Revisiting the Role of NAG across the Continuum of Kidney Disease.

Acute and chronic kidney diseases are an evolving continuum for which reliable biomarkers of early disease are lacking. The potential use of glycosidases, enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, in kidney disease detection has been under investigation since the 1960s. N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a glycosidase commonly found in proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs).

Stage II of Chronic Kidney Disease-A Tipping Point in Disease Progression?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive loss of renal function. Although advances have been made in understanding the progression of CKD, key molecular events in complex pathophysiological mechanisms that mark each stage of renal failure remain largely unknown. Changes in plasma protein profiles in different disease stages are important for identification of early diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets.

First Characterization of ADAMTS-4 in Kidney Tissue and Plasma of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease-A Potential Novel Diagnostic Indicator.

Background: We have previously shown that metzincin protease ADAMTS-4 accompanies renal fibrogenesis, as it appears in the blood of hemodialysis patients. Methods: Native kidney (NKB) and kidney transplant (TXCI) biopsy samples as well as plasma from patients with various stages of CKD were compared to controls. In paired analysis, 15 TXCI samples were compared with their zero-time biopsies (TX0).

The Role of HLA and KIR Immunogenetics in BK Virus Infection after Kidney Transplantation.

BK virus (BKV) is a polyomavirus with high seroprevalence in the general population with an unremarkable clinical presentation in healthy people, but a potential for causing serious complications in immunosuppressed transplanted patients. Reactivation or primary infection in kidney allograft recipients may lead to allograft dysfunction and subsequent loss. Currently, there is no widely accepted specific treatment for BKV infection and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy is the mainstay therapy.

Combined association of recipient killer cell immunoglobulin-like haplotype AA and donor HLA-C*07 gene with BK virus associated nephropathy in kidney transplant patients.

Kidney transplant recipient killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) genotype and HLA-C status of their donors have been separately associated with BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) and BK virus infection. Our aim was to determine whether different combinations of recipients KIR genes and donor HLA-C ligands influence the risk of BKVAN. Retrospective case-control study included 23 recipients with BKVAN and 46 recipients with persistently negative BK virus.

Anemia Is Correlated with Malnutrition and Inflammation in Croatian Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Multicenter Nationwide Study.

Malnutrition, inflammation, and anemia are common in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. In this study, correlations between Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS), laboratory and anthropometric parameters, and anemia indices in Croatian PD patients were analyzed. One hundred and one PD patients (males/females 54/47, age 58.

[Effect of pretransplant dialysis modality on incidence of early posttransplant infections in kidney recipients].

Introduction: Infection is one of the main causes of patient death and graft failure early after kidney transplantation. Effect of pretransplant dialysis modality on incidence of infections after kidney transplantation still remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of pre-transplant dialysis modality on incidence urinary tract infections (UTI) and sepsis in early posttransplant period in kidney transplant recipients.

[Disseminated aspergillosis in a patient with simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant].

A 31-year-old woman suffering from diabetes type1 and terminal kidney disease, with simultaneously transplanted kidney and pancreas, developed an episode of acute organ rejection caused by antibodies. The management of organ rejection was complicated by cytomegalovirus viremia, with accompanying leukopenia and neutropenia. The patient also developed invasive aspergillosis of the lungs, which progressed and disseminated hematogenously to the thyroid gland and the skin.

Polyomavirus associated nephropathy after kidney and pancreas transplantation: case report.

Polyomavirus virus associated nephropathy (PVAN) is an important cause of graft failure in the renal transplant population. The prevalence of PVAN has increased from 1% to 10% in the past decade, leading to loss of transplanted organ in 30% to 80% of cases. In the absence of specific antiviral drugs, early detection of disease and modification/reduction of immunosuppressive regimen is currently the cornerstone of therapy.

First documented case of BK nephropathy in kidney transplant recipient in Croatia: usage of urine cytology in evaluation process.

BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in transplanted kidney, although recognized as a distinct entity in the 1970-es, continues to represent a challenge in kidney transplantation, mainly because the optimal treatment approach has not been determined yet. The fact that about 10-20% of patients have simultaneously some stage of acute rejection, complicate the treatment even more. Herein we present a case of BK nephropathy in the patient, one year after combined liver and kidney transplantation, complicated by episode of acute T-cell mediated rejection.

[Diabetic nephropathy and primary glomarular diseases].

The primary glomerular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus is rare. Several reports have shown that primary glomerular diseases can be superimposed on diabetic nephropathy. The recognition of nondiabetic glomerular diseases in diabetic patients is of utmost importance since they might be successfully treated.

Unusual presentation of herpes zoster in an immunocompromised patient: case report.

We present a case of an immunocompromised patient with unusual presentation of herpes zoster infection. After having been treated with corticosteroids for several weeks, the patient developed the zoster infection with atypical clinical course and skin localization. Parenteral treatment with acyclovir for 10 days resulted in a complete clinical resolution of the skin lesions.