Observational Study of a French and Belgian Multicenter Cohort of 23 Patients Diagnosed in Adulthood With Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and biological features of Mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) in patients diagnosed in adulthood. This is a French and Belgian observational retrospective study from 2000 to 2014. To constitute the cohort, we cross-check the genetic and biochemical databases.

Serum creatinine improves body mass index survival prediction in hemodialysis patients: a 1-year prospective cohort analysis from the ARNOS study.

Objective: This study sought to better characterize the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and lean body mass (LBM) as assessed by serum creatinine (SCr) and mortality.

Design: The data were collected from a prospective prevalent cohort in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Setting: The study was carried out in 25 dialysis units in Rhônes Alpes area (France and Switzerland).

Confounding factors for early death in incident end-stage renal disease patients: Role of emergency dialysis start.

Hemodialysis (HD) has been associated with higher 1-year mortality than peritoneal dialysis (PD) after dialysis start. Confounding effects of late referral, emergency dialysis start, or start with central venous catheter on this association have never been studied concomitantly. Survival was studied among the 495 incident dialysed patients in our department from 1995 to 2006 and followed at least 1 year until December 31, 2007.

Interleukin 17 acts in synergy with B cell-activating factor to influence B cell biology and the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Studies have suggested involvement of interleukin 17 (IL-17) in autoimmune diseases, although its effect on B cell biology has not been clearly established. Here we demonstrate that IL-17 alone or in combination with B cell-activating factor controlled the survival and proliferation of human B cells and their differentiation into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. This effect was mediated mainly through the nuclear factor-kappaB-regulated transcription factor Twist-1.

Rituximab in severe lupus nephritis: early B-cell depletion affects long-term renal outcome.

Background And Objectives: Standard treatment for lupus nephritis, including corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, is efficient but is still associated with refractory or relapsing disease, or severe deleterious effects. Rituximab, a monoclonal chimeric anti-B cell antibody, is increasingly used in patients with lupus nephritis, but reported series were small and had a short follow-up.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The authors analyzed clinical and histologic data of 20 patients who were treated with rituximab for lupus nephritis and followed up for at least 12 mo.

Poor prognosis of heart transplant patients with end-stage renal failure.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal failure (ESRF) are major complications after a heart transplant. The aim of this study is to compare survival in heart transplant (HT) vs non-heart transplant (non-HT) patients starting dialysis.

Methods: Survival was studied among the 539 newly dialysed patients between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2005 in our Department.