Left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients with mild-to-moderate reduction of renal function.

Aim: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between LV mass and mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction in a group of non-diabetic hypertensives, free of CV diseases, participating in the Renal Dysfunction in Hypertension (REDHY) study.

Methods: Patients with diabetes, a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 kg/m(2), secondary hypertension, CV diseases and a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 30 mL/min per 1.

Renal involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Background: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare disorder characterized by asthma, eosinophilia, and systemic vasculitis. Renal involvement is not regarded as a prominent feature, and its prevalence and severity vary widely in published reports that usually refer to small series of selected patients.

Methods: We examined the prevalence, clinicopathologic features, and prognosis of renal disease in 116 patients with CSS.

Anti-C1q autoantibodies in lupus nephritis: prevalence and clinical significance.

Recently, anti-C1q autoantibodies have been proposed as a useful marker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since their occurrence correlates with renal involvement and, possibly, with nephritic activity. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies in patients with SLE, with and without renal involvement, and to correlate these markers' presence and levels with the activity of the disease and nephropathy. We studied 61 patients with SLE, 40 of whom had biopsy-proven lupus nephritis; 35 patients with other connective tissue diseases; and 54 healthy controls.

Circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: During inflammation, activated vascular endothelial cells and other cell types express various adhesion molecules, which facilitate the binding of circulating leukocytes and their extravasation in surrounding tissue (i.e. renal tissue).