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L Revert Torrellas

Publications and source records attributed to L Revert Torrellas.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Monoclonal antibody analysis of crescentic membranous glomerulonephropathy.

Idiopathic membranous glomerulonephropathy (MG) has a rather benign prognosis. Acute renal failure with cellular crescents superimposed on MG is unusual and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. We report 3 patients with crescentic MG who showed strong glomerular and interstitial infiltration of leukocytes (CD45), T lymphocytes (CD3), helper/inducer T cells (CD4), cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (CD8), and monocyte-macrophages (CD14). A similar number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells contributed to T cellularity within the glomerular tuft, whereas CD4+ cells were predominant over CD8+ cells in the crescents. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) antigens (CD54) were found on renal vascular endothelium, interstitial cellular aggregates and proximal tubular epithelial cells. The case reports illustrate the contribution of macrophages and T cells bearing predominantly CD4+ phenotype to cellular crescents, and the abnormal expression of ICAM-1 antigens on proximal tubular epithelial cells. Both features suggest that cell-mediated immunity may play a role in the transformation of crescentic MG.

Adult↗

[Autonomic dysfunction in chronic hypotension associated with uremia].

BACKGROUND: Chronic hypotension is a not uncommon complication among hemodialyzed patients which is responsible of an important morbidity. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypotension. METHODS: In order to study whether ANS dysfunction is responsible for chronic hypotension in hemodialyzed patients, the authors evaluated the integrity of the whole baroreflex arc by the Valsalva's manoeuver, of parasympathetic efferent pathway by the deep-breathing test and of sympathetic efferent pathway by the hand-grip test in 16 hemodialyzed patients with chronic hypotension, 17 normotensive hemodialyzed patients and 17 normal control subjects. Plasma catecholamine levels were also measured in these patients. RESULTS: In normotensive patients, Valsalva's manoeuver response (p < 0.005) and deep-breathing test response (p < 0.05) were lowered, while hand-grip test response was preserved. In chronic hypotensive patients, in addition to an impaired deep-breathing test (p < 0.05), a further reduced Valsalva's manoeuver response and a lower pressor response to hand-grip test were observed (p < 0.001). Catecholamine levels were higher in both groups of patients (p < 0.01) with respect to control subjects, specially in chronic hypotensive patients. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialyzed patients (both normotensive and hypotensive) the whole baroreflex function and parasympathetic response are impaired. The lower pressor response to hand-grip test observed in hypotensive patients, in spite of the higher catecholamine levels, suggest that in these patients the cardiovascular dysfunction cannot be ascribed to a reduced sympathetic "outflow" but to a resistance of the target organs (heart and vessels) to the sympathetic stimulation.

Adult↗

[Vascular hyperreactivity to vasopressin in mild essential arterial hypertension].

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) infusion in essential hypertension. To this end, 9 hypertensive patients and 10 normotensive controls were evaluated. After one hour rest, AVP was infused at a dosage of 0.5 and 2 ng/(kg/min), in 20 minutes periods. After AVP infusion, mean arterial pressure increased only in hypertensive patients (from 125.8 +/- 7 to 131.8 +/- 7, p less than 0.01 and to 135.6 +/- 6 mmHg, p less than 0.01). Peripheral vascular resistance was significantly increased in both groups during AVP infusion, although the percent increase was higher in hypertensive patients during the last period of infusion (18.3 +/- 10 versus 4.6 +/- 4, p less than 0.05). Cardiac index decreased in both groups during infusion, although this reduction was significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in healthy controls in the last period of infusion (-8.16 +/- 6 versus -1.8 +/- 4%, p less than 0.05). These results confirm that in essential hypertension there is an exaggerated pressor response to AVP infusion, suggesting that it is due to an increased vascular response to this hormone. The compensatory reduction of cardiac output and the inhibition of sympathetic nervous activity mediated through baroreceptor reflexes do not apparently play a role in this pressor response.

Adult↗

[Icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis with acute renal failure (author's transl)].

Icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis is a zoonosis which is relatively frequent in rural agricultural or cattle areas. In the severe forms of the disease renal affection is frequent, but the incidence of acute renal insufficiency is far lesser. Three cases of acute renal insufficiency in adult male patients secondary to an infection by Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae are presented. Two of the patients resided in urban areas and only one of which presented professional risk. The clinical polymorphysm of the illness is confirmed, having observed not only the absence of fever but also that of jaundice. The former history of chronic alcoholism, present in two cases, determined diagnostic difficulties with acute alcoholic hepatitis. The serologic diagnosis is often positive only at the end of the second week, and the need to carry out a series of seroaglutinations is to be insisted upon. The types of renal impairment in leptospirosis are reviewed and the presence of acute renal insufficiency is stressed, including those patients with less severe forms of the disease, and especially those without Weil's syndrome. All of the patients had to be treated with dialysis, although two of them had a conserved diuresis after an initial brief period of oliguria.

Acute Kidney Injury↗