No description available.

No description available.

ABSTRACT This study was designed to screen antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients for proteinuria, using urine dipsticks, at the HIV outpatient clinic at Johannesburg Hospital in an attempt to detect and treat early renal disease. In those with persistent proteinuria, a marker of kidney disease, renal biopsy was performed, ART with and without angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) was initiated and patients were followed up for immunological and renal responses. After a minimum period of 12 months, a repeat biopsy was performed, where possible, to determine whether the histological lesions had responded to treatment. During urinary screening, proteinuria, leucocyturia and microscopic haematuria were common. Sterile leucocyturia may be associated with co-morbid sexually transmitted infection or tuberculosis. In the group that underwent renal biopsy with treatment, the renal and immunological response, before and after ART was highly statistically significant. Renal and immunological responses to ART were assessed by reduction in proteinuria with increased GFR, increased CD4 count with reduction in HIV viral load, respectively. On biopsy, HIV-associated immune complex disease was more common than HIVAN, a finding that contradicts international and some local data. Resolution of proteinuria was relatively rapid in comparison to the histological response to treatment, an effect not previously shown. This is the first study of its kind, to the author’s knowledge, that prospectively evaluates the effect of ART with/ ACE-I in ART-naïve HIV infected patients with both clinicopathological and histological criteria. It has shown unequivocally, that renal disease, particularly if detected and treated early in HIV infection, is responsive to treatment. These findings suggest screening for early detection and treatment of HIV-associated renal disease should be mandatory in HIV clinics in South Africa.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine Johannesburg, 2005 / ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION The risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is far greater than in the general population. Amongst patients with ESRD, the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure is approximately 40% compared with 5-12% in the general population. The excess risk is caused by multiple traditional and non-traditional risk factors for ischaemic heart disease present in these patients. There is little information on CAD and its risk factors in black haemodialysis patients as most of these studies were carried out in the white population. This study is therefore aimed at determining the risk factors for atherosclerosis in Black and non-black (White and Indian) South African patients on haemodialysis. METHODS Fifty-eight black patients and twenty-six non-black patients on haemodialysis were recruited. Sixty-three age and sex matched controls (staff, students and kidney donors) were also recruited. Fasting venous blood samples were drawn for measurement of Creactive protein, homocysteine, Lp (a), serum lipids and adiponectin. Carotid intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Echocardiography was used to determine LVH. vi RESULTS Haemodialysis (HD) patients had significantly lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides compared with controls (p<0.001; p= 0.042). Hs-CRP, adiponectin and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls (p< 0.001). The prevalence of plaques was significantly higher among HD patients (32%) compared with controls (7%) X2 = 60.72 p< 0.001. LVMI was significantly higher among HD patients (194.25± 7.69gm/m2) compared with controls (93.21 ± 3.27 gm/m2) p < 0.001. No significant difference between patients (Black or Asian/White) and controls with respect to CIMT was found. CVD risk factors in black haemodialysis patients and black controls showed a similar pattern to the whole study population combined. Risk factors associated with CIMT on regression analysis were total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, age, Hs-CRP, family history of CKD. Risk factors associated with plaque occurrence on logistic regression analysis were age, systolic blood pressure, male gender, smoking, calcium phosphate product and serum phosphate. CONCLUSION HD patients have a high prevalence of traditional and non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis and this is independent of race. Traditional risk factors like lipids were much lower in ESRD patients. HD patients showed a high prevalence of atherosclerosis as measured by increased carotid intima-media thickness and plaque occurrence in carotid arteries. Hs-CRP correlated significantly with a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis (CIMT).

