Fibromuscular dysplasia - results of a multicentre study in Flanders.

Background: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an idiopathic, non-inflammatory, non-atherosclerotic vascular disease, resulting in focal narrowing of small and medium-sized arteries. Systematic recording of clinical data in central databases as in the US and France provided new insights into FMD. The main objectives of this multicentre study were to explore the epidemiology, pattern of vascular involvement, clinical manifestations, and management of FMD patients in Flanders.

Diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in a hemodialysis patient through measurement of plasma catecholamines.

We report the case of a patient on chronic hemodialysis treatment with paroxysms of severe arterial hypertension accompanied by tachycardia, pallor, sweating and tremor. Measurement of plasma catecholamines revealed norepinephrine level of 4625 pg/mL (reference range 191-225 pg/mL), epinephrine level of 1035 pg/mL (58-76 pg/mL) and dopamine level of 148 pg/mL (50-100 pg/mL). MRI showed a left adrenal mass of 2 cm.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria occurring four years after leaving an endemic area.

We present a case of a 52-year-old woman of Ghanaian origin who developed Plasmodium falciparum malaria 4 years after leaving Africa. She had not returned to an endemic area since. We hypothesize several possible scenarios to explain this infection, of which we believe recrudescence of P.

Preservation of anemia control and weekly ESA dosage after conversion from PEG-Epoetin beta to darbepoetin alfa in adult hemodialysis patients: the TRANSFORM study.

Introduction: There is scant real-world information on switching treatment for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (PEG-Epo) to darbepoetin alfa (DA). TRANSFORM was a multi-center, observational study designed to describe the time course of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (primary outcome measure) and other parameters of clinical management of anemia in European hemodialysis patients in clinical practice before and after a switch from PEG-Epo to DA.

Methods: Eligible subjects were adult patients with CKD dialyzed at European dialysis centers for ≥26 weeks and treated with PEG-Epo for ≥14 weeks immediately prior to being switched to DA and no earlier than January 2011.

Tetanus: a diagnostic challenge in the Western world.

Tetanus is a very serious neuromuscular disease caused by a powerful exotoxin, tetanospasmin, from the Clostridium tetani bacillus. Its incidence in the developed world has diminished considerably since the introduction of primary vaccination. Tetanus is diagnosed clinically, through recognition of the characteristically inducible muscle spasms.

Treatment of renal sarcoidosis: is there a guideline? Overview of the different treatment options.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas. It may affect any organ including the kidney. A disordered calcium metabolism is most often responsible for the development of renal failure.

Fluctuations of haemoglobinaemia in chronic haemodialysis patients.

In March 2008 and June 2009, an ad hoc working group of nephrologists discussed the status of anaemia therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents [ESA] in patients on chronic haemodialysis, the phenomenon of fluctuations of haemoglobinaemia, and the need for individualisation of ESA treatment. The working group put together the following statements: (1) ESAs increase the haemoglobin concentration and adaptations of the ESA dose adjust the response according to a negative-feedback loop. The long lag time between an ESA dose change and its effect on erythropoiesis is cumbersome.

Severe diarrhea in renal transplant patients: results of the DIDACT study.

Diarrhea is common in transplant recipients. While the majority of cases are mild and transient, some are severe and prolonged, which can threaten graft survival through dehydration. While it is known that some immunosuppressive agents can elicit diarrhea, there does not appear to be any consensus on the role that other nonimmunosuppressive causes can play in transplant patients.

Innogenetics NV.

Innogenetics NV is a Belgium-based international biopharmaceutical company that has applied its know-how and synergies in molecular biology, immunology and virology to build two distinct businesses: a specialty diagnostics business grounded in personalized medicine, and a pharmaceutical business that is developing therapeutic vaccines. The advantage of this dual model is that the growing revenues from the profitable specialty diagnostics business partially support the development of its biopharmaceutical pipeline. The company employs some 600 persons, with affiliates in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the USA.

Repositioning and leaving in situ the central venous catheter during percutaneous treatment of associated superior vena cava syndrome: a report of eight cases.

Purpose: To describe a combined procedure of repositioning and leaving in situ a central venous catheter followed by immediate percutaneous treatment of associated superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS).

Methods: Eight patients are presented who have central venous catheter-associated SVCS (n = 6 Hickman catheters, n = 2 Port-a-cath) caused by central vein stenosis (n = 4) or concomitant thrombosis (n = 4). With the use of a vascular snare introduced via the transcubital or transjugular approach, the tip of the central venous catheter could be engaged, and repositioned after deployment of a stent in the innominate or superior vena cava.

Inferior outcome of cadaveric kidneys preserved for more than 24 hr in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution. Leuven Collaborative Group for Transplantation.

Background: During recent years, an increasing number of transplant centers within the Eurotransplant organization have used histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution instead of University of Wisconsin (UW) solution as their preferred cold storage solution for abdominal organ preservation. We report on our single-center experience on the outcome of imported kidneys preserved with either HTK or UW solution in relation to the duration of cold ischemia time (CIT).

Methods: Between July 1989 and July 1997, 323 cadaveric kidneys preserved with UW or HTK and imported as a result of an exchange within the Eurotransplant organization were transplanted at our institution.

Five years of surgical experience with peritoneal dialysis.

In this study, we evaluate retrospectively five years experience with the Swann Neck Missouri DC catheters. Sixty three catheters are placed in 51 patients. The total observation period is 695.

High prevalence of hepatitis G virus infection compared with hepatitis C virus infection in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

A recently discovered non-A-E hepatitis virus has been designated as hepatitis G virus (HGV) and identified as a new member of the Flaviviridae family. Infection by this virus is thought to be associated with blood-borne hepatitis and usually in the presence of hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, the presence of HGV-RNA in serum or plasma and the prevalence of antibodies against an HGV envelope protein (E2) were investigated in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis using a sensitive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

Multicenter randomized trial comparing tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine in the prevention of renal allograft rejection: a report of the European Tacrolimus Multicenter Renal Study Group.

Background: To confirm the results of a number of studies conducted in Europe, the United States, and Japan, this multicenter, randomized trial compared the 12-month efficacy and safety of tacrolimus- and cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive regimens in the prevention of renal allograft rejection.

Methods: A total of 448 renal transplant recipients were recruited from 15 centers and assigned to receive triple-drug therapy consisting of tacrolimus (n=303) or cyclosporine (n=145) in conjunction with azathioprine and low-dose corticosteroids.

Results: At 12 months after transplantation, tacrolimus therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of both acute (tacrolimus 25.

Correlation between oxidized low density lipoproteins and von Willebrand factor in chronic renal failure.

An ELISA specific for a wide spectrum of oxidized apo B-100 in OxLDL was developed and applied to blood samples from 27 control subjects, 20 mild chronic renal failure (MCRF) patients, 21 severe chronic renal failure patients on conservative treatment (SCRF) and 56 severe chronic renal failure patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HEMO). Mean levels of OxLDL were 0.59 mg/dl in controls (95% CI, 0.

A single-center multiple regression analysis of covariates associated with long-term cadaveric renal allograft survival: further improvement of long-term results with CsA.

This single center analysis shows further improvement in the already excellent long-term, cadaveric renal allograft survival with Aza since the introduction of CsA. In contrast to the findings from the UCLA/UNOS multicenter registries, these results support other observations that the type of maintenance immunosuppression does indeed influence the long-term attrition rate of cadaveric, renal allografts.