Minoxidil selectively improves peritoneal ultrafiltration.

This cross-over randomized clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of minoxidil on fluid removal and solute clearance during peritoneal dialysis. Twenty-one patients with endstage renal disease, awaiting enrollment in chronic hemodialysis therapy, were randomly allocated to receive i.p. minoxidil either in the first or the last nine cycles of a 24-cycle peritoneal dialysis session. Cycle-to-cycle data on fluid balance, blood pressure, and adverse effects of the drug were obtained. The dialysis fluid recovered in cycles 3, 6, 9, 18, 21, and 24 was analyzed, together with plasma, for creatinine, urea nitrogen, and protein content. The mean excess fluid volume collected in minoxidil cycles was 1123.8 +/- 1119 mL versus 145.2 +/- 743.6 mL in the minoxidil-free cycles (p = 0.004). The mean creatinine clearance, urea nitrogen clearance, and protein losses were comparable in minoxidil cycles and the minoxidil-free cycles. Six patients developed hypotension during the minoxidil cycles, corrected by normal saline, but no other important side effects were noted. It is concluded that i.p. minoxidil selectively increases ultrafiltration without influencing solute clearance in peritoneal dialysis.

Radioisotopic evaluation of renal function in cyclosporine-treated pediatric and adult renal transplant recipients and their living donors. A study of 152 donor-recipient pairs.

Renal function was studied in 2 groups of renal transplant recipients and their donors by technetium-99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid and a gamma camera. The pediatric group (group A) comprised 40 children and their adult kidney donors. The adult group (group B) consisted of 112 consecutive adult renal transplant recipients and their adult donors. All patients received kidneys from living donors and were given the same immunosuppression protocol (PRED plus CSA). Donor glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined before nephrectomy and at a mean period of 30 (range 10-50) months after nephrectomy. The graft GFR was measured at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and at the most recent follow-up visit. Moreover, the functional reserve of the graft was assessed by infusion of dopamine and an amino acid. The postnephrectomy GFR of donors in groups A and B were 74 +/- 18 and 72 +/- 20 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The GFR of pediatric recipients was significantly lower than that of adult recipients at corresponding time points along the course of follow-up. The mean values of graft GFR were 47.6 +/- 20 and 63.8 +/- 29.6 ml/min/1.73 m2 for pediatric and adult recipients, respectively (P < 0.001). Moreover, the graft functional reserve was significantly lower in pediatric recipients. These data demonstrate that adult kidneys transplanted into pediatric recipients have lower GFR than those transplanted into adults, despite corrections for body surface area. Although the reason for this phenomenon is unknown, the observation may have important implications for management of pediatric recipients.

Prospective randomized study of azathioprine versus cyclosporin in live-donor kidney transplantation.

A total of 112 recipients of haploidentical live-related donor kidney transplants were assigned randomly prior to transplantation to two groups of immunosuppressive treatment. The first group (54 patients) received the conventional immunotherapy of azathioprine (AZA) and prednisolone (P; AZA-P group). In the second group, 58 patients were given cyclosporin (Cs) and P (Cs-P group). All patients had previous third-party blood transfusions. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 6 years (mean 50 +/- 8 months) during which 13 patients (24%) in the AZA-P group and 6 (10%) in the Cs-P group were switched to the alternate immunotherapy (p > 0.05). Analysis of patient and graft survival along the follow-up period did not disclose significant differences between patients of the two groups. While the overall frequency of acute rejection episodes was not significantly different between the two treatment groups, the number of patients who had 2 or more rejection episodes was higher in the AZA-P group (p < 0.04). The mean serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in the Cs-P group than corresponding levels in the AZA-P group at 1, 12 and 24 months after transplantation. We have concluded that at least 75% of the haploidentical human lymphocyte antigen mismatched live-related donor renal transplants can be maintained on AZA-P immunotherapy with a comparable degree of success to those treated with Cs-P. However, in at least 15% of patients with conventional immunotherapy, Cs could reverse ongoing rejections, and therefore, it can be considered as a rescue treatment in AZA-treated patients with steroid-resistant or ongoing rejections.

Cyclosporin in primary haploidentical live-donor kidney transplantation: is it worthwhile?

