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Aim Lupus nephritis (LN) is an important complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim is to use indication and protocol biopsies to determine clinicopathological findings and outcomes of patients with LN undergoing kidney transplantation (KTx). Methods Patients who underwent KTx due to LN were retrospectively analyzed. Recurrent LN (RLN) was diagnosed by transplant kidney biopsy. Results Among 955 KTx patients, 12 patients with LN as the cause of end-stage renal disease were enrolled. Five patients were male. Mean follow-up time was 63 ± 34 months. At the last follow-up visit, mean levels of serum creatinine and proteinuria were 137.0 ± 69.0 µmol/L and 0.26 ± 0.26 g/day, respectively. Eighteen indication and 22 protocol biopsies were performed; 27 biopsies were additionally evaluated by immunofluorescence. In two recipients, subclinical RLN was confirmed by protocol biopsies. Clinical recurrence occurred in four patients. Among patients with RLN, time from diagnosis of LN to KTx was significantly shorter and use of ATG as induction treatment was significantly lower. Graft loss occurred in two recipients who had clinical RLN. Five-year overall graft survival was 85.7%. Conclusion Kidney transplantation is a reasonable option for patients with ESRD secondary to SLE. However, recurrence of LN is common if protocol biopsies are included in post-transplantation surveillance.

Introduction Not only anemia, but also erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA)s for treating anemia may adversely affect prognosis of chronic hemodialysis patients. Various features of naturally (with no ESA usage) nonanemic patients may be useful for defining several factors in the pathogenesis of anemia. Methods Data, retrieved from the European Clinical Database (EuCliD)-Turkey on naturally nonanemic prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients (n: 201) were compared with their anemic (those who required ESA treatment) counterparts (n: 3948). Findings Mean hemoglobin values were 13.5 ± 0.8 and 11.5 ± 0.9 g/dL in nonanemic and anemic patients, respectively (P < 0.001). Nonanemia status was associated with younger age, male gender, longer dialysis vintage, nondiabetic status, more frequent hepatitis-C virus seropositivity and more frequent arteriovenous fistula usage. Serum ferritin and CRP levels and urea reduction ratio were higher in ESA-requiring patients. One (99%) and two (95.3%) years survival rates of the "naturally nonanemic" patients were superior as compared to anemics (91.0% and 82.6%, respectively), (P < 0.001). Discussion "Naturally nonanemic" status is associated with better survival in prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients; underlying mechanisms in this favorable outcome should be investigated by randomized controlled trials including large number of patients.

Background Application and consequences of hemodialysis treatment may differ between genders; focusing on these differences may be useful to optimize outcomes. Methods Data from 1 999 648 hemodialysis sessions performed in 10 984 (3316 incident and 7668 prevalent) patients, treated in 55 centers of the European Clinical Database (EuCliD)–Turkey, were analyzed, and various demographic, clinical, biochemical, therapeutic and prognostic parameters were compared. Results There were 1905 male and 1411 female incident and 4339 male and 3329 female prevalent patients. For females, the mean age in incident (61.8 ± 14.9 years) and prevalent (58.3 ± 15.2 years) patients was higher than for males (60.2 ± 14.8 and 56.5 ± 14.9 years, respectively) (P < 0.001 for both analyses). Also, body mass index was higher, while the hemoglobin level, and the percentage of interdialytic weight gain and arteriovenous fistula were lower. Serum phosphorus was similar in both genders in incident cases, while it was lower in prevalent female patients. Serum parathyroid hormone levels were lower in incident, but higher in prevalent male cases. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and vitamin D preparations were more frequently used in female incident and prevalent patients. Hospitalization was more frequent in prevalent females, while it did not differ significantly in the incident cases. Overall, no significant difference was observed in survival rates at 3 years in both incident and prevalent male and female patients. Conclusions Many parameters differ significantly between female and male dialysis patients. Considering the effects of sex on several parameters may be a valuable approach for achieving better outcomes when formulating treatment strategies in this patient population.

Background Obesity and related kidney diseases have become a global epidemic problem. However, the underlying pathogenesis of obesity-related renal diseases has not been clearly understood. In this study, we explored the link between renal volume (RV) determined by computed tomography (CT) and renal histology together with functional parameters in an obese population. Materials and methods Eighty-two kidney donors who underwent CT for the measurement of kidney volume and zero-hour renal biopsy for renal histology were included in this cross-sectional study. Protein creatinine clearance and eGFR were evaluated in 24-h urine specimens as indicators of renal function. Results Mean body mass index (BMI) was 28 ± 4·2 kg/m2; 32·9% (n = 27) were obese. Mean RV was 196 ± 36 cm3. RV was positively correlated with BMI, body surface area and creatinine clearance and negatively with HDL-cholesterol in the whole population. Renal function parameters of obese subjects were better, and their renal volumes were higher compared with the nonobese subjects. In obese subjects, corrected RV was positively correlated with glomerular filtration rate (r = 0·46, P = 0·01) and negatively with sclerotic glomeruli (r = −0·38, P = 0·04) and chronicity index (r = −0·43, P = 0·02). In adjusted ordinal logistic regression analysis, corrected RV was significantly associated with chronicity index (OR: 0·96; P = 0·01). Conclusions In obese cases, decreased RV determined by CT is associated with worse renal histology. In this population, kidney imaging techniques may provide important clues about renal survival.

1 Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Department of Nephrology, Izmir, Turkey 2 Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Izmir, Turkey 3 Kahramanmaras State Hospital, Department of Nephrology, Kahramanmaras, Turkey 4 Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Izmir, Turkey 5 Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Izmir, Turkey 6 Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Izmir, Turkey doi: 10.5262/tndt.2014.1002.10

Objective: Body composition analysis is useful technique for assessing hydration, nutritional status and predicting clinical outcomes. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a cheap and noninvasive tool for monitoring body composition but needs some improvements regarding measurement methods. We aimed to find out if body position has an effect on the BIA results. Material and Methods: Personal characteristics including age, gender, height, weight and blood pressure were recorded. Hydration and nutritional status measured by body composition monitor in supine and standing positions consequently for each individual. Results: Two hundred and one populations from various region in Turkey, 61% (n: 123) male, mean age was 46.3±12 years (18-76) of age, participated in this crossectional study. From supine to standing positions overhydration and extracellular water (ECW) were increased from 0.04±1.08 and 17.69±2.92 to 0.46±1.05 L and 17.84±2.90 L while intracellular water (ICW) decreased from 22.55±4.35 to 22.04±4.28 L significantly. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 131.3±18.1 and 75.1±12 decreased to 127.0±16.0 and 72.2±9.0 mmHg in supine to standing positions (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Supine and standing positions could affect the volume parameters of BIA due to shift of ECW and ICW by gravity but nutritional parameters also changes significantly. Protocols should be re evaluated in order to get more accurate results in bioimpedance measurements.

Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) and arterial stiffness (AS) have each been linked with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no data in the literature up-to-date on AS in adult patients with NS. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential associations between AS, volume and nutritional status in patients with NS in comparison to a healthy control group. Methods: 34 adult patients with newly diagnosed but untreated NS and 34 healthy controls were studied. AS was assessed by carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV) and body composition, nutritional status by multi-frequency bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). Results: Mean age was 44.6 +/- 18.7 years (18 - 72). Mean cf-PWV was 8.3 +/- 2.5 m/s in patients with NS and 6.7 +/- 1.1 m/s in controls (p = 0.002). In univariate analysis, cf-PWV and positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure, body mass index, body fat ratio, waisthip ratio, creatinine, uric acid and negatively with creatinine clearance. In linear regression analysis, only age and MAP predicted arterial stifffiess. Total body fluid, extracellular water (ECW), ECW/Height, ECW/body surface area and third space volumes were higher in patients with NS. Conclusion: Patients with NS have increased AS and are more hypervolemic compared to the healthy subjects.

