Leprosy nephropathy: a review of clinical and histopathological features.

Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, highly incapacitating, and with systemic involvement in some cases. Renal involvement has been reported in all forms of the disease, and it is more frequent in multibacillary forms. The clinical presentation is variable and is determined by the host immunologic system reaction to the bacilli.

Proteinuria in adults with sickle-cell disease: the role of hydroxycarbamide(hydroxyurea) as a protective agent.

Background: Renal abnormalities are often seen in sickle cell disease (SCD).

Objective: To investigate the role of hydroxycarbamide as a protective agent in sickle cell nephropathy.

Setting: Patients with SCD followed at a Hematology outpatients clinic.

Depression among patients with end-stage renal disease in hemodialysis.

Depression is frequent in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and predicts mortality in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of depression among patients on hemodialysis. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at two hemodialysis centres in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, between September and October 2010.

Resolution of hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis without the use of corticosteroids.

Abstract. Hypercalcemia caused by tuberculosis is rare and it is usually asymptomatic. Tuberculosis (TB) -related hypercalcemia associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) is rarely reported.

Hyponatremia, acute kidney injury, and mortality in HIV-related toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Background: There are no reports on hyponatremia and acute kidney injury (AKI) involved in the course of HIV-related toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE). The main objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of hyponatremia and its relationship with AKI and mortality in HIV-related toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study on patients with HIV-related TE.

Multiple brown tumors causing spinal cord compression in association with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Brown tumor, a non-neoplastic process resulting from excess osteoclast activity, is found in primary hyperparathyroidism (HPTP) and secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTS). We report a rare case of multiple spinal cord compression by brown tumors.

Case Report: A 47-year-old male with end-stage renal disease caused by hypertensive nephrosclerosis, on hemodialysis for 10 years and diagnosed with severe HPTS, developed back pain and sudden onset of gait difficulties progressing to paraplegia.

Neck circumference, a bedside clinical feature related to mortality of acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical/demographic factors, sleep alterations and one year mortality in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This was a prospective study of 89 consecutive patients (mean age 64.39 ± 8.

Different patterns in a cohort of patients with severe leptospirosis (Weil syndrome): effects of an educational program in an endemic area.

The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in clinical pattern and therapeutic measures in leptospirosis-associated acute kidney injury; a retrospective study with 318 patients in Brazil. Patients were divided according to the time of admission: 1985-1996 (group I) and 1997-2010 (group II). Patients were younger in group I (36 ± 13 versus 41 ± 16 years, P = 0.

Risk factors for depressive symptoms in a large population on chronic hemodialysis.

Despite their significant influence on the quality of life, depressive symptoms are not usually included as a clinical parameter in the evaluation of hemodialysis patients. We aimed to identify depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in a large group of individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on chronic hemodialysis. This was a cross-sectional study of 400 consecutive patients.

Quality of sleep and day-time sleepiness in chronic hemodialysis: a study of 400 patients.

Objective: Impaired sleep has potential health consequences in chronic hemodialysis patients. To date, this issue has not been examined in studies involving a large number of subjects. This study aimed to identify factors associated with poor sleep quality and excessive day-time sleepiness (EDS) in dialysis patients.

RIFLE and Acute Kidney Injury Network classifications predict mortality in leptospirosis-associated acute kidney injury.

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in leptospirosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between RIFLE and AKIN classifications with mortality in leptospirosis-associated AKI.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in patients with leptospirosis admitted to tertiary hospitals in Brazil.

Acute kidney injury after trauma: Prevalence, clinical characteristics and RIFLE classification.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an uncommon but serious complication after trauma. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcome of AKI after trauma.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study performed from January 2006 to January 2008 in an emergency specialized hospital in Fortaleza city, northeast of Brazil.

Lithium nephrotoxicity.

Lithium has been widely used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Its renal toxicity includes impaired urinary concentrating ability and natriuresis, renal tubular acidosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis progressing to chronic kidney disease and hypercalcemia. The most common adverse effect is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, which affects 20-40% of patients within weeks of lithium initiation.

Restless legs syndrome in end-stage renal disease: Clinical characteristics and associated comorbidities.

Background: Despite being frequently described in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), clinical characteristics and comorbidities in association with restless legs syndrome (RLS) are still to be confirmed.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors associated with RLS in ESRD patients in hemodialysis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 400 patients on hemodialysis, evaluating RLS, clinical features and other sleep abnormalities.

Antimicrobial resistance of uropathogens in women with acute uncomplicated cystitis from primary care settings.

We assessed the antimicrobial resistance patterns of all urine samples submitted for culture from outpatient women aged ≥14 years with diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis over a 24-month period (2007-2009) in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. Only bacterial growth of a single uropathogen with ≥10(5) CFU/mL was considered for analysis. The Pearson's chi-square test was used for bivariate correlations.

Predictors of oliguric acute kidney injury in leptospirosis. A retrospective study on 196 consecutive patients.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 10 to 60% of patients with leptospirosis. The aim of this study is to investigate markers for oliguric AKI in leptospirosis.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed with 196 consecutive patients with leptospirosis-associated AKI.

Comparison between early and delayed acute kidney injury secondary to infectious disease in the intensive care unit.

Background: Results from a number of studies suggest that the delayed manifestation of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with higher in-hospital mortality, while other studies were unable to demonstrate any difference among early and delayed AKI in terms of in-hospital mortality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in outcome among patients with AKI upon admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and those who develop AKI post-admission.

Methods: We studied patients with AKI secondary to infectious diseases admitted to the ICU.

Acute kidney injury in an infectious disease intensive care unit - an assessment of prognostic factors.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in many infectious diseases. There are few studies to investigate risk factors for death in infectious diseases-associated AKI.

Methods: This is a retrospective study including all patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) admitted to an infectious diseases intensive care unit (ICU) in Brazil between October 2003 and September 2006.

Clinical and laboratory features of disseminated histoplasmosis in HIV patients from Brazil.

Objectives: To identify the main clinical and laboratory features of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and compare them with those of HIV patients with other opportunistic diseases.

Methods: Retrospective study of HIV patients comparing the clinical and laboratory data of patients with and without DH. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to verify the risk factors related to DH.

The renal osteodystrophy pattern in Brazil and Uruguay: an overview.

Background: The prevalence of the types of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) has changed in the last two decades. This study evaluates the prevalence and determining factors of the types of ROD in two countries in South America.

Methods: Symptomatic patients who underwent bone biopsies for diagnostic purposes (1985 through 2001) were included in the study.