The Effect of ACE Gene Polymophism on the Antiproteinuric Effect of Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist in Patients with Non-diabetic Chronic Renal Disease / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor, plays a key role in renal injury and in the progression of chronic renal disease of diverse causes. In every organ system, the biologic effects of angiotensin II are mediated through its interaction with specific receptors on cell membranes. Angiotensin II receptor antagonist specifically inhibits angiotensin II-mediated physiologic responses such as systemic and renal vasoconstriction, sodium reabsorption by renal proximal tubule, and stimulation of aldosterone and adrenergic hormone release by the adrenal gland. It has been reported that losartan, angiotensin II receptor antagonist, has a significant antiproteinuric effect in patients with diabetic and non-diabetic renal disease. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism on the renal response to angiotensin II receptor antagonist in non-diabetic proteinuric chronic renal patients. METHODS: Seventy patients with non-diabetic chronic renal disease with urinary protein excretion greater than 500 mg/day were enrolled in this prospective study. Subjects were given losartan 50 mg o.d. for the first 12 weeks, and then were given to 100 mg o.d. for another 12 weeks. RESULTS: Twelve weeks and twenty-four weeks later, blood pressure, urinary protein excretion, total cholesterol, and triglyceride decreased significantly compared with baseline values. There was a significant correlation between the levels of baseline urinary protein excretion and the magnitudes of the reduction of urinary protein excretion after treatment with losartan. Baseline blood pressure, BUN, serum creatinine, and urinary protein excretion were not different in the responder group (patients with more than 30% reduction of urinary protein excretion after losartan treatment) compared with the nonresponder group. Systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in the responder group were significantly lower than the nonresponder group after twelve and twenty-four weeks. Urinary protein excretion in the responder group was significantly lower than the nonresponder group after twelve weeks. When the patients were divided into three groups according to ACE gene polymorphism, II, ID and DD, there were no significant differences in the blood pressure change, reduction of urinary protein excretion following losartan treatment and distributions of responder among three groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, significantly reduced blood pressure and proteinuria in patients with non- diabetic chronic renal disease. The magnitude of antiproteinuric effect of losartan was not influenced by ACE gene polymorphism. However, further studies with large number of patients are required to confirm the issues regarding the ACE gene polymorphism and the antiproteinuric effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist in non-diabetic chronic renal disease.

Primary Aldosteronism Complicated with Chronic Renal Failure / 대한신장학회잡지

Primary aldosteronism is a disease entity characterized by hypertension, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and muscle weakness. Aldosteronoma is the most common cause of primary aldosteronism. The prevalence of primary aldosteronism in patients with hypertension appears to be low, less than 1%. However, primary aldosteronism is the one of common cause of secondary hypertension that is one of a few potentially curable forms of hypertension by surgical treament. The malignant hypertension in primary aldosteronism is very rare and the renal vascular damage due to hypertension seldom occurs. There has been no known reports about primary aldosteronism complicated with chronic renal failure in Korea. We report the rare case of primary aldosteronism in patient with hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis complicated with chronic renal failure due to malignant hypertension with evident nephrosclerosis.

Risk Factors of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in CAPD Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a critical and an independent factor for mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease, and numerous risk factors for LVH have been discussed in previous studies. In present study, we intended to clarify the factors that affect the progression of LVH in patients with their first continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to analyse the influences of these risk factors on severity of LVH. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled the patients who performed echocardiography both before and in period between 24 to 30 months after CAPD. We estimated the change of LVH by the calculated difference of left ventricular mass index (LVMI) on echocardiography. We analyzed the factors that influence the change of LVMI such as age, sex, baseline renal disease, body mass index, blood pressure, hematocrit, calcium, phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH), serum albumin and peritoneal transport status on peritoneal equilibration test (PET). RESULTS: The causes of renal disease of the patients (male : female=10 : 16, mean age 55.74+/-12.0 years) were as follows : 13 cases (50.0%) of diabetic nephropathy, 11 cases (47.4%) of chronic glomerulonephritis, 1 case (3.8%) of hypertensive nephrosclerosis, and 1 case (3.8%) of unknown cause. Mean duration of follow-up was 25.5+/-2.1 months. As a result, the difference of LVMI positively correlated with mean systolic blood pressure (p=0.001, r=0.598) and mean diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001, r=0.718), difference of pulse pressure (p<0.001, r=0.893), and maximal i-PTH level (p=0.041, r=0.404). On the other hand, the difference of LVMI showed negative correlation with mean hematocrit (p=0.031, r=-0.421). In multiple linear regression analysis, the mean diastolic blood pressure and the difference of pulse pressure appeared to be the independent risk factors for the difference of LVMI (R2=0.923). CONCLUSION: The factors necessary to restrict the progression of LVH after initiation of CAPD are strict blood pressure control, correction of anemia, optimal treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. These corrections could secure the amelioration of LVH.

