[Renal osteodystrophy and its possible correction in patients on chronic hemodialysis]. / Pochechnaia osteodistrofiia i vozmozhnosti ee korrektsii u bol'nykh, nakhodiashchikhsia na khronicheskom gemodialize.

Results of diagnosis and treatment of renal osteodystrophy are discussed concerning 162 patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis. In most cases (15%) osteopenia and hyperparathyroidism were revealed. Roentgenologic investigation revealed metastatic calcification mostly in foot vessels, whereas microscopic study of internal organs in the lungs. The increase of calcium concentration in dialysate from 1.75 to 2.5 Mmol/l was not followed by greater calcinosis in patients with hyperphosphatemia. Uremic pruritus was treated by ultraviolet irradiation and administration of prednisolone for 3-5 days. The effect of I alpha-hydroxy-vitamin D3 was studied in 30 patients. Improvement of clinical status and, principally, relief of muscular pains in the extremities was observed as well as positive changes in blood serum biochemical indices.

[Plasma zinc content in patients with chronic renal insufficiency before and after kidney transplantation]. / Soderzhanie tsinka v plazme bol'nykh khronicheskoi pochechnoi nedostatochnost'iu do i posle transplantatsii pochki.

Zinc content in blood plasma was measured in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) before and after kidney transplantation by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Plasma zinc was revealed to be lowered. However, routine intake of vitamin A by the patients led to an elevation in zinc content. Hemodialysis did not alter blood plasma zinc concentration. It was noted that during the postoperative period, the zinc level returned to normal. Patients with CRF show marked disturbances of taste sensitivity, which are manifested in the increased threshold of taste sensitivity and perversion of taste sensations.