Echocardiographic evolution of pulmonary artery pressure after acute pulmonary embolism. Results from IPER registry.

Aims: The aim of the study is to describe the course of the echocardiographically measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAsP) in a series of patients included in the Italian Pulmonary Embolism Registry (IPER).

Methods: Patients with confirmed PE received an echo-Doppler evaluation within 24 hours from hospital admission and after one year. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was considered "likely" , "possible" or "unlikely" with a right ventricular-right atrial (RV-RA) pressure gradient>45 mm Hg, between 32 and 45 mm Hg and ≤31 mm Hg and no additional echocardiographic variables suggestive of PH, respectively.

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.

Comparison of two iron gluconate treatment modalities in chronic hemodialysis patients: results of a randomized trial.

Background: Iron supplementation in chronic hemodialyzed patients is not yet completely defined concerning the dosing regimen. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the same iron load administered in different regimens on anemia, iron status and the reticulocyte (Ret) subpopulation patterns in stable patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD).

Patients And Methods: Seventeen patients undergoing thrice-weekly chronic HD and receiving stable alphaerythropoietin therapy with absolute iron deficiency (transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20%, ferritin (Frt) <100 ng/mL) were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n=9) received 20.

Fractional excretion of IgG predicts renal outcome and response to therapy in primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: a pilot study.

Background: Prolonged treatment with steroids and/or cyclophosphamide improves the prognosis of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In nephrotic patients, no clinical or histological feature predicts responsiveness to therapy.

Methods: In 50 patients with FSGS, fractional excretion (FE) of immunoglobulin G (IgG), albumin, transferrin, and alpha(1)-microglobulin (alpha(1)m) was calculated.

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase excretion is a marker of tubular cell dysfunction and a predictor of outcome in primary glomerulonephritis.

Background: The urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-glucosamynidase (NAG) is increased in subjects exposed to substances toxic for renal tubular cells. In experimental and human glomerular diseases, its increased excretion is probably due to the dysfunction of tubular epithelial cells induced by increased traffic of proteins in the tubular lumen. The first aim of this study was to evaluate whether NAG excretion is correlated not only with the amount of proteinuria but also with some proteinuric components which reflect both glomerular capillary wall damage (IgG) and an impairment of tubular reabsorption of microproteins (alpha(1) microglobulin).