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder due to deficient activity of alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) leading to renal insufficiency in males. The aim of present study was to investigate the level of α-Gal A activity and to determine the prevalence of Fabry disease in a Turkish male hemodialysis population. The activity of plasma α-Gal A was measured in a group of 808 male hemodialysis patients using fluorimetric methods. Patients with low α-Gal A activity were evaluated clinically and genetic testing was carried out. A correlation with creatinine, uric acid, urea, white blood cell (WBC), and high sensitivity (hs)CRP and α-Gal A activity was also investigated. Plasma α-Gal A activity among this male population undergoing hemodialysis was 7.88 ± 5.18 µM/hour/L (0.40–55.72), significantly lower when compared to controls. No influence of creatinine, uric acid, WBC, or hsCRP on measured α-Gal A activity was reported. Two new Fabry disease patients were identified. Both were previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. These findings provide, for the first time, data regarding the prevalence of α-Gal A deficiency (0.24%) in Turkish males receiving hemodialysis.

Aim: Carotid artery intima media thickness (CA-IMT) measurement has been shown to be a safe and reproducible method to assess severity of atherosclerosis. The association between nephrosclerosis and systemic atherosclerosis is not clear. In this study, we investigated the association between CA-IMT and nephrosclerosis in a group of kidney transplant donors. Methods: Forty seven potential kidney transplant donors were included. CA-IMT was measured by B-Mode ultrasonography. Kidney allograft biopsy samples were obtained during the transplantation operation and chronic glomerular, vascular and tubulointertitial changes were semiquantitatively scored according to the Banff classification. Results: Mean age was 52 ± 12 years and 55% of the cases were younger than 55 years. Mean CA-IMT was 0.74 ± 0.19 mm and 48% had IMT values > 0.75 mm. Chronicty index was ≥5 in 55% of the cases. Chronicity index was higher in cases older than 55 years. Age and CA-IMT were significantly correlated with chronic vascular changes and chronicity index. CA-IMT > 0.75 mm had a 46% sensitivity and 90% specificity to predict nephrosclerosis. Positive and negative predictive values were 85% and 57%, respectively. Conclusion: Aging leads to detrimental changes in every part of the vasculature of the human body. CA-IMT is correlated with the level of nephrosclerosis. Measurement of CA-IMT reflects nephrosclerosis especially in older patients.

Introduction The number of women who would like to have a baby after renal transplantation has increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pregnancy on the lipid profiles and renal functions among transplantation patients as well as the maternal and fetal results of pregnancy. Materials and Methods We searched files of female patients who underwent renal transplantation between 1998 and 2008 to discover 31 pregnancies among 24 women. Results Mean duration of dialysis and age at transplantation for the 24 cases were 22.7 ± 24.1 months (range, 0–72) and 21.2 ± 4.6 years (range, 13–34), respectively. The time between transplantation and conception as well as age at conception were 5.2 ± 1.9 and 26.4 ± 4.4 years, respectively. Creatinine levels in the second trimester were significantly lower (P = .000). Gestational bicarbonate and albumin levels were significantly lower (P = .009 and P = .001, respectively). There were significant differences between the preconception triglyceride (TG) and those in the second and third trimesters (P = .006 and P = .00, respectively). TG levels increased as trimesters progressed (P = .000). Moreover, TG levels were higher among patients taking cyclosporine. Of pregnancies that passed the first trimester, 88.4% resulted in live births. There were 23 (74.19%) live births among 31 pregnancies with a cesarean section rate of 58%. Of the cases, 16.1% delivered preterm and 19.4% of babies had low birth weights. Conclusion We believe that women with renal transplants can have healthy babies with close monitoring during pregnancy and without any effect on graft survival.

Background/Aims The association between thyroid hormones and arterial stiffness is unclear. In this study, we investigated, for the first time in a large cohort of euthyroid peritoneal dialysis patients, the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and arterial stiffness. Methods Fifty-seven patients were enrolled. Serum TSH, free T3 and free T4 levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay method. Pulse wave analysis [augmentation index (AIx) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR)] were measured to assess arterial stiffness. Results Mean age was 49 ± 12.3 years, and 56.1% were female. Mean TSH, fT3 and fT4 levels were 1.97 ± 0.99 mIU/ml, 2.80 ± 0.42 pg/ml and 1.22 ± 0.16 ng/dl, respectively. Mean AIx and SEVR were 22.3 ± 11.3 and 136 ± 21%, respectively. AIx was negatively correlated with residual urine volume (r =- 0.372, P: 0.03) and fT3 levels (r =- 0.382, P: 0.005). SEVR was correlated only with TSH level (r =- 0.394, P: 0.003). In linear regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and residual diuresis, fT3 level (t =- 3.949, P \ 0.001) remained associated with AIx. Only TSH level (t =- 2.409, P: 0.02) was related to SEVR. Conclusion Low serum fT3 level is associated with arterial stiffness, and high TSH level within the normal range is related to lower SEVR in euthyroid PD patients.

Pulse pressure (PP) has been reported as an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate association of PP with echocardiographic and vascular structural changes such as atherosclerosis and arterial calcifications in HD patients. In this cross-sectional study, 108 chronic hemodialysis patients (49 male, 59 female, mean age: 46 ± 13 years) were included. Biochemical analyses, echocardiographic and high-resolution carotid Doppler examinations were done. Aortic wall and coronary artery calcifications were measured with electron beam computed tomography. The degree of carotid artery stenosis was measured at four different sites (communis, bulbus, interna and externa) in both carotid arteries. PP was strongly correlated with systolic (r: 0.82) and diastolic (r: 0.33) blood pressure, left ventricular mass index (r: 0.58), left ventricle end diastolic diameter (r: 0.38) and weakly correlated with aortic wall calcification score (r: 0.26) and carotid plaque score (r: 0.27), but not with coronary artery calcification score. Patients with carotid plaque had higher PP than patients without plaque (50 ± 16 mmHg versus 44 ± 14 mmHg, P = 0.05). Patients were divided into three groups according to aortic wall calcification score. PP was significantly higher in patients with higher aortic wall calcification (54 ± 16 mmHg) than patients with lower aortic wall calcification (44 ± 15 mmHg, P = 0.04). However, on multivariate linear regression analysis for predicting PP, the only significant factor retained was left ventricle end diastolic diameter. PP was weakly associated with large vessel calcification and atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. The bulk of the effect on PP seems to be due to hypervolemia.

