No abstract available.
Bartter Syndrome*

The incidences of posttraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head were variably reported. In 1980, Calandruccio reported its incidence of 14% in nondisplaced femoral neck fracture and 50% in displaced ones. In general, the prophylactic methods, such as core decompression, bone graft and trochanteric osteotomy were recommended for the treatment of early stages of femoral head avascular necrosis(Ficat-Arlet stage 1 or 2), while the primary replacement surgery for the advanced ones (Ficat-Arlet stage 3 or 4). One of our authors(Y.K. Chung) has performed five cases of corticocancellous bone grafts using combined autogenous free fibular graft and iliac cancellous bone graft, for the post-traumatic femoral head AVN from January 1985 to December 1989 at our hospital, and the following results are obtained: 1. Among the forty nine displaced adult femoral neck fractures, there were five eases of avascular necrosis(10. 2%). 2. There were three male patients and two female ones, and the average age of injury was 48 years old(30 to 57). 3. According to the type of fractures, there were four cases of subcapital fracture and one of transcervical fracture. All of the patients were performed closed reduction and internal fixation with compression hip screw system, including additional Knowles pinning in two cases. 4. Histological study with the excised femoral head, showed that there was no bony union between the grafted cancellous bone and the necrotic head, and the grafted bone has been changed to amorphous necrotic tissue. However, we found a solid consolidation of the grafted bone and the femoral neck portion.
Adult ; Decompression ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Necrosis ; Osteotomy ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic renal failure have increased hemorrhagic tendency due to an uremic platelet dysfunction and complications from anticoagulants used in hemodialysis. They are also prone to have thrombotic complications in the cerebral vessels, coronary arteries and A-V fistula, due to hypercoagulability from changes in various factors. Recently, deficiencies in plasma protein C and S, which are physiological anticoagulants, have been reported to cause thrombosis. In chronic renal failure, plasma protein C and S activities are known to be decreased. METHODS: In the present study, activities and antigen concentrations of plasma protein C and S, as well as AT-III activities were investigated in three groups; the normal control group, the predialysis group of chronic renal failure patients treated conservatively, and the hemodialysis group. The findings were analyzed for their relationship to hypercoagulability. RESULTS: 1) The activities of plasma protein C, S and antithrombin-III were significantly lower in the predialysis chronic renal failure group as compared to the control. Antithrombin-III concentrations in the hemodialysis group assayed immediately prior to dialysis were significantly lower than those of the control group. But, protein C antigen concentrations in the hemodialysis group assayed immediately prior to dialysis were significantly higher than those of the control group. There was no significant difference between these groups in plasma protein C activities, and plasma protein S activities and antigen concentrations. 2) In the hemodialysis group, antithrombin-III activities, antigen concentration and activities of plasma protein C were significantly higher than after dialysis as compared to those before the dialysis. 3) There were no significant difference in plasma protein C, S and antithrombin-III activities and plasma protein C and S antigen concentrations in hemodialysis patients between with and without thrombosis at arterio-venous fistula site. However, plasma protein C and antithrombin-III activities were significantly lower in those with thrombosis as compared to those of the normal control group. There were no significant difference in plasma protein C and S activities and antigen concentrations in those without thrombosis as compared to those of the normal control group. 4) There were no significant diffrences in plasma protein C, protein S and antithrombin-III activities and antigen concentrations in dialysis patients with and without recombinant erythropoietin treatment. 5) There were no significant correlations between serum creatinine and creatinine clearance, and plasma antithrombin-III, protein C and protein S activities and antigen concentrations in predialysis group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the decrease in plasma antithrombin-III, protein C and S could be the factors causing hypercoagulability in chronic renal failure patients, and the decreased activities of these factors may return to normal by dialysis. In the hemodialysis group, there were no significant diffrences in plasma protein C and S and antithrombin-III activities and antigen concentrations between the group which showed clinical thrombosis and the group which did not. However, in those who had thrombosis, plasma protein C and antithrombin-III activities are significantly lower than the control group. Administration of recombinant human erythropoietin does not appear to affect the activities of plasma protein C and S and antithrombin-III. In predialysis chronic renal failure patients, there was no significant relationship between renal function and plasma protein C and S and antithrombin-III.
