Relationship of renal resistive index and cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in renal transplant recipients, and elevated renal allograft resistive index (RI) has been associated with patient survival. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of intrarenal RI on atherosclerotic disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven patients who had undergone renal transplantation between 1999 and 2001 and had stable renal function were included in the study. Patients with renal artery stenosis, urinary tract obstruction, clinical symptoms of acute rejection, or chronic allograft nephropathy were excluded. Clinical and laboratory information was obtained from the medical records and included demographic data, medications used, body mass index, blood pressure, and laboratory values. Intrarenal RI and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined using Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: At linear regression analysis, RI was significantly correlated with recipient age, C-reactive protein concentration, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, body mass index, smoking, and carotid IMT. At multivariate linear regression analysis, only pulse pressure was an independent predictor of intrarenal RI. CONCLUSION: Intrarenal RI is associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and carotid IMT. Elevated intrarenal graft RI may be predictive of cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients without complications.

Multidetector computed tomography findings of spontaneous renal allograft ruptures.

AIM: To describe the characteristics of spontaneous renal allograft rupture using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). METHOD: Five patients with spontaneous renal allograft rupture, as confirmed by pathologic examination, were referred to our institution between 1985 and 2008. The clinical records and preoperative MDCT findings of the patients were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Clinical and/or histological findings were consistent with acute rejection in all cases. Using MDCT, disruption of the capsular integrity and parenchymal rupture was seen in four patients. Four of the five patients showed decreased enhancement and swollen grafts. Perirenal (n=4), subcapsular (n=1), and intraparenchymal (n=1) haematomas were also seen. In the patient with an intraparenchymal haematoma there was no disruption of capsular integrity, but capsular irregularities were seen near the haematoma. CONCLUSION: MDCT is a useful investigative tool for the evaluation of suspected spontaneous renal allograft rupture. As well as a swollen graft, disruption of the capsule, parenchyma, and/or haematoma should prompt the radiologist to consider this diagnosis.

Unusual presentation of prostate cancer with generalized lymphadenopathy and unilateral leg edema.

Prostate cancer most often metastases to bones and regional lymph nodes. Disseminated metastasis to distant lymph nodes is very rare. We report a case presenting with generalized lymphadenopathy and related left leg edema without any urinary symptoms and finally diagnosed as prostate cancer.

Relationship of preoperative venous and arterial imaging findings to outcomes of brachio-basilic transposition fistulae for hemodialysis: a prospective clinical study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the maturation and patency of transposed brachio-basilic fistulae that had been chosen based on the results of preoperative imaging techniques. METHODS: Among 215 patients admitted to our clinic requiring arteriovenous fistulae between May 2004 and September 2005, 59 were scheduled for a transposed brachio-basilic fistula procedure. The relationship between demographic data, laboratory values, invasive and noninvasive imaging studies with patency and maturation time of the fistulae were evaluated by univariate analyses. RESULTS: Primary and secondary patency rates were 82% and 97% at 6 months 72% and 92% at one year respectively. The only parameter found to affect maturation time was basilic vein diameter. The maturation time was 59.3+/-22.3 days (range 32-92 days) for veins less than 3mm in diameter and 24.7+/-4.4 days (range, 21 to 34 days) for those with larger diameters. The number of previously failed fistulae correlated with a decrease in primary patency time. The primary patency rate at 1 year was 58.9% for patients whose preoperative arterial flow rate was below 70cm/sec, while it was 93.3% when the flow was greater. CONCLUSION: We believe that this type of fistula should be the first option in patients in whom the cephalic vein is inappropriate for a vascular access. Preoperative evaluation of the arterial system as well as a history of previous access failure may be considered predictive parameters for the patency of the fistulae.

Evaluation of neurologic complications by brain MRI in kidney and liver transplant recipients.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients who developed neurologic complications after liver and kidney transplantation. The results in 216 organ transplant recipients, who had brain MRI were evaluated retrospectively. We performed 187 brain MRI on kidney recipients and 29 liver recipients. Neuroradiologic findings were classified in three groups: group 1 findings were related to transplantation; group 2 findings, to chronic parenchymal disease; and group 3 to neither transplantation nor chronic parenchymal disease. In group 1, six patients (20.6%) after liver and three (1.6%) after kidney transplantation had posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; two patients (1.1%) after renal and one (3.4%) after liver transplantation had tuberculosis granulomas; one patient (0.5%) after renal transplantation had osmotic demyelination syndrome; one patient (0.5%) had a Nocardia abcess and one (0.5%) focal cerebritis after renal transplantation. Among group 2, 38 patients (20.3%) had brain atrophy; 37 (20%), white matter changes; 3 (1.6%), sinus thrombosis; 8 (4.3%), lacunar infarct; 1 (0.5%), had renal osteodystrophy in the cranial bones; and 4 (2.2%), had intracranial hemorrhage secondary to end-stage renal disease. Brain atrophy in nine patients (31%), hyperintensity in the globus pallidus on T1-weighted MR images owing to manganese deposits in nine patients (31%), hyperintensity in basal ganglia on T2-weighted MR images owing to copper depositions in one patient (3.4%) were seen secondary to chronic liver disease. In group 3, three patients (1.6%) had intracranial lipomas; one (0.5%), mesial temporal sclerosis; and one (0.5%), an anterior cerebral artery aneurysm in renal transplant patients. Periventricular and subcortical white matter hyperintensities were observed on T2-weighted MR images in six liver transplant patients (20.7%). Neurologic complications after organ transplantation may be secondary to transplantation itself, to chronic parenchymal disease, or to neither transplantation nor chronic parenchymal disease.

Bilateral hemorrhagic adrenal cysts in an incomplete form of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: MRI and prenatal US findings.

Benign hemorrhagic adrenal cysts are a cause of subdiaphragmatic mass in the fetus and neonate with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Characteristic imaging features on ultrasonography, color Doppler, and magnetic resonance imaging help differentiate adrenal hemorrhage from neonatal neuroblastoma and help avoid unnecessary surgery in these patients. Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage is self-limiting, and spontaneous resolution is the usual outcome. This report presents this rare condition with prenatal ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings and reviews the differential diagnosis of neonatal adrenal masses.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children: outcome and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is the most common demyelinating disorder of childhood. Its clinical features, prognosis and treatment vary in different reports. OBJECTIVES: To examine a series of children with ADEM for clinical findings, course, recurrences, and possible variables affecting outcome. METHODS: Multicentric data collected from 7 tertiary referral centers were registered and evaluated in a central database in 1990 - 2001 for clinical, laboratory, and MRI features. Course and prognosis were assessed in patients with at least 12 months' follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were evaluated. Median age at onset was 8 years, M/F ratio, 1.7/1. Most common symptoms and signs pertained to the motor system and consciousness. Of 39 children with 12 months' follow-up, 71 % recovered completely. Thirteen (33 %) children had relapses. Patients who had more than one relapse (n = 4) presented with new symptoms at each attack. Treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone was associated with complete recovery, and tapering over more than 3 weeks, with a lower rate of relapses. MRI lesions could persist even in asymptomatic patients; in particular, periventricular lesions tended to disappear later than others. CONCLUSIONS: Complete clinical recovery is common and serious complications are rare in childhood ADEM, but the rate of relapses is considerable. Clinical picture at first relapse may help to identify patients likely to experience multiple relapses. The timing and duration of steroid treatment affects outcome.