Enemy or friend: the personal and the factual patient-physician relationship.

Physicians are expected to place the patient's interests above their own. Such prioritization has worldwide consent. It constitutes the difference between medicine and other professions.

[Treatment response and complications of older patients with ANCA(antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibody)-associated vasculitis].

Background: ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibody)-associated vasculitis (AAV) mainly affects elderley people but adjusted therapy concepts for this patient group are lacking.

Aim: The aim of this study was therefore to analyze differences in course and outcome of patients with AAV with respect to age.

Materials And Methods: 62 patients were analyzed for treatment response, of whom 53 (85%) experienced adverse events (AE and SAE) that could be evaluated.

Eculizumab in chemotherapy-induced thrombotic microangiopathy.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare but severe complication of tumors and their chemotherapeutic treatment. We report on two patients with chemotherapy-induced TMA who were successfully treated with a short course of the terminal complement inhibitor eculizumab. Both patients quickly achieved remission of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and recovery of renal function.

Survey among nephrologists in Germany: current practice and management of pregnant women on dialysis .

Background: To assess the experience and practice patterns of nephrologists in Germany with regard to the care of pregnant women on dialysis.

Methods: The 26-item internet survey sent by email asked for demographic information, subjective proficiency, maternal and fetal complications, treatment approaches and goals.

Results: Of the 2,015 surveys sent out, 200 (10%) were available for evaluation.

Subclinical and clinical hypothyroidism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a cross-sectional study of a random population sample aged 18 to 65 years.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common disorders of the liver worldwide. Recently, a correlation between thyroid dysfunction and NAFLD has been discussed. Objective of the present study was to investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction and hepatic steatosis.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations of antimicrobial drug therapy in cancer patients with kidney dysfunction.

Patients with cancer have a high inherent risk of infectious complications. In addition, the incidence of acute and chronic kidney dysfunction rises in this population. Anti-infective drugs often require dosing modifications based on an estimate of kidney function, usually the glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations on the erythropoietin effect and adverse events of darbepoetin.

Introduction: In the TREAT and RED-HF trials, patients who received a high darbepoetin dose had an increased risk of adverse events. To find an explanation, the published literature was analyzed on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of darbepoetin.

Areas Covered: Based on the sigmoid Emax model, the concentration producing 50% of the maximum erythropoietin effect is reported as CE50 = 0.

Prophylaxis of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity.

Contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) is a form of acute kidney injury that follows intravascular contrast media exposure. CIN may be preventable because its risk factors are well established and the timing of renal insult is commonly known in advance. However, contrast-induced nephrotoxicity is still the third leading cause of iatrogenic renal failure.

Effect of low-osmolar contrast medium iopromide and iso-osmolar iodixanol on DNA fragmentation in renal tubular cell culture.

Background: Intravascular administration of iodinated contrast media continues to be a common cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury. Accumulating evidence suggests that radiocontrast agent-induced nephrotoxicity is associated with increased oxidative stress, which leads to renal tissue damage with DNA fragmentation. We therefore tested whether an iso-osmolar contrast medium (iodixanol) causes less oxidative DNA damage to renal tubular cells than a low-osmolar contrast medium (iopromide).