Influences of renal stone surgeries on renal function--evaluation of renal function with 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy]

From 1984 to 1990, 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy was performed before and after nephrolithotomy (15 cases), pyelolithotomy (15 cases), percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL: 15 cases) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL: 16 cases, 17 kidneys) in order to evaluate of influences of renal stone surgeries on split renal function. DMSA renal uptake change ratio of treated kidneys of nephrolithotomy (-24.94 +/- 5.60%) was significantly lower than that of PNL (-0.06 +/- 3.92%), pyelolithotomy (-4.08 +/- 4.79%) (p less than 0.01) and ESWL (-7.72 +/- 3.87%) (p less than 0.05). The average change ratios of contralateral kidneys were as follows: PNL 4.80 +/- 4.21% nephrolithotomy 4.67 +/- 4.73%, pyelolithotomy -1.46 +/- 5.39% and ESWL -2.02 +/- 4.44%. One to 3 weeks after PNL, the cold area on the renal image was found in 10 (66.7%) of 15 cases. In cases of ESWL, DMSA renal uptake decreased even 4-10 weeks (mean 7 weeks) after treatment. In conclusion, possivility of deterioration of renal function after ESWL was suggested.     

Transplantation of renal primordia: renal organogenesis

Dialysis and allotransplantation of human kidneys represent effective therapies to replace kidney function, but the former replaces only a small component of renal function, and the latter is limited by lack of organ availability. Xenotransplantation of whole kidneys from nonprimate donors is complicated by humoral and severe cellular rejection. The use of individual cells or groups of cells to repair damaged tissue (cellular therapies) offers an alternative for renal tissue replacement. However, recapitulation of complex functions such glomerular filtration and reabsorption and secretion of solutes that are dependent on a three-dimensionally integrated kidney structure are beyond the scope of most cellular replacement therapies. The use of nonvascularized embryonic renal primordia for transplantation circumvents humoral rejection of xenogeneic tissue and ameliorates cellular rejection. Renal primordia are preprogrammed to attract a vasculature and differentiate into a kidney and in this manner undergo organogenesis after transplantation into the mesentery of hosts. Here we review a decade’s progress in renal organogenesis.     

AusDiab renal study: indicators of renal disease

SUMMARY: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) was designed to determine the prevalence of diabetes and abnormal glucose metabolism, lifestyle and health behaviours and early indicators of renal disease in Australian adults. the study screened 11247 adults aged ≥ 25 years residing in randomly selected districts in all States and Territories of Australia between April 1999 and December 2000. Diabetes and hypertension were detected in 7.5% and 28.8%, respectively. Proteinuria was detected in 2.5% of subjects tested and serum creatinine was elevated in 1.06%. Dipstick screening followed by analysis of a mid-stream urine sample revealed haematuria in 6.8% of subjects tested. Body mass index scores indicated that 48.2% of all men screened were overweight, and a further 19.1% were obese. of the women, 30.2% were overweight and 21.8% obese. the results of the AusDiab study suggests one-third of the Australian adult population have at least one indicator of renal disease.     

Metastasis in renal graft of primary renal adenocarcinoma

Acquired cystic renal disease (A.C.R.D.) is a risk factor for the development of renal carcinoma in the patient's own kidney after renal transplant (R.T.), development of a primitive tumor in the renal graft is infrequent, but the presence of metastasis of an epithelial tumor is very rare. This is the second case reported in the literature of metastasis of an epithelial tumor in the renal graft and the first case described of renal cell carcinoma metastasis (R.C.C.) in the renal graft. This paper describes the case of a patient with a normally functioning renal transplant and A.C.R.D. who develops RCC in his own kidney, with metastasis in the renal graft.     

Acute renal insufficiency after radiofrequency of renal tumor

Recent advances in techniques of imaging and ablation have led to the application of several minimally invasive modalities, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with a success rate varying from 79 to 96% and a serious complication rate of 1 to 4% in the treatment of small renal tumors. The authors report on the case of a 67-year-old patient with a radiofrequency ablation complication, stenosis of the ureteropelvic junction in one kidney, and analyze the results of this modality for the treatment of renal tumors.     

