Diagnosis and outcome of renal function in patients with renal artery stenosis: which role have color Doppler sonography and magnetic resonance angiography?

Aim: Minimally invasive diagnostic techniques would be useful in the preoperative diagnosis of patients with hypertension and ischemic renal disease. The aim of our study was to compare color Doppler sonography (CDS), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with the reference standard, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), in the diagnosis of renal artery stenosis.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients with arterial hypertension and monolateral or bilateral renal artery stenosis documented by CDS underwent renal artery MRA and then DSA during corrective percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Relationship of asymmetric dimethylarginine to haemodialysis hypotension.

Hypotension is one of the major complications in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD), that is well evident in patients defined as "hypotension-prone." The mechanisms underlying the hypotensive episodes are not known. We carried out a clinical study on hypotension-prone HD patients to test the existence of a dysregulation in the nitric oxide (NO) generating pathway.

Low-contrast medium doses for ultrasound imaging during renal revascularization by PTA-stenting.

Background: To evaluate the incidence of progressive renal damage in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and renal-artery stenosis undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTA-stenting), color Doppler ultrasound (CDU)-guided, a procedure requiring low-contrast medium doses, or digital subtraction angiography were compared.

Methods: Thirty patients with renal artery stenosis and severe renal insufficiency underwent PTA-stenting for revascularization, 15 patients with CDU guidance and 15 patients with standard selective digital subtraction angiography (SDSA). Serum creatinine (Cr) concentrations were compared in the two groups at 6 days and 12 months after revascularization.

Effect of alpha-tocopherol and N-acetylcysteine on benzoyl peroxide toxicity in human keratinocytes.

Benzoyl peroxide is a free-radical generating compound widely used in the polymer industry and also in pharmaceuticals as antimicrobial agent to treat acne. However, benzoyl peroxide causes irritation and contact dermatitis in about 1% of patients. Concern over the use of this compound is motivated by the demonstration that it can also act as skin tumor promoter in mice.

Color Doppler ultrasound guidance during renal angioplasty and stenting.

Purpose: To investigate whether an imaging technique combining color Doppler ultrasonography and selective renal artery digital subtraction angiography reduces contrast requirements in patients with progressive renal insufficiency undergoing renal artery angioplasty and stenting.

Methods: Eight patients (5 men; mean age 58 years) with renal artery stenosis and renal insufficiency underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting under color Doppler ultrasound guidance.

Results: Color Doppler ultrasound imaging yielded the information necessary for verifying catheter position, stent placement and expansion, and hemodynamics after revascularization.