Measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Eric Alamartine.
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A low CD4 lymphocyte count has been associated with skin and nonskin cancers in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) and might be a useful prediction tool. We analyzed the serial measurements of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes to study the influence of immunosuppressants and look for a possible predictive value of lymphocyte count for the occurrence of cancer. In 250 successive KTR, blood lymphocytes were labeled for CD4 and CD8 count, prior transplantation, at month 3 and 6 and each year thereafter, throughout a 10-year observation period. The kinetics of lymphocyte subsets were compared in regard to treatments, cancer and confounding factors. ATG were responsible of an early and long lasting impairment in CD4 cells. Patients with a cancer and especially those with multiple tumors, presented with less CD4 cells throughout the observation period, but ATG were not directly associated to the occurrence of tumors. An early low CD4 count was of poor predictive value for the occurrence of cancer.
The kidney disease outcomes quality initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines introduced a classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on the level of kidney function. In order to predict the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), they specifically recommended the use of the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) study and Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) equations. Since the performance of these estimates has been questioned, we sought to determine whether these recommendations might be applicable in renal transplantation. Following the K/DOQI methodology, we compared the GFR estimated by the MDRD and C-G equations with 476 inulin clearances performed in 284 renal transplant recipients. Even though the MDRD equations provided a better prediction than C-G formula, none of them reached the level of accuracy required by the K/DOQI standards. At least, 25% of the calculated GFR gave a prediction beyond 30% of the corresponding inulin clearance value. In addition, when classified according to their predicted GFR, less than two-thirds of the transplant patients turned out to be assigned to the correct stage of CKD. We conclude that, in renal transplantation, the predictive performance of both C-G and MDRD study equations appears to be particularly impaired and may potentially compromise the validity of the K/DOQI guidelines if implemented in their current form.
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BACKGROUND: In clinical trials, comparison of renal graft function needs a rigorous determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Since reference methods to measure GFR cannot be easily implemented, a number of tests predicting GFR are usually used. However, little is known about their validity in renal transplant patients. We aimed to compare the performances of six GFR tests with inulin clearance in this population. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive inulin clearances performed in 294 renal transplant recipients with stable renal function were retrospectively selected. For each of them, we computed six estimates: the 24-hour creatinine clearance, the Cockcroft-Gault, Walser, Jelliffe, Nankivell, and Levey formulas. Their respective performance was assessed by correlation (simple linear regression), accuracy (dispersion of true error), and agreement (Bland and Altman method). RESULTS: Each GFR test closely correlated with inulin clearance (P < 0.0001). Comparisons between pairs of GFR tests did not show any significant difference in accuracy between the Levey, Jelliffe, and Walser formulas. Conversely, each of these formulas demonstrated a significant lower dispersion (P < 0.005) than the others. Nevertheless, all GFR tests displayed considerable lack of agreement with limits of agreement over 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 apart. The proportion of predicted GFR differing from inulin clearance by +/- 10 mL/min/1.73 m2, ranged from 34% for the Jelliffe formula to 53% for the Nankivell's one. CONCLUSION: None of these formulas seems to be able to safely substitute for inulin clearance. In clinical trials, renal graft function should be preferably assessed using a reference method of GFR measurement.
IgA nephropathy is quite a common disease with an annual incidence around 25 per 10(6) inhabitants. It occurs in young adults and its progression is rather indolent, leading to a 20-30% incidence of end stage renal failure within 20 years of evolution. Gross hematuria is classic but far less frequent than microscopic hematuria or proteinuria. Therefore, routine screening remains essential. It is still very difficult to establish the eventual outcome and patients must remain under medical control for a lifetime. The amount of proteinuria, arterial hypertension and pathological damage are the major prognostic factors. The control of first two should be a permanent goal of the treatment, in which ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists play a central role. High-risk patients will benefit from steroid and immunosuppressive therapy.
BACKGROUND: After radiological procedures, the incidence of acute renal failure varies greatly, and cholesterol embolism may not always be recognized. Little, if anything, is known about whether recommendations for the prevention of either complication are correctly implemented. METHODS: We performed a prospective epidemiological study in a large population (n=809) of consecutive inpatients in a university hospital. The patients were monitored for risk factors, ongoing medications, and details of preventive measures and of radiological procedures. Contrast nephropathy was defined as a 25% rise in serum creatinine. Cholesterol embolism was defined by the presence of two typical signs. We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, and prevention of contrast nephropathy and cholesterol embolism. RESULTS: The most frequent procedure that our patients underwent was cardiac angiography (50%). The incidence of contrast nephropathy was 7%. We confirmed the classical risk factors (diabetes, dose of contrast medium, and renal insufficiency) and added potentially nephrotoxic medications as an independent risk factor. Fluid therapy, commonly proposed in high-risk patients, was adequately carried out in only 12% of patients. The incidence of cholesterol embolism was 4%, with 10% renal involvement. Arteriosclerosis and renal insufficiency were risk factors, but anticoagulation therapy was not. CONCLUSION: Adequate fluid therapy and discontinuation of nephrotoxic medications should be more systematically implemented in the prevention of contrast nephropathy. Recognition of cholesterol embolism is crucial.
After organ transplantation, susceptibility to cancer is multifactorial, especially for skin carcinomas. Risk factors may include genetic susceptibilities, such as the control of cytokine production. Interleukin-10 is a cytokine that is implicated in tumorigenesis, and it has been shown that polymorphisms in its gene promoter correlate with differential amounts of production. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between interleukin-10 gene promoter polymorphisms and the occurrence of skin carcinomas after renal transplantation. Seventy kidney transplant recipients who developed a squamous cell carcinoma or a basal cell carcinoma were examined for polymorphisms in the interleukin-10 gene promoter using polymerase chain reaction based methods. Single base pair mutations were studied at positions -1082, -819, and -592. These patients were compared to 70 healthy controls and to 70 matched renal transplant recipients without cancer. The interleukin-10 secretion capability was tested in a subgroup of 40 of these patients by in vitro stimulation of peripheral mononuclear cells. Interleukin-10 genotypes and haplotypes were differently distributed in kidney transplant recipients who developed a skin carcinoma, but especially a squamous cell carcinoma, with an increased frequency of the GCC haplotype and a decreased frequency of the ATA haplotype. Subsequently, we found a shift in the predicted phenotypes from the low production phenotype to the high production phenotype. Secretion of interleukin-10 was strongly correlated to the production predicted phenotype, and tended to be higher in patients who developed a squamous cell carcinoma than in the others. These results indicate that interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms and interleukin-10 production capability may contribute to the development of skin squamous cell carcinomas after renal transplantation.