Hemodialysis is widely used for kidney failure patients, it is well known that oxidative stress is induced during hemodialysis process. To figure out what kind of proteins may adhere to the hemodialysis tube, and were those proteins oxidized during dialysis process. In this study, proteins adhere to hemodialysis membrane are eluted and examined by protein two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF technique. The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis results demonstrate 153 proteins binding to hemodialysis tube including Vsm-Rho GEF, Fibroblast growth factor 23, Prothrombin, Glomulin and Nucleobindin-1. The oxidation detection shows that some tube binding proteins are oxidized including MAP4K3 protein and Sulfiredoxin-1, and the oxidation level of hemodialysis tube binding proteins are higher then serum proteins. In conclusion, we find out 20 novel proteins which bind to hemodialysis tube and 5 novel proteins which oxidized during hemodialysis. And protein oxidation level was related to inflammation where high CRP levels were detected.

Undernutrition in prevalent in Aboriginal communities, in utero, infancy and childhood. It influences childhood morbidity and mortality and growth patterns. Undernutrition and poor socio-economic status also contribute to endemic and epidemic infectious disease, including scabies and streptococcal infection. It has been suggested that early undernutrition, and streptococcal and scabies infection are risk factors for renal disease, which is at epidemic levels and increasing. This thesis examines the prevalence of undernutrition in newborns and infants in an Aboriginal community over time, and its impact on childhood growth and child and adult renal markers. The association between skin lesions, streptococcal serology, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) and renal markers as evaluated through a community wide screening program in 1992-1995 is also examined. Birthweights have increased since the 1960s, but they are still much lower than the non-Aboriginal values. Weights in infancy have decreased since the 1960s. At screening in childhood stunting was common, reflecting the presence of long-term poor nutrition in infancy. In both adults and children, birth weight and infant weights were negatively associated with albuminuria measured by the albumin to creatine ratio (ACR).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:43:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 martin_lc_dr_botfm.pdf: 1016650 bytes, checksum: 9e20d2d8fc97da4968ce2242fcd907b9 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O conjunto de trabalhos que compõe essa tese identificou que a pressão arterial na MAPA foi o melhor preditor da HVE o que apresentou significado prognóstico. Assim, pôde-se identificar tanto a HVE como a hipertensão arterial aferida pela MAPA como fatores prognósticos. Observou-se também que a monitorização de pressão arterial estendida por 44 horas apresentou vantagens em identificar os pacientes com maior hipertrofia ventricular e pior prognóstico. O primeiro estudo apresentado evidencia associação independente do ganho de peso interdialítico com a hipertrofia ventricular esquerda acessada por ecocardiografia em pacientes em hemodiálise, sugerindo que o ganho de peso interdialítico pode induzir hipertrofia ventricular por mecanismos independentes da elevação da pressão arterial. A associação, independente da própria pressão arterial, entre grau de hipertrofia ventricular esquerda e parâmetros de sobrecarga hidrossalina tais como: ganho médio de peso no interdialítico ou diferença entre volume real do paciente obtido por cinética de uréia e volume teórico estimado por medidas antropométricas sugere que a sobrecarga hidrossalina seja fator importante na patogênese da HVE em diálise. Talvez este seja o fator mais importante em seguida da sobrecarga pressórica. Evidenciou-se também que o impacto prognóstico da HVE foi independente da pressão arterial e associou-se a parâmetros ecocardiográficos que indicam hipervolemia. O segundo estudo permite propor que, em pacientes tratados por hemodiálise, a realização de MAPA seja estendida por 44 horas, tendo em vista que a PA sofre elevação do primeiro para o segundo dia pós-hemodiálise e que não só o nível da pressão arterial, mas também o comportamento desta durante as 44 horas parece ter um impacto independente sobre o sistema cardiovascular do indivíduo... / Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a well-known predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease maintained on hemodialysis (HD) and is not always correlated to the severity of hypertension in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of other factors contributing to LVH. Fifty HD patients were classified in three groups according to whether their LV mass index (LVMI) was higher (n=15), equal (n=20) or lower (n=15) than that predicted by a formula based on their ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Those with higher LVMI than predicted had significantly greater inter-HD weight gain (3.4 l 0.8 vs. 2.7 l 0.8 and 2.6 l 05 kg, respectively, in the other two groups, p < 0.05) and those with lower LVMI than predicted had a tendency to a more pronounced night dipping pattern of BP (p=0.07 vs. the other two groups), although day and night average BP levels did not differ between groups. All other clinical and laboratory parameters were similar among the three groups, except higher cardiac output and various indices of LVH, that were more pronounced in the higher LVMI by ABPM group. This group had also the lowest survival rate over the two to three years of follow-up, with five deaths vs. two in each one of the other two groups. The data suggest that correct management of inter-HD weight gain by nutritional counseling and shorter inter-HD intervals may prevent LVH and improve survival independently of BP control.

