Renal Doppler Resistance Indices in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Proteinuria.

BACKGROUND: The onset of proteinuria in renal transplant recipients may be associated with an increased risk of allograft failure. Little is known about the relationships between factors influencing proteinuria and the Doppler ultrasound (DU) intrarenal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) among donor recipients with proteinuria <1000 mg/24 h. METHODS: We assessed correlations between the DU RI and PI and protein content in 93 selected renal transplant recipients: 62 patients with proteinuria 100 to 299 mg/24 h, 16 patients with proteinuria 300 to 499 mg/24 h, and 15 patients with proteinuria 500 to 999 mg/24 h. All patients underwent transplantation in a single center and were monitored by DU for at least 28 months post-transplantation. RESULTS: The DU RI values of the proteinuria 100 to 299 mg/24 h, 300 to 499 mg/24 h, and 500 to 999 mg/24 h groups were 0.67 ± 0.05; 0.65 ± 0.04, and 0.64 ± 0.07, respectively, and the PI values were 1.21 ± 0.20, 1.10 ± 0.14, and 1.15 ± 0.22, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a correlation between group 100 to 299 mg/24 h and RI values, serum creatinine, living donor (R2 = 19.6%, P = .05); group 300 to 499 mg/24 h and the RI, PI values, cadaver donor (R2 = 17.5%, P = .001); and group 500 to 999 mg/24 h and the RI, PI values, serum creatinine, graft survival (R2 = 15.4%, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Among donor recipients with proteinuria <1000 mg/24 h, DU RI values were <0.72 and PI values were <1.41 and correlations were revealed between the incidence of proteinuria and factors such as the RI, PI, and serum creatinine level.

A case with severe rhabdomyolysis and renal failure associated with cerivastatin-gemfibrozil combination therapy--a case report.

Gemfibrozil-statin combination therapy is a well-known risk factor for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Cerivastatin is a currently available statin with dual elimination; it is therefore expected to cause less drug-drug interaction. This case is the second reported case with severe rhabdomyolysis caused by cerivastatin-gemfibrozil combination. Moreover, in this case, the rhabdomyolysis was more severe and caused severe renal failure and death. The authors discuss how these drugs cause rhabdomyolysis and how rhabdomyolysis can cause renal failure.

Increased QT interval dispersion after hemodialysis: role of peridialytic electrolyte gradients.

Chronic renal failure patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) have a number of ECG abnormalities and cardiac arrhythmias. Clinical and experimental data have shown that increased QT dispersion is associated with severe ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the uremic patients receiving long-term HD have increased QTc interval and/or QTc dispersion compared to normal subjects and to evaluate the effect of electrolyte changes between the predialysis and postdialysis phases on these parameters. Forty patients with end-stage renal failure on long-term HD (22 men, 18 women, mean age 44 years) were included in this study. Serum concentrations of K+, Na+, Ca++, Mg++, Cl-, phosphate, urea, creatinine, HCO3-, and arterial blood gases (PO2, PCO2), together with blood pH, were monitored and QTc intervals and QTc dispersion were measured from 12-lead ECG in predialysis and postdialysis phases. The hemodialyzed patients had an increased predialysis QTc maximum interval and QTc dispersion compared to normal subjects (480 +/- 51 vs 310 +/- 38 msec, p < 0.001 and 61 +/- 17 vs 42 +/- 14 msec, p < 0.001, respectively). Both QTc maximum interval and QTc dispersion increased significantly at the end of the HD (480 +/- 51 vs 505 +/- 49 msec p < 0.001 and 61 +/- 17 vs 86 +/- 18 msec, p < 0.001, respectively). The serum K+ (5.3 +/- 0.56 vs 3.36 +/- 0.41 mEq/L, p < 0.001), phosphate (7.19 +/- 1.62 vs 3.81 +/- 1.02 mg/dL, p < 0.001), magnesium (0.87 +/- 18 vs 0.75 +/- 0.14 mg/dL) and urea concentrations (174 +/- 22 vs 74 +/- 14 mg/dL, p < 0.001) significantly decreased, whereas the Ca++ (2.21 +/- 0.18 vs 2.47 +/- 0.24 mg/dL, p < 0.001), HCO3- (15.5 +/- 3.2 vs 20.1 +/- 3.4 mmol/L, p<0.001) concentrations and pH (7.27 +/- 1.1 vs 7.43 +/- 1.2, p < 0.001) significantly increased after HD compared to predialysis values. There was significant correlation between the QT dispersion increase and serum electrolyte changes (K+, Ca++, and pH levels) (p < 0.05). The association between serum electrolyte changes, acid-base status and QT measurements might provide new insights into the evaluation of the ionic bases involved in inhomogeneous ventricular repolarization.

