Erythropoietin induced hypertension

Hypertension has frequently been reported in association with Erythropoietin [EPO] use In-patients with renal failure. However, the relation between the two is complex, as chronic renal failure itself is associated with numerous cardiovascular complications including hypertension. The present clinical trial was undertaken to appreciate this unwanted effect of EPO in 24 hemodialysed patients with end stage renal disease. Out of them, 12 were hypertensives already receiving anti-hypertensive medication at the start of EPO therapy while rest were normotensive. These patients were randomly divided into group A and B, each had 12 patients [6 hypertensive and 6 normotensive]. Group A received EPO in dose of 40 units/kg body weight subcutaneously twice a week while group B was given double dose. The blood pressures of all the patients were noted before and during 10 weeks of EPO treatment, their hematocrit, hemoglobin, iron profile and blood chemistry were also monitored. Only 3 hypertensive patients receiving 80 a/kg EPO showed worsening of their blood pressures. No significant pressure changes were observed in normotensives with either EPO dosage or in hypertensive patients receiving low dose EPO. Our study showed that low dose EPO therapy could effectively be used to reverse anemia in renal failure patients without significantly altering their blood pressures. However, a minority of already hypertensive patients might show a worsening of their blood pressures with higher doses of EPO

co-relation of the eye and kidney-in diabetes mellitus and hypertension

The study was undertaken to observe the co-relation between microangiopathic changes in diabetic retinopathy and microvascular changes in diabetic nephropathy. Included in the study were 64 patients with chronic renal failure who were on maintenance dialysis, 40 had hypertension alone, 21 hypertension and diabetes and 3 had diabetes alone. On examination of retina, of 40 hypertensive patients, 14 had positive findings, while in the hypertensive and diabetic group, 20 patients out of 21, had positive findings. Nine patients in the hypertensive group had delayed choroidal filling on fluorescein angiography which was not very accurately reflected on Funduscopy. In the diabetic and hypertensive group, 13 patients having proteinuria of more than 1 gm, also had exudates and haemorrhages in the fundus. It was concluded that a correlation exists between the arterial changes in the fundus of the eye and the glomeruli of the kidney

Significance, isolation, identification and sensitivity of branhamella [moraxell] catarrhalis

In a study lasting over two years the frequency and sensitivity of moraxella catarrhalis causing respiratory tract infections were studied. Sputum samples from patients with lower respiratory tract infections were screened for moraxella catarrhalis. The organisms isolated identified and their sensitivity determined by simple methods which are practicable. The study shows that 22.4% of the infections were due to moraxella catarrhalis and 98% of the isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin-culvanalic acid [augmentin] The paper signifies the importance of reporting moraxella catarrhalis and its treatment