Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and kidney transplant acute rejection and survival.

The effect of hepatitis Bs-antigen (AgHBs) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity on renal transplant outcomes is still controversial. Some studies describe higher rates of acute rejection and allograft loss, and greater mortality in transplant recipients with hepatitis. We retrospectively evaluated data from 2284 allograft recipients who underwent transplantation at our hospital between July 1980 and December 2012. Statistical analysis was made using chi-square and Student t tests, Kaplan-Meier curves, and survival analysis. We identified 62 AgHBs+ patients, 99 anti-HCV+ patients, and 14 AgHBs+/anti-HCV+ patients; 2109 patients had "no hepatitis." Mean follow-up time was 7.93 years. No statistical differences were identified on allograft acute rejection rate or patient survival between groups. AgHBs+ patients had, however, an inferior allograft survival, with statistical significance. According to our study, hepatitis B has a harmful impact on allograft survival, although it does not compromise the patient survival.

Sexual dysfunction in uraemic patients undergoing haemodialysis: predisposing and related conditions.

Chronic kidney disease and sexual dysfunction are common entities in clinical practice in haemodialysis (HD) units. This article is a review of some articles that focus on sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing HD and its possible relationship in multiple ways.

Zinner's syndrome: an up-to-date review of the literature based on a clinical case.

The authors made an up-to-date review of the literature concerning the management of Zinner's syndrome and evaluated a young patient with Zinner's syndrome who had presented with urinary and ejaculatory complaints. Physical examination and transrectal ultra-sonography showed a 7.0 cm right seminal vesicle cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of Zinner's syndrome. Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia was present at the two seminal analyses. Symptomatic improvement was achieved with conservative measures. Actually, the patient is still on a follow-up programme. The diagnosis is usually established at the age of increased sexual activity. Patients may be asymptomatic or present pain, irritative urinary or ejaculatory symptoms and infertility. MRI has proved to be the best imaging examination. Treatment should be adapted to symptoms, surveillance being the best option in the absence of clinical manifestations. Surgical approach may be adequate when conservative measures prove ineffective. Zinner's syndrome should be suspected if a male young patient presents with unilateral renal agenesis and pelvic complaints and has a supraprostatic mass on digital rectal examination. The initial approach should be medical, but invasive procedures may be the only way to solve the patient's complaints. Nowadays, laparoscopic and robotic techniques must replace the open surgical approach.