Patients with end-stage renal disease are prone to inflammation and inflammation is related to erythropoietin-stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness and mortality in this population. Statins have been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular mortality in selected populations of end-stage renal disease patients. These drugs have pleiotrophic effects such as anti-inflammation. In this retrospective analysis, we determined whether the use of statins improves inflammation and inflammation-related anemia in a cohort of hemodialysis patients. Data were analyzed from Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinics in Turkey between 2005 and 2007. Seventy prevalent hemodialysis patients who were on statins at the start of the study and have been on statins during follow-up (statin users) and 1293 patients who were not on statin at the start of the study and had never been prescribed any lipid-modifying drugs during follow-up (statin nonusers) were included in the study. High-sensitive C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in statin users (1.50±1.49 vs. 1.33±1.11 mg/L, P=0.05) compared with nonusers (1.93±3.22 vs. 2.05±2.77 mg/L). Hemoglobin levels and the rate of erythropoietin-stimulating agent users were similar. However, the prescribed erythropoietin-stimulating agent dose (31.6±27.5 vs. 47.3±45.2 U/kg/week, P

WOS: 000290353100019, Objective: To investigate whether increased white blood cell count (WBC) is an independent risk factor for mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. There are limited number of studies that evaluate the WBC subtypes and mortality in HD patients. Material and Methods: In this 36 months long prospective study, predictive value of WBC subtypes for mortality was investigated in 910 HD patients (male 55%, diabetes 29.3%, age 59 +/- 14; HD duration 44 +/- 39 months). Results: There was significant correlation between high sensitive C-reactive protein and neutrophils (r= 0.43, p< 0.001) and monocytes (r= 0.24, p< 0.001). During the study 202 (22%) patients died mainly of cardiovascular disease (%57). Survivals at 1,2 and 3 years were calculated with Kaplan Meier analysis and were found as 90%, 80% and %73, respectively. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that increased basal neutrophil count (>5.040/mm(3)), increased monocytes (>740/mm(3)) and decreased lymphocytes (

WOS: 000263605000041, PubMed ID: 19004849, Background. Most haemodialysis (HD) centres use anti-hypertensive drugs for the management of hypertension, whereas some centres apply dietary salt restriction strategy. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we assessed the effectiveness and cardiac consequences of these two strategies. Methods. We enrolled all patients from two dialysis centres, who had been on a standard HD programme at the same centre for at least 1 year. All patients underwent echocardiographic evaluation. Clinical data were obtained from patients' charts. Centre A (n = 190) practiced 'salt restriction' strategy and Centre B (n = 204) practiced anti-hypertensive-based strategy. Salt restriction was defined as managing high blood pressure (BP) via lowering dry weight by strict salt restriction and insistent ultrafiltration without using anti-hypertensive drugs. Results. There was no difference regarding age, gender, diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease and efficiency of dialysis between centres. Antihypertensive drugs were used in 7% of the patients in Centre A and 42% in Centre B (P < 0.01); interdialytic weight gain was significantly lower in Centre A (2.29 +/- 0.83 kgversus 3.31 +/- 1.12 kg, P < 0.001). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were similar in the two centres. However, Centre A had lower left ventricular (LV) mass (indexed for height(2.7): 59 +/- 16 versus 74 +/- 27 g/m(2.7), P < 0.0001). The frequency of LV hypertrophy was lower in Centre A (74% versus 88%, P < 0.001). Diastolic and systolic functions were better preserved in Centre A. Intradialytic hypotension (hypotensive episodes/100 patient sessions) was more frequent in Centre B (11 versus 27, P < 0.01). Conclusions. This cross-sectional study suggests that salt restriction and reduced prescription of antihypertensive drugs may limit LV hypertrophy, better preserve LV functions and reduce intradialytic hypotension in HD patients.

SUMMARY: Aim: Presence of accelerated atherosclerosis in dialysis patients cannot be entirely explained by conventional risk factors. Exposure to urea, which is elevated in patients with kidney disease, leads to the carbamylation of proteins. We investigated the effects of carbamylated low-density lipoprotein (cLDL) on human coronary artery vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Methods: Native LDL (nLDL) was carbamylated with potassium cyanate. Cells were incubated with different concentrations of cLDL carbamylated at different time points. Cytotoxicity, apoptosis, proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation), expression of adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix protein synthesis were studied. Results: Carbamylated low-density lipoprotein exposure leads to morphological alterations and presence of cellular debris. Neither nLDL nor cLDL caused apoptosis. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was not different between groups. Carbamylated low-density lipoprotein led to a striking proliferation in VSMC compared to nLDL. Carbamylated low-density lipoprotein significantly increased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression compared to the control. The effects of cLDL on proliferation and adhesion molecule expression were dose-dependent and correlated with the degree of low-density lipoprotein carbamylation. cLDL had no effect on extracellular matrix protein synthesis. Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that cLDL may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in uraemic patients.

Unlike in subjects with normal renal function, the relationship between hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients is still being debated. In order to clarify this issue, we performed 44-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) during the interdialytic period in a group of 164 hypertensive patients, the blood pressure (BP) control based on conventional antihypertensive strategy previously, on chronic hemodialysis treatment in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. These results were then compared with their echocardiographic data. This is a cross-sectional analysis. The mean ABPM during 44 hours was close to the manually measured predialysis value, but there was a gradual increase in the ABPM values in the interdialytic period. When divided into a group with mild or no left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (45 patients) and severe LVH (119 patients), the latter had significantly higher BP levels in all separate periods, while the difference in predialysis BP was not significant. Patients with severe LVH had larger left atrium and left ventricular diameters, and consumed more antihypertensive drugs. Systolic BP during the night before dialysis showed the strongest relation to LVH, but interdialytic weight gain was also independently related to LVH. Yet, 56% of the patients with systolic BP

1. Evaluation of the patient1.1 Assessment of dry weight1.2 Measurement of blood pressure and heart rateduring dialysis1.3 Cardiac evaluation2. Lifestyle interventions2.1 Sodium restriction2.2 Food and caffeine intake during dialysis3. Factors relation to the dialysis treatment3.1 Manipulation of ultrafiltration3.1.1 Ultrafiltration profiling3.1.2 Blood volume controlled ultrafiltration3.2 Dialysate composition.3.2.1 High sodium dialysis and sodium profiling3.2.2 Dialysate buffer3.2.3 Dialysate calcium3.2.4 Other components of dialysate3.3 Dialysis membranes/contamination ofdialysate.3.4 Dialysate temperature.3.5 Convective techniques and isolatedultrafiltration.3.5.1 Convective techniques3.5.2 Isolated ultrafiltration3.6 Dialysis duration and frequency.3.7 Switch to peritoneal dialysis.4. Antihypertensive drugs and preventive medication4.1 Antihypertensive drugs4.2 Preventive vasoactive agents4.3 Carnitine5. Stratified approach to prevent IDH6. Treatment of IDH6.1 Trendelenburg position6.2 Stopping ultrafiltration6.3 Infusion fluids6.4 Protocol

Guideline 1. Prevalence of malnutrition and outcomeGuideline 2. Diagnosis and monitoring of malnutrition2.1. Diagnosis of malnutrition2.2. Monitoring and follow-up of nutritionalstatusGuideline 3. Recommendations for protein and energyintake3.1. Recommended protein intake3.2. Recommended energy intakeRecommendation 4. Recommendations for vitamins,minerals and trace elementsadministration in maintenancehaemodialysis patients.4.1. Vitamins4.2. Minerals4.3. Trace elementsGuideline 5. Treatment of malnutrition5.1. Dietary intervention5.2. Oral supplements and enteral feeding5.3. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition5.4. Anabolic agents5.5. Other interventions: daily dialysisGuideline 6. Metabolic acidosisAppendices

