[Two-chamber hemodiafiltration: comparison between exogenous reinfusion (PFD) and endogenous reinfusion (HFR)]. / Emodiafiltrazione a doppia camera: confronto fra reinfusione esogena (PFD) e reinfusione endogena (HFR).

PURPOSE: This research aimed to compare two highly efficient dialysis techniques, paired filtration dialysis (PFD) and on-line hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR) to evaluate the possible differences from a clinical, rehabilitative and managerial point of view. METHODS: The study was carried out on 14 patients (aged 40-65 yrs) six patients underwent PFD and eight patients underwent HFR. Patients on PFD came from low-flux hemodialysis (HD), while patients on HFR came either from PFD (n=5) or from low-flux HD (n=3). The research was based on the evaluation of patients inverted exclamation mark parameters (depurative and biochemical, level of clinical, medical and social rehabilitation) and of management parameters (technological aspects, cost analysis and medical-legal issues). RESULTS: HFR treatment improved plasmatic albumin values (> or =4.0 g/dL) and had a lower resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy (by reducing the rHuEPO doses to reach the maintenance target values of hemoglobin (Hb) although both therapies resulted in equal depurative efficiency, and improved patient rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary research, which requires further confirmation, demonstrates that HFR seems to provide PFD with other positive benefits and offers the uremic patient a better life style.

[Ceftazidime in the treatment of Weil's disease] / Ceftazidime nel trattamento del morbo di Weil.

We present a case report of leptospirosis with acute renal failure and hepatic dysfunction. Aspecific clinical presentation and serologic tests do not help therapeutic choices. The patient received 18 sessions of hemodialysis and early treatment with intravenous ceftazidime 1 g tid (under the impression of Gram- sepsis). Third generation cephalosporins, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, are highly active against Leptospira [10] while clinical experience with ceftazidime is lacking.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of microalbuminuria in essential hypertension: the MAGIC Study. Microalbuminuria: A Genoa Investigation on Complications.

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and its relationship with several cardiovascular risk factors and target organ damage were evaluated in a cohort of 787 untreated patients with essential hypertension. Albuminuria was measured as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio in three nonconsecutive, first morning urine samples. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 6.7%. Albuminuric patients were more likely to be men and to be characterized by higher blood pressure, body mass index, and uric acid levels and lower HDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol-to-LDL cholesterol ratio. Piecewise linear regression analysis demonstrated that uric acid and diastolic blood pressure significantly influence albuminuria and together account for a large part of its variations. K-means cluster analysis performed on the entire cohort of patients confirmed that microalbuminuria is associated with a worse cardiovascular risk profile. Furthermore, microalbuminuria was associated with the presence of target organ damage (eg, electrocardiographic [ECG] abnormalities and retinal vascular changes). Age and the presence of microalbuminuria act as independent risk factors for the development of ECG abnormalities and retinal vascular changes. Cluster analysis allowed us to identify three subgroups of patients who differed in the presence or absence of microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and ECG abnormalities. We conclude that the prevalence of microalbuminuria in essential hypertension is lower than previously reported. Increased urinary albumin excretion is associated with a worse cardiovascular risk profile and is a concomitant indicator of early target organ damage.

Recombinant human erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis. Effects of paired filtration dialysis.

A percentage of hemodialysis (HD) patients are resistant to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), a phenomenon that occurs less frequently in patients dialyzed with biocompatible membranes (M) and in peritoneal dialysis. The authors evaluated the effects of paired filtration dialysis (PFD)--a dialysis technique based on the use of an emophan M in conjunction with a polysulphone M--on erythropoiesis in HD patients resistant to rHuEPO. Twelve HD patients with anemia resistant to long-term therapy with rHuEPO (200.24 U/kg body weight three times per week intravenously for 10.2 months) were studied. Patients had been treated for an average of 46.9 months with bicarbonate HD, using cuprophan M (Phase A) and, successively, for 12 months by PFD (Phase B). The following parameters were evaluated monthly: 1) hemoglobin and hematocrit values; 2) serum levels of erythropoietin (EPO); and 3) serum levels of interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). At the end of Phase A and Phase B, patients underwent bone marrow biopsies to evaluate 1) bone marrow burst forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) and colony forming unit erythroid (CFU-E) proliferative capacity, and 2) bone marrow mononuclear cell EPO-receptor (EPO-R) number. During Phase B, there was a progressive rise in hematocrit and hemoglobin values, so that within the sixth month, the rHuEPO dose was reduced to 80 +/- 15 U/kg body weight three times per week. At the same time, an increase in serum IL-3, IL-6, and IL-10 levels was seen, whereas serum IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma levels decreased. This was accompanied by a rise in BFU-E and CFU-E growth and in bone marrow mononuclear cell EPO-R number. During Phase B, after the dialysis session, serum EPO levels increased by about 30% in comparison with pre dialysis values, whereas during Phase A they decreased by about 14%. In HD patients, EPO resistance may caused either by absorption of rHuEPO to the cuprophan M, or an increased release of cytokines that inhibit erythropoiesis, such as IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, and to a decrease in stimulatory cytokines such as IL-3, IL-6, and IL-10. These negative phenomena are reversed by the use of biocompatible dialysis techniques such as PFD.

