Bioimpedance spectroscopy method to determine hypervolemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hypervolemia is a major risk factor for hypertension leading to cardiovascular diseases and also a frequent problem in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Fluid overload (FO) can be determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) which is a new, practical, and non-invasive method. We tried to determine FO by BIS in MHD patients and find out the relationship between FO and clinical features. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 100 MHD patients aged between 20 and 85 years and undergoing hemodialysis three times weekly for minimum one year. By using BIS, we estimated FO and extracellular water (ECW). The patients who exhibited a FO/ECW ratio >15% were considered as FO. RESULTS: Twenty-nine (29.0%) patients had a FO/ECW ratio >15%. In the overhydrated group, the mean pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure was 153.3 ± 20.0 mmHg and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 89.1 ± 8.5 mmHg. These were significantly higher than in the non-overhydrated group (113.5 ± 14.5 and 71.0 ± 8.8, p <0.001). FO was significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r =0.63, p <0.001 and r =0.59, p <0.001). The patients were divided into two groups, i.e. those with cardiothoracic index (CTI) of  >0.5 and those with CTI of ≤0.5. The median FO/ECW ratio was 0.11 L in the former group and 0.08 L in the latter group with a significant difference (p =0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Hypervolemia is associated with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy that should be treated effectively to prevent cardiovascular diseases in MHD patients. BIS is useful to assess hydration status in MHD patients. Hippokratia 2015; 19 (4): 324-331.

Chronic hepatitis C responds poorly to combination therapy in chronic hepatis B carriers.

BACKGROUND: The effect of conventional interferon-based therapy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) dual infection is controversial. Yet, no studies have been carried out into pegylated interferon treatment for chronic HBV/HCV coinfection. We aimed to evaluate the response rate and side effects of conventional or pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin on chronic HBV/HCV coinfection therapy. METHODS: The study included 36 chronic hepatitis patients (M/F: 28/8, mean age 47+/-12 years) who were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV. They were tested for the presence of HBV-DNA by hybridisation assay, and the samples giving negative results were retested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were tested for HCV-RNA using PCR, and the HCV genotype was determined. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were given standard interferon either alone or in combination with ribavirin, whereas 17 were given pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. None of the patients had HBV-DNA positivity; however, all had HCV-RNA detectable by PCR. All the patients had HCV genotype 1b. The mean alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were 118+/-65 U/l and 90+/-95 U/l respectively. Five patients in each group discontinued the treatment due to side effects. Only two patients (one from each group) reached sustained virological response. CONCLUSION: Neither pegylated nor conventional interferon based regimes were effective for HBV/HCV coinfection, in which the dominant virus was HCV. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy was not superior to conventional interferon based regimes in the treatment of HBV/HCV coinfection.

Clinical, biochemical and histological correlations in a group of non-drinker subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The correlation between biochemistry, imaging-studies and histology is a matter of controversy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the major pathophysiology of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is still unknown. We aimed to perform a comparative analysis between clinical, biochemical and histological variables of NAFLD. One-hundred and five NAFLD patients (F/M: 51/54), were studied, all with no-alcohol intake. The groups were followed-up for six months. Necroinflammation and fibrosis were more severe in patients with diabetes (p = 0.002, and p = 0.0001, respectively). In comparing NAFL to NASH, plasma nitric-oxide and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher (p = 0.05, for-both), and vitamin-E and-C levels were significantly lower in NASH (p = 0.002, and 0.001, respectively). The serum ferritin levels were higher in NASH patients (p = 0.016). While the ultrasonographic grade was significantly higher, the liver-spleen density gradient was significantly lower in NASH group (p = 0.017, and 0.005, respectively). Within a six month period, serum ALT levels dropped into the normal range in 23/76 (30.3%) patients and serum ALT in the 6th month correlated significantly with the severity of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in initial biopsy (p = 0.023, 0.035, 0.011, respectively). In conclusion, the probability of severe liver disease is higher in patients with elevated-ALT in NAFLD. Serum ferritin levels have some prognostic significance in liver damage and fibrosis. Overt diabetes is predictive of advanced fibrosis and inflammation. However impaired glucose-tolerance is not. The advice on diet and exercise for six months after diagnosis may be a good strategy in NAFLD. The patients with normal-ALT without hepatomegaly, morbid-obesity and diabetes seem to have a good prognosis, however some of these patients may still require liver biopsy.

Circulating endothelial cells in preeclampsia.

Endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Increased number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) have previously been reported after various diseases associated endothelial injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CECs in patients with preeclampsia and to demonstrate any association between CECs and homocysteine, which is another marker of vascular injury. The study included 20 preeclamptic, 15 hypertensive women, 15 healthy pregnant and 15 healthy non-pregnant women. All subjects had normal renal function. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, serum homocysteine levels were measured. To isolate CECs, peripheral blood was first incubated with anti-CD-146 antibody and subsequently conjugated to immunomagnetic beads. Cells were stained with acridine and counted. Preeclamptic patients had elevated numbers of CECs (13.2+/-5.2 cells/ml) compared with hypertensive patients (6.9+/-0.8 cells/ml), healthy pregnants (5.2+/-1.4 cells/ml), and non-pregnant controls (4.0+/-1.8 cells/ml), (P<0.0001). Serum homocysteine level in preeclamptic patients (9.5+/-2.8 micromol/l) was significantly higher compared with healthy pregnants (6.0+/-0.6 micromol/l), was not different from hypertensive patients (11.5+/-2.3 micromol/l, P>0.05), but it was lesser compared with non-pregnant controls (12.2+/-3.3 micromol/l, P<0.0001). Also, significant correlation between CECs and systolic blood pressure (P<0.0001, r=0.63), diastolic blood pressure (P<0.0001, r=0.64) and serum homocysteine (P<0.01, r=0.55) levels were found in preeclamptic patients. CECs as a marker of endothelial injury were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia than in hypertensive patients, healthy pregnants and normal controls. Further studies are needed for the prognostic and potential importance of CECs in preeclampsia.

The impact of daily sodium intake on posttransplant hypertension in kidney allograft recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Posttransplant hypertension is a well-known risk factor for long-term allograft failure and mortality in kidney recipients. Although dietary sodium restriction is a widely recommended nonpharmacological measure for control of blood pressure (BP), no detailed investigation has been conducted regarding the impact of dietary sodium restriction on this condition. METHODS: Thirty-two patients on antihypertensive treatment completed the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: controls (group 1) versus strict sodium diet (group 2; 80 to 100 mmol sodium daily). After randomization, 24-hour urine for sodium measurement, BP, and allograft functions were recorded at baseline and after 3 months. BP treatment was reevaluated at each visit throughout the study. RESULTS: At baseline, there was no significant difference in age, sex, serum creatinine, systolic and diastolic BP, antihypertensive drugs, or 24-hour urinary sodium levels between the groups. After 3 months, daily urinary sodium excretion (from 190+/-75 to 106+/-48 mEq/d, P<.0001), systolic BP (from 146+/-21 to 116+/-11 mm Hg), and diastolic BP (from 89+/-8 to 72+/-10 mm Hg) had significantly decreased in group 2, while no significant changes were observed in group 1. CONCLUSION: Low sodium intake in combination with antihypertensive treatment appears to efficiently control BP in kidney allograft recipients with hypertension. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium excretion should be checked regularly in these patients as a useful marker to indicate whether the patient complies with low sodium intake.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in renal transplant recipients.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection is more common among renal allograft recipients compared with the general population due to immunosuppression. The epidemiological risk in a country is an important determinant of transplant TB after transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed 283 renal transplant recipients who underwent renal transplantation between 1990 and 2004. We evaluated the incidence, patient and disease characteristics, prognosis, and outcome of TB infection. Tuberculosis developed in 10 (seven men and three women of mean age of 41+/-9 years) among 283 patients (3.1%). All patients were culture-positive for M tuberculosis. Although pulmonary TB was the most common presentation in the general population, 50% of patients in the study group developed extrapulmonary TB. The mean elapsed time from renal transplantation was 38 months. Three patients (1%) developed TB in the first year after transplantation. All patients were treated with a quartet of anti-TB therapy. One patient developed isoniazid-related reversible hepatotoxicity. No acute allograft rejection occurred during the anti-TB therapy. Two patients (20%) with pulmonary TB died due to dissemination of the disease. In conclusion, extrapulmonary presentations of TB are more common among renal transplant recipients with the increased risk of mortality.

Lessons learned from the catastrophic Marmara earthquake: factors influencing the final outcome of renal victims.

BACKGROUND: During catastrophic earthquakes, crush syndrome is the second most frequent cause of death after the direct impact of trauma. The Marmara earthquake, which struck Northwestern Turkey in August 1999, was characterized by 639 crush syndrome victims with acute renal problems. The factors influencing their final outcome have been the subject of this study. PATIENTS/METHODS: Within the first week of the disaster questionnaires asking about 63 clinical and laboratory variables were sent to 35 reference hospitals that treated the victims. Information obtained by means of these questionnaires, including the factors with a potential influence on outcome, was submitted to analysis. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 15.2%. In univariate analysis, nonsurvivors were older (p = 0.048); the highest mortality rates were observed among the victims coming from the closest cities to the reference hospitals. Admission within the first 3 days of the disaster (p = 0.016), with oliguria (p = 0.042), lower figures for blood pressure (p < 0.001), platelets (p = 0.004) and serum albumin (p = 0.005) were associated with mortality. Also, higher body temperature (p = 0.013) and serum potassium (p < 0.001) as well as suffering from thoracic or abdominal traumas, extremity amputations and medical complications other than renal failure (for all 4: p < 0.0001) in addition to need of dialysis support (p = 0.015) and mechanical ventilation (p < 0.0001) indicated higher risk of death. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.030, OR = 1.02), presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (p = 0.001, OR = 4.49), abdominal trauma (p = 0.012, OR = 4.05) and amputations (p = 0.010, OR = 2.81) were predictors of mortality. Dialyzed patients were characterized by higher mortality rates than nondialyzed victims (17.2% versus 9.3%, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Outcome of the renal victims of catastrophic earthquakes is influenced by the type of trauma, comorbid events and complications observed during the clinical course as well as epidemiological features such as age, distance to reference hospitals and time lapse between disaster and admission to reference hospitals.

