The onset of Graves' disease during the clinical course of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis.

A 47-year old man presented with atrial fibrillation, weight loss, hand tremor, and hyperperspiration concurrent with the reactivation of the disease activity of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis. Laboratory findings indicated that the hyperthyroidism had already existed when glomerulonephritis was detected, and Graves' disease became evident while decreasing the dose of prednisolone. Although the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody, antithyroid peroxidase antibody, and myeloperoxidase antibody increased, both disease activities were suppressed by increasing the dose of prednisolone.

Serum mannose-binding lectin levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients: impact on all-cause mortality.

Background/aims: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is characteristic of an acute-phase-reacting protein like C-reactive protein (CRP). However, the prognostic value of the serum MBL level has not been examined. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the serum MBL level can predict all-cause mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Quantitative polymorphism of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Background: The level of complement receptor type 1 (CR1) on erythrocytes (E-CR1) is determined by the presence of high (H) or low (L) expression alleles. We investigated whether acquired loss of E-CR1 occurs in haemodialysis patients and, if so, which factors may contribute to acquired loss of E-CR1 in these patients.

Methods: The E-CR1 level was determined in 195 Japanese haemodialysis patients, and we selected patients with a high or low E-CR1 level.

Recombinant EPO therapy increases erythrocyte expression of complement regulatory proteins.

Background: One of the complications of hemodialysis (HD) therapy is anemia caused by erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency. Recombinant EPO (rEPO) has been used routinely as a supplemental treatment. Erythrocyte expression of the complement regulatory proteins decay accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59 restricts complement activation and inhibits hemolysis.

Significant elevations in serum mannose-binding lectin levels in patients with chronic renal failure.

Background/aims: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a liver-derived C-type serum lectin, activates the complement cascade through the lectin pathway. Since the complement system contributes to the host defense against infections and mediates inflammatory processes including atherosclerosis, and since chronic renal failure (CRF) patients are prone to the development of infectious complications and cardiovascular disease, we focused on serum MBL levels in CRF patients who were either uremic, or who were receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Methods: MBL levels were measured in the sera of subjects with CRF before they began dialysis treatment (pre-HD patients; n = 23) and in the sera of subjects who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD patients; n = 178), by ELISA using polyclonal anti-rabbit IgG and a monoclonal antibody directed against MBL (3E7).