Eprex used to treat anemia and improves quality of life, assessment and exercise capacity in predialysis patients. There are two groups of predialysis patients with Hemoglobin <100 g/dl, follow up 5 months in our study: group A (n=17; Eprex- treated predialysis patients) for the treatment by Eprex with 2000 UI x 2 time/week x 2 months, and continuous 2000 UI/week x 3 months; group B non anemia treatment (n=11 non Eprex - treated predialysis patients). The results after 5 months follow up: group A receiving Eprex had higher RBC, Hb and Ht levels than those non receiving Eprex (group B) with P<0.001. The Eprex - treated predialysis patients in group A for a duration of 5 months and observed no accelerated decline in renal function compared with non - Eprex treated predialysis patients, treatment of anemia might improved energy level and physical function.
Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Epoetin Alfa

A study on 31 patients with chronic renal failure treated by periodical hemodialysis during 1995 - 1999 has shown that the rate of blood lipoprotein disorder was 56 -60%, this disorder was not improved by periodical hemodialysis. Most frequent disorder was disorder of ApoB, followed by triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C. Indicator of cholesterol/HDL-C and LDL-C increased significantly as increased time. The blood lipid disorder increased significantly in the group of hypertensive patients with periodical hemodialysis. The major cause of death was cardiovascular complications.
Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lipoproteins

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) is an uncommon but alarming complication of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. The renal failure could be secondary to causes evident from the history and evaluation, such as severe intravascular volume depletion, acute tubular necrosis but there is no report on this population in Vietnamese adult patients. Objective: To investigate on acute renal failure complicating of nephrotic syndrome. Subjects and method: Patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who were admitted with acute renal failure have been enrolled to investigate the clinical findings, laboratory check up and histology examination. Results:We present 33 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who were admitted with acute renal failure between June 1997 and June 1998. We describe the clinical and renal pathology features of these patients in whom reversible idiopathic acute renal failure developed during the course of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Improvement in renal function occurred in 80% of patients over a variable period of 10 days to 14 days. The histology findings are interstitial edema, tubular obstruction. Conclusions: Acute renal failure complicating of nephritic syndrome is reversible, the exact pathophysiology of ARF is not understood. Possible causes include edema, tubular obstruction, altered glomerular permeability, and unrecognized hypovolemia.
Acute Kidney Injury/ pathology Nephrotic Syndrome ; Adult

Background: Hypertension is one of the most common complications in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Dyslipidemia in primary hypertension has been considered a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and progression of CRF. Objectives: To determine lipid disorders CRF patients with hypertension and the correlations between lipid disorders and blood pressure level in CRF patients. Subjects and method: The descriptive cross-sectional study involved 107 CRF patients under 45 years old, who had preservative treatments and were monitored at Bach Mai Hospital from 2000 to 2003. They were divided into 2 groups: hypertension (n=78; 72.9%) and nonhypertension (n=29, 27.1%). Results: In comparison with nonhypertension group, patients in the hypertension group had higher level of serum creatinine (877.7+/-597.1 vs. 587.6+/-381 micromol/L, p< 0.01), total cholesterol (5.35+/-1.34 vs. 4.81+/-1.23 mmol/L, p< 0.05), ApoB (1.07+/-0.34 vs. 1.00+/-0.32 g/L) and CT/HDL-C ratio (5.33+/-2.2 vs. 4.9+/-1.4). In the hypertension group, 25.6% patients had the total cholesterol >=6.2 mmol/L, significantly higher than those in the nonhypertension group (p< 0.05), and the prevalence of abnormal level of LDL-C and ApoB increased with the grade of CRF. Patients with grade III of hypertension had severe dyslipidemia: hypercholesterolemia, hyperglyceridemia, increased LDL-C and ApoB, and CT-HDL-C ratio >5. Among them, 92.1% had lipoprotein disorders. Conclusion: Increased total cholesterol accounted for 25.6% patients of hypertension group. Prevalence of patients with disorders of LDL-C and ApoB were high in hypertension group, and increased with the grade of CRF. Lipoprotein disorders were increased with the grade of hypertension.
chronic renal failure ; hypertension ; dyslipidemia

Background: Shigella-induced diarrhea has been considered a major health problem leading to high morbidity and mortality. This disease can lead to dire consequences; however, the true burden of the disease, including the costs and sequalae associated with shigellosis is not yet known. Objectives: (1) To describe the health seeking behavior and the way of payment of population when suffering Shigella; (2) To identify and analyze the direct household costs associated with the treatment of diarrhea due to Shigella. Subjects and method: 290 patients of all ages with positive Shigella diarrhea admitted to public health facilities in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province in the period from August 2002 to January 2004 were included in the study. The subjects were divided into three age groups, the first 0-5, second 5-18 and the last one was over 18 years old. Patients and their relatives were interviewed at three stages - day 7, day 14 and day 90 - to obtain all the required information. Results: 134 of 290 patients (47%) paid for using the other health care services before admission to the study\u2019s facilities. The average direct cost per episode for the patients at group aged 0-5 was 129,000 VND, group aged 6-18 was 59,267 VND and over 18 years old was 173,531 VND; it was 131.960 VND for three groups. Comparison with the average household expenditure for health care, it was higher in the poorer group and it was lower three times than the richest group. The average direct medical cost per episode was higher the average direct non-medical cost per episode for all groups. Conclusions: The average direct cost per episode of Shigellosis treatment was rather high especially the average direct cost for the treatment at the health facility. It was also high compared with the average expenditure for health per capita so that it becomes large economic burden for households.
Direct cost ; Shigella ; treatment