Creatinine clearance and hemoglobin concentration before and after heart transplantation.

Clinical studies indicate that indices of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as serum creatinine or creatinine clearance can predict the risk of death in congestive heart failure (CHF) and in heart transplantation. The study reports data on creatinine clearance before and after heart transplantation in 160 patients followed-up for 5 years at our Unit. Pre-transplant creatinine clearance averaged 83.

The kidney in heart failure.

Renal dysfunction is a constant feature of congestive heart failure and is a stronger predictor of mortality than left ventricular ejection fraction or New York Heart Association classification. In heart failure, a reduction of glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow occurs, although the filtration fraction increases. There are many reason for this pattern.

Anemia and erythropoietin in space flights.

Since the very early manned missions in space, a state of anemia associated with reduced erythropoietin levels and reduced plasma volume was disclosed. The reduction in red blood cell mass is driven by a process of selective hemolysis, which has been named neocytolysis. This phenomenon also occurs in people living at a high altitude who descend rapidly to sea level.