Distinct HLA class II alleles determine antibody response to vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants control antibody production in response to protein antigens. Vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) frequently fails in hemodialyzed patients, but the genetic factors that modulate humoral responsiveness are poorly characterized. We studied the distribution of HLA class II alleles in 415 hemodialyzed Caucasian patients who received a full course of HBsAg vaccination, using class II oligotyping after genomic amplification of the DRB1 and DQB1 loci.

Factors influencing progression of renal failure in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) frequently leads to end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in the sixth decade of life, but considerable heterogeneity exists in the rate of progression of renal failure. The respective contribution of genetic factors and of potentially amendable factors, such as blood pressure control or protein intake limitation, on the rate of progression in ADPKD patients is still debated. To evaluate the role of factors influencing the rate of progression of renal failure in ADPKD, we retrospectively analyzed the annual rate of decline of creatinine clearance (Ccr) in 109 ADPKD patients followed from the time a Ccr value of 30 to 50 mL per min/1.

Progression rate to end-stage renal failure in non-diabetic kidney diseases: a multivariate analysis of determinant factors.

Background: The respective contribution of the type of nephropathy, gender, and proteinuria, and of the potentially alterable factors blood pressure level and daily protein intake on the rate of progression in non-diabetic renal diseases is debated.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the influence of primary renal disease, gender, urinary protein excretion, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and dietary protein intake on the rate of decline in creatinine clearance (delta Ccr) in 159 adult patients with well-defined nondiabetic kidney diseases. All patients had been followed from a baseline Crr of 40-50 ml/min/1.

Factors affecting progression in advanced chronic renal failure.

In a series of 174 patients with advanced chronic renal failure due to well defined primary nephropathies, we retrospectively studied factors influencing the rate of progression of renal failure. Using multivariate analysis of variance, we examined the role of gender, type of nephropathy, body mass index, age, protein intake quantified from 24-hour urine urea excretion, blood pressure and need for antihypertensive treatment (including a group of patients treated with ACE inhibitors) on the rate of decline of creatinine clearance (Ccr). We found a prominent and independent influence of sex and type of nephropathy, and to a lesser extent of mean arterial pressure and protein intake.