[L-carnitine in peritoneal dialysis].

L-carnitine is an important compound involved both in the transfer of activated long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane and in the modulation of the acyl coenzyme A/free coenzyme A ratio in various intracellular compartments. These processes activate several metabolic and cellular functions, and L-carnitine supplementation proved able to reduce insulin resistance and improve lipid metabolism, muscle tropism and erythrocyte rheology. Thus, L-carnitine may be considered a conditional drug rather than a conditional vitamin.

Free and total plasma malondialdehyde in chronic renal insufficiency and in dialysis patients.

Background: Available data about oxidative status in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or on dialysis are contradictory. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of renal insufficiency and dialysis on lipid peroxidation. To separate the effects of uraemia from dialysis-induced stress, we enrolled 26 patients with renal insufficiency on conservative treatment (ESRD), 23 on peritoneal dialysis (PD), 30 on haemodialysis (HD) and 30 controls.

Two different modalities of iron gluconate i.v. administration: effects on iron, oxidative and inflammatory status in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Iron deficiency represents an important problem for dialysis patients. Oral iron administration is frequently ineffective, requiring parenteral administration, which may trigger severe side effects due to inflammation and/or peroxidation. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of parenteral iron administration on iron, inflammatory and oxidative status in peritoneal dialysis patients and compare two different modalities of injecting ferric gluconate intravenously.

Erythrocyte ferritin concentration: analytical performance of the immunoenzymatic IMx-Ferritin (Abbott) assay.

Together with serum ferritin, erythrocyte ferritincan be a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the degree of impaired iron metabolism in different diseases. We collected peripheral blood samples from 64 subjects (22 healthy volunteers, 20 patients with hereditary hemochromatosis, and 22 patients on regular hemodialysis with secondary anemia) to evaluate whether an immunoenzymatic method generally used for serum ferritin can also be used to determine erythrocyte ferritin levels under various conditions of body iron status. Serum and erythrocyte ferritin levels were assayed in parallel using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) IMx-Ferritin kit and an IMx analyzer.

The efficacy and safety of once-weekly and once-fortnightly subcutaneous epoetin beta in peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic renal anaemia.

Background: Reducing the dosage frequency of subcutaneous epoetin in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is convenient and should improve patient satisfaction and, possibly, compliance. We investigated if a weekly dosage of epoetin beta in PD patients safely maintained haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations equivalent to those obtained with previous twice- or thrice-weekly administration. In addition, we investigated if a fortnightly dosage of epoetin beta was safe and as effective as previous weekly administration.

Epidemiology of GB virus c/hepatitis g virus infection in patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: A new genus in the family Flaviviridae has recently been discovered; it has provisionally been designated GBV-C/HGV. As determined by virologic techniques [reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)], infection with GBV-C/HGV is frequent in renal transplant (RT) recipients and in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). The epidemiology of GBV-C/HGV infection in patients on peritoneal dialysis is scarce and mostly based on RT-PCR technology.

Outcome of peritoneal dialysis in cirrhotic patients with chronic renal failure.

Background: Results of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in cirrhotic patients with renal failure are debated. The aim of the present study is to assess the outcome of PD patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: A retrospective study based on clinical records was performed in 21 cirrhotic and 41 PD patients without liver disease followed up at our PD unit.