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L Cagnoli

Publications and source records attributed to L Cagnoli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Ethylene-oxide and steam-sterilised polysulfone membrane in dialysis patients with eosinophilia.

Eosinophilia and some acute dialysis side-effects, such as itching, flushing and bronchospasm, are often associated with the presence of ethylene oxide (ETO) as dialyzer sterilizing agent. This study evaluated the effects of two different polysulfone (PS) hollow-fiber dialysers sterilized with ETO and steam in 31 chronic dialysis patients with eosinophilia. Clinical symptoms, metabolic and biochemical parameters, complement (C3a and C5a) activation and production were evaluated in each patient dialysed for two months at a time with Cuprophan dialyser, ETO-PS dialyser and steam-PS dialyser. The steam-sterilizer agent does not alter the purifying capacity of the PS membrane which maintains its superiority over Cuprophan in terms of biocompatibility. Using steam-PS, intradialytic eosinophil kinetics seems to improve. In some patients with high serum levels of ETO-specific IgE these levels tend to diminish. Generic intradialytic symptoms do not differ between the two sterilization methods, although some hypersensitivity symptoms during the first dialysis hour are considerably lower in some patients when steam-sterilized PS is used.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

ACE inhibition reduces proteinuria in normotensive patients with IgA nephropathy: a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

A multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed in 39 adult patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy with the aim of comparing the effects of the ACE inhibitor fosinopril and placebo on proteinuria. All patients had normal blood pressure and normal renal function. Proteinuria ranged from 1.0 to 2.5 g/24 h. After a 3-month run-in period, fosinopril and placebo were randomly administered in two 4-month sequences separated from cross-over treatment by a 1-month interval. The mean values of creatinine clearance did not change during either the placebo or the treatment sequences. The mean values of mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly lower during the fosinopril sequence (90.4 +/- 9.0 mmHg) than in basal conditions (92.8 +/- 9.1 mmHg) (P = 0.034). The mean basal values of proteinuria were 1.74 +/- 0.84 g/24 h. They were unchanged during the placebo sequence (1.79 +/- 1.20) and fell to 1.37 +/- 0.98 g/24 h after 4 months of fosinopril treatment. Using a multivariate statistical analysis, the treatment effect by time on proteinuria was significantly evident only in the fosinopril sequence (Wilks test, P = 0.033). Changes in protein excretion were not correlated with changes in MAP, baseline plasma renin activity, and urinary sodium excretion. This controlled study shows that fosinopril can significantly reduce proteinuria even in normotensive patients with IgA nephropathy. Obviously, the results of treatment with ACE inhibitors on long-term renal prognosis remain to be elucidated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Analysis of the factors influencing bicarbonate balance during acetate-free biofiltration.

In acetate-free biofiltration (AFB), the physical separation between the base losses and the gains could facilitate the modeling of intradialytic bicarbonate (HCO3) balance. In order to verify this hypothesis, we analyzed in a multicenter study, 126 AFB sessions in which differing parameters were evaluated (dialysis time, blood flow, ultrafiltration, infused HCO3, pre- and post-dialytic HCO3, hematocrit and body wt). Statistical analysis performed with multiple linear regression showed that the post-dialysis HCO3 was significantly dependent (F = 21.68, d.f. 5.95, P < 0.001) directly on the amount of infused HCO3, the level of pre-dialysis HCO3 and the final body weight, and inversely on the dialysis time and the blood flow. HCO3 values predicted by the statistical model correlated well with the observed ones (r = 0.788, P < 0.0001) with a mean absolute difference of 2.138 mEq/liter. This modeling approach allowed us to predict, with a computer-aided procedure, the quantities of HCO3 to be infused to obtain a desired and personalized acidosis correction.

Acetates↗
PubMed1990

Acute bilateral renal vein thrombosis superimposed on calcified thrombus of the inferior vena cava in a patient with membranous lupus nephritis.

