[Blood lead levels and markers of renal dysfunction among mechanical workshop workers]. / Plomo y nefropatía: Biomarcadores urinarios en la detección de daño renal precoz.

UNLABELLED: The role of lead (Pb) as an environmental cause of nephropathy is difficult to ascertain due to the difficulty to determine clinically its exposure. AIM: To assess lead levels and renal function in a group of males working in mechanical workshops. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood and urine samples were obtained from 100 mechanical workshop workers aged 38 ± 16 years and 95 non-exposed office clerks aged 37 ± 17 years. Blood lead and creatinine levels were determined. In exposed workers, urinary excretion of intestinal alkaline phosphatases (IAP) and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) were measured as early markers of renal failure. RESULTS: Blood lead levels were 66.4 ± 43 and 33.6 ± 18 µg/L among mechanical workshop workers and non-exposed controls, respectively, p < 0.01. The figures for serum creatinine were 0.9 ± 0.1 and 0.9 ± 0.1 respectively, p = NS. Among exposed workers urinary excretion of IAP was 0.47 ± 0.6 U/L and of NAG, 0.92 ± 1.1 U/L. There was a positive correlation between blood lead levels and NAG excretion (r = 0.284) and IAP excretion (r = 0.346). CONCLUSIONS: Exposed workers had higher blood lead levels and there was a weak positive association between these levels and the urinary excretion of NAG and IAP.

Plomo y nefropatía: biomarcadores urinarios en la detección de daño renal precoz / Blood lead levels and markers of renal dysfunction among mechanical workshop workers

The role of lead (Pb) as an environmental cause of nephropathy is difficult to ascertain due to the difficulty to determine clinically its exposure. Aim: To assess lead levels and renal function in a group of males working in mechanical workshops. Material and Methods: Blood and urine samples were obtained from 100 mechanical workshop workers aged 38 ± 16 years and 95 non-exposed office clerks aged 37 ± 17 years. Blood lead and creatinine levels were determined. In exposed workers, urinary excretion of intestinal alkaline phosphatases (IAP) and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) were measured as early markers of renal failure. Results: Blood lead levels were 66.4 ± 43 and 33.6 ± 18 µg/L among mechanical workshop workers and non-exposed controls, respectively, p < 0.01. The figures for serum creatinine were 0.9 ± 0.1 and 0.9 ± 0.1 respectively, p = NS. Among exposed workers urinary excretion of IAP was 0.47 ± 0.6 U/L and of NAG, 0.92 ± 1.1 U/L. There was a positive correlation between blood lead levels and NAG excretion (r = 0.284) and IAP excretion (r = 0.346). Conclusions: Exposed workers had higher blood lead levels and there was a weak positive association between these levels and the urinary excretion of NAG and IAP.

Hipertrofía ventricular izquierda en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica / Left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic hemodialisis

Hemos realizado un estudio transversal, descriptivo con componente analítico en 30 pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica, en ambos sexos, mayores de 18 años, que se dializan 4 horas, 3 veces por semana, con baño de acetato, con la intención de determinar la incidencia y las causas de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda. Se realizó una ecocardiografía Doppler y dosaje de hemoglobina, albúmina y medición de PA. Se consideró hipertrofia ventricular izquierda cuando la masa del ventrículo izquierdo era mayor a 125 g/m2 en varones y a 110 g/m2 en mujeres. Hipertensión arterial _ 140/90. La hemoglobina fue de 7,8±1,8 g/dl, albúmina de 3,9±0,5g por ciento, PA de 132,7±20,7 / 80,2±9,7; siendo hipertensos el 33 por ciento (154,3±10,6 / 88,1±6,2) y normotensos el 67 por ciento (121,3±14,6 / 70,1±8,7). En la ecocardiografía se constató hipertrofia ventricular izquierda con una masa de 203,4±53,9 g/m2, encontrándose correlación entre la hipertrofia y la hemoglobina (r= -0,40); la hipertrofia y la presión arterial sistólica (r= 0,45); la hipertrofia y la presión arterial diastólica (r= 0,54); no habiendo correlación con el nivel de albúmina o el tiempo en diálisis. En la ecocardiografía; el espesor del tabique interventricular 12,1±1,9 mm en mujeres y 13,4±1,7 mm en varones (p< 0,05); el espesor de la pared posterior del VI 11,3±1,3 mm en mujeres y 12,5±0,9 mm en varones (p <0,05). Todos los pacientes en hemodiálisis presentaron hipertrofia ventricular izquierda, sin embargo el 67 por ciento eran normotensos. La etiología de la hipertrofia ventricular en los pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica es multifactorial, relacionada en nuestro estudio con la anemia y los niveles de presión arterial, principalmente la diastólica.Taquicardia auricular focal y extrasístoles auriculares frecuentes: Aspectos electrofisiológicos, implicancia clínica y ablación percutánea exitosa con catéter por radiofrecuencia

Dose-dependent effects of strontium on bone of chronic renal failure rats.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported on increased bone strontium (Sr) levels in dialysis patients with osteomalacia versus those presenting other types of renal osteodystrophy. A causal role of strontium in the development of osteomalacia was established in a chronic renal failure (CRF) rat model. METHODS: In the present study we investigated whether the effect of Sr on bone was related to dosage. Four groups of CRF rats were studied: a control group (control-CFR; N=6) not receiving strontium and three groups of animals loaded orally with Sr during 18 weeks by adding the element as the SrCl2. H20 compound to the drinking water at concentrations of 0.03 g/100mL (Sr-30; N=6), 0.075 g/100mL (Sr-75; N=6), or 0.15 g/100mL (Sr-150; N=6) respectively. A fifth group consisting of seven animals with intact renal function (control-NRF), not receiving Sr served as controls for the effect of CRF on bone histology. RESULTS: As compared to the control-NRF and control-CRF groups, Sr administration resulted in a dose-dependent increase in bone and serum Sr levels. No difference in body weight and biochemical serum and urinary parameters [i.e., calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and creatinine] was noted between the various CRF groups. At sacrifice, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels of CRF groups were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values measured in the control-NRF group indicating the development of hyperparathyroidism secondary to the installation of the CRF. This is further supported by the differences in bone histomorphometry between the control-CRF and control-NRF animals, which, respectively, showed an increased amount of osteoid (mean +/- SEM 3.4 +/- 1.2% vs. 0.37 +/- 0.14%, P < 0.05) in combination with a distinct osteoblastic activity (35 +/- 11% vs. <2%, P < 0.05) and an increased bone formation rate [(BFR), 677 +/- 177 microm 2/mm2/day vs. 130 +/- 50 microm 2/mm2/day, P < 0.05]. Bone surface area and erodic perimeter did not differ between the various study groups. In the Sr-30 group, Sr loading went along with a dramatic reduction of the BFR as indicated by the total absence of double tetracyclin labels and osteoblastic activity, which in the presence of a low to normal amount of osteoid (2.7 +/- 1.9%) points to the development of the adynamic type of renal osteodystrophy. Interestingly, compared to the control-CRF group, histodynamic and histologic parameters of the Sr-75 group did not differ significantly and a substantial osteoblastic activity (7.6 +/- 4.0%) was seen also. In the Sr-150 group, the various osteoid parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) increased vs. all other groups and were accompanied by a reduced BFR and mineral apposition rate (MAR) and an increased mineralization lag time (MLT), indicating a mineralization defect and the development of osteomalacia. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the role of Sr in the development of bone lesions in renal failure is complex and that, depending on the dose, the element may act via multiple pathways.