Iranian Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume:6 Issue: 5, Sep 2012

Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy, which is the cause of 60 000 maternal deaths annually worldwide. In addition to the well-known maternal risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, obesity, aging, and multiple pregnancies, recent studies have identified the role of genetic and immunological factors in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. In particular, imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, anti-angiotensin II type 1 receptor antibodies and dysregulation of oxygen supplies can cause preeclampsia. A group of biomarkers have been introduced for diagnosis of preeclampsia. Chief among them is the ratio of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor, which can be used in clinical practice. Recent studies have shown high specificity and sensitivity of these markers for early diagnosis of preeclampsia, which is critical for prevention of fetal and maternal complications.

Ibn-Sina (commonly known as Avicenna) is one of the most famous and influential scientists in the history of medicine. The Canon of Medicine, which is his most celebrated book in medicine, presents a summary of all the medical knowledge of his time. Ibn-Sina wrote a complete section about kidney calculi in his book. Totally, 65 herbal, 8 animal, and 4 mineral medicines are mentioned in the Canon of Medicine as beneficial drugs for destructing, expelling, and preventing kidney calculi. Ibn-Sina introduced very advanced drug designing based on drug delivery, targeting the organ, deposition in the site of action, pain control, wound healing, clearance after action, and supporting the organ. Using Ibn-Sina's ideas help scientists to choose better drugs with a historical background to reduce the cost of therapies and research projects.

Increased plasma nitric oxide concentration has been supposed as one of the possible mechanisms of bleeding tendency in patients who suffer chronic kidney disease. Nitric oxide-scavenging properties have been reported with some Achillea species. This study was designed to find any possible effect of Achillea millefolium on plasma nitric oxide concentration in these patients. Thirty-one chronic kidney disease patients were included in this randomized controlled trial, of whom16 received 1.5 g of powdered A millefolium flower 3 days a week for 2 months, and 15 received placebo for the same period. Plasma samples were collected before and after the study period to estimate the effect of A millefolium on plasma nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite and nitrate). Although not statistically significant, plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations decreased after 2 month's administration of A millefolium (0.82 ± 0.51 µmol/L to 0.63 ± 0.42 µmol/L and 50.55 ± 17.92 µmol/L to 44.09 ± 17.49 µmole/L, respectively). These concentrations were slightly increased in the placebo group after the study period. Countercurrent to the placebo group, plasma nitric oxide metabolites were marginally decreased after A millefolium administration in chronic kidney disease patients. Higher doses or longer duration of plant administration may make these changes more significant.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is proposed as a marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study was designed to find whether there is a correlation between urine NGAL and progression of kidney damage in children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Data were collected at the initial diagnosis of FSGS and after 12 months of treatment based on the Mendoza protocol. Twelve children with FSGS and 15 healthy children were included. Urine NGAL was assessed at the initiation of the study in the two groups and after 1 year of receiving the treatment in the FSGS group. Urine NGAL was elevated in the FSGS group (350.0 ± 67.2 ng/mL) as compared to that in the control group (9.3 ± 3.8 ng/mL; P <. 001), and there was a significant decline after 1 year (180.0 ± 45.9 ng/mL) in the FSGS group (P <. 001). There were significant inverse correlations between urine NGAL and estimated creatinine clearance in the FSGS patients both at diagnosis (r = -0.589, P =. 03), and after 1 year (r = -0.76, P =. 009). There was a significant correlation between urine NGAL and urinary protein excretion in FSGS patients at diagnosis (r = 0.628, P =. 005). Urine NGAL in children with FSGS can be used as a marker of progression of kidney damage as expressed in its positive correlation with both declining in glomerular filtration rate and the level of proteinuria even in those with remission.

The nephroprotective effect of co-administration of vitamin C and losartan as prophylaxis against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) was evaluated. Co-administration of vitamin C and losartan was compared with losartan (10 mg/kg), vitamin C (250 mg/kg), and placebo in 4 groups of rats with CIN. The prophylactic agents were injected daily for a period of 4 days, and on day 3, a single dose (6 mg/kg) of cisplatin was administrated. The animals were sacrificed 7 days later for pathological examination of the kidneys. Cisplatin prevented the animal's weight gain. The serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen increased within the groups with CIN, but no significant difference was observed between the groups. The prophylaxis has no effect on serum osmolality, total protein, or nitrite concentrations. The kidney tissue damage was scored, and losartan provided a lower damage score than vitamin C and a combination of vitamin C and losartan. We concluded that co-administration of vitamin C and losartan was not more effective than the administration of vitamin C or losartan alone.

