[Atherosclerosis/calcinosis of the carotid and peripheral arteries in patients with initial and terminal stages of chronic renal failure].

AIM: To perform ultrasound dopplerography (UD) investigation of severity and prevalence of atherosclerosis/calcinosis of the central and peripheral arteries in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF); to estimate correlation between the vascular lesions and cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: UD of major arteries and echocardiography were made in 46 patients with CRF: 10 patients with initial CRF (creatinine 1.4-2.2 mg/dl) and 36 patients with terminal CRF on hemodialysis. RESULTS: Calcinates and atherosclerotic plaques were registered in the carotid and femoral arteries of all the patients. Atherosclerotic lesion was more frequent than calcinosis in the carotid arteries. Calcinosis was more frequent in the femoral arteries. The popliteal and tibial arteries were affected only by calcinosis which occurred in 20% patients with initial and 44.4% patients with terminal CRF. Calcinosis severity increased with progression of CRF while atherosclerosis severity depended more on the patients' age than on severity of CRF. The pulse wave speed in the carotid and femoral arteries was higher in marked left ventricular hypertrophy, seven (19.4%) of these patients had reduced ejection fraction of the left ventricle < 40%. CONCLUSION: Compound atherosclerotic/calcinosis lesion of the vessels is registered at early stages of CRF and progress with progression of renal failure.

[Calcification of peripheral arteries in patients with terminal renal failure on programmed hemodialysis].

AIM: To estimate incidence and clinical significance of carotid and femoral arteries calcification in patients with terminal renal failure (TRF) on programmed hemodialysis (PH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty four patients (25 males and 9 females) with TRF were divided into two groups by severity of hyperphosphatemia: 15 patients with P < 6 mg/dl (group 1) and 19 patients with P > 6 mg/dl. The groups were matched by age (44.4 +/- 15.05 and 42.7 +/- 14.23 years, respectively) and PH duration (2.4 +/- 1.1 and 2.6 +/- 1.16 years, respectively). Calcification of the arteries and structure of the vascular wall were examined with ultrasonic dopplerography of the common carotid and femoral arteries. Measurements were made of intima-media complex (IMC) thickness, systolic and diastolic diameter of the right and left carotid artery. The arteries were studied for the presence of calcinates and atherosclerotic plaques. RESULTS: Patients of group 2 showed a correlation between a P level, incidence rate of common carotid arteries calcification, atherosclerotic plaques in the femoral arteries, IMC of the carotid and femoral arteries, left ventricular hypertrophy and a decline in a left ventricular diastolic function. A significant correlation was established between the rate of atherosclerotic plaques detection and age, male sex, smoking and history of PH. An increase in IMC and arterial rigidity was revealed in 12 (63.2%) of 19 patients of group 2. They had episodes of intradialysis hypotonia, 6 (31.6%) patients had acute coronary syndrome, 5 (26.3%) patients--cardiac arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: A significant contribution to formation of risk factors of cardiovascular complications in TRF patients on PH is made by disturbed phosphorus-calcium metabolism resulting in higher rigidity and diameter of the arteries. The above changes lead to a rise in systolic pressure and fall in diastolic one. Increased pulse pressure is an independent predictor of the risk to develop acute coronary syndrome.

[Intradialysis hypotension: causes and sequelae]. / Intradializnaia gipotoniia: ee prichiny i posledstviia.

AIM: To study causes and sequelae of intradialysis hypotension (IH) in patients with terminal renal failure (TRF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty one patients with TRF on chronic hemodialysis (CH) were divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 24 patients with episodes of IH. Seventeen patients of the control group had no IH. All the patients were examined with assessment of protein-energy deficiency, residual renal function, left-ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic function of the heart. Hemodialysis effectiveness was estimated by Kt/V index. Survival of the patients was calculated according to Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In the study group IH episodes occurred in spite of low ultrafiltration velocity (8-10 ml/min). Those patients of the study group who had IH associated with polyneuropathy and left-ventricular hypertrophy had IH episodes more often and sharper falls of arterial pressure. Long-term IH decreased survival significantly. CONCLUSION: Repeated episodes of IH deteriorate effectiveness of hemodialysis because of acute coronary syndrome, acute disorder of cerebral circulation, complications of deficient dialysis syndrome (pericarditis, hyperkaliemia, pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure).

[Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis]. / Legochnyi al'veoliarnyi mikrolitiaz.

The literary data and own observation of pulmonary microlithiasis, an extremely rare disease, are presented. The results of investigation of local immunity in patients were depicted.