Cytological aspiration of intraocular retinoblastoma in an 11-year-old boy.

Only a few cases of retinoblastomas in older children have been reported and the clinical diagnosis may be difficult. In case, fine-needle aspiration from an atypical retinal mass of an 11-yr-old boy was performed. The vitreous fluid was stained with Diff-Quik for an immediate cytological examination and the diagnosis of retinoblastoma was suggested. The rest of the specimen was separated into two parts. One was stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa and the other was centrifuged, embedded in paraffin, and finally stained with hematoxylin-eosin-safran. The undifferentiated blue cells were associated with abundant necrotic debris and portions of capillaries with perivascular tumor cells around. The cytoplasm of the tumor cells was strongly stained with neuron-specific enolase antibody. The diagnosis of retinoblastoma was confirmed. The specimen of enucleation confirmed the diagnosis. In conclusion, cytological aspiration can categorically diagnose suspected intraocular tumors of older children in whom clinical and noninvasive investigations have failed to establish the diagnosis.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of a solid papillary carcinoma of the breast. A case report with immunohistochemical studies.

BACKGROUND: Solid papillary carcinoma of the breast was recently described. This tumor display distinctive clinical and morphologic features. It is an intraductal papillary carcinoma frequently associated with mucinous carcinoma and infiltrating ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified. CASE: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a solid papillary carcinoma of the right breast in an 82-year-old female, demonstrated a cellular specimen of discohesive, small, uniform and ovoid tumor cells, with occasional loose cluster. The cytoplasm was abundant and finely granular. The nuclei were round, without marked atypia. The nucleoli were inconspicuous. SCant mucinous material was present. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. CONCLUSION: The cytologic aspects of solid papillary carcinoma of the breast suggest a carcinoma with endocrine differentiation and a weak mucinous component.

1.25(OH)2 cholecalciferol pulse therapy and the effects of different dialysis membranes on serum PTH levels of haemodialysis patients.

Either oral, intravenous or subcutaneous 1.25(OH)2 cholecalciferol is used in the therapy of hyperparathyroidism, which is a serious complication in patients on haemodialysis. We studied a total of 30 patients (10 women and 20 men) and divided them into two groups depending on the different types of dialysis membranes used. In the polysulfone group, mean age was 43.7 +/- 0.97 years and the average dialysis period lasted 29.9 +/- 1.23 months. For the 15 cases in which we used cuprophane membrane the mean age was 40.2 +/- 1.31 years and the average dialysis period lasted 16.2 +/- 0.86 months. The calcium level of the dialysate in both groups was 1.5 mmol/l. According to the study protocol, the determined oral calcitriol dose was 0.07 mg/kg and it was administered intermittently. After one month on high dose calcitriol therapy, treatment was continued with a maintenance dose of 0.03 mg/kg for a further six months. As a phosphate binding agent, daily 3 g calcium carbonate was administered. Before starting this treatment protocol, patients went on a 1 mg/day calcitriol therapy, although the mean PTH level was 424.63 pg/ml and the mean serum alkaline phosphatase level was 290.2 U/l. During the pretreatment period, levels of PTH, alkaline phosphatase, ionized calcium, and total calcium remained significantly within normal limits as a result of the new therapy protocol applied. PTH and phosphorus clearance rates were compared in the patient groups in which different dialysis membranes had been used. PTH and phosphorus clearances were 15.2 +/- 3 ml/min and 239.1 +/- 19.2 ml/min, respectively, in the polysulfone membrane group, and 1.1 +/- 0.3 ml/min and 112.8 +/- 9.88 ml/min, respectively, in the cuprophane membrane group (p < 0.05).

