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Biomedical subjects

J M Bargman

Publications and source records attributed to J M Bargman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A unique renal lesion in common variable immunodeficiency.

This article reports the case of a 33-year-old woman with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) who developed renal failure 17 years after diagnosis and initiation of treatment with monthly IVIG. A renal biopsy revealed mesangial and paramesangial immune complex deposition and interstitial granulomatous infiltration. Renal function improved with oral corticosteroids, but did not return to normal. Decreasing the dose of IVIG had no effect on renal function. Immune dysfunction can be associated with both granulomatous disease and immune complex glomerulonephritis, or the latter may be related to chronic infection or immunoglobulin use. This is the first report of concomitant glomerular-tubulointerstitial lesions in this immunodeficiency syndrome. Renal function should be closely followed in patients with CVI.

Adult↗

Long-term blood pressure control in a cohort of peritoneal dialysis patients and its association with residual renal function.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the prime contributor for cardiovascular mortality in the dialysis population. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been thought to improve blood pressure (BP) control in the short term, but the long-term benefits are not conclusively proven. We aimed to evaluate the degree of BP control in PD patients in the long term and analyse the factors associated with poor control. METHODS: Data of all patients who were initiated on PD at one centre between July 1994 and July 1998 and completed at least 1 year of PD were analysed retrospectively at initiation of PD, at 6 months, and annually thereafter until 5 years or until discontinuation of therapy. Hypertension was defined as per WHO/ISH criteria. A 'Blood Pressure Control Index' was empirically defined to account for the effect of antihypertensives on measured BP. Factors associated with poor BP control were analysed. RESULTS: Out of 207 patients (age 57.0+/-16.0 years, 103 male, 104 female) 91.3% were hypertensive at the start of PD. About 33.8% had diabetic nephropathy. Systolic and mean arterial pressure index improved in early phase reaching a nadir between 6 months and 1 year followed by steady progressive worsening through out the rest of follow up. On multiple linear regression analysis age (P<0.001), duration of hypertension prior to dialysis (P<0.001), and declining residual renal function, expressed as both average of urea and creatinine clearance (P=0.002) and residual urine output (P<0.001) were independently associated with poor BP control. Diabetes (P=0.836), peritoneal transport (D/P 4 of creatinine at start) (P=0.218), peripheral oedema (P=0.479) and dose of erythropoetin (P=0.488) were not associated. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of PD results in early improvement of hypertension in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). BP control thereafter deteriorates steadily with time and this is associated with age, duration of hypertension, and declining residual renal function. This suggests that hypertension in ESRD patients is a progressive disease primarily related to falling glomerular filtration rate, the preservation of which might improve BP control and possibly modify cardiovascular risk.

Adult↗

Deterioration in renal function associated with fibrate therapy.

BACKGROUND: Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) are commonly used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. A side-effect of these medications that is not well recognized is deterioration in renal function during therapy. This study reviewed a series of patients who showed such a deterioration. METHODS: The design was a retrospective chart review. Data extracted included creatinine, urea, cyclosporine levels, medical history, and medications. Charts were examined for other potential reasons for a change in creatinine. RESULTS: There were a total of 10 patients. All were males between the ages of 37 and 71. All had a history of renal insufficiency. Six had received a renal transplant and, of these, 5 were on cyclosporine. Reasons for underlying renal impairment included diabetes, hypertension, nephrosclerosis, and renal disease of unknown etiology. Most patients had risk factors for or the presence of vascular disease. The mean pre-treatment creatinine was 182 +/- 14 micromol/l (2.1 +/- 0.2 mg/dl) (mean +/- SE), compared to a peak creatinine on the medication of 247 +/- 16 micromol/l (2.8 +/- 0.2 mg/dl) (p < 0.001). The post-medication mean was 183 +/- 13 (2.1 +/- 0.1 mg/dl) (p < 0.001 vs maximum creatinine). Urea values also increased with therapy and decreased following discontinuation of the fibrate. Cyclosporine levels did not change with treatment. All recorded creatine kinase values were within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: A group of 10 men showed a reversible deterioration in renal function while being treated with a fibrate for hyperlipidemia. The mechanism involved in the deterioration in renal function is not clear. The most plausible mechanism is one based on renal hemodynamics, given the rapid and complete reversibility that was noted and the finding that most patients had risk factors for vascular disease. If patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction are to receive a trial of fibrate therapy, this should be done with caution and

Adult↗

Increased mortality of elderly female peritoneal dialysis patients with diabetes--a descriptive analysis.