Department of Renal Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK, Nephrology Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Bolognini Hospital, Seriate, Italy, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey, Nephrology, Dialysis and Intensive Care Unit, Lapeyronie University Hospital, Montpellier, France, Departement de Nephrologie JE 2411 Denutrition des Maladies Chroniques, Hopital E Herriot, France, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Helios Klinikum Wuppertal, University Hospital Witten/Herdecke, Germany, Medical Faculty University of Cologne, Medicine Clinic I, Hospital Merheim, Germany (retired), Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands, Nephrology Unit, SM Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands, Department of Nephrology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK (retired), Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany, Department of Nephrology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Nephrology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

Hypermagnesemia is rarely seen in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients because PD can lower the plasma magnesium (Mg) concentration effectively. In this report, a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patient with life-threatening hypermagnesemia treated by hemodialysis (HD) is presented. A 52-year-old male patient on PD treatment was admitted to our clinic with complaints of fatigue and muscle weakness. Decrease in deep tendon reflexes (DTR), decrease in muscle strength at bilateral upper and lower extremities, and increased level of magnesium (7.7 mg/dl) were detected. Bradycardia, prolongation of the P-R interval, and an increase in Q-T interval were found on the electrocardiography. HD was performed two times. After HD, all the signs and symptoms of the patient improved. HD is a dialysis modality that should be preferred in the treatment of symptomatic patients with hypermagnesemia, because of providing more rapid clearance of Mg. KEy woRDS: Hemodialysis, Hypermagnesemia, Peritoneal dialysis doi: 10.5262/tndt.2013.1001.17 Yazisma Adresi: Mustafa YAPRAK Ege Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ic Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali, Nefroloji Bilim Dali, Izmir, Turkiye Gsm : 0 505 572 56 67 E-posta : mustafayaprakdr@yahoo.com Gelis Tarihi : 27.06.2012 Kabul Tarihi : 26.09.2012 tedavisi alan bir hastada Mg hidroksit kullanimina bagli ortaya cikan, hayati tehdit eden hipermagnezemi tablosunun acil hemodiyalizle (HD) duzeltildigi bir olgu sunulmustur.

Background One of the origins of cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients is arterial stiffness. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between the calcium content of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution and arterial stiffness. Patients and Methods We enrolled into the study 49 PD patients who had been treated with the same PD solution for the preceding 6 months. The calcium content of the PD solution was 1.25 mmol/L in 34 patients (low-Ca group) and 1.75 mmol/L in 15 patients (high-Ca group). Study patients were followed for 6 months on the same PD prescription. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measurement of augmentation index (AI) and brachial pulse wave velocity (PWV) at baseline and at month 6 (SphygmoCor: Atcor Medical, West Ryde, NSW, Australia). Demographic data were recorded from patient charts. Results Mean age of the whole group was 51 ± 11 years, prevalence of diabetes was 14%, duration of PD was 43 ± 30 months, percentage of women was 45%, and percentage of patients using a cycler was 33%. We observed no differences between groups with regard to those variables or creatinine clearance, residual renal function, Ca, phosphorus, parathormone, C-reactive protein, lipid parameters, and use of phosphate binder with or without Ca content. Mean arterial pressure was higher in the high-Ca group, but the difference was not statistically significant (100 ± 22 mmHg vs 88 ± 18 mmHg, p = 0.06). At baseline, AI was significantly higher in the high-Ca group than in the low-Ca group (27% ± 10% vs 21% ± 9%, p < 0.05). Measurements of PWV were not different between the groups (8.4 ± 1.1 m/s vs 8.5 ± 1.7 m/s). Measurement of arterial stiffness parameters at month 6 revealed that PWV had increased in the high-Ca group (to 9.6 ± 2.3 m/s from 8.4 ± 1.1 m/s, p < 0.05), but had not changed in the low-Ca group (to 8.2 ± 1.9 m/s from 8.5 ± 1.7 m/s). The AI did not change in either group. Conclusions These data suggest that Ca exposure through PD solution plays a role in the progression of arterial stiffness, which may be related to increased vascular calcification.

The β 2 -Mg (β 2 -microglobulin) and GAG (glycosaminogyclan) excretions in 107 patients with bipolar disorder who had been on lithium treatment for 1–15 years were compared with 29 matched psychiatric control patients. 24-h urine volume, urine β 2 -Mg, GAG values were significantly higher, and maximal urinary osmolality was significantly lower in patients on lithium than in controls. No relationship was found between creatinine clearances and duration of illness, duration of lithium treatment and daily lithium dosages. Duration of lithium treatment was not related to the concentrating capacity. The β 2 -Mg excretion rates were significantly higher in patients with manifest polyuria and with severe concentration defect.

The Balkan Cities Association of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Artificial Organs (BANTAO) was born in Ohrid on October 9, 1993. The war in former Yugoslavia negatively affected the development of nephrology and also the connections among the nephrologists from the Balkans. However, there was willingness for further mutual collaboration between the nephrologists from the Balkans. The war in Yugoslavia created hate among people, between the newly established countries, and there were problems with the recognition of the names of the new countries, and so, the nephrologists decided to apply the ancient principle of using the names of the cities, instead of the countries, as the founders of the Association. The main goal of BANTAO is to promote scientific and technical cooperation in the fields of renal disease and artificial organs between the regions on the Balkan Peninsula and the world, to give an opportunity for exchange of experience and knowledge among the experts in the area and to engage in collaborative projects in order to demonstrate that cooperation is possible even on the turbulent Balkan Peninsula. The I BANTAO congress was held in Varna from September 22 to 24th, 1995 (President--D. Nenov, Varna). The II congress of BANTAO was held from September 6th to 10th, 1997 in Struga, (President--M. Polenakovic, Skopje). The III BANTAO congress was held in Belgrade from September 18th to 20th, 1998 (President--Lj. Djukanović, Belgrade). The IV congress of BANTAO was held in Izmir from 14th to 16th November 1999 (President--A. Akcicek, Izmir). The V Congress of BANTAO was held in Thessaloniki from September 30th to October 3rd, 2001 (President--P. Stathakis, Athens). The VI Congress of BANTAO was held for the second time in Varna from 6th to 9th October 2003 (President--D. Nenov, Varna). The VII congress of BANTAO was held from September 8th to 11th, 2005 in Ohrid, (President--M. Polenakovic, Skopje). The VIII BANTAO congress was held in Belgrade, 16-19 September 2007 (President--V. Nesic, Belgrade). The IX BANTAO congress was held in Antalya, 18-22 November 2009 (President--A. Basci, Izmir). The X BANTAO congress was held from 13 to 15 October 2011 in Chalkidiki (President--D. Tsakiris, Thessaloniki). The XI BANTAO congress is being held on 26-29 September 2013 in Timisoara (President--A. Schiller, Timisoara). At the VII BANTAO Congress for the first time a CME Course was organized by ERA/EDTA and ISN/COMGAN entitled "Frontiers in Nephrology" with seven distinguished speakers. Very important event in the existence of BANTAO is the appearance of the BANTAO journal in 2003. The BANTAO journal has been published biannually since 2003. In the past 10 years, 20 regular issues; 2 supplements (Antalia and Chalkidiki congresses) have been published. Editors of the journal were as follows: 2003-2005--D. Nenov, Editor; 2005-2009--A. Basci, Editor; 2009--Goce Spasovski, Editor. Until now 332 papers have been published. The BANTAO journal is on EBSCO, DOAJ, SCOPUS. After the First Congress of BANTAO, F. Valderrábano, chairman of the EDTA--ERA Registry, at that time, wrote in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (1996) 11:740: "Nephrologists of the Balkan countries meet across political frontiers and war fronts--an example to politicians!a new European Medical Association overcomes Political obstacles." Despite the difficulties imposed by major events, such as devastating wars and catastrophic earthquakes in many countries of the Balkan Peninsula BANTAO has made considerable progress. The BANTAO Congress was established as the major scientific and institutional forum for Balkan nephrologists, with its own journal, indicating our will to communicate, to collaborate, to get to know each other and to share our difficulties. Now, we expect further successful work of BANTAO.

