccine is prepared from the HB viral coat (HBs Ag) purified and formalin inactivated. The HBs Ag is isolated and purified from the blood of healthy HBs Ag positive donors by means of an immunoadsorbent technique. The inocuity and efficacy were tested on chimpanzees. Vaccination was then applied in an attempt to protect patients and ward staff in a high risk haemodialysis unit. The efficacy of the vaccine was assessed by humoral and cellular anti-HBs immune reactions. The study of HBs antigenaemia in vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects indicate that this vaccine protects against hepatitis B. Many arguments are in favor of aetiological role of the hepatitis B virus in the genesis of primary liver cancer in tropical areas. Immunization against hepatitis B could be the first example of prevention of a potentially oncogenic viral infection.

Immunisation against hepatitis B in man.

An inactivated vaccine against hepatitis B was prepared from blood-donor HBs antigen purified on immunoadsorbents. Its safety and efficacy were tested in chimpanzees. Vaccination was then applied in an attempt to protect patients and staff in a haemodialysis unit. The efficacy of the vaccine in man was assessed by observing humoral and cellular immune reactions and by comparing changes in HBs antigenaemia in vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects. The results indicate that this vaccine protects against hepatitis B in the circumstances in which it was administered.

[Acute renal failure following intravenous urography. 4 cases (author's transl)]. / Insuffisance rénale aiguië après urographie par voie veineuse. 4 observations.

The authors report on 4 cases of acute oligo-anuric renal failure that followed intravenous urography (IVU) independently from myeloma or cardiovascular collapse. Eighty other cases can be found in the literature. Post-IVU renal failure only occurs in patients already presenting with chronic renal insufficiency, those with diabetic or geriatric arterial disease being particularly at risk. It is reversible in only one out of two cases when serum creatinine levels exceed 440 mumol/l. The various triiodide contrast media with a high osmolality are equally nephrotoxic. The pathophysiology and prevention of this complication of IVU are discussed.

Hepatitis B vaccine: efficacy in high-risk settings, a two-year study.

A formalin-treated hepatitis B vaccine in the form of purified hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was prepared from asymptomatic human HBsAg carriers. Its safety and potency were tested in 5 chimpanzees. The vaccine was administered to 264-individuals. The results of the first 173 immunizations--46 hemodialysis patients and 127 staff members--are presented. Potency was ascertained and efficacy assessed by the development of humoral immune responses to HBsAg (anti-HBs antibody) and seroepidemiologic studies of vaccinated and nonvaccinated subjects. The results, 2 years after immunization, suggest that the vaccine was protective against hepatitis B infection in high-risk hemodialysis settings. Preliminary studies with an inactivated hepatitis B vaccine similarly prepared, but with aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant, indicate that a such a preparation induces a more rapid and stronger anti-HBs response.