Red cell lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in haemodialysed patients: influence of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) treatment.

In order to determine the role of correcting anaemia with r-HuEPO on susceptibility of red cell to lipid peroxidation, 15 patients on maintenance haemodialysis treated with r-HuEPO for at least one year (group I), 15 patients on maintenance haemodialysis without r-HuEPO (group II) and 30 persons as a control group (group III) were included in the study. We measured erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (e-SOD), erythrocyte catalase (e-CAT) activities, plasma malonyldialdehyde (p-MDA) and serum vitamin E levels in all patients. The healthy controls (group III) had significantly lower levels of p-MDA in comparison to those measured in haemodialysed patients (group I-II) (p < 0.0001). e-SOD activity in group III was significantly higher than in groups I and II, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.00001), and e-SOD activity was significantly lower in group II than in group I (p < 0.0001). e-CAT activity in group III was higher than in groups I and II, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.00001) and it was significantly lower in group II than in group I (p < 0.0001). Vitamin E concentration in group III was lower than in group I and group II, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). But there is no difference between groups I and II. This study suggests that r-HuEPO therapy improves anaemia by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidant activity.

Correction of anaemia in haemodialysis patients with recombinant human erythropoietin.

We administered recombinant human erythropoietin (r-hu EPO) to 18 anaemic patients with end-stage renal disease who were undergoing haemodialysis. The recombinant human erythropoietin was given intravenously three times weekly after dialysis, and transfusion requirements, haematocrit, ferrokinetic, reticulocyte responses and urea, creatinine and potassium kinetics were monitored. Over a range of doses between 50 to 90 units per kilogram of body weight, dose-dependent increases in effective erythropoiesis were noted. Of 18 patients receiving effective doses of recombinant human erythropoietin, none needed transfusion any longer and in 2 the haematocrit increased to 35%. Along with the rise in haematocrit, four patients had an increase in blood pressure, and the majority had increases in serum potassium, fibrinogen, leucocyte and reticulocyte counts. Except for transiently increased transaminase levels in one patient, no other organ dysfunction or toxic effect was observed. These results demonstrate that recombinant human erythropoietin is effective, can eliminate the need for transfusions with risks of immunologic sensitization, infection and iron overload, and can restore the haematocrit to normal levels in many patients with anaemia of end-stage renal disease.

[Glomangioma: an unusual ethmoid-nasal tumor]. / Glomangiome: une tumeur ethmoïdo-nasale inhabituelle.

Glomus tumors are benign vascular tumors usually located in the fingertip dermis. Extracutaneous glomus tumors are extremely rare. A new case of sino-nasal glomangioma is reported and both clinical and histological features and biological behavior of glomus tumors in this exceptional site are described.

[Histopathologic study of melanoma of the choroid after proton therapy]. / Etude histopathologique des mélanomes choroïdens après protonthérapie.

To evaluate irradiation effects on choroidal melanomas, histopathologic findings of 18 eyes whose primary treatment was enucleation were compared to 15 eyes enucleated after proton beam irradiation. Irradiated tumors showed more likely necrosis (p = 0.01) had balloon cells (p = 0.01), and inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.05). In the irradiated group, the prevalence of tumor blood vessel damage was higher (p = 0.0002) and mitotic figures were fewer (p = 0.01). These findings suggest that proton beam irradiation damages tumor cells and alters the tumor's capacity for cellular reproduction. It damages blood vessels leading to tumor necrosis. It induces an inflammatory response of unknown effects. Radiosensitivity of choroidal melanomas cannot be assessed using conventional histologic methods. However, tumor necrosis, mitotic activity and rate of balloon cells can help to establish tumoral sensitivity to irradiation.