WOS: 000319784600020, PubMed ID: 23620396, The effects of high-flux dialysis and ultrapure dialysate on survival of hemodialysis patients are incompletely understood. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of both membrane permeability and dialysate purity on cardiovascular outcomes. We randomly assigned 704 patients on three times per week hemodialysis to either high- or low-flux dialyzers and either ultrapure or standard dialysate using a two-by-two factorial design. The primary outcome was a composite of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events during a minimum 3 years follow-up. We did not detect statistically significant differences in the primary outcome between high- and low-flux (HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.49 to 1.08, P=0.12) and between ultrapure and standard dialysate (HR=0.90, 95% CI=0.61 to 1.32, P=0.60). Posthoc analyses suggested that cardiovascular event-free survival was significantly better in the high-flux group compared with the low-flux group for the subgroup with arteriovenous fistulas, which constituted 82% of the study population (adjusted HR=0.61, 95% CI=0.38 to 0.97, P=0.03). Furthermore, high-flux dialysis associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular events among diabetic subjects (adjusted HR=0.49, 95% CI=0.25 to 0.94, P=0.03), and ultrapure dialysate associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular events among subjects with more than 3 years of dialysis (adjusted H R=0.55, 95% CI=0.31 to 0.97, P=0.04). In conclusion, this trial did not detect a difference in cardiovascular event-free survival between flux and dialysate groups. Posthoc analyses suggest that high-flux hemodialysis may benefit patients with an arteriovenous fistula and patients with diabetes and that ultrapure dialysate may benefit patients with longer dialysis vintage., Fresenius Medical Care, Turkey, The study was supported by Fresenius Medical Care, Turkey, with an unrestricted grant.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of calcium infusion on segmental tubular reabsorption in humans using lithium clearance, along with creatinine and free water clearances during maximal water diuresis. In 8 healthy volunteers, a 20-min 5 mg/kg calcium infusion that increased serum calcium levels from 2.27 +/- 0.07 to 2.87 +/- 0.07 mmol/l (p0.01) was followed by a 60-min 3 mg/kg infusion for maintenance. During the experimental period, blood pressure did not change. Maximal urine flow increased from 15.6 +/- 2.4 to 20.8 +/- 2.8 ml/min (p0.01), while clearance of sodium increased from 1.5 +/- 0.4 to 3.7 +/- 0.9 ml/min (p0.001). Lithium clearance showed an increase of 7.4 ml/min, pointing to a suppression of proximal reabsorption. Free water clearance also increased from 11.5 +/- 3.7 to 14.4 +/- 3.9 ml/min, indicating an increase in TALH reabsorption which was attributed to increased sodium and water reaching this segment. Time control studies showed no significant changes in the parameters measured except for potassium excretion. Potassium excretion during calcium infusion was somewhat lower than during the control studies. The data support the view that an increase in serum calcium concentration leads to a decrease in proximal tubular reabsorption as indicated by lithium clearance while a decrease in reabsorption in the collecting duct could well add to the diuretic properties of calcium.

It has been reported that an increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a sign of early atherosclerosis, has a predictive value for future cardiovascular (CV) events. There are limited data about IMT measurements in renal transplant patients who display a high rate of CV mortality. In this study carotid artery IMT was measured by high resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 102 randomly selected RT patients to assess the relationship between IMT and CV disease and risk factors. A positive correlation was found between IMT and age, triglyceride level, and hematocrit. IMT was significantly higher among patients who were diabetic (0.68 +/- 0.27 vs 0.50 +/- 0.2) or had CV disease (0.88 +/- 0.28 vs 0.53 +/- 0.21). An increased IMT was associated with a longer duration of ESRD, higher lipid level, lower serum albumin, and presence of previous CMV disease. CV disease was more frequent among patients with increased IMT. Considering its relation to CV risk factors, it is concluded that the measurement of carotid artery IMT is an easy, reliable and non-invasive method to be used to assess atherosclerotic disease in renal transplant patients.

Background: Augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) are early markers of atherosclerotic vascular changes and also have been shown to be predictive of cardiovascular disease and total mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between PWV and AIx-HR75, which is the corrected form of AIx according to a heart rate of 75 beats/min, echocardiographic parameters and biochemical parameters in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Subjects and methods: AIx-HR75 and PWV were measured in 556 HD patients by applanation tonometry using the SphygmoCor device. Results: The mean PWV and AIx-HR75 values of the study group were 10.2 +/- 2.4 and 28.4 +/- 10.2 m/s. A positive correlation was found between PWV and AIx-HR75 (r = 0.214, p = 0.000). AIx-HR75 correlated with age (r = 0.093, p = 0.028), body surface area (BSA) (r = -0.194, p = 0.000), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = 0.335, p = 0.000), pulse pressure (PP) (r = 0.212, p = 0.000), cardiothoracic index (r = 0.155, p = 0.016), and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (r = 0.152, p = 0.001). PWV correlated with MAP (r = 0.208, p = 0.000), PP (r = 0.098, r = 0.021), left ventricular mass (r = 0.105, p = 0.023), and predialysis sodium level (r = -0.105, p = 0.023). In the multivariate analyses, PWV was associated with MAP (t = 3.78, p = 0.000), presence of diabetes (t = 3.20, p = 0.001), and predialysis sodium level (t = -2.06, p = 0.040), and AIx-HR75 was associated with age (t = 2.48, p = 0.014), female sex (t = 3.98, p = 0.000), BSA (t = -2.15, p = 0.033), and MAP (t = 7.02, p = 0.000). Conclusion: There is a strong association between MAP and arterial stiffness parameters in HD patients. We feel that efficient control of blood pressure could lead to reduced arterial stiffness in HD patients.

Carotid artery intima media thickness (CA-IMT) measurement has been shown to be a safe and reproducible method to assess severity of atherosclerosis. The association between nephrosclerosis and systemic atherosclerosis is not clear. In this study, we investigated the association between CA-IMT and nephrosclerosis in a group of kidney transplant donors.Forty seven potential kidney transplant donors were included. CA-IMT was measured by B-Mode ultrasonography. Kidney allograft biopsy samples were obtained during the transplantation operation and chronic glomerular, vascular and tubulointertitial changes were semiquantitatively scored according to the Banff classification.Mean age was 52 ± 12 years and 55% of the cases were younger than 55 years. Mean CA-IMT was 0.74 ± 0.19 mm and 48% had IMT values0.75 mm. Chronicty index was ≥5 in 55% of the cases. Chronicity index was higher in cases older than 55 years. Age and CA-IMT were significantly correlated with chronic vascular changes and chronicity index. CA-IMT0.75 mm had a 46% sensitivity and 90% specificity to predict nephrosclerosis. Positive and negative predictive values were 85% and 57%, respectively.Aging leads to detrimental changes in every part of the vasculature of the human body. CA-IMT is correlated with the level of nephrosclerosis. Measurement of CA-IMT reflects nephrosclerosis especially in older patients.

