Serum OPG and RANKL Levels as Risk Factors for the Development of Cardiovascular Calcifications in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients in Hemodialysis.

Cardiovascular calcifications (CVC) are frequently observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and contribute to their cardiovascular mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of osteoprotegerin (OPG)/Receptor Activator of NF-κΒ (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL) pathway in the development and evolution of CVCs in hemodialysis patients. In total, 80 hemodialysis patients were assessed for the presence of vascular (abdominal aorta and muscular arteries) calcifications and results were correlated to serum OPG and RANKL levels and the OPG/RANKL ratio.

Impact of Τh1 and Τh2 cytokines in the progression of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and minimal change disease.

Background: Differential diagnosis between primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease (MCD) is sometimes difficult as nephrotic syndrome is the main clinical symptom in both diseases.

Objectives: This study has attempted to evaluate the urinary excretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines as potential biomarkers in distinguishing the two types of nephrotic syndrome, and predicting outcome of renal function.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-six patients with FSGS (M/F 22/14, Age; 41.

Up-regulation of urinary markers predict outcome in IgA nephropathy but their predictive value is influenced by treatment with steroids and azathioprine.

Objective: Steroids and immunosuppressants can delay progression of renal function in IgAN, but their possible effect in local cytokines has not been studied.

Material And Methods: Histology in 53 IgAN patients (M/F 35/18 age 40.5 years (17 - 65)) was evaluated using the Oxford classification system.

Steroids and azathioprine in the treatment of IgA nephropathy.

Aim: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a very common glomerulonephritis among young adults, but the best therapeutic approach has not been fully elucidated. This study evaluated the effect of two different treatment regimes in IgAN, steroids alone or in combination with azathioprine.

Methods: Among 122 patients with primary IgA nephropathy diagnosed in the 2000-2007 period, 22 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the study: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF) ≥30 ml/min/1.