Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis associated with bacterial endocarditis: efficacy of antibiotic therapy alone.

A 65-year-old woman presented rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with purpura and mitral insufficiency. Blood cultures grew Streptococcus mitis. By light microscopy, the renal biopsy revealed necrotizing glomerulonephritis 56% associated with cellular crescents and tubulointerstitial changes.

[Anti-polynuclear neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies of the perinuclear type or p-ANCA].

Some neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies produce perinuclear immuno staining of alcohol-fixed neutrophils called P-Anca pattern. These autoantibodies show chiefly reactivity with myeloperoxidase in Elisa but other specificities have been detected (elastase, cathepsin, lactoferrin). These P-Anca anti-MPO are more frequent with renal angiitis but P-Anca (anti-MPO negative) are associated with other diseases without renal failure (rheumatoid arthritis, Gougerot-Sjogren and ulceritis colitis).

Pharmacokinetics of a low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) in various stages of chronic renal failure.

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics of a low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) after a single bolus intravenous injection of 100 antifactor Xa IC U.kg-1 in 3 groups of patients affected by chronic renal insufficiency of various severity: group A (n = 7) was composed of hemodialyzed patients; groups; B (n = 7) had a creatinine clearance ranging from 10 to 20 ml.min-1 and group C (n = 5) from 30 to 50 ml.

[Plasmapheresis and acute attacks of uveitis].

Our study concerns the effects of plasma exchange in acute attacks of posterior or total chronic uveitis. The treatment undertaken in 10 patients consisted of 8 plasma exchanges in a 2 weeks period, associated with a corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. Immediately after the plasma exchanges, there was a significant improvement in visual acuity and a decrease in inflammatory activity in most patients (70%).

[Segmental renal hypoplasia of an adult originating from pseudo-tumor hyperreninism].

A 38 year-old man was admitted for severe hypertension with hypokalemia. Blood pressure was 180-120 mmHg, funduscopic examination revealed grade II retinopathy and left ventricular hypertrophy was present. Laboratory data disclosed: natremia = 140 mmol/ml, kalemia = 2.

Unsuitable value of abdominal fat tissue aspirate examination for the diagnosis of amyloidosis in long-term hemodialysis patients.

Abdominal fat tissue aspiration was used in 22 long-term hemodialysis patients (5-17 years). Fourteen of these patients had carpal tunnel syndrome and amyloid deposits of beta 2-microglobulin in the synovium. One patient had a spontaneous rupture of the spleen with amyloid deposits in spleen vessels.

[Alleviation of ocular complications of the hyperviscosity syndrome in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia using plasma exchange].

Two patients presenting ocular complications of hyperviscosity syndrome in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia have been treated by plasmapheresis after inefficiency of immunosuppressive therapy. Plasma exchange seems an useful treatment as shown by clinic and angiographic improvement. In each case improvement of retinopathy was correlated with decrease of serum IgM level and blood viscosity measured by isotopic method.

Low haematocrit and prolonged bleeding time in uraemic patients: effect of red cell transfusions.

This study demonstrates that a low haematocrit is the main determining factor of the prolonged bleeding time often encountered in uraemic haemodialysed patients. Thirty-three patients submitted to regular haemodialysis and having a platelet count greater than 100 X 10(9)/l were investigated with the following tests: simplate bleeding time, blood cell count, platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen and sodium arachidonate, arachidonate induced MDA synthesis, tests for detection of an acquired storage pool disease, and factor VIII complex level. The results were compared to two other groups; one of uraemic patients not yet subjected to haemodialysis and another of healthy volunteers.