Renal Registry (RR) of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in 2002, with aim to follow up the trends of Renal Replacement Therapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The prevalence of Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is rising steadily. One reason for this is an increasing number of patients starting RRT. The aim is to present the epidemiology and treatment of all aspects of RRT in Bosnia and Herzegovina in period 2002-2008. Centre-related and patient-related questionnaires were sent to all 25 dialysis centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The demographic data, prevalence and incidence, type of renal replacement therapy, cause of ESRD, erythropoietin administration, cause of death, and type of vascular access were obtained from the questionnaires. Collected data were analysed using SPSS statistics. The number of patients treated by Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) increased steadily from 1,531 patients in 2002 to the 2,206 at the 2008 (43%). The prevalence has increased from 399 pmp in 2002 to 696 pmp. in 2008. Incidence (new patients) in 2002 was 110 pmp and incidence rate in 2008 was 163, and there were 249 new patients (day 1). The mean age for new patients increased from 60 years in 2002 to 63.5 years in 2008 and the population over 75 years rate from 8.79% to 11.3%. Most ESRD patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina are undergoing intermittent hemodialysis (92%), while some patients (8%) are treated by peritoneal dialysis and transplantation. The most significant cause of ESRD in 2008 was chronic glomerulonephritis (421 patients, 19.2%), followed by pyelonephritis (414 patients, 18.9%), BEN (14.7%) and Diabetes mellitus (12.2%). Hepatitis B and C virus infections had 397 (16.3%) patients, out of them 22 had both type of infections and 98 patients had B type infection. Only 10.5% of patients were tested on MRSA and 3 patients were positive on MRSA. There were no HIV-positive patients on RRT. The most common type of vascular access was AV fistula in 85% patients, AV graft 2% and catheters in 13%. Out of hemodialysis patients, 85.7% received ESA almost s.c. The median weekly dose was 4,000 UI. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death, gross mortality rate of dialysis patients being 13.01% in 2008. The need for RRT in Bosnia and Herzegovina is increasing and the number of patients increased by 43% since 2002. Hemodialysis is still the most common modality of treatment (92%), while proportion of PD and transplantation is slowly increasing. The preventive measures are necessary to prevent ESRD and also to decrease the number of patients on dialysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy of two surgical methods used for the treatment of acute arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis. Twenty two out of twenty five patients that were admitted at the Clinic for vascular surgery in Sarajevo received successful surgical treatment for the salvage of acutely thromboses AVF from 2007-2009. They were included in retrospective, descriptive clinical study. Based on the type of surgical procedures performed, 22 patients were divided into two groups. The first group included 10 patients and they had successful thrombectomy of thromboses AVF while 12 patients in second group underwent de novo creation of AVF using blood vessels already exploited for construction of thromboses AVF. Patency rate of salvaged AVF in analyzed groups was compared one month and 6 months after intervention. In the postoperative follow up there was no statistically significant difference in patency rate of salvaged AVF between analyzed groups after one month, (80% vs 100%, Fisher exact test value =2,520, p= 0.195). Patency rate of salvaged AVF after six months of the follow up was significantly better in group that received de novo construction of AVF when compared to thrombectomy group (25% vs. 91%, Fisher exact test value = 1,062, p=0.002). De novo construction of AVF in case of acutely thrombosed AVF offered better patency rate of salvaged AVF when compared to surgical thrombectomy in the follow up period of six months.

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.

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal disease. The aim of our paper is to evaluate the risk factors of cardiovascular complications in patients with various stages of chronic renal disease (CRD), with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 98 patients with different stages of the CRD, with creatinine clearance <60 ml/min/1.73m2, and laboratory parameters monitored: homocysteine, BNP, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, HbA1c, Body Mass Index (BMI). First group comprised 49 patients with DM, age 50-82 years, M 28/F 21. Second group comprised 49 patients without DM, age 35-80 years, M 18/F 31. The IMT (intima media thickness) was measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and all patients had echocardiography examination done by 2D Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS The IMT values in diabetic patients had statistically significant positive correlation with homocysteine values of r=0.9393, p<0.034, and cholesterol r=0.289, p<0.05, compared to non-diabetics. A significant negative correlation was found between the ejection fraction (EF) and BMI in both groups, more prominent in non-diabetics r=0.289, p<0.044 (diabetics r=0.162, p>0.05). 47.4% of diabetics had arteriosclerotic changes on carotid arteries, 8.5% had stenosis of ACC, and 22.0% had rhythm abnormalities on ECG. A positive correlation between IMT and BMI was found in diabetics, but was not statistically significant r=0.111, p>0.05. In the diabetics group a significantly higher (p<0.05) values of BNP, HbA1c, proteinuria, BMI, and cholesterol were found, and significantly lowered EF (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Risk factors for cardiovascular complications in patients with DM are various, and the most pronounced significance was found in the values of homocysteine, BNP and cholesterol.