Objective In this study, we compared the changes in arterial stiffness in chronic hemodialysis patients treated with 8-h vs. 4-h thrice weekly in-center hemodialysis. Methods Sixty prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients assigned to 8-h nocturnal in-center thrice weekly HD (NHD) and 60 control cases assigned to 4-h thrice weekly conventional HD (CHD) were followed for one year. Radial–carotid pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and echocardiography were performed at baseline and 12 th month. Results Mean age of the patients was 49±11 years, 30.8% were female, 27.5% had diabetes mellitus and mean dialysis vintage was 57±47 months. Baseline demographical, clinical and laboratory parameters were similar between groups. During a mean follow-up of 15.0±0.1 months, blood pressure remained similar in both groups while the number of mean daily anti-hypertensive substances decreased in the NHD group. In the NHD group, time-averaged serum phosphorus and calcium–phosphorus product were lower than the CHD group. Pulse wave velocity and augmentation index decreased in the NHD group (from 11.02±2.51m/s to 9.61±2.39m/s and from 28.8±10.3% to 26.2±12.1%; p =0.008 and p =0.04, respectively). While augmentation index increased in the CHD group (28.0±9.4 to 31.0±10.7%, p =0.02), pulse wave velocity did not change. Subendocardial viability ratio and ejection duration improved in the NHD group (from 135±28 to 143±25%, p =0.01 and from 294±34ms to 281±34ms, p =0.003, respectively), accompanied by regression of left ventricular mass index. In multiple stepwise linear regression analyses, NHD was associated with improvements in augmentation index, ejection duration and subendocardial viability ratio. Conclusions These data indicate that arterial stiffness is ameliorated by implementation of longer hemodialysis sessions.

Background: Serum free triiodothyronine (fT3) level is suggested to be a risk factor for mortality in unselected dialysis patients. We investigated the prognostic value of serum fT3 levels and also low-T3 syndrome on overall survival in a large cohort of hemodialysis (HD) patients with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Methods: A total of 669 prevalent HD patients were enrolled in the study. Serum fT3 level was measured by enzyme immune assay in frozen sera samples at the time of enrollment. Overall mortality was assessed during 48 months of follow-up. Results: Baseline fT3 was 1.47 ± 0.43 (0.01–2.98) pg/ml, and low-T3 syndrome was present in 71.7% of the cases. During a mean follow-up of 34 ± 16 months, 165 (24.7%) patients died. fT3 level was a strong predictor for mortality in crude and adjusted Cox models including albumin or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Further adjustment for both albumin and hs-CRP made the impact of fT3 on mortality disappear. The presence of low-T3 syndrome was associated with mortality in only the unadjusted model. Conclusions: Low-T3 syndrome is a frequent finding among HD patients, but it does not predict outcome. However, serum fT3 level is a strong and inverse mortality predictor, in part explained by its underlying association with nutritional state and inflammation.

WOS: 000290086600041, PubMed ID: 20921295, Background. Chronic fluid overload (FO) is frequently present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and is associated with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction, which are important predictors of death in dialysis patients. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between nutrition, inflammation, atherosclerosis and body fluid volumes measured by multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (m-BIA) in PD patients. In addition, we analysed the relationship of extracellular volume values by m-BIA to echocardiographic parameters in order to define its usefulness as a measure of FO. Methods. Ninety-five prevalent PD patients (mean age 50 +/- 13 years, 10 of them diabetic) were enrolled. Extracellular water (ECW), total body water (TBW), dry lean mass (DLM) and phase angle (PA) were measured by m-BIA. Volume status was determined by measuring left atrium diameter (LAD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). Measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was used to assess the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Serum albumin was used as a nutritional marker, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as an inflammatory marker. Results. Mean ECW/height was 10.0 +/- 1.0 L/m for whole group and 9.3 +/- 0.6 L/m in patients with normal clinical hydration parameters. In correlation analysis, markers of nutrition, inflammation and atherosclerosis correlated well with m-BIA parameters. When we used echographically measured LAD (> 40 mm) or LVEDD (> 55 mm) as a confirmatory parameter, a cut-off value of 10.48 L/m ECW/height (78% specificity, with a sensitivity of 77% for LAD and 72% specificity, with a sensitivity of 70% for LVEDD) was found in ROC analysis for the diagnosis of FO. Patients with FO were older and had higher systolic blood pressure, cardiothoracic index, serum CRP level and mean CA-IMT than patients without FO. Patients with inflammation had higher CA-IMT values. In multivariate analysis, only two factors-low urine output and ECW/height-were independently associated with the presence of inflammation. Conclusions. FO defined by m-BIA is significantly correlated with markers of malnutrition, inflammation and atherosclerosis in PD patients. The indices obtained from m-BIA, especially ECW/height, correlated well with volume overload as assessed by echocardiography and might be a measure worth testing in a properly designed clinical study.

The aim of this study was to verify the importance of continuously monitoring the level of adherence to the anemia guideline recommendations in order to improve not only quality of care but also patient safety. Data presented in this investigation were gained through the FME database EuCliD which contains the clinical data of over 24,000 prevalent patients under treatment at the time of the analysis in 344 dialysis centres in 15 countries. Patient data from 4 countries (United Kingdom, Turkey, Italy, Portugal) was used for this study. The parameter selected was anemia control. The level of hemoglobin (Hb) was considered as the quality indicator for anemia, the target being an Hb level11 g/dL, for UK centres the target was10 g/dL. All new patients commencing hemodialysis between October 2003 and September 30, 2004 with the previous follow-up of less than one month and without previous blood transfusion were considered. A total of 902 patients were enrolled. The study showed that 4 to 6% of the Italian, Portuguese and British patients treated in FME clinics received a blood transfusion during the first year of follow-up. This is consistent with reports by USRDS that only 3.3% of ESRD patients received at least 1 transfusion per quarter in 1992 after erythropoietin became available and was prescribed to 88% of patients. About 18% Turkish patients, required blood transfusions during the first year of follow-up on hemodialysis, which is more comparable with USRDS data reported in 1989, when 16% of patients needed at least 1 transfusion quarterly. In conclusion, the practice of blood transfusion for hemodialysis patients is still frequent especially in elderly patients.

WOS: 000242272800025, PubMed ID: 17000733, Methods. We analysed the survival of 218 patients (132 male, 86 female, age 48 +/- 15 years) who were treated in our dialysis units since we adopted the strategy of strict volume control without antihypertensive drugs. The mean observation period was 47 +/- 34 (6-140) months. Follow-up was ended because of death (57 patients), transfer to another center (35 patients), continous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (15 patients) or transplantation (23 patients), while 88 were still under our treatment at the time of writing. Results. Blood pressure (BP) decreased from a mean of 150 +/- 31/89 +/- 16 at the start to 121 +/- 14/75 +/- 8 mmHg at the end of observation (P < 0.001). Only nine patients needed a drug (enalapril) to reach this goal. Cardiothoracic index (CTI) dropped from 0.50 +/- 0.06 to 0.46 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.001). Interdialytic weight gain decreased from 1440 +/- 360 to 930 +/- 240 g/day (P < 0.001). Mortality rate was 68, 2 per 1000 patient-years, better than in most published series. There was a striking influence of age, but also of CTI and systolic BP on survival rate. Patients with CTI >= 0.48 showed mortality 3.8 times higher than CTI < 0.48 (log rank P < 0.001). Consequently, the mean CTI of the deceased patients was much higher (0.50) than the average of the group (0.46) while their mean BP (123 +/- 16/75 +/- 9 mmHg) was not significantly different from the other patients. We found no increased mortality at low-normal pressure levels (systolic BP between 100 and 130 mmHg), but mortality was increased in small groups of patients whose pressures were lower or higher than these values. Thus, the curve, relating mortality to blood pressure was shifted markedly to the left. Conclusions. These results strongly suggest that the strategy of 'volume control', also when applied with conventional dialysis times, normalizes BP and increases survival of dialysis patients. Cardiomegaly, as evidenced on the chest X-ray despite normal BP, had a strong negative influence on survival. The large majority of the patients had low-normal BP after long periods of treatment and showed the lowest mortality, favouring the view that target BP should be lower than advised by most authors.

