[Renal involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitides. Recommendations of the Chilean Societies of Nephrology and Rheumatology].

Renal involvement is a frequent complication in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)associated vasculitides, adding morbidity and mortality, such as chronic kidney disease and the need for renal replacement therapy. With the aim of reaching a consensus on relevant issues regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with these diseases, the Chilean Societies of Nephrology and Rheumatology formed a working group that, based on a critical review of the available literature and their experience, raised and answered consensually a set of questions relevant to the subject. This document includes aspects related to the clinical diagnosis, the histological characteristics, the therapeutic alternatives to induce and maintain the remission of the disease, relapse surveillance strategies and complementary therapies.

[A consensus of the Chilean Nephrology and Rheumatology Societies on renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Renal involvement affects over one half of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus increasing their mortality and morbidity, including chronic renal disease and the need of renal replacement therapies. Aiming to achieve a consensus in the most relevant topics on diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of patients with lupus renal disease, the Chilean Societies of Nephrology and Rheumatology constituted a workgroup that, based on a critical review of the available literature and their experience, raised and answered by consensus a set of relevant questions. This document includes aspects related to the clinical diagnosis, the importance of a suitable histological classification, therapeutic alternatives to induce and maintain disease remission, strategies for follow-up, additional therapies and gynecological-obstetric issues.

Early and late humoral rejection: a clinicopathologic entity in two times.

Humoral rejection is an important cause of early and late graft loss. The late variant is difficult to diagnose and treat. There is a close correlation between sclerosing nephropathy and anti-HLA antibodies.

Dietary salt intake, blood pressure and the kidney in hypertensive patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The mechanisms responsible for hypertension in NIDDM patients are only partially understood. Increased sensitivity to dietary salt intake and to vasoconstrictor hormones are among the mechanisms proposed. We have studied 19 hypertensive NIDDM patients 7 salt-sensitive and 12 salt-resistant while they were ingesting a diet with 20 mEq/day of Na+ for 9 days and while they were ingesting a diet containing 250 mEq/day of Na+ for 14 days.

Effect of L-arginine on systemic and renal haemodynamics in salt-sensitive patients with essential hypertension.

In response to a high sodium (Na+) intake, salt-sensitive patients with hypertension retain more Na+ and manifest a greater rise in arterial pressure than salt-resistant patients. Because there is limited information regarding the role of nitric oxide (NO) in salt-sensitivity we examined the effects of L-arginine (500 mg/kg, i.v.