ABSTRACT
Patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) on maintenance dialysis, commonly develop secondary hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy (ROD). Alfacalcidol, taken orally or administered intravenously, is known to reverse these complications. In this study, 19 ESRF patients, who were on dialysis (13 on hemodialysis and six on peritoneal dialysis) for longer than six months and having serum parathormone levels at least four times normal and serum calcium less than 2.1 mmol/L, were randomly allocated to treatment with oral or intravenous (i.v.) alfacalcidol for a period of 12 months. There were six patients on hemodialysis (HD) and three on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the oral treatment group while in the i.v. group there were seven patients on HD and three on PD. Clinical and serial biochemical assessments showed no statistically significant difference between the orally- and i.v.-treated patients in terms of suppressing secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteodystrophy. However, patients with features of mild ROD on bone histology, had more satisfactory changes in biochemistry when compared to others. Our results further support the use of intermittent oral alfacalcidol in ESRF patients because of its cost effectiveness, ease of administration and convenience, especially for peritoneal dialysis patients.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is a global health problem with a high mortality rate. End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have a high prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus infection. Present study was done to identify the prevalence and course of a new isolate Hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in Saudi dialysis patients. METHODS: The pattern of viral hepatitis infection (HBV. HCV and HGV) was investigated in 109 Saudi patients with ESRD and 100 healthy Saudi blood donors. Donated blood was tested for markers of Hepatitis B, C and G viruses. Liver functions were measured and blood picture and liver biopsies were also performed at regular intervals. RESULTS: Out of the 109 ESRD patients 68 (62.4%) were positive for at least one viral marker: 59 (54.1%) were positive for HCV, six (5.5%) were positive for HGV and three (2.8%) were positive for HBsAg. Four of the six HGV positive patients were also co-infected with HCV. Eight (8%) of the blood donors were positive for at least one viral marker. Elevated ALT levels (>4 times normal) were recorded in four out of the six HGV-positive patients including three co-infected with HCV. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in agreement with similar studies from different countries and also raise the question about the causal relationship between HGV and liver disease among dialysis patients.
ABSTRACT
A total of 127 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) including 45 from Al-Madinah and 82 from the Gizan regions of Saudi Arabia were studied to determine the etiology of ESRD. The categorization into various diagnoses were according to established criteria. A total of 22 renal biopsies were also obtained to aid in the diagnosis. The mean age of the study patients was 50 years in Al-Madinah region and 37 years in Gizan region. Overall, the etiology could be established in 56 patients (44.1%) including 31 patients (68.9%) in Al-Madinah and 25 patients (30.5%) in Gizan regions. Diabetic nephropathy was the commonest cause of ESRD in Al-Madinah (45.2%) while obstructive nephropathy was the commonest identifiable cause in Gizan (24%). Our study suggests that diabetes and obstruction are the main conditions against which strategies for prevention and treatment should be directed.
ABSTRACT
To describe hypercholesterolemia in an urban community in Saudi Arabia, total serum cholesterol (TSC) was measured in 966 apparently healthy males (475 Saudi Arabs, 351 other Arabs and 140 non-Arabs) using a portable analyzer (Boehringer Model[R]). Mean age was 35.9 years (SD+/-9.1) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.2 kg/m(2) (SD+/-3.4) with a mean TSC of 5.20 mmol (SD+/-1.21). Mean TSC was significantly higher among non-Arabs at 5.74 mmol/L (SD+/-1.48) than in Saudi Arabs at 4.93 mmol/L (SD+/-1.11), P<0.001 mmol/L. TSC was higher than 5.20 mmol/L in 44.3% and higher than 6.80 mmol/L in 6.9% of the population. TSC was higher than 6.80 mmol/L in 3.6% of Saudi Arabs, 8.0% in other Arabs and 15.7% in the non-Arabs. This calls for cholesterol screening of the indigenous male population for hypercholesterolemia and other coronary heart disease risk factors at every opportunity. Among expatriate males, a mass screening strategy might be appropriate. The health care system needs appropriate adjustment to deal with this growing health problem.
ABSTRACT
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) has been shown to be both effective and usually safe in patients with chronic renal failure who have not yet reached the stage requiring dialysis. There are, however, disturbing reports on the possibility of deterioration of the reserve renal function in association with rHuEpo therapy. Most of the published studies have used rHuEpo in doses of 50-150 U/kg three times weekly subcutaneously. An open-label trial of rHuEpo therapy was conducted on 21 patients with chronic renal failure treated sequentially at a referral hospital, rHuEpo was used in doses of 50 U/kg twice weekly for 4 weeks followed by 25 U/kg twice weekly for 8 weeks subcutaneously, a regimen substantially lower than current recommendations. This was associated with a gentle but significant increase in haematocrit (P < 0.05) and haemoglobin (P < 0.05), while the serum creatinine and the reciprocal of the creatinine remained stable, with a tendency to improve rather than worsen (P = 0.06). We conclude that there is no need to aim at a rapid increase in haematocrit and haemoglobin by rHuEpo therapy; rather a gentle increase using modest doses is both effective and safe.