Peritoneal dialysis effluent, cytokine levels, and peritoneal mesothelial cell viability in CAPD: a possible relationship.

Recent studies have emphasized the role of peritoneal mesothelial cell (PMC) in peritoneal immune defense mechanisms in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible relationship between peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE), cytokine (Cy) levels, and PMC viability and their impact on peritonitis morbidity. Fifteen patients initiating CAPD for end-stage renal failure participated in the study. The following parameters were evaluated: (1) the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in PDE samples taken 7 days after initiating CAPD, at the end of the first, third, and sixth month of CAPD (determined by a solid phase enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay EASIA); (2) peritoneal mesothelial cell viability [determined by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and by trypan blue extrusion test] by isolating and culturing peritoneal mesothelial cells at the moment of the placement of the peritoneal catheter and at the sixth month of CAPD; (3) peritonitis incidence during the 24 months after starting CAPD. At the first month of CAPD in all patients there was a slight increase in PDE IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha levels, while other Cy were almost undetectable. Time course studies showed that in 10 patients (Group I) there was a significant increase in PDE levels of IL-6, IL-8, and INF-gamma (p < 0.0005) in comparison to other Cy and a good PMC viability. In the other 5 patients (Group II) there were higher PDE levels of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha (p < 0.0005). This was associated with a marked reduction in PMC viability determined by the release of LDH and by the trypan blue extrusion test. During the 24 months after starting CAPD, incidence of peritonitis was one episode per 24 patient-months in Group I and one episode per 9.2 patient-months in Group II. Our results show that from the beginning of CAPD there are distinct patterns of Cy in the PDE that correlate with a different PMC viability and peritonitis morbidity. Thus the analysis of the above-mentioned parameters may be useful in the early identification of the risk of peritonitis, thus allowing preventive measures.

The deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is associated with target organ damage in essential hypertension.

The activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is thought to play a significant role in the development of target organ damage in essential hypertension. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has recently been associated with increased risk for left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary heart disease in the general population. The D allele is associated with higher levels of circulating ACE and therefore may predispose to cardiovascular damage. The study presented here was performed to investigate the association between the ACE genotype, microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and left ventricular hypertrophy in 106 patients with essential hypertension. ACE gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction technique. Microalbuminuria was evaluated as albumin-to-creatinine ratio (A/C) in three nonconsecutive first morning urine samples (negative urine culture) after a 4-wk washout period. Microalbuminuria was defined as A/C between 2.38 to 19 (men) and 2.96 to 20 (women). Hypertensive retinopathy was evaluated by direct funduscopic examination (keith-Wagener-Barker classification) and left ventricular hypertrophy by M-B mode echocardiography. The distribution of the DD, ID, and II genotypes was 27, 50, and 23%, respectively. The prevalence of microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and left ventricular hypertrophy was 19, 74, and 72% respectively. There were no differences among the three genotypes for age, known duration of disease, body mass index, blood pressure, serum glucose, uric acid, and lipid profile. DD and ID genotypes were significantly associated with the presence of microalbuminuria (odds ratio, 8.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 67.85; P = 0.019), retinopathy (odds ratio, 5.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.71 to 15.75; P = 0.005) and left ventricular hypertrophy (odds ratio, 5.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.52 to 17.94; P = 0.016). Furthermore, patients with DD and ID genotypes showed higher levels of A/C (3.6 +/- 0.9, DD; 2.6 +/- 0.7, ID; 0.9 +/- 0.2 mg/mmol, II; P = 0.0015 by analysis of variance) and increased left ventricular mass index (152 +/- 4.7, DD + ID versus 133 +/- 5.7 g/m2, II; P = 0.01) compared with II patients. The D allele was significantly more frequent in patients with microalbuminuria (odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 5.41; P = 0.013) and in those with retinopathy (odds ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 4.90; P = 0.015). Multiple regression analyses performed among the entire cohort of patients demonstrated that ACE genotype significantly and independently influences the presence of retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and microalbuminuria. In conclusion, the D allele of the ACE gene is associated with microalbuminuria as well as with retinopathy and left ventricular hypertrophy, and seems to be an independent risk factor for target organ damage in essential hypertension.

Prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria and their relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors in essential hypertension.

A cohort of 227 untreated essential hypertensive patients from north-western Italy was studied in order to evaluate the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria and their relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors. Albuminuria was evaluated as the albumin to creatinine ratio (Alb/Cr) in three non-consecutive first morning samples. The prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria was 10% and 2.2%, respectively. Albuminuric patients showed higher blood pressure, serum creatinine, triglycerides and uric acid as well as a greater prevalence of retinopathy. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that only a small part of variations in albuminuria was explained by changes in blood pressure. Duration of disease did not seem to influence microalbuminuria. The presence of hypertensive retinopathy was associated with greater albuminuria, longer duration of hypertension, and higher prevalence of major ECG changes, but not with higher blood pressure levels. Microalbuminuria, rather than a consequence of elevated blood pressure levels, seems to be a marker of a syndrome featuring, among other characteristics, essential hypertension. Furthermore, microalbuminuria must be considered as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.