Implementation of guidelines for metabolic syndrome control in kidney transplant recipients: results at a single center.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for cardiovascular events and decreases graft survival. Lately, guidelines for management of the metabolic syndrome, primarily hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypercholesterolemia have dramatically changed in an attempt to decrease cardiovascular risks among kidney transplant recipients.

Sympathetic nervous system function and dysfunction in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Adequate sympathetic nervous system activation is essential for the compensatory mechanisms of blood pressure maintenance during the hemodialysis (HD) procedure. Chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity, however, may lead to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in HD patients. The present review focuses on recent findings on the sympathetic nervous system activity in these patients.

Sympathetic activation and baroreflex function during intradialytic hypertensive episodes.

Background: The mechanisms of intradialytic increases in blood pressure are not well defined. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of autonomic nervous system activation during intradialytic hypertensive episodes.

Methodology/principal Findings: Continuous interbeat intervals (IBI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were monitored during hemodialysis in 108 chronic patients.

Fabry disease and G6PD in three family members with priapism: is the nitric oxide pathway to blame?

Introduction: Fabry disease is an X-linked multisystem disorder due to alpha galactosidase A deficiency leading to glycosphingolipid accumulation with a predilection for the vascular endothelium and affecting the cardiovascular, renal, and neurologic systems.

Aim: To report a familial cluster of priapism in three males from a family with Fabry disease and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and discuss possible mechanisms.

Methods: Patient charts, Fabry registry, and literature review.

Baroreflex sensitivity and sympatho-vagal balance during intradialytic hypotensive episodes.

Objectives: The role of the baroreflex function in the pathogenesis of hemodialysis-associated hypotension is controversial. Complex demodulation technique (CDM), providing continuous assessment of the amplitude of cardiovascular oscillation over time, is particularly suitable to assess dynamic changes in autonomic nervous system and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) during dialysis. In the present study, CDM was used to determine the effects of dialysis treatment on BRS and to characterize BRS changes during acute intradialytic hypotension.