Pulmonary Edema Following Nifedipine Use in Pregnancy: A Case Report.

Calcium channel blockers are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy. They have several indications, including second-line therapy for lowering blood pressure and tocolytic therapy. We present the case of a 24-year-old woman, G1P0, with a twin gestation at 22 weeks, who presented with acute respiratory distress.

A rare case of IgA lambda multiple myeloma in a 32-year-old woman with t(14;16) translocation associated with kidney injury and non-albumin proteinuria.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disorder characterized by monoclonal differentiated plasma cells. While it is more commonly diagnosed in elderly individuals, it can also affect younger populations, though with a lower incidence.

Case Presentation: Here, we present the case of a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with IgA lambda MM.

Renal and Lung Cysts in Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome: A Continuum of the Same Disorder.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder, affecting multiple organs, mostly the skin, lungs, and kidneys. The prevalence of BHD syndrome is difficult to define given the rarity of the disease. Patients present most often with primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Lebanon.

Hypertension is an important public health concern of high prevalence among adults. It is associated with an increased mortality rate. The prevalence of hypertension in Lebanon has increased during the last decades, affecting around one-third of the Lebanese population.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in patients with respiratory failure and metabolic alkalosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Metabolic alkalosis is common in patients with respiratory failure and may delay weaning in mechanically ventilated patients. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors block renal bicarbonate reabsorption, and thus reverse metabolic alkalosis. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the benefits and harms of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy in patients with respiratory failure and metabolic alkalosis.

CMV and BKPyV Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients Receiving an mTOR Inhibitor-Based Regimen Versus a CNI-Based Regimen: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the incidences of cytomegalovirus and BK polyoma virus infections in renal transplant recipients receiving a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTOR)-based regimen compared with a calcineurin inhibitor-based regimen.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We conducted a comprehensive search for randomized, controlled trials up to January of 2016 addressing our objective. Other outcomes included acute rejection, graft loss, serious adverse events, proteinuria, wound-healing complications, and eGFR.

Hyperuricemia, Hypertension, and Chronic Kidney Disease: an Emerging Association.

Uric acid is a product of purine metabolism and has been linked to gout and kidney calculi. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension (HTN) are two major public health problems, and both are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Emerging evidence suggests a pathogenic role of hyperuricemia in the development of HTN and CKD, in addition to progression of CKD, by inducing renal inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system.

Rituximab use in adult primary glomerulopathy: where is the evidence?

Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody that results in depletion of B-cell lymphocytes. It is currently used in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases, in addition to CD20-positive lymphomas. The use of rituximab in the treatment of the adult primary glomerular diseases has emerged recently, although not yet established as first-line therapy in international guidelines.

Free versus Fixed Combination Antihypertensive Therapy for Essential Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In a free drug combination, each Blood pressure (BP)-lowering drug is administered as a separate pill, while in a fixed drug combination several BP-lowering agents are combined in a single pill. Using a single pill may enhance compliance and simplify treatment, which would translate into better clinical outcomes. The objective of this meta-analysis is to compare the effects of using a fixed combination versus free combination of BP-lowering agents in the management of patients with essential hypertension.

Clopidogrel use in end-stage kidney disease.

Clopidogrel irreversibly binds to the P2Y12 platelet receptor and acts as a potent inhibitor of platelet activation and aggregation. It is currently recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndromes, recent ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Clopidogrel is a prodrug requiring hepatic conversion into its active metabolite.

Complicated rectovaginal fistula secondary to Bartholin's cyst infection.

Rectovaginal fistula formation secondary to Bartholin's cyst is a very rare complication, and to date only three cases were reported in the literature. We report a case of a 32-year-old woman who suffered recurrent episodes of Bartholin's cyst infection with subsequent abscess formation that resulted in rectovaginal fistula formation. We treated her initially with transperineal repair; however, the fistulous tract recurred a month later.

Current perspectives on combination therapy in the management of hypertension.

Hypertension (HTN) is a worldwide health problem and a major preventable risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. Achieving an optimal blood pressure (BP) target for patients with HTN will often require more than one BP-lowering drug. Combination therapy is not only needed, but also confers many advantages such as better efficacy and a better tolerability.

First use of a drug-eluting balloon in the treatment of acute renal artery occlusion and in-stent restenosis.

In-stent restenosis in a renal artery (RA) of a solitary functioning kidney is a serious complication of RA stenting. Drug-eluting balloons (DEB) have emerged as a novel way to manage restenosis. In this paper, the authors reported the first use of a DEB in the treatment of severe in-stent restenosis and thrombosis of a drug-eluting stent deployed in a RA.

Emerging therapies for diabetic nephropathy patients: beyond blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin system.

Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. The mainstay of treatment has been glycemic control and blood pressure lowering using agents blocking the renin-angiotensin system. Clinical trials are currently under way using novel agents for the treatment of patients with diabetic nephropathy.