Mechanism of cystogenesis in nephrotic kidneys: a histopathological study.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is pathological condition characterized by heavy proteinuria. Our study investigates hypothesis that change in cell proliferation of proximal tubules influences primary cilia structure and function and promotes cystogenesis in congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Methods: CNF kidneys were analyzed genetically.

Disparities in policies, practices and rates of pediatric kidney transplantation in Europe.

We aimed to provide an overview of kidney allocation policies related to children and pediatric kidney transplantation (KTx) practices and rates in Europe, and to study factors associated with KTx rates. A survey was distributed among renal registry representatives in 38 European countries. Additional data were obtained from the ESPN/ERA-EDTA and ERA-EDTA registries.

Impact of graft loss among kidney diseases with a high risk of post-transplant recurrence in the paediatric population.

Background: Some kidney diseases tend to recur in the renal allograft after transplantation. We studied the risk of graft loss among primary renal diseases known for their high risk of recurrence and compared it with that of patients with hypoplasia and/or dysplasia.

Methods: Within the European Society of Paediatric Nephrology and European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ESPN/ERA-EDTA) registry, we studied children from 33 countries who received a kidney transplant before the age of 20 between 1990 and 2009.

[Preemptive kidney transplantation in children--experience in UHC Zagreb].

Aim: To discuss preemptive kidney transplantation outcomes in children with end stage kidney disease.

Methods: We present the data of patients younger than 18 years who were transplanted without previous dialysis in our Clinic. We retrospectively analyzed data available in medical health records.

[Outcome of renal transplantation in patients with chronic virus hepatitis].

The objective is to present results of renal transplantation in patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic virus C/B hepatitis. We retrospectively reviewed outcome of transplantation in patients having received renal allograft from 1985 to 2009 at Zagreb University Hospital Center: graft function, graft and patient survival, hepatic function, and complications of transplantation, i.e.

Treatment of steroid unresponsive relapse with plasma exchange in aggressive multiple sclerosis.

The options for treating steroid unresponsive relapses in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are modest. We present a small series of patients with an aggressive course of RRMS whose steroid unresponsive relapses were treated with plasma exchange. In the period from January 2007 until February 2009 we identified four patients with steroid unresponsive relapses.

[Characteristics of anaemia treatment in children with chronic kidney disease].

In children with chronic kidney disease anaemia is seen very often. Depending of etiology and the degree of renal insufficiency is found up to 80%. The cause is mainly because of lowered production of erythropoietin in chronically damaged kidney, but also because of insufficient intake of iron and folic acid, or intake of some drugs.

Bone density in renal transplant recipients and in patients with chronic kidney disease: a follow-up study in children and adolescents.

Aims: Disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this follow-up study was to compare the change of bone mineral density in patients with chronic kidney disease to those who have received the renal transplant.

Methods: The study included 47 children and adolescents: 16 with mild to moderate kidney disease, 14 on dialysis and 17 patients with renal transplant.

The life-threatening hemodialysis catheter heparin lock caused bleeding in a child after peritoneal catheter removal.

Hemodialysis catheter patency is regularly maintained by high-concentration heparin filling, according to manufacturer's recommendation. Surprisingly, there are only few reports on serious bleeding complications in children on dialysis. A case of serious, life-threatening hemorrhage in a child after tunneled peritoneal catheter removal because of hemodialysis catheter heparin lock flushing is described.

[Clinical and histopathological characteristics of biopsy-proven renal diseases in Croatia].

There is little data on the spectrum of renal diseases in children in Croatia. The Croatian Society for Pediatric Nephrology has established the Registry of Biopsy-Proven Renal Diseases in an attempt to address this issue nationwide. Here we report preliminary results of a retrospective analysis of clinical and histopathological data of 565 children aged < or =17 years presenting to 9 hospitals in Croatia from 1991 to 2004, in whom kidney biopsy was performed.

[Three-year-old boy--a homozygote for familiar hypercholesterolemia].

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. It occurs with a frequency of approximately 1 per million persons world-wide. Clinically, homozygous FH is associated with extremely elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and cutaneous xanthomas that develop in early childhood.

Complications of therapeutic plasma exchange: experience with 4857 treatments.

Plasma exchange (PE) is a technique of extracorporeal blood purification which removes large molecular weight substances from plasma. The Department of Dialysis, Zagreb University Hospital Center's database, which includes data on 509 patients, or 4857 PE treatments, was retrospectively analyzed to test the safety of PE. A total of 231 adverse reactions were recorded (4.

Does mycophenolate mofetil increase the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease compared with azathioprine after cadaveric kidney transplantation?

