Publications by authors named "Bojan Jelakovic"

: Fabry disease (FD) is a genetic lysosomal storage disease caused by a pathogenic variant in GLA gene coding for a functional alpha-galactosidase A enzyme whose disfunction leads to globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) accumulation in cells, which results in multiple organ disorders. The aim of this study was to identify mutations associated with Fabry disease among 829 kidney transplant recipients and to investigate the correlation between the factors such as age, dialysis vintage, eGFR, proteinuria and corticosteroid dose and the deviations in alpha-galactosidase A and lyso-Gb3 levels. Dry blood spot samples were collected for genetic analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the top cause of illness and death globally, including in Croatia, often linked to shared risk factors across multiple health disorders.
  • The emerging concept of cardio-renal-metabolic (CKM) syndrome highlights the interconnectedness of heart, kidney, and metabolic health, emphasizing the need to include brain health in patient care.
  • A group of experts aims to incorporate CKM health into a national strategy for preventing chronic diseases, particularly CVD, by creating mandatory guidelines based on professional recommendations.
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Objective: There are noticeable sex differences in the treatment response to antihypertensives, with limited data on the response to single pill combinations. The aim of the PRECIOUS trial was to assess the treatment response to perindopril/amlodipine and perindopril/amlodipine/indapamide dual and triple single-pill combination in men and women.

Methods: Four hundred and forty adults with essential hypertension were assessed in the 16-week interventional, open-label, prospective, international, multicentre trial.

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Urolithiasis (UL) is increasingly prevalent due to rising cardiorenometabolic diseases, posing significant management challenges despite advances in urological techniques. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, primarily used for type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure, have emerged as a potential novel approach for UL treatment. These inhibitors may help reduce the risk of urolithiasis, particularly in patients with diabetes, by improving glycemic control and altering urinary chemistry, which are crucial factors in stone formation.

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Cardiovascular diseases, including sudden cardiac death (SCD), are the leading cause of mortality among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). While implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are established for SCD prevention in the general population, data on the benefits in patients with CKD is scarce and controversial, and there is no established general consensus on their use in this group of patients. Furthermore, data for KTRs are lacking.

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Background: Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) is characterized with later onset and milder forms of hypertension, and with lower pulse wave velocity (PWV) than other end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Longer telomeres are associated with better cardiovascular (CV) prognosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that telomere length (TL) could be longer in BEN patients compared to other ESKD patients.

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  • Protein-energy wasting (PEW) and sarcopenia are prevalent in chronic hemodialysis patients, leading to severe health issues and higher mortality rates.
  • This study compared the effectiveness of the SARC-F test and the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) in identifying sarcopenia and predicting negative health outcomes in hemodialysis patients.
  • Results showed that while many patients scored low on SARC-F, they still had some form of PEW; however, only the MIS was consistently linked to poor nutritional status and higher risk for negative outcomes, indicating that detailed assessment tools like MIS are crucial for identifying at-risk patients.
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Unlabelled: Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Croatia, are linked to the high prevalence of hypertension. Both are associated with high salt intake, which was determined almost two decades ago when Croatian Action on Salt and Health (CRASH) was launched. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate salt, potassium, and iodine intake using a single 24 h urine sample in a random sample of the adult Croatian population and to analyse trends in salt consumption after the CRASH was intensively started.

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Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a rare complication that can occur after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) who have undergone allogeneic HSCT, a new antigen called protocadherin FAT1 has been identified. Our objective is to present a case series of MN patients after HSCT with a novel antigen-based stratification.

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Post-transplantation diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are common complications after kidney transplantation. Data on using novel agents, including SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, in kidney transplant recipients are scarce and practice guidelines are lacking. According to available data, GLP-1 receptor agonists are efficient in terms of weight loss and glycemia control.

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: Kidney transplantation is considered the best modality for renal replacement therapy. The use of immunosuppressive therapy and pre-existing and newly developed comorbidities predispose these patients to the use of a large number of medications. (Hyper)polypharmacy is associated with worse adherence and negative outcomes.