Anticoagulants ; Arteries ; Blood Platelets ; Coronary Vessels ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Erythropoietin ; Fistula ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Plasma ; Protein C* ; Protein S ; Renal Dialysis ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Early Diagnosis* ; Pneumocystis carinii* ; Pneumocystis* ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis*

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin(Epokine(R)). METHODS: A comparative prospective study of intravenously and subcutaneously administrated Epokine(R) conducted 13 patients performing hemodialysis and 28 patients performing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with end-stage renal disease. Epokine(R) was given initially at a dosage of 100 unit/kg, subcutaneously, two times a week. The patients had achieved stable or more than 10 g/dL of hemoglobin level for 12 weeks and then we randomized switching intravenously or subcutaneously administrated Epokine(R) for another 12 weeks. RESULTS: Hemoglobin(g/dL) and hematocrit(%) increased significantly from baseline levels beginning from 2 weeks after Epokine(R) administration. In HD patients, hemoglobin increased significantly from 7.3 to 9.5 after 12 weeks and to 10.6 after 24 weeks. In CAPD patients, hemoglobin increased significantly from 6.8 to 10.2 after 12 weeks and then 10.8 after 24 weeks(p < 0.05). Corrected reticulocyte count(%) was significantly increased from baseline levels beginning from 1 week after Epokine(R) administration and continuously increased during study period in both group. Serum ferritin and serum iron decreased significantly and total iron binding capacity increased significantly after 2 weeks. At 12 weeks, HD patients were significantly needed more dosage of Epokine(R) than CAPD patients(142.2+/-20.5 vs 117.3+/-33.6 U/kg/wk, p < 0.001), but at 24 weeks, the dosage was not different(123.6+/-41.5 vs 99.2+/-49.3 U/kg/wk, p > 0.05). In HD patients, intravenously administrated Epokine(R) group was more dosage than subcutaneously group(97.4+/-15.4 vs 145.4+/-2.9 U/kg/wk, p < 0.002), but CAPD patients were not different by administration method(93.0+/-60.2 vs 105.4+/-9.7 U/kg/ wk, p > 0.05). The 9 cases(18.8%) were suffered from headache and flu-like syndrome, but these side effects were not severe and disappeared from conventional therapy. CONCLUSION: Epokine(R) administration is safe and effective in treating anemia of ESRD patients and subcutaneously administration is significantly more effective than intravenously.
Anemia ; Ferritins ; Headache ; Humans* ; Injections, Intravenous ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Iron ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Prospective Studies* ; Renal Dialysis ; Reticulocytes

BACKGROUND: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) patients with low albumin(LA) and signs of inflammation reflected by increased C-reactive protein(CRP) level have an increased mortality, but the mechanism of this phenomenon is not clear yet. METHODS: To answer whether LA and inflammation also enhance cardiovascular risk in CAPD patients, we performed cross sectional study measuring carotid artery intima-media thickness(IMT), calculated intima-media area(cIM area) and the presence of plaque by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 93 non-diabetic CAPD patients. RESULTS: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD, n=8) had significantly increased IMT(0.79+/-0.21 mm vs. 0.60+/-0.11 mm, p < 0.05) and higher prevalence of carotid plaques(75.0% vs. 63.5%) compared to the non-CAD patients. Significant inverse correlation was observed between serum albumin (SA) level and cIM area(r=-0.27, p < 0.05). Those patients with LA(SA <3.5 g/dL) had significantly increased IMT compared to non-LA patients(0.67+/-0.15 mm vs 0.61+/-0.12 mm, p < 0.05). Prevalence of carotid plaques was also significantly higher in LA patients (68.0% vs. 55.8%, p < 0.05). CRP level revealed a significant positive correlation with cIM area(r=0.21, p < 0.05). Patients with high CRP(>or=0.8 mg/dL, n=18) had higher prevalence of carotid plaques (65.8% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.05) compared to those patients with CRP <0.8 mg/dL, but IMT and cIMT area were not different. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, old age, high CRP, history of CAD and low SA were the independent risk factors affecting IMT. CONCLUSION: Our study strongly suggests that low albumin and chronic inflammatory state of CAPD patients could be associated with increasing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Arteries* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a cause of nephrotic syndrome in adult. Although primary FSGS has been known to be refractory to treatment, recent studies reveal higher remission rate and better prognosis. And it has been reported that some clinical and histopathologic parameters are significant to prognosis. But, confirmative prognostic indices remain to be defined. In order to further clarify the prognostic factors for therapeutic response and risk factors for progression to chronic renal failure (CRF), we reviewed the medical records of primary adult FSGS patients. METHODS: Forty-adult patients diagnosed as primary FSGS between 1991 to 2002 were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and histopathological parameters of all patinents at the time of renal biopsy. In addition, the therapeutic responses to immunosuppressants and the renal survival were analyzed. RESULTS: At the time of renal biopsy, 26 patients (65%) had proteinuria of the nephrotic range and 14 patients (35%) had proteinuria of the non-nephrotic range. The serum creatinine level was higher in nephrotic-ranged patients than that in non nephrotic-ranged patients (p<0.05). The other parameters were not significantly different between two groups. Twenty-seven patients were treated with immunosuppressants and 15 patients (55.6%) responded to the treatment. There was no significant difference in clinical or histopathological variables between the responders and the non-responders. High serum creatinine level at diagnosis and responsiveness to treatment appeared to be significant as risk factors for progression to CRF (p<0.05). The patients treated with immunosuppressants had longer survival period, compared with those without treatment. And the responders had significantly longer survival period compared with the non-responders (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with initial impairment of renal function or poor response to therapy may have worse prognosis, and the intense treatment with regular follow-up of renal function should be recommended for these patients.
