Seroprevalence of anti-helicobacter pylori and anticytotoxin-associated gene a antibodies according to abo blood groups and rhesus status among hemodialysis patients

Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and blood group typing has been widely evaluated in both patients and healthy population. However, data addressing this correlation in hemodialysis patients are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anticytotoxin-associated gene A [anti-Cag A] antibodies and their correlations with ABO blood groups and rhesus blood group status in hemodialysis patients. In a cross-sectional study, serum samples of 151 hemodialysis patients were tested for anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody. Anti-Cag A antibody [IgG antibody] was tested in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients. ABO blood groups typing and rhesus status were tested by hemagglutination test. Prevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Cag A antibodies in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients were 65.6% [99 of 151] and 25.3% [25 of 99], respectively. Prevalence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Cag A antibodies were 69.1% and 36.8% in patients with blood group A, 42.3% and 9.1% in blood group B, 75.0% and zero in blood group AB, 69.4% and 23.3% in blood group O, 59.0% and 30.6% in rhesus-positive status and 89.7% and 11.5% in rhesus-negative status, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the presence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Cag A antibodies and rhesus status, but no significant relation between ABO blood groups and anti-Cag A antibodies were found. Rhesus status may have an impact on the presence of anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Cag A antibodies. More investigations to address this correlation are necessary

Glutathione, glutathione-related enzymes, and total antioxidant capacity in patients on maintenance dialysis

Oxidative stress due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species and impairment in antioxidant defense mechanisms have been suggested as possible factors contributing to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease. We compared glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, and total antioxidant capacity between patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and healthy individuals. Thirty patients receiving regular hemodialysis and 12 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis were recruited as well as 25 healthy volunteers. Diabetes mellitus, recent febrile or infectious episodes, and hospitalization during the past month were the exclusion criteria. Erythrocyte glutathione level, plasma activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, total antioxidant capacity were determined and compared between the three studied groups. Glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity were markedly lower in the patient groups than in the controls. Conversely, higher activity of glutathione reductase and total antioxidant capacity were noted in the patients than in the controls. There were no significant differences between antioxidant markers of the patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Strong positive correlation were observed between total antioxidant capacity and uric acid in the patients [r = 0.59, P = .045 and r = 0.63, P = .03, respectively]. Although total antioxidant capacity of plasma is increased in patient on dialysis, depletion of glutathione as a key antioxidant component and disturbances in its related enzymes show oxidative stress. This condition may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders in kidney transplant recipients. An Iranian multicenter experience

Limited data with adequate sample size exist on the development of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder [PTLD] in living donor kidney recipients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on the data of 10 transplant centers to identify the incidence of PTLD in Iran. Data of 9917 kidney transplant recipients who received their kidneys between 1984 and 2008 were reviewed. Fifty-one recipients [0.5%] who developed PTLD were evaluated with a median follow-up of 47.5 months [range, 1 to 211] months. Patients with PTLD represented 24% of all posttransplant malignancies [51 out of 211 cases]. There was no relationship between PTLD and sex [P = .20]. There were no statistically significance differences considering the age at transplantation between patients with and without PTLD. The late-onset PTLD [70.6%] occurred more frequently compared to the early form. There was no signification relationship between early-onset and late-onset groups in terms of clinical course and outcome. In patients who received azathioprine, PTLD was more frequent when compared to those who received mycophenolate mofetil [P < .001]. The lymph nodes were the predominantly involved site [35.3%], followed by the gastrointestinal tract, brain, kidney allograft, lung, ovary, vertebrae, and palatine. Age at diagnosis and the time from transplantation to diagnosis were comparable for various involvement sites of PTLDs. The overall mortality in this series of patients was 51.0%. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare but devastating complication and long-term prognosis can be improved with early recognition and appropriate therapy