Factors influencing first vascular access placement in patients starting hemodialysis.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess whether age, gender and the primary renal disease are associated with differences in the type of first vascular access placement.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 145 patients on hemodialysis (HD) 44 females and 101 males with a mean age of 64±14.5 years, on HD for 46.

Comparison of creatinine clearance estimates in subgroups based on Body Mass Index and albumin.

Background: The establishment of accurate equations for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimations is still far from the realization. Factors such as age, diabetes, stage of CKD, pregnancy, muscle mass and ethic nation are associated with less reliance upon commonly utilized estimation equations. We aimed to compare the routine use of 24-hour creatinine clearance (CrCl) and GFR estimates calculated by Crockoft-Gault (CG) and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formulas in patients with different levels of renal dysfunction in subgroups, based on Body Mass Index (BMI) and serum albumin (Alb) levels.

Serum hepcidin levels are associated with serum triglycerides and interleukin-6 concentrations in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Hepcidin has emerged as a peptide with a key role in the regulation of iron homeostasis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), having a strong dependence on inflammation. Recent studies reveal that hepcidin may be also associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. This study was performed to analyze the relation of hepcidin to markers of atherosclerosis and inflammation in patients on dialysis.

Renal graft outcome in autosomal dominant medullary cystic kidney disease type 1.

Background: Medullary cystic kidney disease (MCKD) is an inherited interstitial nephritis, leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between the fourth and seventh decade of life. MCKD shares clinical and morphological features with nephronophthisis, although advances in molecular genetics have distinguished these 2 entities. Data regarding graft survival after kidney transplantation in MCKD patients are extremely limited.

Early myocardial injury is an integral component of experimental acute liver failure - a study in two porcine models.

Introduction: There is accumulating clinical evidence that acute liver failure may be regularly associated with myocardial injury. To test this hypothesis in a standardized experimental setting, we used two porcine models of ALF.

Material And Methods: In 14 domestic pigs ALF was induced by either a) surgical devascularization of the liver (DV group, n = 7), or b) partial (70-75%) hepatectomy and ischaemia/reperfusion of the liver remnant for 150 min (I/R group, n = 7).

Multiple histopathological skin alterations in a hemodialysis patient with severe pruritus.

Pruritus is an alarming symptom in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) accompanied by sleep disturbances and physical and mental disorders. Although its prevalence is very high among hemodialysis patients (90%), its etiology and its successful treatment have been unconfirmed (Melo N, Elias R, Castro M, Romao G, Abensur H. Pruritus in hemodialysis patients: The problem still remains.

Successful non-surgical treatment of perirenal haematoma after percutaneous renal artery angioplasty in a solitary kidney.

Renal artery angioplasty with stent placement represents an effective choice for correcting renal artery stenosis. However, if iatrogenic renal artery injury occurs, as in the case of solitary kidney, the risk of requiring chronic dialysis increases. This article reports the case of a patient with a solitary kidney, who underwent renal stenting and developed a retroperitoneal haematoma.

Reversal of experimental posthepatectomy liver failure in pigs: a new application of hepatocyte bioreactors.

Postoperative liver failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after extensive hepatectomies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatocyte bioreactor in the treatment of experimental post-hepatectomy liver failure. Our experimental model included a combination of a side-to-side portacaval shunt, occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament for 150 min, 70% hepatectomy, and reperfusion.

Two cases of silent superior vena cava syndrome associated with vascular access and end-stage renal disease.

Due to the unavoidable use of indwelling devices and the magnitude of the operative problems encountered, superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) has become a serious threat for patients with a history of multiple catheter placements. True diagnosis sometimes is not available due to paucity of symptoms or due to the inadequate considerations of the disease. Particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease, the evidence of central venous occlusion dictates the avoidance of placing peripheral dialysis access in this extremity.

Cardiovascular risk factors in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients: a comparative study.

Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are prone to atherosclerotic cardiovascular complications. In an attempt to determine the significance of several atherosclerotic and thrombogenic parameters as risk factors for atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) in these patients, we compared two groups of non-diabetic HD patients matched for age and sex, selected according to the absence (group 1, n = 30) or presence (group 2, n = 30) of symptomatic atherothrombotic vascular disease affecting the coronary, cerebral, or peripheral arteries. Duration of HD, primary renal disease (PRD), presence of hypertension, EPO treatment, and smoking habits were recorded.

Telematics Service for Home and Satellite Hemodialysis.

Home hemodialysis (HD) for the treatment of end-stage renal disease was first implemented about 30 years ago. In this paper the application of telematics monitoring services for supporting patients who need home HD or satellite HD is described. Two modified HD machines were located in two renal units, and a central control station (CCS, UNIX workstation with multimedia PC terminal) was located in another room of the hospital.