Veno-venous continuous renal replacement therapy for burned patients with acute renal failure.

From 1995 to 1998, 12 burned patients with acute renal failure (ARF) were treated by veno-venous continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) at the Burn Unit of Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. Their mean (+/-SD) age was 51+/-12 years, and the mean burned surface covered 48.6+/-15.

Evaluation of clonidine suppression of opiate withdrawal reactions: a multidisciplinary approach.

The purpose of this open, uncontrolled study in a group of confirmed heroin addicts of both sexes was to determine whether clonidine by itself suppresses opiate withdrawal reactions, its maximal effective dosage range, the time of maximal effect, duration of its effectiveness and the extent of cardiovascular side effects. After a washout phase of opium residues, clonidine was administered for eight days and its effects were closely monitored and recorded. Even during the first 24 hour period, when clonidine was administered alone in a high dosage, it suppressed the signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal reactions.

Influence of hemodialysis on the plasma levels of the atrial natriuretic factor in chronic renal failure.

Atrial natriuretic factor, plasma renin activity, and plasma vasopressin were measured in 38 patients with chronic renal failure prior to and after hemodialysis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of acute volume changes on the level of atrial natriuretic factor. Blood pressure prior to dialysis was 154 +/-/83 +/- mmHg, and 132 +/-/78 +/- mmHg post dialysis (p less than 0.

Unilateral nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis: recurrence of an experiment of nature.

The case of a 60-year-old diabetic patient with a fully developed diabetic glomerulosclerosis in one kidney, but only ischemic lesions in the contralateral one, which was 'protected' by a renal artery stenosis, is presented. The only other report of such a peculiar observation was made by Berkman and Rifkin on a patient who died in 1940. Because of the rather high incidence of diabetes and of renal artery stenosis, the scarcity of this 'experiment of nature' is astonishing and can be barely explained by a precise timing of the two pathological conditions.

Primary renal artery dissection. Presentation of two cases and brief review of the literature.

Two cases of primary renal artery dissection in caucasian males, aged 40 and 37 years, respectively, are presented. In both subjects, the clinical picture disclosed renal infarction with transient deterioration of renal function, microhematuria and proteinuria. In 1 patient, a slight, temporary increase in blood pressure was also observed.