Adult* ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Medical Records ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Renal artery stenosis may be a cause of hypertension and a potential contributor to progressive renal insufficiency. However, the prevalence of renal artery disease in a general population is poorly defined. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of angiographically-determined renal artery narrowing in a patient population undergoing routine cardiac catheterization, and to identify the risk factors for renal artery stenosis. After left ventriculography, abdominal aortography was performed to screen for the presence of renal artery stenosis. A total of 427 patients (274 males, 153 females) were studied and the mean age was 59 years. Renal artery narrowing was identified in 10.5% of patients. Significant (> or = 50% diameter narrowing) renal artery stenosis was found in 24 patients (5.6%) and insignificant stenosis was found in 21 patients (4.9%). Significant unilateral stenosis was present in 4.2% of patients and bilateral stenosis was present in 1.4%. The stem of the renal artery was a more common site of stenosis in 62.2% of patients than in the ostium (37.8%), but the severity of stenosis was not significantly different according to the site of stenosis. By univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the association of clinical variables with renal artery stenosis was assessed. Multivariable predictors included age, hypertension and peripheral vascular disease (p < 0.05). The variables such as sex, smoking history, hyperlipidemia, renal insufficiency, as well as the presence of obesity, severity of coronary heart disease and D.M., were not associated. In conclusion, the prevalence of angiographically-determined renal artery narrowing in a patient population undergoing cardiac catheterization is 10.5%. Old age, hypertension and evidence of peripheral vascular disease represent the predictors of renal artery stenosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Catheterization* ; Human ; Hypertension/etiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Renal Artery Obstruction/etiology ; Renal Artery Obstruction/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in dialysis care, the mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease(ESRD) remains high. Patients who die within the first 90 days after beginning dialysis are not included in mortality rates and may be absent from incidence count. Therefore, the identification of modifiable characteristics associated with the risk of death during the first 90 days of treatment could lead to improved survival during this interval. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis in 986 patients(at least 1 year survival from initiating dialysis were 920 patients, and 66 patients died within 90 days after dialysis) who were initiated renal replacement therapy first at Yonsei Medical Center from Jan 1994 to Jun 1999. RESULTS: The 1 year mortality rate of total patients was 10.4%, and early death rate was 6.9%. The mean survival duration was 28.9+/-23.0 days. Characteristics independently associated with increased risk of early death included older age, inflammation, nutritional impairment, more comorbid condition and previous history of cardiovascular disease at starting dialysis. But Diabetes was not increased early death rate. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, old age, combined comorbid conditions, especially malignancy and congestive heart failure, low serum album and elevated C-reactive protein level were the independent risk factors affecting early death. Other variables such as sex, dyslipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not significant risk factors. The leading cause of death in early death group was infection rather than cardiovascular accidents. CONCLUSION: Proper treatment of infection and improved nutritional status by adequate predialytic managements may contribute to their prolonged survival on dialysis patients.
C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dialysis ; Dyslipidemias ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Takayasu's arteritis(TA) is a chronic inflammatory and obliterative disease of medium- and large-sized arteries characterized by a strong predilection for the aortic arch and its branches. Renal involvement is usually manifested by renovascular hypertension. Glomerular involvement is rare and largely exists as a mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, commonly manifesting microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. The association of glomerular disease with TA is of interest since common immunologic mechanisms are proposed for the pathogenesis of both entities. We report a case of TA associated with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The patient presented with hypertension(Upper limb; Rt. 200/80mmHg, Lt. 95/60mmHg, Lower limb; Rt. 140/90mmHg, Lt. 110/70mmHg) and nephrotic syndrome(Serum albumin : 2.3g/dL, cholesterol : 454mg/dL, BUN : 18.0mg/dL, creatinine 1.3mg/dL, 24-hour urine protein : 5.17g). Digital substraction angiography showed multiple narrowing and occlusive changes of aortic arch and its branches. Renal biopsy was interpreted as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Therapy was instituted with prednisolone.
Angiography ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arteries ; Biopsy ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Extremities ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Lower Extremity ; Prednisolone ; Proteinuria ; Takayasu Arteritis*