The renal effects of a single intravenous dose of two different E. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS 0111:B4 and LPS 0127:B8), at the same dose of 100 micrograms/kg, were evaluated in euvolemic Munich-Wistar (MW) rats by whole kidney clearance techniques and micropuncture studies. Following LPS infusion, a significant decrease (8%) in mean BP was observed only in the LPS 0127:B8 treated group. Inulin clearance fell 57% (LPS 0111:B4), P less than 0.01, and 38% (LPS 0127:B8), P less than 0.01. Para-aminohippuric (PAH) clearance decreased 31% (P less than 0.01) and total effective renal vascular resistance rose 70% (P less than 0.03) in response to LPS 0111:B4. No significant change in PAH clearance was noted in the LPS 0127:B8 group. Superficial single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) was reduced 69% (LPS 0111:B4), P less than 0.03, and 33% (LPS 0127:B8), P less than 0.02. Superficial glomerular plasma flow fell 48% (LPS 0111:B4), P less than 0.03, and 24% (LPS 0127:B8), P less than 0.03. Both lipopolysaccharides were associated with an increase in afferent arteriolar resistance (RA) which accounted for a reduction in the glomerular capillary hydraulic pressure (PGC). There was no change in the proximal tubular pressure in either group and, therefore, the net transcapillary hydraulic pressures were reduced. No measurable change in the ultrafiltration coefficient. Kf, was observed in either group. In a second set of protocols, the effect of prior administration of indomethacin or captopril on LPS 0111:B4 action was investigated. A significant decrease in BP occurred when animals were pretreated with captopril. Both indomethacin and captopril prevented the renal effects of LPS 0111:B4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cost-effectiveness analysis compared four treatments of end-stage renal disease in Brazil: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), in-center hemodialysis (HD), cadaver donor transplantation (CD-Tx), and living related donor transplantation (LR-Tx). After 2 years, the costs per year of survival were CAPD, $12,134; HD, $10,065; CD-Tx, $6,978; and LR-Tx, $3,022. The HD cost was lower than CAPD partially because of the reuse of hemodialyzers in Brazil. Although less cost-effective, both dialysis treatments yielded more years of survival after 2 years. This analysis reveals a trade-off between cost per year of survival and years of survival.

Proximal tubular dysfunction is frequent in patients with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Pretreatment urinary RBP and B2M levels may be helpful in identifying nephrotic patients who are more likely to be responsive to steroids.

We have evaluated laboratory and clinical manifestations of renal disease in 96 patients with leprosy, looking for a sensitive and early marker for detection and possibly follow-up of nephropathy in these patients. Microscopic hematuria was observed in 21.9% of the cases (with dysmorphic erythrocytes in 71.4% of them). Abnormal microalbuminuria and urinary β₂-microglobulin were found in 15.8 and 19.8% of the cases, respectively. We have observed a high frequency of hematuria, abnormal microalbuminuria and elevation of urinary β₂-microglobulin in these patients still with normal serum creatinine.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be transmitted in the dialysis setting through blood transfusions and environmental surfaces. Transfusion related hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very well known, but only recently the environmental transmission of this virus was postulated. In order to study the prevalence, mechanisms of transmission, and the ALT patterns of HBV and HCV infections in hemodialysis and CAPD patients before the implementation of HBV vaccination and HCV screening in the blood bank, we conducted a study from January 1987 to January 1990. Sera from 185 hemodialysis and 124 CAPD patients were stored in this period and later analyzed for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV (second generation ELISA). The prevalence of any HBV marker was 55.7% (103/185) for hemodialysis patients and 31.5% (39/124) for CAPD patients (hemodialysis vs. CAPD, p < 0.001). The prevalence of positive anti-HCV was 35.1% (65/185) for hemodialysis and 33.9% (42/124) for CAPD patients (not significant). There was a significant association between HBV markers positivity and anti-HCV positivity. The multivariate analysis of risk factors revealed an association of the positivity of each virus with the duration of renal replacement therapy (RRT), number of previous blood transfusions, and past history of hemodialysis treatment. Thus, besides the transfusion-related transmission, hemodialysis environmental transmission may also occur for both viruses. The findings of a high prevalence of both viruses and evidence for environmental transmission in the dialysis setting are of major importance for the planning of future preventive measures.

We carried out a prospective randomized trial comparing pulse cyclophosphamide and pulse methylprednisolone in 29 patients with severe lupus nephritis in activity. Patients were assigned to one of two regimens: monthly pulse cyclophosphamide (0.5-1.0 g/m2 body surface area) for 4 months, followed by bimonthly doses for 4 months and quarterly doses for 6 months (14 patients) or pulse methylprednisolone (10-20 mg/kg weight) initially for 3 consecutive days and thereafter in the same intervals as the alternative regimen (15 patients). The mean follow-up was 15 months. Two patients in the cyclophosphamide group and three in the methylprednisolone group died. Renal failure (doubling of serum creatinine) developed in four patients in the cyclophosphamide group compared with five patients in the methylprednisolone group. Cumulative probability of not doubling serum creatinine was similar for cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone groups (0.66 vs 0.69, respectively, P > 0.20, after 18 months). Cumulative probability of survival without renal failure was also not significantly different (0.61 and 0.63, respectively, P > 0.20, after 18 months). These results suggest that pulse cyclophosphamide is as effective as pulse methylprednisolone in preserving renal function in patients with severe lupus nephritis.

In this study we compared the influence of 2 different modalities of treatment, CAPD and hemodialysis, on the prevalence and severity of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac arrhythmias of chronic renal failure patients. We compared 27 patients on the CAPD program with 27 patients on the chronic hemodialysis matched for sex, age, and duration of dialysis treatment. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly lower in CAPD than in hemodialysis patient (41% vs. 81%, p = 0.0023). Blood pressure levels were also lower in CAPD than in hemodialysis patients (systolic pressure 124.9 +/- 4.7 vs. 154.8 +/- 4.6 mm Hg, p < 0.0001; diastolic pressure 77.5 +/- 2.9 vs. 93.3 +/- 2.8 mm Hg, p = 0.0001). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was present in 52% of CAPD and in 93% of hemodialysis patients (p = 0.0008). Severe cardiac arrhythmias (Lown 3-4) occurred in only 4% of CAPD and in 33% of the hemodialysis group (p = 0.0149). The lower frequency of LVH in CAPD might explain the lower incidence of severe arrhythmias.

Metabolic disturbance as a cause of recurrent hematuria in children. To evaluate metabolic disturbance as a cause of hematuria, 250 children, aged eight months to fourteen years, with recurrent hematuria were studied. In the present series, metabolic disturbance was mainly due to idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH), the most common etiology of hematuria without proteinuria in childhood. Sixty-seven (27%) of the children had IH, ten children (4%) had hyperuricosuria, and 27 (11%) had nephrolithiasis. To better characterize the IH into renal (RH) or absorptive hypercalciuria (AH) subtypes, 45 of the 67 children (ranging age from six to twelve years) were further submitted to an oral calcium load test. Eighteen patients (40%) had AH, 7 (15.5%) RH and 20 (44.4%) could not be classified as having AH or RH [indeterminant (ID) idiopathic hypercalciuria group]. Intravenous pyelography or ultrasound were normal in all children. The oral calcium load test may be useful in characterizing the subtype of IH in some children; however, a great number of the IH children were characterized as indeterminant. Also hyperuricosuria, recently described as another metabolic disturbance associated with hematuria, may be an important cause of recurrent hematuria in children.