Three recent studies using registry data from the United States, in comparing the mortality risks between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD), have consistently found that elderly diabetic women on PD have a higher mortality risk as compared with their counterparts on HD. Though the cause for this observation is not clear, the phenomenon may be unique to the United States. Alternatively, a selection bias impossible to decipher may be at work in these studies, as none of them have data on comorbidity, nutrition, or adequacy of dialysis. Finally, the possibility that elderly diabetic women are, for some reason, more vulnerable to the ill effects of peritoneal dialysis should be considered. We report here a retrospective analysis of 47 diabetic women, above 55 years of age, with end-stage renal disease, who were started on PD and who later died on dialysis. The primary outcome of interest was cause of death. Demographic details about the patients, comorbid conditions, dialysis adequacy, and biochemical parameters at the start of PD were noted. Death in these patients was attributed mainly to vascular causes, and there appeared to be a high prevalence of peripheral vascular disease. Infection was the next major cause of death, being the primary cause in 14 patients. Of these, only 5 patients had peritonitis. On a Cox regression analysis, only patient age and duration of diabetes at onset of dialysis were found to be predictive of vascular death. No factor was found to be predictive of death from infection. It appears that elderly diabetic women on PD die mainly of the long-term complications of diabetes.

Aged↗

A multicenter study of noncompliance with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis exchanges in US and Canadian patients.

Recent evidence suggested that noncompliance (NC) with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) exchanges may be more common in US than in Canadian dialysis centers. This issue was investigated using a questionnaire-based method in 656 CAPD patients at 14 centers in the United States and Canada. NC was defined as missing more than one exchange per week or more than two exchanges per month. Patients were ensured of the confidentiality of their individual results. Mean patient age was 56 +/- 16 years, 52% were women, and 39% had diabetes. The overall admitted rate of NC was 13%, with a rate of 18% in the United States and 7% in Canada (P < 0.001). NC was more common in younger patients (P < 0.0001), those without diabetes (P < 0.001), and employed patients (P < 0.05). It was also more common in black and Hispanic than in Asian and white patients (P < 0.001). NC was more common in patients prescribed more than four exchanges daily (P < 0.0001) but was not affected by dwell volume. On multiple regression analysis, the independent predictors of NC, in order of importance, were being prescribed more than four exchanges per day, black race, being employed, younger age, and not having diabetes. Being treated in a US unit did not quite achieve significance as a multivariate independent predictor. These findings suggest that NC is not uncommon in CAPD patients and is more frequent in US than in Canadian patients. However, country of residence is less powerful as a predictor of NC than a variety of other demographic and prescription factors.

Adult↗

Neoplasia in dialysis patients: pathophysiology, epidemiology, and screening.

Chronic renal failure can be considered an immunosuppressed state. One immunologic function that may be compromised is tumor surveillance. Studies have suggested an incidence of cancer that is greater in dialysis patients that in the age- and sex-matched non dialysis population. A drawback to many previous studies is "ascertainment bias," wherein closely monitored populations have a higher rate of cancer detection. However, allowing for systematic bias, a true increase in neoplasia appears to exist in dialysis patients. While many agencies have established protocols for cancer screening in the general population, little has been written about recommendations for cancer screening in dialysis patients. Moreover, the high mortality from cardiovascular disease may render cancer screening protocols redundant and cost-ineffective. This article offers recommendations that emphasize that risk profile of individual patients rather than a population-based approach to cancer screening.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Calciphylaxis precipitated by ultraviolet light in a patient with end-stage renal disease secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Calciphylaxis is a rare and severe calcification syndrome described mainly in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis or with a renal transplant. This life-threatening condition is characterized by the abrupt onset of painful ischemic skin ulcers and necrosis. Secondary local and systemic infection may supervene and, without timely and appropriate interventions, calciphylaxis may be fatal. A precipitant or challenging agent is believed to be necessary to initiate the process. We describe a case of a woman with ESRD receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis who developed calciphylaxis in the setting of severe hyperparathyroidism after receiving UV photoradiation therapy. We suggest that the UV light served as the challenging agent in the precipitation of this devastating condition.

