[Transluminal percutaneous angioplasty of stenosis of arteriovenous fistulas; 24-month follow-up].

Stenosis is a common cause of the functional loss of vascular shunts used in chronic hemodialysis and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty represents the elective method to correct these anomalies. A total of 42 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties were performed, with a prospective study and follow-up lasting an average of 18 months, in 32 patients with insufficient blood flow of arteriovenous fistula. In over 90% of cases the procedure restored adequate hemodynamic conditions that remained unchanged during follow-up.

[Hepatitis B vaccine in dialyzed patients: persistence of antibody titres after a 48-month follow-up].

The persistence of a protective level of HBV antibodies 48 months after vaccination has been evaluated in 52 dialysis patients (32 vaccinated with Pasteur vaccine--group A--and 20 with recombinant vaccine--group B). A protective titer was present after 48 months in 32 group A patients (100%) and in 18 group patients (90%). After the standard vaccination program (5 micrograms at 0, 1, 2, 6, 18 months for group A and 40 micrograms at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12 months for group B) 20 group A and 6 group B patients maintained during the whole observation period of 48 months a protective titer.

Protein C and protein S levels in uremic patients before and after dialysis.

The inhibitory capacity of the natural protein C (PC)/protein S (PS) system was evaluated measuring both the functional activity and the antigen level of both these inhibitors in 30 uremic patients before and after a dialytic treatment and in 30 healthy normal volunteers. PC functional activity was determined by two methods, one clotting and one chromogenic. PS antigen level was measured both as free protein and as total content.

[Evaluation of the reproductive endocrine system in a population of hemodialyzed adult males].

There is a high incidence of sexual disorders of multifactorial origin in hemodialysed patients. The endocrine reproduction system was evaluated in 19 male adult hemodialysed patients. Slightly enhanced levels of prolactin and gonadotropins were found together with normal levels of total and free testosterone.