During hemodialysis, the expression of different adhesion molecules changes, thus serving as markers of biocompatibility of dialysis membranes. Our aim was to investigate whether low-flux and high-flux dialysis membranes have different effects on the concentration of adhesion molecules and their association with leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. We enrolled 80 pediatric patients on hemodialysis. Baseline levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were measured. The patients were classified into 2 groups to use either low-flux filters or high-flux filters for 3 months. At the end of the 3 months, predialysis samples were obtained for measurement of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNF-alpha and interleukin-1. Post-dialysis samples were collected for measurement of CBC, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TNF-alpha, and interleukin-1. Forty volunteers were involved as a control group. Both TNF-? and IL-1 were higher in the patients compared to the control group (P <. 001). Compared to the control group, there was a significant increase in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (P <. 001) in both groups predialysis and postdialysis. The postdialysis increments of ICAM-1 with the high-flux membranes were significantly less compared to the low-flux membranes (P <. 001). Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 significantly correlated with TNF-? and interleukin-1 in all groups. The postdialysis increments of the adhesion molecules are due to the effect of dialysis membranes, which is less with the use of high-flux filters.

Clinical information concerning cyclosporine dose reduction in Iranian kidney transplant recipients is limited. There are data in Asian, Caucasian, and Iranian ethnic kidney transplant recipients that recommend the trough level (C0) and 2-hour postdose level (C2) of cyclosporine may be different. Our aim was to determine therapeutic levels of C0 and C2 at different time after transplantation among Iranian transplant patients. Blood concentrations of cyclosporine were assessed in 4419 samples of kidney transplant recipients between 2008 and 2010. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time of laboratory studies (< 3 months, 4 to 12 months, and > 1 year after transplantation). Both univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine the correlation between cyclosporine blood levels and serum creatinine. A total of 1270 kidney transplant patients with 4419 blood samples enrolled. The mean age of the donor was 28 ± 6 years (range, 6 to 64 years) and 82.6% were men and 17.4% were women. In the subset of patients with serum creatinine values of at least 1.6 mg/dL for men and 1.4 mg/dL for women, we determined C0 and C2 levels between therapeutic and undertherapeutic creatinine ranges at 3 different time interval after transplantation, as follows: the first 3 months, 230 ng/mL to 240 ng/mL and 725 ng/mL to 775 ng/mL; 4 to 12 months, 135 ng/mL to 156 ng/mL and 535 ng/mL to 612 ng/mL; and after 1 year, 95 ng/mL to 120 ng/mL and 420 ng/mL to 479 ng/mL for C0 and C2, respectively. The present study suggests that the cyclosporine levels for Iranian kidney transplant patients are lower compared to the recommended levels in western countries.

We present an unusual case of a young woman who developed multiple cranial masses and unilateral facial palsy 10 years after a successful living-unrelated kidney transplant. She was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell plasmablastic differentiated lymphoma, a rare form of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. She responded to 5 cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone chemotherapy with resolution of all cranial masses. However, her facial palsy did not resolve, and she died 6 months after diagnosis with pneumonia and sepsis.

We present a case of a 64-year-old man, a kidney transplant recipient with acute pyelonephritis and acute graft deterioration. He was diagnosed with Actinobaculum schaalii infection in urine cultures. He was treated with antibiotics for 3 weeks and recovered well. The case describes an unusual pathogenic infection in a kidney transplant patient.

Clinical information concerning cyclosporine dose reduction in Iranian kidney transplant recipients is limited. There are data in Asian, Caucasian, and Iranian ethnic kidney transplant recipients that recommend the trough level (C0) and 2-hour postdose level (C2) of cyclosporine may be different. Our aim was to determine therapeutic levels of C0 and C2 at different time after transplantation among Iranian transplant patients. Blood concentrations of cyclosporine were assessed in 4419 samples of kidney transplant recipients between 2008 and 2010. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the time of laboratory studies (< 3 months, 4 to 12 months, and > 1 year after transplantation). Both univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine the correlation between cyclosporine blood levels and serum creatinine. A total of 1270 kidney transplant patients with 4419 blood samples enrolled. The mean age of the donor was 28 ± 6 years (range, 6 to 64 years) and 82.6% were men and 17.4% were women. In the subset of patients with serum creatinine values of at least 1.6 mg/dL for men and 1.4 mg/dL for women, we determined C0 and C2 levels between therapeutic and undertherapeutic creatinine ranges at 3 different time interval after transplantation, as follows: the first 3 months, 230 ng/mL to 240 ng/mL and 725 ng/mL to 775 ng/mL; 4 to 12 months, 135 ng/mL to 156 ng/mL and 535 ng/mL to 612 ng/mL; and after 1 year, 95 ng/mL to 120 ng/mL and 420 ng/mL to 479 ng/mL for C0 and C2, respectively. The present study suggests that the cyclosporine levels for Iranian kidney transplant patients are lower compared to the recommended levels in western countries.