Mass-screening for early detection of renal disease: benefits and limitations of self-testing for proteinuria.

Introduction: Chronic kidney diseases are of growing importance for our health system. With regard to the high number of undetected cases, screening programs provide opportunities for an early to detect and treat patients.

Methods: With the support of local newspapers, we performed a mass screening of the citizens of Würzburg, Germany.

[Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: a priori a contraindication to kidney transplantation?].

Background: The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) is characterised by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in association with thrombotic disorders of the arterial and/or venous system, spontaneous abortion and thrombocytopenia. Several studies have shown that end-stage renal disease patients with APLS are at extremely high risk for graft thrombosis and graft loss after kidney transplantation.

Material And Methods: We report on the treatment and clinical courses of 6 APLS renal transplant patients.

Advanced renal insufficiency in a 34-year-old man with Lowe syndrome.

Lowe syndrome, or oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL), is a rare X-chromosomal disorder characterized by renal dysfunction, congenital cataract, and, in the majority of cases, mental retardation. Although gradual loss of renal function has been seen in most patients, age of onset of deterioration in renal function and its severity and course over time in adult patients have not been documented in detail. We report a 34-year-old man with OCRL without histological changes in renal tissue at the ages of 5 and 8 years, whereas at the age of 29 years, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and tubular atrophy were found.

L-arginine deficiency and supplementation in experimental acute renal failure and in human kidney transplantation.

Background: The "L-arginine paradox" refers to situations where L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation stimulates nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, despite saturating intracellular concentrations. This paradox is frequently observed in acute renal failure (ARF). First, the effects of L-Arg on renal function of rats with ARF were studied.

Haemodynamic effects of valsartan in acute renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: Acute deterioration of renal function is an important side-effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, especially if accompanied by other nephrotoxic events. Angiotensin II receptor(1) blockers (ARB) are thought to have fewer side-effects on renal perfusion and function. We examined the effects of valsartan (VAL) on kidney function as well as the contribution of the nitric oxide (NO) system in a rat model of ischaemic acute renal failure (ARF).