Determining renal resistive and pulsatility indexes long-term after kidney transplantation in kidney transplant recipients on cyclosporine a-, tacrolimus-, or sirolimus-based regimens.

BACKGROUND: Renal Doppler ultrasound intrarenal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are 2 noninvasive Doppler ultrasonographic markers to determine kidney allograft function, and have been used mainly for diagnosing allograft dysfunction during early posttransplantation periods. Little is known about the stability of RI and PI in allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine A (CyA)-, tacrolimus (TAC)-, or sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppressive regimens long-term after kidney transplantation. METHODS: This study assessed RI and PI by Doppler ultrasonography in 155 kidney allograft recipients between July 2012 and March 2013. The period from kidney transplantation to performance of allograft Doppler ultrasound was between 23 and 231 months in the TAC group (n = 75), 21 and 261 months in the CyA group (n = 25), and 21 and 210 months in the SRL group (n = 55). RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed no correlation between resistance indexes and estimated glomerular filtration rate, proteinuria, cholesterol, triglyceride, graft and patient survival, human leukocyte antigen mismatches, and creatinine. There was no significant difference among the TAC, CyA, and SRL treatment groups in terms of resistance indexes (RI and PI) (P = .193 and P = .216, respectively). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that RI and PI values correlated significantly with the recipients' ages (R = 0.375, P < .001), but not with donor age. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis also revealed statistically the strongest correlation between recipients' ages and RI (95% confidence interval = 0.002, R(2) = 20.5%, P < .001) and PI (95% confidence interval = 0.008, R(2) = 16.2%, P < .001) values. CONCLUSIONS: Intrarenal RI and PI remained stable over time in allograft recipients after transplantation, and there was no significant difference between calcineurin inhibitor-based and calcineurin inhibitor-free immunosuppressive treatment groups. Only recipients' ages showed a positive correlation with RI and PI values. Long-term allograft and patient survival were both excellent (100%) and associated with RI < 0.75.

Determination of the effect of a single hemodialysis session on retrobulbar blood hemodynamics by color Doppler ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Retrobulbar hemodynamic alterations can occur during hemodialysis sessions, and patients with chronic renal failure may experience visual problems. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of single-session hemodialysis on retrobulbar vessel hemodynamics by color Doppler ultrasonography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients were included in the study. Retrobulbar blood flows were examined before and after dialysis sessions. Doppler spectral patterns of retrobulbar blood flow were evaluated. The t test for paired samples and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test were used for comparing the flow values before and after dialysis. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, central retinal vein, nasal posterior ciliary artery, and temporal posterior ciliary artery were found to be decreased bilaterally after hemodialysis sessions. No significant change was observed in resistivity index values after hemodialysis sessions. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that retrobulbar circulation was disturbed after a single hemodialysis session.

The role of alpha-glutathione S-transferase in the monitoring of hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus infection undergoing high-dose interferon-alpha-2b therapy.

The study aimed to evaluate the behavior of alpha-glutathione S-transferase (alpha-GST) in the serum of hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following treatment with high-dose IFN-alpha-2b. Ten patients with detected anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA by RT-PCR were selected and treated with high-dose interferon (IFN)-alpha-2b, 10 million units s.c. daily for 2 weeks followed by 3 times per week for 6 additional weeks. Blood samples were obtained from these patients at baseline for plasma alpha-GST and hepatic aminotransferases. Patients were monitored with weekly blood counts and monthly liver enzymes. Biochemical (normal alpha-GST and ALT) and virologic (negative HCV RNA by RT-PCR) responses were observed in 3 (30%) of the 10 patients. At the end of the follow-up (follow-up duration 44 weeks), 3 patients demonstrated long-term biological and virologic responses and 7 had relapses. In the nonresponders plasma AST and ALT approached normal levels on some occasions despite persistent viral RNA. In contrast to transaminases alpha-GST remained distinctly elevated in nonresponders and provided a more clear distinction between the responders and nonresponders. In conclusion, plasma alpha-GST, as a sensitive and reliable marker of response, may have a role in the monitoring of hemodialyzed patients undergoing IFN-alpha-2b therapy.