Benefit and cost from the long-term use of cyclosporine-A in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Aim: Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, is usually treated by cyclosporin A (CsA). Estimation of the effectiveness of long-term use of CsA in the remission and relapse rate of nephrotic syndrome along with histological changes in repeat renal biopsies was the aim of the study.

Methods: Thirty-two nephrotic patients with well-preserved renal function treated by prednisolone and CsA were studied.

Histologic change of peritoneal membrane in relation to adequacy of dialysis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Long-term exposure of peritoneal membrane to bioincompatible dialysis solutions leads to structural changes and loss of ultrafiltration capability.

Objective: We studied the possible relationship between histologic change and the transport characteristics of peritoneal membrane and adequacy of dialysis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Patients And Methods: The study included 18 CAPD patients (11 men, 7 women) who underwent a peritoneal biopsy either at initiation of treatment (group A, n = 9) or after a mean of 4 years on CAPD (group B, n = 9).

Urinary Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 as a marker of response to immunosuppressive treatment, in patients with crescentic nephritis.

Background: Crescentic nephritis is characterized by formation of cellular crescents that soon become fibrotic and result in irreversible damage, unless an effective immunosuppressive therapy is rapidly commenced. TGF-beta1 is involved in the development of crescents through various pathways. The aim of this study was to identify whether the determination of urinary TGF-beta1 levels in patients with crescentic nephritis could be used as a marker of response to treatment.

Expression of apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and bax along with transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) in the kidney of patients with glomerulonephritides.

Background: Apoptosis, a gene-directed form of cell death, has been involved in the resolution of renal injury but also in the development of scarring. Bcl-2 and bax are proteins related to apoptotic process that either provides a survival advantage to rapidly proliferating cells (bcl-2) or promote cell death by apoptosis (bax). Various cytokines and growth factors are involved in this process.

Apoptosis and myofibroblast expression in human glomerular disease: a possible link with transforming growth factor-beta-1.

Background/aims: The pathophysiological pathways involved in the pathogenesis and evolution of renal fibrosis, have not been fully elucidated. Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) is involved in the development of renal scarring. Apoptosis is responsible for intrinsic cell deletion observed in end-stage kidney disease.