Effect of comorbidities on survival in patients >80 years of age at onset of renal replacement therapy: data from the ERA-EDTA Registry.

Background: The number of elderly patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) is increasing. The survival and quality of life of these patients may be lower if they have multiple comorbidities at the onset of RRT. The aim of this study was to explore whether the effect of comorbidities on survival is similar in elderly RRT patients compared with younger ones.

Effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil in C3 glomerulonephritis.

C3 glomerulonephritis is a clinicopathologic entity defined by the presence of isolated or dominant deposits of C3 on immunofluorescence. To explore the effect of immunosuppression on C3 glomerulonephritis, we studied a series of 60 patients in whom a complete registry of treatments was available over a median follow-up of 47 months. Twenty patients had not received immunosuppressive treatments.

[MALT B cell lymphoma with kidney damage and monoclonal gammopathy: a case study and literature review].

We report a case of low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) involving the left kidney and simultaneous onset of a monoclonal gammopathy IgM kappa. No predisposing local inflammatory condition was identified. Following left nephrectomy, the renal specimen showed the centrocyte like cells and lymphoid cells in the lymphoepithelial lesions were positive for CD20 and CD79α.

[Utility of cystatin-C in hospitalized patients. Comparing with different methods of assessing renal function].

Serum creatinine is the most widely use parameter to assessing renal function, even though limitations, some time is necessary measure 24 h creatinine clearance (CLcr), or estimate Cockroft-Gault (C-G) or MDRD formulas. Different methods can offer different results, and cause confusion in clinicians. Using Cystatin-C as new parameter of renal function could suppose an important improvement.

[Massive inferior vena cava thrombosis in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic hepatorenal disease].

We report a 68-year-old man with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, who developed multiple venous thromboses (inferior vena cava, left renal vein and iliofemoral veins) caused by local compression of the intrahepatic inferior vena cava by hepatic cysts. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of inferior vena cava thrombosis caused by hepatic cysts compression. Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were effective in documenting the venous thromboses and the underlying lesions non-invasively.

[Arterial hypertension and renal vascular disease: nephroangiosclerosis].

Nephroangiosclerosis and nephrosclerosis are terms used to define the renal disease induced by essential hypertension. The predominant histologic changes occur in the preglomerular microvasculature. Epidemiological data about the risk of hypertensive patients from developing renal failure offer conflicting results.

Hypercalcemia, inappropriate calcitriol levels, and tuberculosis on hemodialysis.

We describe a female patient undergoing hemodialysis who developed tuberculosis, hypercalcemia, and inappropriately elevated calcitriol levels. These findings suggest ectopic production of calcitriol by tuberculous granulomas. Successful treatment of tuberculosis led to a substantial decrease in the levels of calcium and calcitriol.

Left atrial calcification in a hemodialysis patient with cor triatriatum.

Myocardial calcification is a rare manifestation of abnormal calcium metabolism seen in some patients with chronic renal failure. This report describes the transesophageal echocardiographic and spiral computed tomography (CT) findings in a young hemodialysis female with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. These findings included calcification of the multiperforated membrane of a cor triatriatum and the wall of the left atrium.

Sequential development of pulmonary hemorrhage with MPO-ANCA complicating anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis.

We report a case of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis caused by anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies that progressed to end-stage renal disease in a 67-year-old woman with diabetes. Intensive combined immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone bolus, oral prednisone, and cyclophosphamide led to negativity of anti-GBM antibodies but was not able to restore renal function. After 28 months of hemodialysis, the patient suddenly presented with pulmonary hemorrhage.

Control of cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant patients treated with prednisone, azathioprine and cyclosporine using intensive monitoring and decreased immunosuppression.

Background: The aim of this trial was to study the effectiveness of intensive monitoring, together with an early decrease in immunosuppression, in reducing the prevalence of CMV disease in renal transplant recipients treated with prednisone, azathioprine and cyclosporine.

Methods: From 1/95 to 11/97 a prospective, longitudinal study was conducted among 146 consecutive, unselected, renal transplant patients in our unit. Only 96 patients whose immunosuppressive regimens consisted of prednisone, azathioprine and cyclosporine and whose follow-up period was greater than 4 months were included in the study.