WOS: A1997WZ68100041, PubMed ID: 9175073

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which strongly predicts cardiac mortality, is seen in more than 60% of end-stage renal disease patients. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the effect of salt restriction and strict volume control on blood pressure and LVH.Nineteen hypertensive patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) treatment (age 52 +/- 17 years, 7 women) were included in the study. Treatment consisted of 12-h HD per week, during which as much ultrafiltration (UF) was applied as possible without an excessive blood pressure (BP) drop. Special attention was given to dietary salt restriction. Predialysis mean BP (MBP), body weight (BW), cardio-thoracic index (CTI) and echocardiographic results were recorded at baseline and after 6 and 12 months.All patients reached acceptable BP (140/90 mmHg) within three months (10-75 days) with our strict volume control strategy. Mean pre-dialysis BP was 127 +/- 17/78 +/- 9 mm Hg at baseline, 120 +/- 9/75 +/- 6 mm Hg at the 6th month and 118 +/- 11/73 +/- 5 mm Hgat the 12th month. The incidence of symptomatic hypotension gradually decreased from a mean of 22% to 11% and 7%, respectively during follow-up. Left ventricular mass index decreased from 164 +/- 64 to 112 +/- 36 g/m2. CTI, left atrial, left ventricular systolic and diastolic diameters significantly decreased in all patients. Inter-dialytic weight gain was 930 +/- 70 g/day in the follow-up period. Hematocrit did not significantly differ at the first, second and last visits.Normal BP and improvement of cardiac structure, in particular a reduction of LVH could be reached in all our patients by intensifying salt restriction and UF.

WOS: 000179238900009, PubMed ID: 12445013, Nosocomial hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were recorded in the renal transplantation unit of the university hospital. There were cases of acute HCV infection with aggressive clinical courses diagnosed from a positive HCV RNA test in the early post-transplantation period and which remained anti-HCV negative. Their anti-HCV seronegativity was attributed to them having acquired HCV under intense immunosuppressive therapy and suggested that the aggressive clinical course could be due to the deficient immune response resulting in an inability to limit viral replication. There were also donors diagnosed as having acute HCV infection in the early post-operative period. Genotyping and sequence analysis for HCV were performed on the isolates of eight of these patients who were consecutively transplanted and of three donors whose recipients were infected with HCV prior to transplantation, and who acquired acute HCV infection after transplantation. Of the eight recipients in the first group three were genotype 1a, three were genotype 1b, one was genotype 3a, and the last one was genotype 4 according to Simmond's classification. Of the three donor-recipient couples both the HCV isolates from one couple were genotyped as 1b and the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the patients were infected with a common variant of HCV, but the genotypes of HCV isolates from the other couples were different. Recipients were genotype 1b and the donors were genotype 1a in these couples. Genotype results of the first group and donor-recipient couples, and sequence analysis of genotype 1b and 1a isolates, showed that the source of infection was not a unique strain and there were multiple breaks in universal precautions while managing these patients.

Objective The various methods of measuring peritoneal thickness in experimental studies in rats have yielded conflicting results. Also, no standard method exists to assess histologic findings in peritoneal morphology. We therefore undertook the present study to create a reproducible and standard method for assessing rat peritoneal histology in experimental studies. Methods Parietal peritoneal samples from 61 Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Excepting the skin, the whole abdominal wall from each rat was cut two-dimensionally (longitudinally and horizontally), fixed in formalin, and processed routinely for light microscopy. Slides were divided into two groups according to the direction of the inner abdominal muscle fibers in the sections. Longitudinal and horizontal sections of abdominal muscle were evaluated. For every section, one histopathology image was captured from a light microscope to an IBM-compatible computer. Peritoneal thickness (mean of the maximum and the minimum) and submesothelial area (SMA) were drawn on the image. A computer program then automatically performed measurements. Two different measurement methods were compared, based on the same sections. Results The mean peritoneal thickness was 91 ± 8 μm in the longitudinal sections and 75 ± 7 μm in the horizontal sections ( p < 0.05). Measurements of the SMA were found to be 47,762 ± 4,374 μm2 for the longitudinal sections and 40,389 ± 3,631 μm2 for the horizontal sections ( p < 0.05). In both types of sections, a positive correlation (96% for longitudinal and 90% for horizontal) was found between the SMA and the peritoneal thickness ( p < 0.01). The SMA measurements correlated significantly with functional properties [ratio of the dialysate concentration of glucose initially and after a 1-hour dwell (D1/D0 glucose), ultrafiltration, and protein loss; p < 0.01]. Conclusion Peritoneal thickness can be measured as a mean of the minimum and maximum values. That measurement strongly correlates with submesothelial area. Both types of sections can be used, but the horizontal and longitudinal sections show systematic differences. All samples in a study should be taken using the same section pattern, either longitudinal or horizontal.

ASN/ISN World Congress of Nephrology -- OCT 10-17, 2001 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, WOS: 000179346600027, PubMed ID: 12427143, Background. Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of end-stage renal failure in patients with diabetes mellitus types I and 2. Epidemiological studies have suggested a genetic susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to localize the gene(s) responsible for susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. Methods. A genetic linkage analysis was performed in 18 large Turkish families with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. The result was checked in 101 affected sibling pairs of Pima Indians. Results. A highly significant LOD score of 6.1 on chromosome 18q22.3-23 between the markers D18S469 and D18S58 was obtained in multipoint analysis. There was no indication for locus heterogeneity. In Pima Indians, linkage to the markers D18S469 and D18S58 was confirmed (P = 0.033), using the affected sib-pair method. The genetic model that fit best was a dominant mode of inheritance with an almost complete penetration in the Turkish population. Conclusions. There is strong evidence for the localization of a gene responsible for diabetic nephropathy in Turkish type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. This locus maps to chromosome 18q22.3-23, between D18S43 and D18S50, an interval of 8.5 cM.

