Accelerated atherosclerosis and vascular calcification, with oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and other factors causing the arterial stiffness, increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this paper is to assess changes in intima media thickness (IMT) at common carotid arteries (CCA) in patients with stable continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) and examine the relationship of these changes and other risk factors on the occurrence of atherosclerosis. The study was conducted on 35 stable PD patients (25 type 2 diabetic patients), aged 58.6 +/- 10.6 years. CCA-IMT was assessed using ultrasound B-mode technique, bilaterally. Other risk factors for the occurrence of atherosclerosis were monitored through regular laboratory control. One atheromatous plaque was found in 19 patients (54.3%). Among 25 type 2 diabetic patients, vascular calcifications were found in 80% patients. In all PD patients, CCA-IMT is 0.77 +/- 0.23, in PD patients with vascular calcifications CCA-IMT is 1.05 +/- 0.2 mm, while in group without vascular calcifications the value of this parameter is 0.56 +/- 0.09 (p<0.01 ). Significant differences were found between PD patients with and without vascular calcifications on CCA in patients age (p<0.001), as well as values of systolic blood pressure (p=0.001), serum phosphorus (p=0.017), product calcium and phosphorus (p=0.021), CRP (p=0.039), triglycerides (p<0.05) and lipoprotein (a) values (p=0.044). Our results suggest an important determination of common carotid arteries intima media thickness and its relation to other risk factors for the occurrence and progression of atherosclerosis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the importance of the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) in evaluation of the peritoneal membrane transport status in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The study included 30 adult continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, 16 male and 14 female, mean age 61 +/- 16.5 years with a prescription of four exchanges of 2 litres (L) per day, who underwent peritoneal equilibration test (PET). Eleven of patients were diabetics. A modified PET was performed during a 4 hours dwell using 4.25% glucose dialysis solution. The dialysate/ plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P) at the end of the procedure, and the dialysate 240 min/ initial dialysate ratio of glucose (D/Do) were calculated and used as parameter of solute transport. With the test, categorization of patients was possible into high (H), high-average (HA), low average (LA), and low (L) transporters. In multivariate analysis age, gender, time on dialysis, comorbid diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM), serum albumin, were considered as independent factors influencing the PET. Among 30 patients 5 (16.7%) were classified as H transporters, 6 (20%) as HA, and 19 (63.3%) as LA. There were no patients in low category. Creatinine D/P at 4 hours was not different DM and non-DM patients. There were significant differences in gender, comorbid disease, serum albumin, D4/Do glucose and volume drained in 4 hours. The high transporter group had higher proportion of man (p<0.05), higher proportion of patients with comorbid diseases, lower serum albumin concentration (p<0.001), lower D4/Do glucose (p<0.001), and lower drained volume (p<0.001). The PET was en easy, inexpensive, reliable test to assess peritoneal transport type and it also provided information about peritoneal clearance of solutes and ultrafiltration. Peritoneal transport type classification was recognized not only as aid for prescription, but also as a prognostic index.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is an immune inflammation of kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the body's immune system. Aim of this study was to analyze clinical manifestation and treatment results of patients with LN. Forty one patients with clinical signs of LN were included in the study. Mean age of patients was 31.9+/-12.1 years in the moment of first diagnosis of LN, with female-male ratio 8:1. Renal disease was pathohistologically (PTH) verified in 53.7% of patients (4 pts with class III, 17 pts with class IV, one pt with class V of lupus nephrites). Patients with high nephrotic proteinuria were treated with pulse dose of methylprednisolone and pulse doses of cyclophosphamide (CYC) in induction therapy. Corticosteroid and CYC were continued according to treatment protocol. The other group of LN patients with lower nephrotic proteinuria was treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in induction therapy at a dose of 2x1 g/day for six months, and than in maintenance 2x0.5 g/day. The patients with non-nephrotic proteinuria and normal renal function were treated with oral prednisolone 0.75-1 mg/kg/day in a single morning dose, and then gradually reduced to the dose of maintenance. The mean time of patient's follow-up was 10.9+/-4.1 years. Partial renal remission was accomplished in 29.2% pts, and complete remission in 60.9% pts for period of 17.2+/-13.3 months from the beginning of the treatment. Duration of complete renal remission was 30.1+/-19.1 months. During the period of follow-up, 29.3% pts developed at least one nephritic flare and were treated again. These results confirmed that the aggressive form of lupus nephritis should be treated associating cyclophosphamide with corticosteroids therapeutical regiment. MMF is a new promising immunosuppressive drug for a treatment of this serious disease.