Two consecutive prospective randomized trials were performed to study three immunosuppressive protocols in 195 kidney transplant recipients. Only adult primary renal transplant recipients with one haplotype HLA mismatch were included. All patients received kidneys from living related donors and had previous donor non-specific blood transfusions. Study I included 112 recipients who were randomly assigned to receive either azathioprine (Aza) and prednisolone (P) (n = 54) or cyclosporin (CsA) and P (n = 58). Patients in this study were followed up for 3-6 years (mean 50 +/- 8 months). Study II included 83 recipients who were randomly assigned to receive either triple therapy of Aza-CsA-P (n = 41) or conventional therapy of Aza-P (n = 42). Patients in this study were followed up for a period of 32 +/- 10 (range 26-43) months. Analysis of data in the two studies demonstrated the absence of statistically significant differences in graft or patient survival rates over short- and long-term follow-up periods among recipients of the conventional immunotherapy and those receiving the CsA-P or the triple therapy. The overall frequency of acute rejection episodes was not significantly different between the two treatment groups of each study. Serum creatinine was significantly higher in the CsA-P group while the incidence of infection was significantly lower in the triple group. When switching from one regimen to another is considered, at least 75% of the one-haplotype HLA mismatched live-related donor renal transplants could be maintained on conventional immunotherapy with comparable degree of success to those treated with the CsA-P or the triple therapy. However, in at least 15% of patients with conventional immunotherapy, CsA could reverse ongoing rejections and can therefore be considered as a rescue treatment.

Effects of schistosomiasis on living kidney donors.

Twenty living kidney donors with schistosomiasis were compared with 20 uninfected donors for a mean follow-up period of 42 months (range 12-62). All patients with schistosomiasis had been treated preoperatively with antischistosomal chemotherapy. None of the donors developed any appreciable change in mean systolic or diastolic blood pressure during the follow-up period, though one infected and two uninfected donors had traces of protein in the urine. One uninfected donor developed microscopic haematuria. The two groups has similar reductions in renal function after unilateral nephrectomy. The response of the remaining kidneys to a combined infusion of dopamine and an amino acid preparation was similar in both groups. One infected and two uninfected donors were found to have developed mild hydroureter and hydronephrosis on excretory urography. Schistosomiasis did not significantly affect compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining kidney. We conclude that uncomplicated schistosomiasis in living kidney donors does not adversely affect either the function or the morphology of the remaining kidney, at least during an observation period of up to five years. Schistosomal infection does not seem to alter the adaptive changes in the remaining kidney, provided that the donor had functionally and morphologically intact kidneys and that the schistosomiasis was treated before kidney donation. Longer term evaluation is recommended, however, to confirm the validity of these observations.

Is the benign joint hypermobility syndrome benign?

Over a period of two years, joint hypermobility was identified in 95 female and 19 male patients who attended rheumatology and rehabilitation units in Ismailia city. Pauciarticular pains referring to large and medium-sized joints was their most frequent complaint. Clinical diagnosis of carpal and/or tarsal tunnel syndromes was made in 45.6% of patients, and various forms of soft tissue rheumatism were evident in 73% of them. On radiologic evaluation of the involved joints, 60.5% of the examined patients showed significant degenerative lesions. The most prominent finding in the study, however, was the aggregation of varieties of articular and extra-articular abnormalities in the same patient. Extra-articular features included high frequencies of occurrence of varicose veins, piles and uterine prolapse among other abnormalities. Thus, results of the study lend support to the view that joint hypermobility predisposes to several articular and nonarticular lesions raise serious questions about the reputable benignity of the syndrome.

Predominance of IgA deposits in glomeruli of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

We found that IgA is predominant among the immune deposits in the renal glomeruli of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and thus conducted an analysis of the deposition of different immunoglobulin isotypes in the glomeruli throughout the course of infection in mice. Both immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase methodologies were employed and compared. The abundance of S. mansoni antigens and the isotypes of antibodies to these antigens were examined in the sera and kidney eluates of mice during the course of infection and the results were related to the findings of immunohistopathology. Our observations suggest that at least some immune complexes form in situ in the glomeruli of infected mice and support a possible role of liver damage in the pathogenesis of renal disease in schistosomiasis. Intestinal mucosal immune responses to schistosome antigens may be important in the evolution of renal disease. In addition, the relevance of the murine model to human schistosomal nephropathy is questioned.