High prevalence in Switzerland of pure red-cell aplasia due to anti-erythropoietin antibodies in chronic dialysis patients: report of five cases.

Background: Pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) after erythropoietin (Epo) administration due to the appearance of neutralizing anti-Epo antibodies has been reported in over 200 cases between 1998 and 2002. However, large intercountry disparities were observed in the occurrence of this syndrome.

Methods: On behalf of the Swiss Society of Nephrology, a survey was conducted in all the dialysis units of Switzerland in order to collect information on the occurrence, diagnostic and evolution data of the cases observed.

Evaluation of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus-infected renal allograft recipients with liver biopsy and noninvasive parameters.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease are at high risk for hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Because therapy indication for viral hepatitis depends on virologic, biochemical, and histologic criteria, liver biopsy usually is necessary. Recently, a panel of serum fibrosis markers has been postulated to allow quantification of liver fibrosis by noninvasive means.