Arteriolar hyalinosis and arterial hypertension as possible surrogate markers of reduced interstitial blood flow and hypoxia in glomerulonephritis.

Background: In glomerulonephritis the final common pathway to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is tubulo-interstitial damage (TID) whose main determinants are proteinuria and hypoxia consequent to haemodynamic and vascular alterations that reduce interstitial blood flow. Since oxygen tension is difficult to measure in human disease, arteriolar hyalinosis and arterial hypertension have been considered as possible surrogate markers of interstitial hypoxia.

Methods: The relationship between TID and arteriolar hyalinosis and arterial hypertension was evaluated in 132 IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and 79 idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients.

Urinary IgG and α2-macroglobulin are powerful predictors of outcome and responsiveness to steroids and cyclophosphamide in idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with nephrotic syndrome.

Objective: To assess whether high-molecular-weight proteins excretion predicts outcome and therapy-responsiveness in patients with FSGS and nephrotic syndrome.

Research Design And Methods: Thirty-eight patients measured at biopsy fractional excretion of IgG (FEIgG) and urinary α2-macroglobulin/creatinine ratio ( α m/C). Low and high risk groups were defined by cutoffs assessed by ROC analysis.

Validation of some pathophysiological mechanisms of the CKD progression theory and outcome prediction in IgA nephropathy.

Background: The "remnant kidney" chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression theory based on hemodynamic, proteinuric and inflammatory mechanisms consequent to nephron loss has not been confirmed in a human disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether some of these mechanisms are present in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and predict functional outcome.

Methods: In 132 IgAN patients (68 untreated, 64 angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEi]-treated) fractional excretion of IgG (FEIgG) and α1-microglobulin, proteinuria/day and β-NAG excretion were divided by percentage of nonglobally sclerotic glomeruli ("surviving glomeruli" [SG]) to assess the effective glomerular loss and tubular load of proteins in surviving nephrons.

Ischemic nephropathy: proteinuria and renal resistance index could suggest if revascularization is recommended.

Background: The aim of endovascular therapy in renal artery stenosis (RAS) is to preserve renal function and have a better hypertension control. The purpose of our study was to determine which biochemical and instrumental parameters could predict a better renal outcome in patients with RAS treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (RPTAS).

Methods: We performed an observational study based on 40 patients with RAS who met the following criteria before revascularization: urinary protein excretion of over 250 mg/24 h, normal renal function, and/or mild-moderate renal insufficiency (I, II, and III levels of classification of chronic kidney disease, K-DOQI).

Renal artery aneurysm in a solitary kidney.

A 55-year-old hypertensive female was referred for renal artery color Doppler examination because of a suspicion of renovascular hypertension. Renal artery aneurysm was occasionally detected at the distal portion of the artery in the single left kidney, without the presence of stenosis. An aneurysm was confirmed via magnetic resonance angiography and arteriographical examination.