Spontaneous rupture of renal pelvis after renal transplantation

Spontaneous rupture of the renal pelvis occurred in 4 cases following renal transplantation. The diagnosis was difficult, and all 4 patients were septic at the time of treatment. Three patients survived, but preservation of the transplant was possible in only 1 case. The cause is uncertain but may be related to functional obstruction or vascular insufficiency.     

Management of multiple renal arteries in renal transplantation

Over a three-year period, 23 kidneys with multiple renal arteries were transplanted. Four types of vascular anastomoses were used: Carrel aortic patches; accessory artery to main renal artery anastomoses; double renal artery anastomoses to the external iliac artery; and anastomoses of the conjoined arteries to the external iliac artery. The results in this series compared favorably with a similar group of single artery transplants. The indications and hemodynamic justification for each procedure are presented.     

Value of renal biopsy in chronic renal failure

A total of 120 patients with chronic renal failure secondary to parenchymatous kidney disease were biopsied. Percutaneous approach was tried and open technique was employed when there was contraindication to or failure of the percutaneous technique. In 72 cases the histopathologic lesions were identified, in 30 cases it was not possible to identify them and in 18 cases there was no sufficient kidney tissue. The diagnosis was very critical in at least 10 cases: there were 3 cases of primary oxalosis, one case of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, one case of necrotizing glomerulonephritis, one case of Wagner's granulomatosis, 3 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and one case of Fabry's disease. All but one of these were not diagnosed clinically. There was no patient mortality, and morbidity was significantly higher after open approach. We concluded that kidney biopsy in patients with chronic renal failure is mandatory especially if they are going to be transplanted and it is relatively safe especially when the percutaneous technique is employed.     

Continuous renal replacement therapy improves renal recovery from acute renal failure

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in up to 10% of critically ill patients, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The optimal mode of renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains controversial. This retrospective study compared continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) for RRT in terms of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, and renal recovery. METHODS: We reviewed the records of all patients undergoing RRT for the treatment of ARF over a 12-month period. Patients were compared according to mode of RRT, demographics, physiologic characteristics, and outcomes of ICU and hospital mortality and renal recovery using the Chi square, Student's t test, and multiple logistic regression as appropriate. RESULTS: 116 patients with renal insufficiency underwent RRT during the study period. Of these, 93 had ARF. The severity of illness of CRRT patients was similar to that of IHD patients using APACHE II (25.1 vs 23.5, P = 0.37), but they required significantly more intensive nursing (therapeutic intervention scale 47.8 vs 37.6, P = 0.0001). Mortality was associated with lower pH at presentation (P = 0.003) and increasing age (P = 0.03). Renal recovery was significantly more frequent among patients initially treated with CRRT (21/24 vs 5/14, P = 0.0003). Further investigation to define optimal timing, dose, and duration of RRT may be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Although further study is needed, this study suggests that renal recovery may be better after CRRT than IHD for ARF. Mortality was not affected significantly by RRT mode.     

Preservation of renal reserve in chronic renal disease

Protein-induced increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), termed renal reserve, is said to be abrogated with the onset of renal disease. However, this notion is inconsistent with the results from animal studies which suggest that alterations in protein intake modulate the glomerular hemodynamics in experimental renal disease. Accordingly, 12 normal subjects and 15 patients with renal disease received a protein meal providing 1 g/kg body weight protein. The subjects were pretreated with either placebo or an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril. A significant (P less than 0.05) increase in inulin and para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearance was noted in normal subjects as well as in patients with renal disease. The increase in GFR over basal values in normal subjects (28 +/- 9%), patients with moderate renal failure (20 +/- 13%), and advanced renal failure (21 +/- 14%) was not different. Plasma renin activity was unchanged following protein meal in the placebo studies although it increased following enalapril administration. Enalapril pretreatment did not alter the glomerular vasodilation and hyperfiltration following protein meal. We conclude that protein meal induces glomerular hyperfiltration in renal disease and that this protein-induced hyperfiltration is not mediated by angiotensin II. Because glomerular hyperfiltration is implicated in the progression of renal disease, these data suggest that even in patients who have advanced renal failure, high-protein diets may exert a detrimental effect on the kidney.