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Background/Aim: The ultrasonic transit time is currently the best method for measuring the blood flow rate in the extracorporeal hemodialysis circuit. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differences between blood flow as indicated by the hemodialysis blood roller pump (prescribed blood flow) and by an ultrasonic flowmeter (delivered blood flow). Methods: The ultrasonic blood flow was measured in 20 patients on chronic hemodialysis who were dialyzed through an arteriovenous fistula. During each dialysis session the ultrasonic blood flow was measured at three different blood roller pump flow rates (300, 350, and 400 ml/min). In order to analyze the influence of inflow and outflow pressures on blood flow, this study was conducted during nine consecutive dialysis sessions during which needles of different sizes were used. Results: The ultrasonic flow was always lower than indicated by the blood roller pump: 265 ± 12, 304 ± 15, and 341 ± 19 ml/min for blood roller pump flow rates of 300, 350, and 400 ml/min, respectively (variability: –11.6, –13.1, and –14.8%, respectively). An univariate regression analysis showed that the reduction in flow recorded ultrasonically correlated with both venous blood line pressure (r = –0.2679, p < 0.001) and negative arterial blood line pressure (r = 0.6773, p < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, only the arterial blood line pressure has a predictive value. When all measurements were grouped by arterial blood line pressure ranges, the variability between ultrasonic blood flow and blood roller pump flow was found to be similar in those groups with the same arterial blood line pressure, regardless of the blood roller pump flow rate. Conclusions: The blood flow indicated by the dialysis blood roller pump is always greater than the delivered blood flow, and this difference is in turn conditioned by the negative pressure induced by the blood roller pump in the arterial blood line.Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied 37 intradiploic epidermoid cysts, reviewing typical and atypical radiological features and the differential diagnosis. The most common clinical feature was a long standing lump in the scalp, occurring in 25 patients (67.7%). Plain films were the most cost-effective radiological technique in diagnosis. The typical finding was a well-defined lytic lesion with sclerotic border, seen in 29 cases (78%). Atypical lesions were those larger than 5 cm and/or with an ill-defined edge, being observed in 8 cases (22%). CT and MRI were the best methods for assessing atypical ones. In all cases with typical radiological findings a preoperative diagnosis of intradiploic epidermoid cyst was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension and bruit over the graft are commonly associated to renal arterial stenosis in transplant patients. However, these findings can have other origins, too. In the present work we report on two patients in whom remote arteriovenous fistulas were the cause of a spurious bruit heard over the kidney allograft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circulating lupus anticoagulant factor was detected in a 38-year-old man with end-stage renal disease and a ‘lupus-like’ syndrome with a diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis. When treated with steroids, the ‘lupus’ complications were controlled and the anticoagulant factor disappeared; however, renal function did not recover and the patient commenced regular haemodialysis. Four months later the patient received a cadaver kidney transplant. At transplantation and during follow-up there was neither clinical nor laboratory evidence of lupus activity, but 19 months after transplantation, when steroids were tapered to a low dose, the lupus anticoagulant factor was detected, and renal-vein thrombosis complicated by sepsis led to the patient's death. A membranous glomerulonephritis was found on autopsy. This is the first time in which a (probably ‘de novo’) membranous glomerulonephritis has been detected in the allograft of a patient with circulating lupus anticoagulant factor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We describe a case of bacteraemia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus during an acute severe exacerbation of the disease, which led to her death. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fludarabine is one of the most recent and promising therapeutic agents for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We describe a patient who developed tumour lysis syndrome after the first course of treatment with fludarabine and call attention to this uncommon but potentially lethal complication that has not been previously taken into account in this neoplasia. It should always be anticipated when patients are treated with new and effective drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]