WOS: 000175550800032, PubMed ID: 11981080, Background. The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the clinical presentation, the efficacy of reducing immunosuppression and the consequences of this therapeutic approach in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) developing after renal transplantation. Methods. We reviewed the records of 502 patients who had been followed up at our transplantation unit between October 1, 1987 and December 30, 1998. Twelve patients (2.4%) with KS were included in the study. Results. The mean age of KS patients was 38+/-11 years (one female, 11 males). All were on prednisone, azathioprine (AZT) and cylcosporin treatment. KS was encountered at a mean of 18+/-0 months post-renal transplantation. Typical Kaposi's lesions were present in the skin of 11 out of 12 patients. In the only patient without skin involvement, who died from haemophagocytic histiocytic syndrome caused by septicaemia, KS was diagnosed post-mortem in a lymph node. In five patients only skin involvement was present, while the others also had visceral involvement (oropharynx in two patients, trachea and lung in three, lymph node in two, stomach and duodenum in two). Cyclosporin was stopped within 1 month after KS diagnosis, and AZT was stopped in three patients. Both cutaneous and visceral KS manifestations disappeared and no patient was lost due to KS. During a follow-up period 46 19 months, KS recurred in the lungs in one patient together with lung tuberculosis, while he was on prednisone and AZT. Two patients lost their graft due to chronic rejection. The remaining eight patients currently have a functioning graft with a mean creatinine level of 1.4+/-0.5 mg/dl. Conclusion. KS is the most frequent post-transplant neoplasia (80%) in our country. In the present study cohort, half of the patients had visceral involvement. Reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppression caused complete remission in all patients without surgical intervention, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether normal blood pressure (BP) can be achieved in patients with hypertension on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy by strict volume control without the use of antihypertensive drugs. Of the 78 patients in our center, 47 persons had hypertension and/or were on antihypertensive drug therapy. After discontinuing these drugs, a strong dietary salt restriction was imposed by repeatedly explaining the need for it to patients and families. If this approach did not result in sufficient BP decrease, ultrafiltration (UF) was added by increased use of hypertonic (3.86% glucose) peritoneal dialysis solution. Cardiothoracic index (CTI) on the chest radiograph was also used as a measure of volume control. With salt restriction alone or combined with UF, body weight decreased by a mean of 2.8 +/- 0.5 kg, and BP decreased from a mean of 158.2 +/- 17.0/95.7 +/- 10.3 to 119.7 +/- 16.0/77.9 +/- 9.7 mm Hg in 37 patients, accompanied by a decrease in CTI from 48.0% +/- 5.6% to 42.9% +/- 4.5%. In 19 patients who had residual renal function, 24-hour urine volume decreased to 28% of the pretreatment volume, accompanied by a mean decrease in Kt/V urea from 2.06 +/- 0.5 to 1.85 +/- 0.4. In 7 of the remaining patients who did not respond to the applied treatment, BP decreased from 158.8 +/- 23.2/111.6 +/- 9.8 to 113.5 +/- 14.3/76.4 +/- 6.2 mm Hg after administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Their CTI was 41.2% +/- 1.3%, indicating the absence of hypervolemia. In 3 patients, the desired results could not be reached because of noncompliance. Our findings show that normal BP can be achieved by severe salt restriction combined with increased UF in the majority of CAPD patients. This is accompanied by a decrease in CTI from upper limits into the normal range, but also by a decrease in residual renal function and Kt/V index. In most of the remaining patients, normal BP can be reached by the use of ACE inhibitors.

WOS: 000074028300030, PubMed ID: 9641180, Background. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is very frequent in haemodialysis patients. Only few investigations have reported its regression, and only by the use of antihypertensive drugs. Because volume load is at least as important as pressure load, we investigated whether persistent strict volume control by ultrafiltration alone may be effective in improving LVH Methods. Using blood pressure (BP) and cardiac dimensions as a guide, we treated all hypertensive patients in our dialysis unit during the 3 times weekly dialysis sessions for 4 h per session with as much ultrafiltration as they could stand. If they gained too much weight an extra isolated ultrafiltration (UF) session was applied. Special attention was given to dietary salt restriction. The study group of all 15 patients in whom echocardiographic assessment had been made at least 1.5 years previously was selected retrospectively, and we acknowledge that important confounding factors might not have been controlled for. Cardiothoracic index (CTI) was estimated on the chest X-ray. Diameters of left atrium (LA), left ventricle systolic (LVS) and diastolic (LVD), interventricular septum (IVS), posterior wall (PW), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were estimated by standard echocardiographic methods. Results. Mean arterial pressure of the study group had been lowered by UF before the first echocardiogram from predialysis 136 +/- 11 to 101 +/- 14 and from postdialysis 119 +/- 8 to 92 +/- 12 mmHg. During a mean follow-up period of 37 +/- 11 months LVMI decreased from 175 +/- 60 to 105 +/- 11 g/m(2). CTI decreased further from 48 +/- 3 to 43 +/- 4%, while significant decreases of LA (22.5 +/- 3 to 19.9 +/- 4 mm/m(2)), LVS (18.7 +/- 4 to 15.9 +/- 3 mm/m(2)) and LVD (28.3 +/- 4 to 24.0 +/- 3 mm/m(2)) were seen in all patients. There also was a further decrease in both pre-and postdialysis BP to 116 +/- 12/73 +/- 7 and 105 +/- 7/65 +/- 3 mmHg respectively. Conclusion. The results of this uncontrolled retrospective study suggest that good long-term BP control and a decrease of LVM can be achieved by continuous efforts to control hypervolaemia. The decrease in volume may be even more important than pressure reduction to achieve this goal.

WOS: 000077471200027, PubMed ID: 9870473, Background. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired during dialysis treatment generally shows a relatively benign course after renal transplantation (RTx). However, less is known about the course of HCV infection acquired during or after RTx. Methods. Clinical and histopathological assessment of 15 renal transplant recipients who acquired HCV infection during or after RTx. Results. Alanine aminotransferase levels rose for the first time 1-19 weeks after RTx. HCV RNA was found positive in all patients, but anti-HCV became positive in only nine of them. During a mean follow-up of 21 +/- 12 months, jaundice appeared in 12 patients while ascites and/or hepatic encephalopathy occurred in six. Azathioprine was stopped in all patients. Cyclosporin was also stopped in four patients and in two of them prednisolone was also interrupted for a period of 3-7 weeks. Following this, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and biochemical disturbances improved, while no deterioration was seen in graft function. Nine of the 15 patients had undergone two consecutive liver biopsies (LB). The first LB revealed cirrhosis in three and chronic hepatitis in six patients; the second LB showed cirrhosis in seven patients. The histological activity index (Knodell's score) progressed from 11.8 +/- 3.5 to 13.8 +/- 3.8. Conclusions. The results suggest that HCV infection acquired during or after RTx may run an unusual and rapidly progressive clinical and histopathological course at least in some of these patients. Decrease or withdrawal of immunosuppressive drugs may improve early hepatic failure without detrimental effect on graft function during that period.

Some intestinal parasitic infections are frequently seen in renal transplant recipients. Parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis hominis are often asymptomatic or responsible for limited infections in normals, but may cause prolonged and heavy infections with gastrointestinal complaints, mainly diarrhea, in immunocompromised patients. Such infections can often not be detected by routine diagnostic procedures, but special concentration and staining methods are needed. We investigated 115 fecal specimens from 69 renal transplant recipients and 42 fecal specimens from 42 control cases. Of the 69 recipients, 27 (39.1%) had B. hominis and 13 (18.8%) had Cryptosporidium spp. in at least one fecal specimen. Prevalence of symptomatic Cryptosporidium infections was significantly higher in the renal transplant recipients, when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Special parasitological procedures must be performed in immunocompromised patients with chronic gastrointestinal complaints. Disappearance of symptoms after antiparastic drugs in some of 16 symptomatic patients are described, suggesting that these infections are more pathogenic in transplant recipients.