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.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a multi-factorial disorder which includes a main risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular, neurologic, renal and endocrine diseases, especially type 2 diabetes. This study has been conducted to estimate the prevalence of the MS in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and its association with cardiovascular morbidity. The study included 37 patients (25 type 2 diabetic patients and 12 non-diabetic patients), who had been on peritoneal dialysis for > 3 months. At the beginning of CAPD treatment (baseline) and at the end of follow-up, we measured: body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and defined the prevalence of the MS using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP; Adult Treatment Panel III) for peritoneal dialysis patients. The overall prevalence of the MS was 89.2%. The metabolic syndrome was estimated in all (100%) type 2 diabetic patients (vs. 60% patients on the beginning of CAPD treatment). In non-diabetic peritoneal patients, the MS was estimated in 50% cases, according to 33.3% at the beginning CAPD treatment. Development of the MS was significantly higher in the type 2 diabetic patients in compared with non-diabetic patients until the end of follow-up examination (p=0.0005). The prevalence of LVH in type 2 diabetic patients with the MS was significantly higher (p=0.002) than in non-diabetic peritoneal patients with the MS. We didn't found statistical significantly difference in the prevalence of ischemic heart disease between this two category of peritoneal dialysis patients (p=0.076). The results indicate that the metabolic syndrome is presented in high percentage in peritoneal dialysis patients, and it's also important risk factor of high cardiovascular morbidity rate in these patients, especially in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) is key enzyme in metabolism of homocysteine. Homozygotes for mutation (TT genotype) have hyperhomocysteinemia, risk factor for atherosclerosis development. The aim of the study was to find out distribution of genotype frequencies of C677T MTHFR among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Possible association of alleles and genotypes of C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene with age of onset, duration of dialysis and cause of kidney failure was studied also. Cross-sectional study includes 80 patients from Clinic of Hemodialysis KUCS in Sarajevo. In order to perform genotyping, isolated DNA was analyzed by RFLP-PCR and gel-electrophoresis. From total of 80 patients, 42.5% (n=24) were female, 57.5% (n=46) were male, mean age 54.59+/-1.78 years and duration of dialysis 79.92+/-6.32 months. Genotype distribution was: CC 51.2% (n=41), CT 37.5% (n=30) and TT 11.2% (n=9). Patients with wild-type genotype have longer duration of dialysis in month (87.1 +/- 63.93) comparing to TT genotype patients (67.06 +/- 39.3), with no statistical significance. T allele frequency was significantly higher in group of vascular and congenital cause of kidney failure (Pearson X2 =6.049, P<0.05) comparing to inflammation etiology group. Genotype distribution results are within the results other studies in Europe. Obtained results indicate that C677T polymorphism is not associated with onset, duration and cause of kidney failure in our hemodialysis population. There is an association of T allele of the MTHFR gene and vascular and congenital cause kidney failure.

This study was performed to characterize coronary plaque types by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) radiofrequency (RF) data analysis, and to investigate the possibility of error reduction by combining these techniques. Intracoronary imaging methods have greatly enhanced the diagnostic capabilities for the detection of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. IVUS RF data analysis and OCT are two techniques focusing on plaque morphology and composition. Regions of interest were selected and imaged with OCT and IVUS in 50 sections, from 14 human coronary arteries, sectioned post-mortem from 14 hearts of patients dying of non-cardiovascular causes. Plaques were classified based on IVUS RF data analysis (VH-IVUSTM), OCT and the combination of those. Histology was the benchmark. Imaging with both modalities and coregistered histology was successful in 36 sections. OCT correctly classified 24; VH-IVUS 25, and VH-IVUS/OCT combined, 27 out of 36 cross-sections. Systematic misclassifications in OCT were intimal thickening classified as fibroatheroma in 8 cross-sections. Misclassifications in VH-IVUS were mainly fibroatheroma as intimal thickening in 5 cross-sections. Typical image artifacts were found to affect the interpretation of OCT data, misclassifying intimal thickening as fibroatheroma or thin-cap fibroatheroma. Adding VH-IVUS to OCT reduced the error rate in this study.