Comparative Study between Renal Replacement Therapy in ESRD Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common genetic disorder that accounts for 8-10% of patients receiving renal replacement therapy in Unites States and Europe, and approximately 2% in Korea. ADPKD patients on renal replacement therapy constitute a particular group with typical clinical charateristics and differences from other patients on renal replcement therapy. The objective of this study was to assess clinical features, morbidity, mortality and technical survival in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with ADPKD and compare these between each renal replacement therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 70 ADPKD patients who received renal replacement therapy in Yonsei university medical center (Jan. 1980-Dec. 2001). RESULTS: Among a total of 70 patients, 41 patients were male and 29 patients were female. Mean age was 45.6+/-10.7 years and average time from diagnosis of ADPKD to start of renal replacement therapy was 5.1+/-5.6 years. As the initial mode of renal replacement therapy, 25 patients started on hemodialysis, 26 patients started on CAPD and 19 patients received renal transplantation. Clinical features and laboratory findings at the initiation of renal replacement therapy had no significant differences between each renal replacement therapy. Cumulative and technical survival in ESRD patients with ADPKD receiving each renal replacement therapy had no significant differences according to Kaplan-Meier. Seven patients died within study period, including 3 hemodialysis patients, 2 CAPD patients and 2 renal transplantation patients. The most common cause of death was infection followed by bleeding and malignancy. Among patients on CAPD, 10 patients had stopped CAPD because of peritonitis, hernia, ultrafiltration failure and CAPD leakage. CONCLUSION: In summary, there were no significant differences of clinical features, cumulative and technical survival between each renal replacement therapy in ADPKD patients. The most frequent reason for cessation of CAPD was peritonitis. The most common cause of death was infection in ESRD patients with ADPKD.

A Case of Bronchial Papilloma / 결핵

Bronchial papilloma is a rare disease which most commonly manifests as an epithelial tumor consisting of polypoid interstitial tissues and epithelioid cells. This benign tumor comprises 2-5 % of primary lung tumors and papilloma derived from the bronchial epithelium, and is a rare benign tumor in adults. Bronchial papilloma has a poor prognosis with a high risk of developing a malignancy. We report a case of a bronchial papilloma in a 62-year-old female patient, presenting with hemoptysis and an endobronchial lesion with a brief review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Bronchial Papilloma / 결핵

Bronchial papilloma is a rare disease which most commonly manifests as an epithelial tumor consisting of polypoid interstitial tissues and epithelioid cells. This benign tumor comprises 2-5 % of primary lung tumors and papilloma derived from the bronchial epithelium, and is a rare benign tumor in adults. Bronchial papilloma has a poor prognosis with a high risk of developing a malignancy. We report a case of a bronchial papilloma in a 62-year-old female patient, presenting with hemoptysis and an endobronchial lesion with a brief review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Lung Cancer Metastasis to the Maxillary Sinus / 결핵

Lung cancer is known to metastasize to a wide range of organs. The main sites for the metastatic foci are the mediastinal lymph nodes, brain, bones, adrenal glands, and the liver. Metastases to the paranasal sinuses are rare. However, a metastatic maxillary tumor may be the initial presentation of an unknown primary malignancy. Here, we report a case of a lung cancer that metastased to the maxillary sinus because of its rarity and its effect on the treatment of the disease.