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Purpose: In 2022 hypertensive disease was the second cause of death in Croatia. The crude prevalence of hypertension is increasing and still majority of hypertensive patients did not reach blood pressure and cholesterol goals Low awareness, and small number of treated and controlled patients point on poor adherence and even worse clinical inertia.

Materials And Methods: Croatian Hypertension League (CHL) has started the permanent public health action aiming to increase health literacy.

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Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), acknowledged as a reliable proxy of arterial stiffness, is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events. Carotid-femoral PWV is considered the gold standard for the estimation of arterial stiffness. cfPWV is a demanding, time consuming and expensive method, and an estimated PWV (ePWV) has been suggested as an alternative method when cfPWV is not available.

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: The aim of this multicentre retrospective study is to determine the incidence, etiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of kidney transplant recipients diagnosed and treated for acute pancreatitis. : We analyzed data from kidney transplant recipients who received kidney allografts between October 1973 and December 2023 and were diagnosed and treated for acute pancreatitis. : Of 2482 patients who received kidney allografts, 10 (0.

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Article Synopsis
  • Measuring blood pressure and understanding arterial hemodynamics are crucial for assessing cardiovascular health and disease risk.
  • Various techniques for measuring BP exist, yet the details, benefits, and drawbacks of these methods can be confusing for clinicians.
  • An expert group produced guidelines to clarify these methods and their practical applications to improve clinical practice for cardiovascular assessment.
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The World Health Organization recommends adjusting salt intake as a part of the nine global targets to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable chronic diseases as a priority and the most cost-effective intervention. In 2006, the main aim of the Croatian Action on Salt and Health was to decrease salt intake by 16% because of its critical intake and consequences on human health. We have organized educative activities to increase awareness on salt harmfulness, define food categories of prime interest, collaborate with industries and determine salt intake (24 h urine sodium excretion).

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Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome may persist despite end-stage kidney disease and result in dyslipidaemia, thrombosis and a significantly increased cardiovascular risk. Treatment of refractory nephrotic syndrome includes surgical bilateral nephrectomy, renal artery embolization and pharmacologic nephrectomy.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a haemodialysis patient with refractory nephrotic syndrome who underwent pharmacologic nephrectomy.

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The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to significant morbidity and mortality among kidney transplant recipients. SARS-CoV-2 has been hypothesized to cause an unusual immunological dysregulation triggering alloimmunity and leading to graft rejection. This prospective observational cohort study assessed 321 kidney transplant recipients who had COVID-19 infection.

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Although changes in dietary sodium intake alter blood pressure (BP) in salt-sensitive individuals, pathophysiological mechanisms are still unknown. It has been reported that uromodulin is involved in sodium tubular transport, and genome-wide association studies pointed to gene as one of the most important gene candidates for arterial hypertension. Our aim was to analyze urinary uromodulin, salt intake and BP in 326 young middle-aged subjects (mean age 36±8 years, 49.

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Renal denervation (RDN) as a method of treating arterial hypertension (AH) was introduced in Croatia in 2012. A multidisciplinary team and a network of hospitals that diagnose and treat patients with severe forms of AH were established, and a very strict diagnostic-treatment algorithm was prepared. At monthly meetings patients with truly resistant hypertension who were candidates for RDN were discussed.

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Purpose: To describe the history of the Excellence Centre (EC) programme of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) since the beginning in 2006, its achievements, and its future developments.

Materials And Methods: We list the number of ECs per country, the research projects performed so far, and the organisational steps needed to reshape the EC programme for the future.

Results: In August 2023, the ESH EC programme includes 118 registered ECs in 21 European and 7 non-European countries.

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L. is a perennial herbaceous plant distributed throughout Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasus. It has been used as a medicinal plant since antiquity but not in recent times because it contains poisonous aristolochic acid, causing progressive kidney failure.

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