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Mark A Perazella

Publications and source records attributed to Mark A Perazella.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cardiac troponins: utility in renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease.

Currently available serum markers of cardiac injury in patients with renal insufficiency suffer from impaired sensitivity and specificity. Cardiac troponins (cTnI, cTnT) are relatively new diagnostic markers of myocardial injury and have gained widespread application in the non-renal-failure population to diagnose myocardial infarction. Over the past few years the specificity and sensitivity of cardiac troponins for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction in patients with renal dysfunction have been examined. Most data indicate that cardiac troponin I has an excellent specificity, but until more studies are available this marker should be considered a useful but imperfect serum marker of an acute coronary syndrome in patients with underlying renal dysfunction.

Aged↗

Nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy: an unusual skin condition associated with kidney disease.

We report the case of a patient who, while on long-term hemodialysis (HD), developed nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, a newly described sclerosing skin disorder. This disorder is characterized by thickened, hardened skin with brawny hyperpigmentation and raised plaques. The most common patient complaints are pruritus and dysesthesia. The extremities are predominantly involved with sparing of the torso and face. Dysfunction of internal organs has not been described, distinguishing it from other fibrosing conditions such as scleroderma. The skin biopsy is characterized by haphazardly arranged dermal collagen spindle cells in the reticular dermis. Extensive mucin deposits are interposed between collagen bundles and there are an increased number of fibroblast-type cells. In contrast to scleroderma, inflammatory cells are generally absent. Corticosteroid therapy can be tried, but in our patient was of no benefit.

Fibrosis↗

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: fundamental aspects and clinical implications in renal and cardiovascular disorders.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) exerts a principal influence in maintaining vascular tone, optimal salt and water homeostasis, and forward cardiac output in human beings. Overactivity of the RAAS can lead to pathologic consequences in states of diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, renal artery stenosis, left ventricular hypertrophy, coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. In addition to fluid and hemodynamic effects, the RAAS may have a critical role in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the progression of atherosclerosis, the dysregulation of endothelial function, and the inhibition of the fibrinolytic system. Accumulated basic and clinical evidence supports the use of inhibitors of the RAAS, including aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers, in treating hypertension, improving diabetic nephropathy, preventing or ameliorating congestive heart failure, and optimizing the prognosis after myocardial infarction.

Angiotensin II↗

Intravenous iron and the risk of infection in end-stage renal disease patients.

Oral iron is typically insufficient for the iron deficiency of hemodialysis patients. Intravenous (IV) iron is well tolerated by most patients and non-dextran-containing iron preparations are associated with few allergic reactions. However, there is the potential for an increased risk of infection with IV iron that appears to increase bacterial growth as well as inhibit the host's innate immune response to bacterial infection. Clinical studies suggest a link between iron therapy and infection. Practicing nephrologists should be aware of this issue, but should not hesitate to use IV iron in iron-deficient patients while avoiding the development of iron overload and administration of iron to patients who have active infection.

Bacteria↗

Hip fractures in end-stage renal disease patients: incidence, risk factors, and prevention.

Hip fractures are an important problem for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with dialysis. The incidence of hip fractures in the dialysis population is approximately four times that of the general population. Even more concerning is the associated 1 year mortality, which is twice that of other dialysis patients. Management of this problem is complicated by the heterogeneous nature of renal osteodystrophy and the inadequate methods of diagnosis currently available. Fall prevention has been shown to reduce the incidence of hip fracture and associated decline in functional ability in the general population. Because falls occur frequently in the dialysis population, simple fall prevention may be one important way of protecting dialysis patients from the morbidity and mortality of hip fracture.

Aged↗

Nonhematologic complications of erythropoietin therapy.

Exogenous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a beneficial therapeutic agent for correction of anemia in both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Transfusion requirements in ESRD patients are reduced significantly and anemia management is much improved. Despite widespread use and near-universal exposure of ESRD patients to the drug, rHuEPO remains an effective and safe product. However, a number of nonhematologic complications are described with rHuEPO therapy. Most notable is hypertension, whereas the connection between seizure and enhanced thrombosis is less clear. A possible complication recently described is exacerbation of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Finally, other less common adverse effects, although rare in most patients, should be recognized as such by physicians who prescribe rHuEPO.

Anemia↗