ABSTRACT
Chronic renal failure has on occasion been referred to as a state of calcium toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of intracellular free Ca2+ in the neutrophils of chronic renal failure patients on maintenance haemodialysis treatment. Factors previously suggested to influence intracellular free Ca2+ were investigated including PTH levels, oxidative stress and recombinant human erythropoietin administration. The study involved 14 chronic renal failure patients on the haemodialysis programme of the Pretoria Academic hospital. Intracellular free Ca2+ and transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes were investigated by fluorescence spectrophotometry. Increases above control values were found in intracellular free Ca2+ (P-value 0.0242) and in the transmembrane Ca2+ flux upon fMLP stimulation (P-value 0.0002). The results showed significant differences in intracellular free Ca2+ between patients on rHuEPO and patients not on rHuEPO. The apparently rHuEPO-induced increase in intracellular free Ca2+ persisted in the presence of calcium channel blockers. No overt indications of oxidative stress could be detected by the antioxidant vitamin levels. It is concluded that factors other than those associated with uraemia, such as rHuEPO administration, might contribute to the often reported increase in intracellular free Ca2+ in these patients. Further studies to investigate the relationship between intracellular free Ca2+, rHuEPO and calcium channel blockers are suggested.
Subject(s)
Calcium/metabolism , Intracellular Membranes/metabolism , Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Neutrophils/metabolism , Renal Dialysis , Adolescent , Adult , Control Groups , Erythropoietin/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Calcium/metabolism , Hypervitaminosis A/etiology , Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications , Neutrophils/metabolism , Vitamin A/metabolism , Humans , Hypervitaminosis A/metabolism , Hypervitaminosis A/pathology , Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism , Microscopy, Electron , Neutrophils/ultrastructure , Renal DialysisABSTRACT
Twenty dialysis and renal transplant patients with parathyroid hyperplasia underwent a total parathyroidectomy and an autotransplantation in forearm muscle. Twelve patients were available for investigation of the function of the transplanted parathyroid tissue. Differential studies of the two arms revealed functioning of the transplanted tissue in all cases. This was more readily demonstrated by determining the intact hormone in both arms.
Subject(s)
Hyperparathyroidism/surgery , Muscles/surgery , Parathyroid Glands/transplantation , Calcium/blood , Forearm/surgery , Homeostasis , Humans , Hyperparathyroidism/blood , Hyperparathyroidism/pathology , Hyperplasia/surgery , Parathyroid Glands/pathology , Parathyroidectomy , Transplantation, AutologousABSTRACT
We present two cases of May-Hegglin anomaly incidentally discovered in a patient and his brother during investigation of the patient for end-stage renal failure and workup for renal transplantation. Routine laboratory tests were performed and included a basically normal clotting profile. Ultrastructural studies of the May-Hegglin inclusions proved diagnostic, findings were compared with those of two similar granulocyte inclusion bodies, and nomenclature discrepancies that still exist in most references are again emphasized. The finding of the May-Hegglin anomaly in our patient appears to be incidental to the underlying renal disease. A successful renal transplant has been carried out in this patient. We now report on a patient and his brother in which the MHA was discovered during workup of the patient for end-stage renal failure and renal transplantation. No association between the underlying renal disease and the MHA could be demonstrated.