Adult↗

Management of minimal lesion glomerulonephritis: evidence-based recommendations.

The treatment of idiopathic minimal lesion disease in children has been extensively studied in randomized controlled trials, however, there is less information available for adults. This article summarizes evidence-based recommendations for management. The first attack should be treated with prednisone or prednisolone at 60 mg/m2 per day (up to a maximum of 80 mg/day) for four to six weeks, followed by 40 mg/m2 of prednisone every other day for another four to six weeks (grade A). Relapse should be treated with 60 mg/m2/day of prednisone (up to 80 mg/day) only until the urine becomes protein free for three days, and then an alternate day regimen of 40 mg/m2 should be used for another month (grade A). Patients with frequently relapsing disease will have a significant reduction in relapse frequency after eight weeks of an alkylating agent (grade A). Less rigorous studies have suggested benefit with long-term, alternate-day corticosteroid (grade D) or the antihelminthic agent levamisole (grade D). For patients with steroid-dependent disease, an 8- or 12-week course with cyclophosphamide can induce remission (grade D). In true steroid-resistant disease, observational studies have suggested that a course of cyclosporine may sometimes induce remission or restore steroid responsiveness (grade D). Large retrospective studies in adults suggest that therapeutic response is slower than in children, but adults experience fewer relapses and more prolonged remission.

Adult↗

Resolution of hyperparathyroidism associated with immunosuppressive therapy.

A patient maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with severe hyperparathyroidism received a cadaver renal transplant. In the weeks following the transplant there was dramatic biochemical resolution of parathyroid hyperfunction associated with intensive immunosuppressive therapy, but without sustained return of function of the transplant kidney. Tertiary hyperparathyroidism often resolves slowly with successful renal transplantation. There are no previous reports of spontaneous resolution of hyperparathyroidism as demonstrated by this patient. Possible mechanisms, including the role of cytolytic antirejection therapy, are discussed.

Adult↗

Development of severe secondary hypertension in a patient with systemic entomophthoromycosis.

The sudden onset of hypertension mandates investigation for secondary causes. We report the case of a young man with a very rare systemic fungal disease that included massive unilateral perirenal adenopathy. Treatment was associated with the abrupt onset of severe hypertension. Imaging studies suggested progressive constriction of one kidney with treatment, presumably as a result of healing adenopathy. We suggest that this case is a new example of hypertension secondary to constrictive perinephritis (Page kidney).

Adult↗

Diagnosis of lymphoma in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient by peritoneal fluid cytology.

A 72-year-old woman with diabetic nephropathy receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 1 year presented with recurrent episodes of sterile cloudy dialysate. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography demonstrated retroperitoneal masses. Cytology of the dialysis fluid revealed large atypical lymphocytes with light chain restriction, strongly suggestive of lymphoma. Fine-needle aspiration of the retroperitoneal masses showed cells with identical cytologic and immunocytochemical staining characteristics. This is the first report of de novo lymphoma diagnosed in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient by cytologic analysis of the dialysis effluent.

Aged↗

IgG heavy-chain deposition disease.

A 51-yr-old man presented with renal failure, proteinuria, hematuria, and hypertension. The serum contained two monoclonal protein spikes, an IgG4 lambda and free lambda light chains. Free gamma heavy chains were absent from serum. A bone marrow biopsy did not show evidence of a plasmalymphocytic dyscrasia. Renal biopsy showed a nodular glomerulopathy with linear deposits of gamma 4 heavy chains alone along glomerular, tubular, and vascular basement membranes and in mesangial regions. No light chains were detected in the kidney despite staining with antisera directed against both free and bound light chains and the F(ab')2 fragment of IgG. The term heavy-chain deposition disease is appropriate in view of the above features.

Heavy Chain Disease↗