We report a case of membranous lupus nephritis with a previous history of long-standing nephrotic syndrome which developed an acute renal failure due to bilateral renal-vein thrombosis superimposed on a calcified thrombus of the inferior vena cava eight years after the diagnosis. The occurrence of acute renal-vein thrombosis is a possible but rarely described complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The presence of a calcified thrombus of the inferior vena cava has been described in only one adult patient until now. An aggressive thrombolytic therapy with urokinase permitted the fresh thrombus to be dissolved with a marked improvement in renal function.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1989

A randomized trial of methylprednisolone and chlorambucil in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

We conducted a controlled trial to investigate the long-term effects of treatment with methylprednisolone and chlorambucil in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. We have previously reported that after a mean of 31 months, treated patients did better. We now report the results of a longer follow-up. Eighty-one patients with proteinuria (greater than or equal to 3.5 g per day) and biopsy-proved membranous nephropathy were randomly assigned to receive either supportive therapy alone or a six-month course of corticosteroids alternated with chlorambucil (0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) every other month. Methylprednisolone was first given intravenously in three pulses (1 g per day) and was then given orally (0.4 mg per kilogram per day) for 27 days. The patients were followed for 2 to 11 years (median, 5). Two patients in the control group and one in the treatment group died. At the last follow-up visit, 9 of 39 patients assigned to the control group (23 percent) and 28 of 42 patients assigned to the treatment group (67 percent) did not have the nephrotic syndrome. At five years there were more remissions of the nephrotic syndrome in treated patients than in controls (22 of 30 vs. 10 of 25; P = 0.026). Compared with base-line values, the mean reciprocal of the plasma creatinine level declined significantly in the control group (33 percent; P = 0.0002) but not in the treatment group (6 percent; P not significant). Plasma creatinine increased by 50 percent or more in 19 controls (49 percent) and in 4 treated patients (10 percent). We conclude that a six-month course of methylprednisolone and chlorambucil can bring about sustained remission of the nephrotic syndrome and help to preserve renal function in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Controlled plasma exchange trial in acute renal failure due to multiple myeloma.

We studied 29 patients affected by acute renal failure due to multiple myeloma with Bence-Jones proteinuria greater than 1 g/day to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma exchange in the treatment of severe myeloma nephropathy. Renal failure was severe enough to require dialysis in 24 cases, while the remaining 5 patients showed serum creatinine levels greater than 5 mg/dl. The patients were randomly allocated to Group I (15 patients undergoing plasma exchange together with corticosteroids, cytotoxic drug, hemodialysis only when needed) or to Group II (14 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis together with corticosteroids and cytotoxic drug). In Group I Bence-Jones proteinuria decreased dramatically (P less than 0.01) with a significant increase in urine output (P less than 0.001), while Group II presented a slight reduction in Bence-Jones proteinuria without a significant increase in daily diuresis. Thirteen out the 15 Group I patients recovered renal function reaching serum creatinine levels less than or equal to 2.5 mg/dl in most cases. Only two patients in Group II improved renal failure well enough to stop dialysis. The one-year survival rate was significantly higher in Group I (66%) than in Group II (28%, P less than 0.01). We conclude that plasma exchange associated to chemotherapy rapidly removes large amounts of light chains, improves both renal function and long-term survival expectancies.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1988

Prognostic value of T lymphocyte subset ratio in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

The behavior of T lymphocyte subsets was studied in 39 Italian patients with nephrotic syndrome due to idiopathic membranous nephropathy. They took part in a long-term prospective and randomized therapeutic trial based on the 6-month administration of methylprednisolone and chlorambucil. The lymphocyte subsets were evaluated by monoclonal antibodies at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the follow-up period in 23 treated and in 16 untreated patients. Our data seem to suggest that a higher helper-inducer/suppressor-cytotoxic cell ratio before therapy may be a good prognostic index of improved proteinuria. Moreover, the therapeutic schedule does not seem to induce a long-lasting abnormality in cellular immunity.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Renal histological lesions and clinical syndromes in multiple myeloma. Renal Immunopathology Group.

This retrospective multicenter study, based on 42 patients affected by renal damage due to multiple myeloma, analyzes the renal biopsy results, the clinical data at the time of biopsy and the subsequent renal outcome in order to clarify the correlations existing between clinical and histological changes. Plasmocytoma components were Bence Jones alone in 55% of the patients and light-chain excretion was present in over 90%. Rapidly progressive renal failure was the most frequent clinical presentation (27 cases). The histological lesions directly attributable to multiple myeloma were subdivided into 3 basic categories: related to light-chains, direct tumor involvement of renal parenchyma and attributable to systemic effects of neoplastic disease. Light-chains seemed to cause renal lesions in 59.4% of the cases. Myeloma cast nephropathy was the prominent bioptic diagnosis established (20 cases). Among the clinical, laboratory and histological parameters studied, only the degree of tubular-interstitial damage was significantly correlated to the renal outcome in the 32 patients who had an adequately documented follow-up period.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1987

Long-term outcome of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome.

