Impact of monocyte-macrophage inhibition by ibandronate on graft function and survival after kidney transplantation: a single-centre follow-up study over 15 years.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ibandronate administration on long-term graft function and graft survival after successful renal transplantation.

Methods: Seventy-two renal transplant recipients (36 patients each in the treatment and control group) were included and followed over a 15-year period. Data on graft function and death-censored transplant outcome were recorded at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome: an interdisciplinary challenge.

Background: Chronic urticaria often points the way to the diagnosis of a systemic disease, particularly when urticarial vasculitis can be demonstrated. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is considered to be an independent immunological disease.

Method: Selective literature review and consideration of the author's own clinical experience.

[Sleep apnea--treatment improves hypertension].

Obstructive sleep apnea and arterial hypertension are frequent diseases, but they are also often overlooked. There is a causal relationship of sleep apnea and hypertension. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is probably the most important reason for "essential" hypertension.

Low-dose aspirin therapy is associated with improved allograft function and prolonged allograft survival after kidney transplantation.

Background: Aspirin treatment has an undoubted beneficial impact on the progression of cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that aspirin also protects allograft function and survival in the context of chronic renal allograft dysfunction, which displays decisive pathophysiologic features that are similar to those involved in atherogenesis.

Methods: A retrospective, multivariate analysis was performed to assess the effect of low-dose aspirin treatment (100 mg/day) on allograft function and survival of 830 renal transplant recipients.