[Steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis treated with cascade plasmafiltration and rituximab].

A 39-year man with primary steroid resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was treated with mycophenolate mofetil and ACE-inhibitors. After six months a different therapeutics approach was mandatory due to the worsening of renal function and the relapse of proteinuria at the nephrotic range. The combination of cascade plasmafiltration and single dose of rituximab (375 mg/m²) achieved clinical remission and improved renal function in six months follow up.

A case report of plasma exchange therapy in non-paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-Yo antibody.

A 71-year-old-woman was admitted to the S. Eugenio Hospital for a history of progressively impaired standing and gait. Anamnesis revealed systemic hypertension, gastric polyposis and juvenile pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Plasmapheresis and mushroom poisoning:report of a case of Amanita phalloides poisoning].

A case of amanita phalloides which presented a typical picture of phalloides intossication has been treated at our Centre. The patient was submitted to four treatments of plasmaexchange (Plasmafiltration), exchanging from 70 to 80% of the plasmatic volume and using substitutive liquids 4% albumine and frozen plasma, using as filter Plasmaflo Asahi OP-O5 (1) and Plasmapheresis equipment SIFRA mod. 914.

[Comparative study of the modification of arterial pressure in adult and aged subjects treated with hemofiltration. Preliminary results].

Haemodynamics modifications in 49 patients divided in two groups consisting of 21 young people (average age 43 +/- 12 yrs.) and 28 elderly people (average age 72 +/- 7 yrs.) who have undergone at least three treatments with haemofiltration for congestive cardiac decompensation and chronic renal failure have been evaluated.

[Efficacy of recombinant erythropoietin on the quality of life in patients over 60 years of age undergoing hemodialysis].

We followed for a period of six months, 54 patients of over 60 years old, submitted to hemodialitic treatment. We gave human recombinant erythropoietin, average dosage 50 UI/Kg subcutaneously on alternative days, folic acid and iron supplements together with a proteic supply of 1.2 g/Kg/die (35 Kcal/Kg).

Haemorheological changes in mixed cryoglobulinaemia during apheresis treatment.

Thirty-four patients affected by mixed cryoglobulinaemia have been submitted to treatment by apheresis (plasma exchange or double cascade filtration). The authors have monitored clinical, laboratory and, above all, haemorheological changes following therapy. The final results have shown mainly a reduction of plasma viscosity and consequently an improvement of the haemorheology of the affected organs.

[Reinfusion ascites therapy: considerations after a year's experience].

Ascites often appears as a complication of several illnesses. The therapy is essentially based on the use of low-sodium diet, plasma or albumin infusion, diuretics and low-dosed ACE-inhibitors. To use the simple paracentesis or special techniques as Rhodiascit or Lee Veen Shunt means not to resolve definitively the problem and sometimes to cause undesirable complications.

Biocompatibility in hemapheresis: new materials.

The development of new technologies implying the use of semidialytic synthetic membranes in therapeutic apheresis, lays stress also on the problem of biocompatibility. The first alterations of plasma proteins and of the immune system are observable 15 minutes after the beginning of the apheretic session. This may suggest that the acute clinical reactions observed during apheresis are related to biocompatibility.

[Monitored and random arterial blood pressure as prediction of biological risk. Comparison with domiciliary self-measurement].

The approach to the hypertensive patient is still a subject of debate. The use of new measurement methods permits us to obtain more exact blood pressure values which represent an index of cardiovascular condition. We also demonstrated that non-invasive monitoring and self-measurement at home consent better management of hypertension.