We retrospectively studied 82 consecutive patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy accepted at two separate Renal Services. These patients had nephrotic syndrome at presentation and had been followed up for at least 10 years. The duration of the disease before renal biopsy ranged between 1 and 18 months. Forty-nine patients never received treatment (non-treated group) whereas 33 patients (treated group) received corticosteroids (and cytotoxic agents). The two groups were age and sex matched. There was no difference in clinical findings or in outcome between the two Renal Services. A complete and sustained remission of proteinuria was observed in about 25% of patients, and there was a significant difference (P less than 0.01) between the treated and non-treated group (mean value 39.1% vs 14.3%). Forty-four per cent of the non-treated patients and 24.2% of the treated ones developed chronic renal failure or renal death during a mean potential follow-up of 14 years. Non-renal death was recorded in 19.5% of the patients. The staging of the capillary wall lesion represented a very important prognostic index. We confirm, therefore, that idiopathic membranous nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome is frequently a progressive disease. Corticosteroids (and cytotoxic drugs) seem to be of some benefit in interfering with the natural course of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Ultrastructural glomerular findings in cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.

Thirty-three renal biopsies of patients affected by cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (CRYGN) were investigated by electron microscopy, paying particular attention to the nature of cells responsible of glomerular hypercellularity, the presence and site of electron-dense deposits and their ultrastructural characteristics. Personal as well as literature data suggest (a) diffuse glomerular hypercellularity found in most cases of CRYGN is mainly due to polymorphonuclear leukocytes and even more to monocyte exudation; (b) the interposition of the latter cell type in the glomerular capillary wall is the main responsible cause of the frequent occurrence of the membranoproliferative pattern in CRYGN, and (c) peculiar structures found in the electron dense deposits are characteristic of CRYGN and related to cryoglobulin composition. Electron microscopy therefore seems to be a valuable diagnostic procedure for this type of glomerulonephritis.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMed1987

Long-term prognosis of diffuse lupus nephritis.

The follow-up of 43 patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis is reported. After histological diagnosis, all patients were treated with 3 intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone pulses and then with low-dose oral steroids and 31 with cytotoxic drugs. Renal and extra-renal exacerbations were also treated with intravenous high-dose steroids. Patients were followed for 1 to 13 years. At 10 years the patient survival rate was 87% and the kidney survival rate was 79%. If 3 extra-renal deaths are excluded, the actuarial 10-year kidney survival rate is 91%. At present, 21 patients do not show any renal abnormalities, 13 patients have normal plasma creatinine but proteinuria, 3 patients have stable renal function impairment, 2 patients have worsening of their renal function, 1 is on regular dialysis. The other 3 patients died (from cardiac failure, cerebral hemorrhage and a car accident). The incidence of flare-ups was low (0.1 episodes per year). Severe side effects were rare in this series. It is concluded that the long-term prognosis of diffuse lupus nephritis is becoming considerably better. Therapy based on a short course of intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone and on a maintenance regimen with low doses of steroid and cytotoxic agents can contribute to preserving renal function while avoiding severe side effects.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1986

Cell interposition in glomerular capillary walls in cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis (CRYGN). Ultrastructural investigation of 23 cases.

The present report describes ultrastructural findings on twenty-three cases of CRYGN showing membranoproliferative pattern under light microscopy. Attention was paid to the presence of double contoured peripheral basement membranes and to the characteristics of the interposed cells. The latter, according to the well known characteristics of membranoproliferative GN, are thought to be mesangial in nature. In fact, mesangial cells were found in 8 cases only, always associated with monocytes. Only monocytes were recorded in 12 cases, whereas in other 3 cases double contours were not connected to cell interposition. Despite similarities under light microscopy, CRYGN is therefore rather different from idiopathic membranoproliferative GN because of the prevalence of exudative changes, mainly due to monocyte infiltration, over proliferative lesions.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and morphologic evolution of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Twenty-five adult patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and nephrotic syndrome (NS) who had participated at a long-term randomized trial with steroid and chlorambucil for six months, underwent repeated renal biopsies. The mean interval between pretreatment and the second biopsy was 41 months. Five evolutionary morphologic changes were adopted. Extensive normalization of the basement membrane (stage V) was observed in 6 of the 9 patients with complete and sustained remission. Only patients in stages I or II at admission seemed to get to reparation stage V. Persistence of NS or a partial remission was usually associated to the progression of the capillary wall lesion to stage III or IV. Our treatment schedule significantly increased the likelihood of getting to the reparation stage V.

Adolescent↗