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G Pertosa

Publications and source records attributed to G Pertosa.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

[Significance of immunocomplexes and complement in renal transplantation. Preliminary data].

The authors have measured circulating immune complexes (ic) and some components (C1q, C4, C3 and properdin factor B) in 87 serum samples obtained during the follow-up of five renal transplantation. Results showed high serum levels of ic with normal renal function of the graft especially in one patient, and an increase of the values in some rejection crises. The behaviour of the complement system was variable for the different components, while frequently low properdin factor B serum levels were noticed in some renal transplantations during the normal function of the graft and during the rejection crisis. In conclusion, the Authors report that a) high levels of ic can be seen also in grafts with normal function and their presence may be correlated with viral infections; b) an increase of ic during the rejection crisis is due to humoral immune response; c) the reduction of C3 and C1q associated to an increase of ic has been frequently seen, and finally; d) the low levels of properdin factor B show a probable intervention of the alternative complement pathway in the rejection crisis.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Circulating immune complexes in HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative chronic liver diseases.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were investigated by the fluid-phase C1q-binding test in serum samples from 131 subjects with various clinical types of HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis diagnosed on both clinical and laboratory criteria, including liver biopsy; serum samples from 28 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 75 healthy controls were also examined. The results of these findings were correlated with the liver damage and the clinical course of the disease. CIC were detected in all categories of chronic hepatitis with a significant prevalence only in patients with liver cirrhosis. No correlation was found between the levels of CIC, the presence of circulating HBsAg, and active inflammation or necrosis in any of the different types of chronic hepatitis. In contrast, a highly significant correlation was found between the prevalence of CIC and a more severe prognosis in patients with CAH and liver cirrhosis. The findings suggest that the presence of CIC is not specific for a given type of chronic liver disease and that they do not play any role in the pathogenesis of liver damage. The correlation observed between the presence of CIC and an unfavourable course of chronic liver disease suggests that CIC may modify the host's immune defence mechanisms.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet-leukocyte interactions in hemodialysis patients: culprit or bystander?

The formation of circulating platelet-leukocyte complexes has been observed in a variety of conditions and may be pathophysiologically significant. Platelet-leukocyte interactions in fact facilitate metabolic cooperation and mutual activation, which may be of relevance in many biological processes including inflammation, atherogenesis and hemostasis. During hemodialysis procedure, the series of reactions that can occur upon blood contact with the foreign membrane surface may involve a variety of changes affecting almost every cellular and plasmatic component of the blood. This article reviews the evidence for abnormal interactions between circulating platelets and leukocytes in uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and the pathophysiologic implications which may stem from such interactions.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of quality of life by improving the uraemic anaemia status].

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is one of the most common signs of chronic uraemia that determines an increase in both morbidity and mortality, as well as a deterioration in the quality of life of affected patients. We evaluated the impact of the application of the European Best Practice Anaemia Guidelines to the quality of life of dialysed patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied for 12 months (from December 2000 to November 2001) 62 patients in haemodialysis and 22 patients in peritoneal dialysis. For the statistical analysis the following parameters were examined: haemoglobin levels, TSAT, and weekly doses of Epo. To assess the quality of life we asked the patients, at the initial visit and 12 months after treatment, to fill out the "Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 items Heath Survey" and "Kidney Disease Quality of Life". RESULTS: The significant increase in TSAT levels attained in haemodialysed patients (p = 0.03) induced an increase in haemoglobin levels and consequent reduction in EPO administration (p = 0.04). During the study, a significant improvement in General Health (GH) (p = 0.03) was observed. At the end of the treatment, Physical Functioning (PF) (p = 0.04), Role and Physical Health (RP) (p = 0.02) and Social Functioning (SF) (p = 0.005) showed significant variations. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the European Best Practice Anaemia Guidelines improves the management of anaemia and the Global Health Assessment in uraemic patients. These data demonstrate how inappropriate anaemia management can negatively affect the quality of life of these patients and increase the medical costs.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chronic inflammation and cardiovascular risk in hemodialysis].

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional risk factors are common in ESRD patients, but they alone may not be sufficient to account for the high prevalence of CVD in this population. Recent clinical evidence demonstrates that chronic inflammation, a non traditional risk factor which is commonly observed in ESRD patients, may be associated with the presence of poor nutritional parameters and progressive atherosclerotic CVD. Based on these observations, the presence in ESRD patients of a syndrome consisting in malnutrition, signs of systemic chronic inflammation and atherosclerosis (MIA syndrome) has recently been suggested. A central role in this syndrome is played by the proinflammatory cytokines generated in response to factors such as chronic renal failure and infectious-inflammatory co-morbid disease. It is now clear that the immune response, both innate and adaptive, is the main cause of inflammation characterising atherosclerosis. As there is as yet no recognized, or even proposed, treatment for ESRD patients with chronic inflammation, it would be of obvious interest to study the long-term effect of various inflammatory treatment strategies on the nutritional and cardiovascular status as well as the outcome in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The IL-6 soluble receptors in hemodialyzed patients].

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, in addition to their role in host defence, can be considered a disease mediator; therefore, a reduction in cytokine synthesis or its effects is becoming a target of many diseases. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that could play a role in several clinical problems related to dialysis treatment. Biological activities of IL-6 could be modulated by two soluble circulating receptors, namely sIL-6R and sgp130. sIL-6R can enhance the inflammatory effects of IL-6 and; therefore, is an "agonistically" acting molecule. On the contrary, sgp130 efficiently binds the IL-6/sIL-6R complex with "antagonistic" effects. In this study we evaluated sgp130 release by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) harvested from 10 healthy controls (CON) and 11 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing renal dialysis therapy RDT) with cellulosic hemophan membrane (HD). We also evaluated gp130 gene expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). gp130 is the membrane bound receptor of IL-6 that could be proteolytically cleaved to generate soluble sgp130. Our results demonstrated that HD. at basal conditions, showed a higher release of sgp130 as compared with CON. We also demonstrated by RT-PCR at basal conditions a higher gene expression of gp130 in HD, as compared with CON. These results took place in the absence of any mitogenic stimulation and suggest that in HD patients an inflammatory subclinical status increases sgp130 release. The results obtained after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation confirm the role of inflammation on the increased release of sgp130 in HD patients.

Antigens, CD↗