[Blindness as a complication of hepatic encephalopathy]. / Blindheit als Komplikation der hepatischen Enzephalopathie.

Hepatic (portal-systemic) encephalopathy is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by disturbances in consciousness and behaviour, personality changes, fluctuating neurologic signs, asterixis or "flapping tremor" and distinctive electroencephalographic changes (11). We report a case of hepatic-encephalopathy accompanied by transient cortical blindness.

[Gastritis localization and GERD incidence in patients with Cag A(+) and Cag A(-) Helicobacter pylori infection]. / Gastritislokalisation und gastroösophageale Refluxinzidenz bei der Helicobacter-pylori-Infektion mit Cag-A-positiven und Cag-A-negativen Stämmen.

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (HP) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is very complex and still not well understood. However, many issues, even those as basic as whether HP induces or protects against GERD, are still controversial. The gastritis location could play also a role in the induction of GERD. Some investigators suggested that infection by the Cag A strain of HP seems to have a positive association with reflux esophagitis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between GERD, gastritis location, HP infection and Cag A positivity.

[Meta-analysis of determining the pathogen eradicating efficacy of various therapeutic regimens in Helicobacter pylori infection]. / Metaanalyse zur Feststellung der keimeradizierenden Potenz verschiedener Therapieschemata bei Helicobacter-pylori-Infektion.

Helicobacter pylori is the most common bacterial pathogen world-wide and has been identified in all countries. As long-term infection with H. pylori could potentially lead to duodenal or gastric ulcer disease, asymptomatic chronic gastritis, chronic dyspepsia, or gastric malignancy, including both adenocarcinoma and B-cell lymphoma, a large number of different treatment regimens aimed at eradicating H. pylori has been evaluated and reported. Despite numerous H. pylori treatment studies the optimum regimen for its eradication remains unclear. A treatment regimen, which is effective, safe and inexpensive could be used widespread and reduce the risks of the long-term complications of infection. In this study we compared the efficacy, side effects and cost-effectiveness of 12 different therapy regimens for H. pylori eradication by using meta-analysis methodology. 486 patients (256 male, 230 female; mean age 40.8 years) with H. pylori associated duodenal ulcer (n = 140), gastritis (n = 254), gastroduodenitis (n = 92) were treated with 12 different therapy-regimens. Endoscopy was performed at baseline and 6 weeks after discontinuation of eradication therapy. H. pylori status was assessed by urease test and histology. The therapy with a H2-receptor antagonist is less effective than the triple therapies with omeprazole or lansoprazole. Bismuth-based triple therapies have a mean overall eradication rate of 68%, but are limited by frequent side effects causing poor drug compliance.

[Prassad syndrome--case report]. / Prassad-Syndrom--Fallbeschreibung.

Growth retardation, hypogonadismus, hepatosplenomegalia, zinc- and iron deficiency, geofagia, changes in small intestinal mucosa and some congenital abnormalities are characteristics of the Prassad syndrome, which is rarely seen. In this case report we present a patient of our clinic, in whom we diagnosed the Prassad syndrome.

[Tachycardia and hypotension attacks as the main symptoms of pheochromocytoma--case report]. / Tachykardie- und Hypotonieattacken als Hauptsymptom eines Phäochromozytoms--Fallbeschreibung.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare disorder. It usually presents typical hypertensive crises due to katecholamine secretion. Some rare cases of pheochromocytoma have been described to secrete mostly adrenalin and cause characteristical attacks of hypotension and tachycardia. The patient presented here is one of these rare cases. In patients with similar symptoms it is important to consider the possibility of an adrenalin-secreting pheochromocytoma when establishing a diagnosis.

[DIDMOAD syndrome]. / DIDMOAD-Syndrom.

The DIDMOAD or so called Wolfram syndrome is a hereditary disease with autosomal-recessive transmission showing 4 main features: diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, nervus opticus atrophia and deafness. Beside this it shows multiple organ involvement. Our 38-year old male patient, showing all above mentioned features except deafness had urinary tract involvement and neurological symptoms. EEG, cerebral MRI, tests with evoked potentials and HLA-typing were performed to discuss the aetiopathogenetic background in our patient. Almost all symptoms of the Wolfram syndrome can be mixed up with complications of diabetes mellitus, which is usually the first symptom of the Wolfram syndrome. Because of this, wrong diagnosis is not rare. Hence in differential diagnosis in any diabetes mellitus type I patient, the possibility of the Wolfram syndrome should be discussed.