Although most of the published papers had not found increase in the incidence of CMV disease in kidney transplant recipients treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), we had feeling from everyday practice that after its introduction number of patients with CMV disease has increased. To test this hypothesis, we performed retrospective analysis of our database, comparing the incidence of CMV disease in patients treated with azathioprine (AZA) and patients treated with MMF. CMV disease was defined as CMV antigenemia (positive CMV pp65 determined by ELISA test) plus any of the following: decrease leucocytes or platelets, increased transaminases, increase in serum creatinine.

Interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and bone markers after kidney transplantation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, IL-6 soluble receptors, and biochemical parameters of bone turnover after kidney transplantation. Of 64 patients enrolled in the study, 19 received the kidney transplant 2 to 12 months before the study, and 45 within the previous 15 to 175 months. We measured IL-6, TGF-beta 1, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), and procollagen type I propeptide (P1CP) concentrations in the serum, and deoxypyridinoline crosslinks (DPD) in the urine of the patients.

[Primary cytomegalovirus infection after combined cadaveric transplantation of the liver and kidney].

Seronegative transplant recipients are at a high risk of developing primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The D+/R--constellation produces a 60%-80% probability of CMV disease. In such cases CMV prophylaxis is justified.

[Long-term monitoring of children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and a transplanted kidney].

Introduction: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome and end-stage renal disease. Children with FSGS are at a risk of recurrence of disease following renal transplantation. The rate of recurrence has been estimated to range from 15% to 50%, having a potentially detrimental course towards the loss of renal function.

Platelet serotonin concentration in dialysis patients with somatic symptoms of depression.

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration was measured in 65 male and 45 female chronic renal patients on hemodialysis (HD) with different somatic symptoms of depression (crying spells, irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigability, loss of appetite, weight loss, somatic preoccupation and loss of libido), to find out the relationship between the severity of symptoms and platelet 5-HT concentration. Male and female patients had significantly lower platelet 5-HT concentration than 62 male and 38 female healthy subjects. Gender-differences in platelet 5-HT values observed in healthy subjects were not found in patients.

Assessment of difference between calculated and measured blood hydrogen carbonate concentration by anion gap.

Differences between calculated and measured hydrogen carbonate concentrations can pose a serious problem not only in monitoring severely ill patients, but also in those on hemodialysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of estimation of differences between the calculated and measured hydrogen carbonate concentration by anion gap. The study included patients from regular hemodialysis program, and from Departments of Surgery, of Neurology and of Internal Medicine.

Biochemical parameters of bone turnover in kidney transplant recipients.

Impairment of bone remodelling due to chronic renal failure persists even after successful kidney transplantation. Bone turnover was assessed in 22 kidney transplant recipients by measurement of serum bone markers: total (tALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (bALP), osteocalcin (OC), procollagen I C-terminal propeptide (PICP), collagen I C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP), and iPTH. The patients were on dialysis 56.

Evolution of renal replacement therapy in Central and Eastern Europe 7 years after political and economical liberation. Central and Eastern Europe Advisory Board in Chronic Renal Failure.

Purpose Of The Study: The conditions of renal replacement therapy (RRT) were very poor in the countries located in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) when they were members of the so-called 'socialist bloc'. The aim of the present analysis was to document the impact of the socioeconomic changes on dialysis therapy in the CEE countries.

Design: This was a special survey with the participation of 12 CEE countries, with data obtained through national registries (with the exception of Russia).

Treatment of end-stage renal disease in central and eastern Europe: overview of current status and future needs.

The situation of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in central and eastern Europe was very poor for many years during the so called socialistic era. Economical and political liberation resulted in the significant growth of renal replacement facilities in this region. The number of hemodialysis units increased significantly (56%) during the period 1990-1996, and the number of patients treated with this modality has risen by 75%.

Aluminium in water for preparation of dialysate and in serum of dialysed patients.

The aim of this study was to develop and verify the electrothermal atomic absorption method for aluminium determination in human serum and correlate the concentration of aluminium in serum of patients on dialysis and in water for preparation of dialysate. Two centres were included: centre A with accidentally enhanced concentration of aluminium in water for preparation of dialysate and centre B with very low water aluminium. Aluminium level in serum of healthy people was also analysed.

Bioequivalence of two oral cyclosporine preparations.

A comparison of bioequivalence of two cyclosporine (CAS 59865-13-3) preparations was performed. Ten cyclosporine treated patients with transplanted kidneys were included. Criteria were successful transplantation and minimum period from transplantation of at least 6 months.