Impaired Renal Function (impaired + renal_function)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Anaemia in heart failure: a common interaction with renal insufficiency called the cardio-renal anaemia syndrome

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2008
A. Palazzuoli
Summary Background:, Although many studies have found a high prevalence of anaemia in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), few have carefully examined the relationship between the CHF and the prevalence of anaemia and chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). Patients with advanced renal failure, significant anaemia, diffuse atherosclerosis, respiratory disease and more elderly patients have been systematically excluded from the great majority of the randomised clinical trials. Discussion:, Both anaemia and renal insufficiency are very common associated diseases associated with increased mortality, morbidity and rate of hospitalisation in CHF patients. Impaired renal function is associated with adverse outcomes because it represents a marker of coexistent disease and more diffuse atherosclerosis. In patients with CHF, progressive renal dysfunction leads to a decrease in erythropoietin (EPO) levels with reduced erythrocyte production from bone marrow. This may explain the common association between CHF, anaemia and CRI in clinical practice. The normalisation of haemoglobin concentration by EPO in patients with CHF and CRI results in improved exercise capacity by increasing oxygen delivery and improving cardiac function. Conclusion:, In this review, we describe the mechanisms linking anaemic status, CRI and CHF, the prognostic relevance of each disease, treatment implications, and potential benefit of EPO administration. [source]


The association between metabolic syndrome, microalbuminuria and impaired renal function in the general population: impact on cardiovascular disease and mortality

JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007
K. P. Klausen
Abstract. Objective:, Microalbuminuria and metabolic syndrome are both associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to determine the potential association between numbers of components in the metabolic syndrome, different levels of microalbuminuria and renal function. We also aimed to determine the risk of death and CVD at different levels of microalbuminuria and renal function and numbers of components in the metabolic syndrome. Design:, Population-based observational follow-up study Setting:, Epidemiological research unit (Copenhagen City Heart Study). Subjects:, A total of 2696 men and women, 30,70 years of age. Baseline measures:, Urinary albumin excretion (UAE), creatinine clearance and metabolic risk factors were measured in 1992,1994. Main outcome measurements:, The participants were followed prospectively by registers until 1999,2000 with respect to CVD, and until 2004 with respect to death. Results:, We found a strong association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome: 2% with none and 18% with five metabolic risk factors had microalbuminuria (P < 0.001). No association between impaired renal function defined as creatinine clearance <60 mL min,1 and the metabolic syndrome was found. Microalbuminuria was associated with increased risk of death and CVD to a similar extend as the metabolic syndrome, irrespective of concomitant presence of metabolic syndrome (RR,2; P < 0.001). Impaired renal function was not associated with increased risk of death and CVD in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions:, Microalbuminuria (UAE >5 ,g min,1) confers increased risk of death and CVD to a similar extent as the metabolic syndrome. [source]


Thin basement membrane nephropathy and IgA glomerulonephritis: Can they be distinguished without renal biopsy?

NEPHROLOGY, Issue 5 2007
DAVID K PACKHAM
SUMMARY: Background: Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) and IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA gn) are the most common primary glomerular conditions diagnosed on renal biopsy, performed for microscopic haematuria or microscopic haematuria with proteinuria. While up to 50% of patients with IgA gn will develop chronic renal failure, most patients with TBMN enjoy an excellent prognosis. Because TBMN is estimated to occur in up to 1% of the general population, differentiation between the two conditions without resort to renal biopsy is desirable. Methods: This retrospective analysis of 248 patients diagnosed on renal biopsy as having either TBMN or IgA gn, sought to identify clinical or biochemical factors which would have enabled confident differentiation between the two conditions to be made without resort to renal biopsy. Results: No single clinical or pathological variable adequately discriminated between the two conditions. Impaired renal function and heavy proteinuria were highly specific for IgA gn but lacked sensitivity in differentiating from TBMN. Isolated microscopic haematuria (IMH) was a more common finding in patients diagnosed with TBMN but, as a discriminator between TBMN and IgA gn, lacked sufficient specificity. However, if assumptions were made based on the differing incidence of a positive family history between IgA gn and TBMN, then specificity of >99% could be achieved. Conclusion: TBMN and IgA gn cannot be distinguished on the basis of clinical or pathological variables alone. However, in patients with IMH and a positive family history of either IMH or biopsy-proven TBMN, there is usually no need for renal biopsy. [source]


Renovascular imaging in the NSF Era

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 6 2009
Giles Roditi MD
Abstract The detection of the association between nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare but potentially life-threatening disease only encountered in patients with severely impaired renal function, and the previous administration of some Gd-chelates has cast a shadow on the administration of Gd-chelates in patients with chronic renal failure. So far, contrast-enhanced MR-angiography (MRA) was considered the best diagnostic modality in patients with suspected renal disease. This review explores the most appropriate use of renal MRA with a focus on newly developed nonenhanced MRA techniques. Nonenhanced MRA techniques mainly based on SSFP with ECG-gating allow for acceptable spatial resolution to visualize at least the proximal parts of the renal arteries. In addition functional renal imaging techniques and their current clinical role are critically appreciated. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1323,1334. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Gemcitabine plus epirubicin in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for platinum-based regimens

CANCER, Issue 7 2002
Sergio Ricci M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine plus epirubicin in previously untreated patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were not eligible for cisplatin-based regimens. METHODS Patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma and at least one of the following characteristics were eligible: impaired renal function (creatinine clearance < 60 mL per minute), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) , 2, and age , 75 years. The treatment included epirubicin 70 mg/m2 as an intravenous bolus on Day 1 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients entered the study, and a total of 152 cycles were administered, with a median of 4 cycles per patient (range, 1,6 cycles per patient). The following Grade 3,4 hematologic toxicities were reported (percent of cycles): neutropenia, 22.4%; anemia, 11.2%; and thrombocytopenia, 6.5%. No cardiac, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed. Dose intensities of epirubicin and gemcitabine were 19.6 mg/m2 per week (84%) and 532.2 mg/m2 per week (80%), respectively. There were 2 complete responses (5.3%), 13 partial responses (34.2%), 11 patients with stable disease (28.9%), and 12 patients with progressive disease (31.6%), for an overall response rate of 39.5% (95% confidence interval, 25.1,55.1). The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 4.8 months and 8.0 months, respectively. The 1-year survival rate was 38%, and the median PFS and OS were 6.4 months and 16.4 months, respectively, in patients with PS 0,1. Thirty patients were symptomatic: Seventeen patients (56.7%) achieved a complete response, and 5 patients (16.7%) achieved a partial symptomatic response. CONCLUSIONS At the doses given in this study, gemcitabine and epirubicin had a good tolerability profile with interesting activity in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who were not fit for cisplatin-based regimens. Cancer 2002;95:1444,50. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10860 [source]