Serum VEGF-C levels as a candidate biomarker of hypervolemia in chronic kidney disease.

Attaining and maintaining optimal "dry weight" is one of the principal goals during maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Recent studies have shown a close relationship between Na load and serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) levels; thus, we aimed to investigate the role of VEGF-C as a candidate biomarker of hypervolemia. Physical examination, basic laboratory tests, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), echocardiography, and bioimpedance spectroscopy data of 3 groups of study subjects (euvolemic MHD patients, healthy controls, and hypervolemic chronic kidney disease [CKD] patients) were analyzed.

Can eculizumab be discontinued in aHUS?: Case report and review of the literature.

Background: The management of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) has evolved into better control of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and recovery of renal functions since the recent introduction of the terminal complement cascade blocker, eculizumab, into clinical use. Better characterization of genotype-phenotype relations has become possible with genetic and clinical studies. However, these advances brought up some important issues, such as the possibility and timing of discontinuation of eculizumab and strategy of follow-up that need to be enlightened.

Test of the recommended dialysis dose on one-year mortality of nondiabetic maintenance hemodialysis patients; observations from a single dialysis unit.

Background: The optimal delivered dialysis dose has been of a great interest for the last three decades, though a clear cut point has not been reached yet. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between one-year mortality and the delivered dialysis dose, which was recommended by Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI), in our maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

Methods: This was a single center, prospective observational study with one year of follow-up.

Serum uric acid levels and inflammatory markers with respect to dipping status: A retrospective analysis of hypertensive patients with or without chronic kidney disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum uric acid levels, inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] and mean platelet volume (MPV) among hypertensive patients with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD) with respect to dipping status.

Methods: A total of 432 hypertensive patients with (n = 340) or without (n = 92) CKD who had ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings were included. Correlation of serum uric acid levels with inflammatory markers (CRP, PLR, NLR) was evaluated as was the logistic regression analysis for determinants of nondipper pattern.

The predictive value of malnutrition - inflammation score on 1-year mortality in Turkish maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) on short-term mortality and to identify the best cut-off point in the Turkish maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) population.

Methods: A total of 100 patients on MHD were included in this prospective single-center study. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were obtained from all patients.

The relationship between serum albumin levels and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recordings in non-diabetic essential hypertensive patients.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum albumin levels and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM) recordings in non-diabetic essential hypertensive patients.

Methods: A total of 354 patients (mean [SD] age: 55.5 [14.

Familial Mediterranean Fever is associated with abnormal ventricular repolarization indices.

Background: Cardiac arrhythmias can be a part of cardiovascular involvement in some rheumatic diseases, but data about familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are conflicting.

Aim: To search for abnormalities in ventricular repolarization indices in FMF patients.

Patients And Methods: Seventy seven FMF patients and 30 age/gender comparable healthy controls were included.

Persistent left superior vena cava: Two case reports and a review from nephrologists' perspective.

Thoracic venous anomalies without congenital heart anomalies are present in minority of the population, but they are frequent enough to be encountered while placing hemodialysis catheters through the jugular or subclavian veins. Persistent left superior vena cava is the most commonly seen anomaly and it is rarely noticed before the observation of an unusual course of hemodialysis catheter or guidewire on chest X-ray. We present two patients with previously unspotted persistent left superior vena cava and uncomplicated hemodialysis catheter insertions through the internal jugular veins with good catheter functions.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-tolymphocyte ratio in evaluation of inflammation in end-stage renal disease.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and inflammation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: 100 ESRD patients on maintenance HD (mean ± SD age: 52.3 ± 1.

Clinical outcomes and mortality in elderly peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and identify the predictors of mortality in elderly patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including all incident peritoneal dialysis cases in patients ≥65 years of age treated from 2001 to 2014. Demographic and clinical data on the initiation of peritoneal dialysis and the clinical events during the study period were collected.

Plasma resistant atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with a CFH mutation treated with eculizumab: a case report.

Introduction: Thrombotic microangiopathies are a group of diseases presenting as microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and end-organ dysfunction. As the role of the complement system was elucidated in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome pathogenesis, eculizumab was successfully introduced into clinical practice. We present a large pedigree with multiple individuals carrying a functionally significant novel factor H mutation.

Relationship between relative interdialytic weight gain and serum leptin levels, nutrition, and inflammation in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Excessive relative interdialytic weight gain (RIDWG, %) is an important risk factor for long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. On the other hand, it may also be an index of good appetite and nutritional status. We aimed to assess the relationship between RIDWG and appetite, nutrition, inflammation parameters of chronic HD patients.

Elevated serum leptin levels are associated with good nutritional status in non-obese chronic hemodialysis patients.

Objective: Leptin is a hormone and a proinflammatory cytokine secreted from adipocytes, which functions to suppress appetite in healthy persons. Serum leptin levels are significantly elevated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) primarily due to decreased clearance by the kidneys The consequence of hyperleptinemia in ESRD is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the association between serum leptin levels and nutrition/inflammation status in non-obese chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Outcome of 121 patients with renal amyloid a amyloidosis.

Background: Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is a multisystem, progressive and fatal disease. Renal involvement occurs early in the course of AA. We aimed to investigate the etiology, clinical and laboratory features, and outcome of patients with biopsy-proven renal AA amyloidosis.