Effect of altitude on mortality of end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis in Peru.

Background: In Latin America, the prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has risen tremendously during the last decade. Previous studies have suggested that receiving dialysis at high altitude confers mortality benefits; however, this effect has not been demonstrated at >2000 m above sea level (masl) or in developing countries.

Methods: This historical cohort study analyzed medical records from six Peruvian hemodialysis (HD) centers located at altitudes ranging from 44 to 3827 masl.

Glomerulonephritis and cryoglobulinemia: first manifestation of visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania Infantum is an endemic parasitic infection in the Mediterranean area. Since 2009, Europe's largest outbreak of Leishmaniasis has been reported in the region of Madrid (Spain). Renal involvement is an unusual complication.

Geriatric assessment for therapeutic decision-making regarding renal replacement in elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Unlabelled: In patients older than 75 years with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), the decision between treatment with dialysis [intention to treat with dialysis (ITD)] or conservative care (CC) is a challenge. Geriatric assessment can be helpful. The aim was to identify which factors had had an influence on decision-making.

Sodium chloride 0.9% versus Lactated Ringer in the management of severely dehydrated patients with choleriform diarrhoea.

Introduction: Although experience within Peru suggests clinical and physiological benefits of treating dehydration caused by diarrhoea with Lactated Ringer's solution (LR) over sodium chloride 0.9%, (NaCl) there is little documented scientific evidence supporting this view. It is important to clarify this issue and determine the best solution for use during epidemics.

Lack of influence of serum magnesium levels on overall mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background. Low serum magnesium has been associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in the general population and in dialysis patients. Our aim was to analyze the influence of serum magnesium on overall mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with advanced CKD not yet on dialysis.

Serum alkaline phosphatase levels and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: High levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) have been associated with increased mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesize that elevated ALP could be partly explained by subclinical liver congestion related to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Methods: Doppler echocardiography was performed in 68 patients with advanced CKD followed up for a median of 2.

[Precision of ELISA-IgE and ELISA-IgG determination in the postoperative follow-up of patients with hepatic echinococcosis].

Introduction: Follow-up of patients undergoing surgery for hepatic echinococcosis (HE) is essential to ensure the absence of infection. The aim of this study was to determine the behavior over time of specific IgG and IgE to Echinococcus granulosus determined by the ELISA technique (ELISA-IgG and ELISA-IgE) in patients undergoing surgery for HE.

Material And Method: We performed a concurrent cohort study of patients who underwent surgery for HE between 1994 and 2003 in the Regional Hospital of Temuco, Chile.

[Does extracorporeal lithotripsy causes hearing loss?].

Introduction: The electrohydraulic lithotripter has revolutiomised the treatment of urolithiasis. It produces shock waves by electrical discharge in water associated at a noise. We know that the hearing damage is above 85 decibels.

[Our experience with 1 mg BCG vaccine instillation in T1 stage cancer of the bladder].

Unlabelled: We studied 67 patients with bladder cancer in stage T1, with terminated BCG treatment and in pursuit. No stage Ta neither carcinoma in situ was included. The protocol was: beginning of treatment upon retiring vesical catheter, instilation of 1 mg of liofilized BCG vaccine (16 x 10(6) bacilles) in 40-50 ml of intravesical saline solution.

[Evaluation of prostatic specific antigen after a digital rectal examination: experience with 36 patients].

Levels of prostatic specific antigen may be modified with procedures over the prostatic gland. We measured this antigen in 36 hospitalized patients before and immediately after a digital rectal examination. Antigen levels were 8.

[Treatment of bladder neoplasm: vesical instillation of BCG vaccine in microdoses].

We administered BCG at microdoses (1 mg) to 34 patients after surgical operation for bladder cancer, from 1981 to 1989. A 9% recurrency rate was observed during a 42 month follow up period. This is not significantly different from that observed with 120 mg doses, which are associated to known complications.