Correlation between IgAC3 ratio and oxford score in IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Complement activation has an important role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between IgAC3 ratio (IgA/C3) and total Oxford score and predictive value of IgA/C3 in IgA nephropathy. Methods Forty-three patients diagnosed with IgA nephropathy with > 10 glomerular + 1 arteries in biopsy were included in the study. Hematological and biochemical variables of the blood sample taken before the biopsy and total Oxford score were recorded. The study group was divided into two groups as proteinuria ≥ 1 g (PU ≥ 1) and proteinuria < 1 g (PU < 1). Statistics were carried out with SPSS 22.0 program. p < .05 considered as significant. RESULTS: The mean age of 43 patients was 40.4 (± 11.9) years; 51.2% of them were women. Proteinuria as 1 g or more was in 27 of 43 patients, and less than 1 g in 16 patients. The serum C3 level was lower in the group with PU ≥ 1 and showed a significant positive correlation with the IgA/C3 total Oxford score. CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was found between serum IgA/C3 and total Oxford score.

The relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness, and the presence of plaque in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Apelin is a peptide that has important effects on the cardiovascular system due to its anti-atherogenic properties and regulating blood pressure. There is not enough research evaluating the effects of apelin levels on the cardiovascular system in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients concurrently. The aim of this study was to determine apelin levels in dialysis, and control groups and to investigate the relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty three HD patients, 35 PD patients, and 15 healthy individuals were included in the study. All laboratory data, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), IL-6, and apelin-13 levels were analyzed. To prevent interobserver errors in CIMT measurement, the analyses were performed by a single radiologist. RESULT: CIMT, presence of plaque, apelin, NT-proBNP, IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher in dialysis patients. There was a relationship between apelin and CIMT, and between apelin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in PD patients. Age, apelin, HDL, parathormone (PTH), glucose, and smoking were found to affect the presence of plaque in dialysis patients. CONCLUSION: Apelin levels were high in dialysis patients. Especially in PD patients, there was a negative correlation between apelin and CIMT, and between apelin and HDL. Therefore, apelin may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in PD patients.

Elevated Monocyte Count and Loss of Renal Function in Renal Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: Rejection is an important factor affecting graft function in renal transplant patients. Development of acute rejection even after induction treatment suggests that humoral and cellular immune systems are not the only mechanisms responsible for this event. The innate immune system can play roles in rejection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between renal function and some absolute values and ratios of various hematologic parameters assessed before and after renal transplantation. METHODS: This study included 63 renal transplant patients. Demographic features and laboratory findings were reviewed retrospectively and recorded. For cadaveric and spousal transplantations, induction treatment used antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (group 1 [G1]), and CD25 inhibitor was used for the others (group 2 [G2]). G2 was divided into 2 subgroups based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline rate: ≤ 3.5 mL/min/y as group 2a (G2a) and > 3.5 mL/min/y as group 2b (G2b). Hematologic parameters were compared across the groups. RESULTS: Compared to G1, G2 had higher mean blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and first month post-transplant lymphocyte and monocyte counts (P = .034, P = .040, P = .003, P = .027, and P = .027, respectively). G2a had higher levels of first-month post-transplant white blood cell, monocyte, and neutrophil counts compared to G2b (P = .018, P = .038, and P = .011, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the parameters in G2b showed that a monocyte count of > 750 mm3 was associated with the decline in eGFR. CONCLUSION: Elevated monocyte count in patients who had faster eGFR decline and did not receive induction treatment with ATG points to the significance of the innate immune system.