[GBV-C/HGV, a new virus as one possible cause of hepatitis of unknown etiology].

For etiologically obscure (some 4%) viral hepatitis agents are sought and tested to make elucidation of their cause possible. One of the candidates is since 1995 the newly discovered virus GBV-C/HGV. Despite intense research its relationship to viral hepatitis of obscure origin (VHN) has not been elucidated so far.

[Evaluation of the adequacy of hemodialysis from the aspect of urea kinetics models].

Background: One of the widely used indicators of adequacy of haemodialysis (HD) is assessment of the Kt/V of urea (K-dialysis clearance of urea, t-time of haemodialysis, V-distribution volume of urea). Work accomplished in recent years suggests that when the HD is adequate, the value of Kt/V should be 1.5.

[Kinetics of phosphorus in individuals on regular dialysis therapy].

In eight subjects with hyperphosphataemia included in regular dialyzation treatment repeatedly phosphorus kinetics (iP) were assessed based on changes in serum concentrations and the amount of iP removed from the organism during every dialysis (D). The serum concentration of iP before dialysis (HD) was on average 3.06 (+/- 0.

[A nutritionally defined liquid diet for hemodialyzed patients].

Background: For patients having regular haemodialysis there are no suitable complete preparations for general use in case intensive treatment is needed. Nutrilac renal is a new preparation of a nutritionally defined liquid diet corresponding as to its composition to the needs of haemodialyzed patients. The purpose of the present work was to assess whether this preparation when administered as a supplement will have a favourable effect on the nutritional parameters of haemodialyzed patients.

[Renal excretion of amino acids in patients on a regular dialysis program].

In 10 patients with chronic renal failure and a polyfructosan S clearance (CPFS): 1.91-12.70 ml/min (mean 5.

[Therapy in kidney transplant rejection using murine monoclonal IgG2a A1CD3 (Cedetrin)].

Background: One of the substances used in recent years to suppress immune reactions after organ and tissue transplantations is mouse IgG2a globulin which acts selectively on CD3 lymphocytes; it is known under the name of Orthoclone (Ortho Co.) An analogous preparation was developed in the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, although the idiotype is different. The authors submit a report on the experience with treatment of rejection of transplanted kidneys.

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy investigation of skeletal muscle metabolism in uraemic patients.

Using the method of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy we examined 17 patients with moderately advanced chronic renal insufficiency, 21 patients with chronic renal failure treated by haemodialysis, and 15 dialyzed patients with symptomatic renal osteopathy. The ratios of intracellular phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate concentrations of these subjects measured at rest were compared with those found in healthy controls. While we noted significantly lower (p < 0.

[Preventive administration of antithymocyte globulin in combined immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin A, azathioprine and prednisone in kidney transplantation].

Forty-five patients after transplantation of the kidney from a dead donor were treated by a triple combination of cyclosporin A, azathioprine and prednisone. In patients where during the first two days after transplantation the function of the graft was not restored, cyclosporin A was reduced and treatment supplemented by a combination of four by prophylactic administration of ATG for a period of 7 days. A total of 18 patients had a complete prophylactic dose of ATG.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin before and after renal and heart allotransplantation and in infection.

Unlabelled: beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) serum levels were significantly elevated in patients waiting for kidney transplantation. The levels decreased after successful transplantation, even when they were never as low as in a control group of healthy blood donors. A higher amount of serum (s-) beta 2-m was observed also in heart transplant recipients.

CMV infection in patients with chronic renal failure and in those following transplantation.

Serum anti-CMV IgG was found in 62% of healthy blood donors. Patients in a chronic haemodialysis programme were seropositive in 80%, and kidney graft recipients in 93 to 100%, depending on the post-transplantation period. Median of the IgG titre was 1:10 in healthy persons, 1:80 in dialysed patients, and 1:40 in graft recipients.

The effect of perioperative hydration in allogenic renal graft recipients.

The authors evaluated the effect of perioperative hydration by 20% human albumin, packed red blood cells (RBC) and saline in allogenic renal graft recipients. In the group of recipients selectively hydrated, the incidence of postoperative oligoanuria decreased from the initial 62 to 25.7% compared with 50% in the group of nonhydrated patients.

Schematic and controlled immunosupression after renal allotransplantation.

On the basis of 15-years' experience with the allogeneic transplantation of the kidney, the authors present recommendations, concerning the dosage of azathioprine and prednisone (methylprednisolone) during the schematic immunosuppression. There are favourable first experiences with the immunosuppression controlled according to continuous following of the count of lymphocytes able to form rosettes E (degree of immunosuppression) and that of functional granulocytes (toxicity).

Miliary tuberculosis in a patient after renal transplantation.

A report is presented on the first case of miliary tuberculosis in a group of 84 kidney transplant recipients treated in the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, until March 1976. The specific process was verified by bacteriological investigations of the sputum and urine. Productive specific tuberculoid-type nodules with sporadically occurring acidoresistant rods were detected in a bioptic specimen of the transplanted kidney.