[Relevance of an accurate microscopic examination of urinary sediment in a patient after mitral valve surgery].

Hemoglobinuria, clinically revealing as gross hematuria associated with anemia, increased hemolysis indices, acute kidney injury (AKI), can all be caused by mechanical intravascular hemolysis following mitral valve surgery. It can result from factors related to the surgical procedure or acquired later, such as paravalvular leak (PL), whose definite diagnosis is based on transesophageal echocardiography. We report the case of a patient who experienced macrohematuria and AKI, initially attributed to acute glomerulonephritis, two months after mitral valve surgery.

Use of sodium hypochlorite in peritoneal dialysis: the genesis of the 'Y' set and beyond.

The 'Y' set introduced in the clinical practice in the early 80s with the aim of reducing the peritonitis rate in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, successfully revolutioned the philosophy of the connection system catheter-container of dialysate, which was the main way of bacterial contamination of the peritoneal cavity. In fact, while the previous connection systems had focused the attention on the reduction of the possible contaminating acts, the 'Y' system, taking into account the fact that soon or later a failure could occur even with the most skilled and compliant patient, introduced the possibility to kill the bacteria with a disinfectant and to remove it and the killed bacteria together with the bacteria eventually still surviving, by flushing the contaminated area. This goal was achieved thanks to a 'Y' shaped connector, having a third way connected to the discharge bag/container, besides the two connected to the new bag and to the catheter.

Antisepsis.

All dialysis treatments include a certain risk of infection because of the decreased immune defenses of the patients and because of dialytic techniques that increase the potential of microbial contamination. Peritoneal dialysis, and in particular continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), has a higher risk of infections of the peritoneum, but even of the subcutaneous tunnel. These infections are caused by environmental microorganisms principally gram-positives (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus).

Glycoxidation and inflammatory markers in patients on treatment with PMMA-based protein-leaking dialyzers.

Background: High-molecular-weight solutes such as glycation and oxidation protein products are putative proinflammatory mediators found in the uremic blood. The elimination of these and other large solutes by protein-leaking dialyzers (PLD) might help to correct the inflammatory status of maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods: Two matched groups of 13 standard 3 times/week HD patients were treated for 6 months with PMMA-based PLD and non-protein-leaking dialyzers (NPLD), respectively.

Effect of daily hemodialysis on monocytes apoptosis.

Uremia is associated with a state of immune dysfunction with increased susceptibility to infection and malignancy possibly related to dysregulation of immune system cell apoptosis. Peritoneal dialysis can restore plasma apoptosis activity on monocytes compared to intermittent hemodialysis. Whether the continuous modality or diverse clearance mechanisms involved are responsible is unknown.

Association between extracellular water, left ventricular mass and hypertension in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are present in the majority of patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD). These two pathologies persist after dialysis onset, and pharmacological therapy is often required for adequate control of blood pressure (BP). Although fluid overload is a determinant of hypertension, clinical assessment of this parameter remains difficult and unsatisfactory.

The effect of PMMA-based protein-leaking dialyzers on plasma homocysteine levels.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well-recognized independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Since homocysteine (Hcy) largely binds to serum proteins (80 to 90%), in this study we investigated the possibility that polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based protein-leaking dialyzers could reduce total plasma Hcy (tHcy) levels in ESRD patients.

Methods: Two matched groups of patients (N = 13) showing mild to intermediate hyperhomocysteinemia on standard hemodialysis (HD) with conventional non-protein-leaking dialyzers were included.