Serum levels of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF): a marker of kidney allograft rejection.

Background: Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is the principal factor for survival of monocytes and macrophages that play an important role in allograft rejection. We studied M-CSF serum levels during successful renal transplantation and acute graft rejection.

Methods: A total of 114 kidney allograft recipients were assessed for M-CSF levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Risk of heparin lock-related bleeding when using indwelling venous catheter in haemodialysis.

Background: The indwelling venous catheter such as Dual-Cath or Twin-Cath is widely used in haemodialysis. Although the manufacturer recommends filling the catheter lumen with heparin after the dialysis session to prevent clotting, little is known about the systemic effects of such a procedure.

Methods: Twenty haemodialysis patients with Dual-Cath were studied.

Plasma levels and metabolism of AcSDKP in patients with chronic renal failure: relationship with erythropoietin requirements.

N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) is a physiological inhibitor of hematopoiesis that is maintained at stable levels in normal plasma. Its degradation in vivo and in vitro by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) accounts for the high plasma concentrations of AcSDKP in patients treated with ACE inhibitors. Because ACE inhibitors can induce anemia in some patients, we measured plasma AcSDKP concentrations in 176 patients with chronic renal failure: 120 hemodialysis (HD) and 56 nondialysis (nD) patients, 39 of whom were administered ACE inhibitors.

Factors predicting the long-term success of maintenance cyclosporine monotherapy after kidney transplantation.

Background: The theoretical aim of maintenance cyclosporine monotherapy (mCsA) after kidney transplantation is to reduce the incidence of the metabolic complications of corticosteroids and to minimize the adverse effects of excessive long-term immunosuppression. This study was performed in low-immunological-risk cadaveric kidney transplant recipients to evaluate the risks and benefits of mCsA and the long-term graft survival, and to determine the factors predicting success of this policy.

Methods: The multicenter retrospective study was conducted in 329 Caucasian patients receiving mCsA out of 728 first cadaveric kidney transplant recipients.

Whole blood production of monocytic cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, sIL-6R, IL-1Ra) in haemodialysed patients.

Background: The production of monocytic cytokines by isolated mononuclear cells after stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is generally increased in haemodialysed (HD) patients. We performed whole blood (WB) cultures to evaluate cytokine production by blood cells inside their complex cellular and humoral network.

Methods: Diluted whole blood from HD patients (collected before dialysis) and controls was cultured alone with PHA (2.

[A little known cause of chronic renal insufficiency in the adult: systemic tuberous sclerosis].

Background: Angiomyolipomas and renal cysts are commonly observed in patients with systemic tuberous sclerosis. Hemorrhagic complications related to the angiomyolipomas are well known.

Case Report: A 63-year old woman was hospitalized for severe chronic renal failure.

Decrease of serum paraoxonase activity in chronic renal failure.

Paraoxonase is an esterase that hydrolyzes organophosphate compounds. The enzyme is associated with HDL and could protect LDL against peroxidation, which suggests a possible involvement of paraoxonase in the antiatherogenic properties of HDL. Paraoxonase activity has been shown to be low in patients with myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, or familial hypercholesterolemia.

[Lymphoproliferative syndromes after renal transplantation].

Unlabelled: Following kidney transplantation, lymphoproliferative disorders (LD) are encountered at a frequency of 1%. The onset of these LD is correlated with the degree of immunosuppression. The mortality is elevated (> 50%) especially in late forms.

Macrophage colony stimulating factor involvement in uremic patients.

The immunodeficiency of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) is related to multiple and complex alterations of the cytokine network and of its target cells such as T or B lymphocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts or endothelial cells. Chronic activation of monocytic functions is recognized as a key factor in these immunological disorders. Since macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is essential for the activation of several functions of monocytes and macrophages and their production of cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, we investigated its involvement in patients with CRF.

Renal infarction and thrombosis of the infrarenal aorta in a 35-year-old man with primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Renal manifestations of the "primary" antiphospholipid syndrome are rare. We report the case of an athletic 35-year-old man with an unremarkable medical history who suddenly developed hypertension and a renal infarction. Laboratory and radiological investigations showed a complete thrombosis of the infrarenal aorta, extensive collateral circulation arising from the superior mesenteric artery, and the primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Calcium oxalate crystalluria in elderly patients and treatment with naftidrofuryl oxalate.

Crystalluria is important in the evaluation of patients with urinary stone and is more frequently encountered in elderly than in younger adults. After noting that calcium oxalate monohydrate crystalluria was higher in elderly patients, we undertook a study to determine if oral treatment with naftidrofuryl oxalate, a drug frequently prescribed for elderly patients in France, was associated with crystalluria. The presence of early morning crystalluria was assessed in non-stone-forming patients hospitalized in a geriatric department.

Uraemia is necessary for erythropoietin-induced hypertension in rats.

1. There is no experimental proof that renal insufficiency is a necessary condition for hypertension during erythropoietin treatment. 2.

[Vaccination against hepatitis B virus. Value of intradermal administration in dialysed patients non responsive to intramuscular approach].

Objectives: Approximately 16-27% of dialysis patients (DP) have no detectable antibodies after 5 intramuscular injections of hepatitis B vaccine and represent a group at high risk to contract hepatitis B virus. We report the efficacy of the intradermal route of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (r-HBV) in non-responsive dialysis patients in our dialysis unit.

Methods: Intradermal vaccinations were performed in 20 dialysis patients (mean age 62 years) non-responsive to the intramuscular injections (mean 6.

Potential nephrotoxicity of intravenous infusions of naftidrofuryl oxalate.

We report two cases of acute renal failure in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans treated by intravenous infusion of naftidrofuryl oxalate. At renal biopsy the histological lesions were identical with those found in ARF due to hyperoxaluria of other causes, revealing tubular epithelial necrosis and massive intratubular precipitation of calcium oxalate monohydrate (C1) crystals. A second study was then conducted in four other patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans to evaluate serum and urinary levels of oxalate, and crystalluria during the intravenous administration of 800 mg of naftidrofuryl oxalate per day for 10 days.

[Peritoneal dialysis in people more than 75 years old].

Over 75 years old peritoneal dialysis patients can be treated with at least as good results as those of hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is the only method used to treat old patients at home with psychological profits. Regarding the lack of references on nutritional state of uremic old patients and on early death forecast factors geriatric peritoneal dialysis knowledges are not yet well established.