Orientador : Roberto Jorge da Silva Franco / Resumo: O conjunto de trabalhos que compõe essa tese identificou que a pressão arterial na MAPA foi o melhor preditor da HVE o que apresentou significado prognóstico. Assim, pôde-se identificar tanto a HVE como a hipertensão arterial aferida pela MAPA como fatores prognósticos. Observou-se também que a monitorização de pressão arterial estendida por 44 horas apresentou vantagens em identificar os pacientes com maior hipertrofia ventricular e pior prognóstico. O primeiro estudo apresentado evidencia associação independente do ganho de peso interdialítico com a hipertrofia ventricular esquerda acessada por ecocardiografia em pacientes em hemodiálise, sugerindo que o ganho de peso interdialítico pode induzir hipertrofia ventricular por mecanismos independentes da elevação da pressão arterial. A associação, independente da própria pressão arterial, entre grau de hipertrofia ventricular esquerda e parâmetros de sobrecarga hidrossalina tais como: ganho médio de peso no interdialítico ou diferença entre volume real do paciente obtido por cinética de uréia e volume teórico estimado por medidas antropométricas sugere que a sobrecarga hidrossalina seja fator importante na patogênese da HVE em diálise. Talvez este seja o fator mais importante em seguida da sobrecarga pressórica. Evidenciou-se também que o impacto prognóstico da HVE foi independente da pressão arterial e associou-se a parâmetros ecocardiográficos que indicam hipervolemia. O segundo estudo permite propor que, em pacientes tratados por hemodiálise, a realização de MAPA seja estendida por 44 horas, tendo em vista que a PA sofre elevação do primeiro para o segundo dia pós-hemodiálise e que não só o nível da pressão arterial, mas também o comportamento desta durante as 44 horas parece ter um impacto independente sobre o sistema cardiovascular do indivíduo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a well-known predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease maintained on hemodialysis (HD) and is not always correlated to the severity of hypertension in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of other factors contributing to LVH. Fifty HD patients were classified in three groups according to whether their LV mass index (LVMI) was higher (n=15), equal (n=20) or lower (n=15) than that predicted by a formula based on their ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Those with higher LVMI than predicted had significantly greater inter-HD weight gain (3.4 l 0.8 vs. 2.7 l 0.8 and 2.6 l 05 kg, respectively, in the other two groups, p < 0.05) and those with lower LVMI than predicted had a tendency to a more pronounced night dipping pattern of BP (p=0.07 vs. the other two groups), although day and night average BP levels did not differ between groups. All other clinical and laboratory parameters were similar among the three groups, except higher cardiac output and various indices of LVH, that were more pronounced in the higher LVMI by ABPM group. This group had also the lowest survival rate over the two to three years of follow-up, with five deaths vs. two in each one of the other two groups. The data suggest that correct management of inter-HD weight gain by nutritional counseling and shorter inter-HD intervals may prevent LVH and improve survival independently of BP control. / Doutor

Uremic pruritus remains one of the most frustrating and potentially disabling symptoms in patients with endstage renal disease. It affects up to 90% of patients on dialysis. Several hypotheses have been postulated for the possible underlying etiology, but none is conclusive. Aside from kidney transplantation, which is the only definitive treatment, therapeutic approaches have largely been empirical, and no firm evidence-based treatments are available. The main goal of therapy remains to minimize the severity of pruritus and improve the quality of life especially among those who are not transplantation candidates or are waiting for surgery.

No description available.