Prevalence of malnutrition for elderly hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: The prevalence of the terminal chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis is rising steadily especially for the elderly. Its evolution is fraught with complications including protein-energy malnutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predominance of protein-energy malnutrition among elderly hemodialysis patients.

Light chain nephropathy.

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is characterized by the tissue deposition of monotypic immunoglobulin light chains of either kappa or lambda isotype. It is the archetypal systemic disease that is most frequently diagnosed on a kidney biopsy, although the deposits may involve several other organs. This brief review focuses on the clinicopathological features of LCDD-associated nephropathy with an emphasis on the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties related to this elusive condition.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: identification of two polymorphisms.

The identification of polymorphism A4059V associated with the 12276 A>G at exon 45 of the PKD1 gene in a Tunisian polycystic patient.

Social aspects of kidney donation in Tunisia: a study of 189 living related donors.

Introduction: Our aim was to study the demographic and social characteristics of 189 living related kidney donors in Tunisia, and explore some of the social consequences of kidney donation.

Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study of 189 living related kidney donors who had their nephrectomy in Charles Nicolle Hospital between 1986 and 2009. The demographic and social characteristics at the time of donation were studied and changes in the social and occupational status after donation were assessed.

Chronic graft versus host disease and nephrotic syndrome.

Disturbed kidney function is a common complication after bone marrow transplantation. Recently, attention has been given to immune-mediated glomerular damage related to graft versus host disease (GVHD). We describe a 19-year-old woman who developed membranous glomerulonephritis after bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

Polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor-4 and CD14 in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and its co-receptor CD14 play a major role in innate immunity by recognizing PAMPs and signal the activation of adaptive responses. These receptors can recognize endogenous ligands mainly auto-antigens. In addition, TLR4 (Asp299Gly) and CD14 (C/T -159) polymorphisms (SNPs) may modify qualitatively and/or quantitatively their expression.

Chronic inflammatory rheumatism associated with Takayasu disease.

Takayasu disease is rarely associated with other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the cases discussued herein are uncommon because we are reporting Takayasu disease associated with rheumatoid polyarthritis and spondylarthropathy. The first case concerns a 40-year-old woman presenting with Takayasu disease 11 years after the diagnosis of erosive and seronegative rheumatoid polyarthritis.

First case of subcutaneous dermatomycoses in a Tunisian renal transplant patient.

Background: Dermatophytes are keratinophilic and usually infect the corneal layer of the epidermis and appendages On the occasion of immunosuppression, such as solid organ transplant, they can invade deeper tissues or cause an infection of the skin and subcutaneous disseminated.

Aim: To report the first observation of subcutaneous dematophytosis in a Tunisian renal transplant patient.

Case Report: A 29-year-old man had an erythematous lesion of 2 cm at the front of the left leg.

An unusual presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism: pathological fracture.

Primary hyperparathyroidism revealed by a pathological fracture is very uncommon. We present a case of a 54-year-old female patient who was admitted with fracture of her right femur. She underwent closed intramedullary reconstruction nailing with bipolar locking.

Brown tumors in patients with chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism: report of 12 cases.

Brown tumors are unusual but serious complications of renal osteodystrophy. We retrospectively studied 12 patients presenting with chronic renal failure and brown tumor related to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Eleven patients were on chronic hemodialysis.

[Renal involvement in Behcet's disease].

Background: Renal involvement in the Behcet's disease is rare. The clinical features vary from urinary sediment's abnormalities to ESRD.

Aim: We propose to study the clinical, biological and histological data, the therapeutic management and the prognosis of patients.

Efficacy of low-dose oral sulodexide in the management of diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the single greatest cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Without specific interventions, microalbuminuria (incipient nephropathy) gradually progresses to macroalbuminuria (overt nephropathy) within 10-15 years in about 80% of type 1 and 30% of type 2 diabetic patients, and to ESRD within further 20 years in about 75% and 20%, respectively. A primary alteration in DN consists of decreased concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the glomerular extracellular matrix.

[Renal amyloidosis during Behçet's disease. Study of one case].

Background: Amyloidosis in Behçet's disease is rare and has a poor outcome.

Aim: Report a new case.

Case: We report a case of a 38-year-old Tunisian woman who presented with Behçet's disease and nephrotic syndrome.

[Cardiovascular manifestations in ankylosing spondylitis. Concerning 210 cases].

Background: To analyse and discuss cardiovascular manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis, evaluate the frequency and giving special attention to unusual forms.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 21 cases with cardiovascular manifestations among 210 cases of ankylosing spondylitis seen over a 25 years period who met the Amor criteria.

Results: Cardiovascular complications were found in 21 patients (10%): 5 (2.