Browsing by Author "Jovanović, Dragan (17734929100)"

The aim of the study was to assess the characteristics of histopathological changes in 120 young males, both recruits and soldiers, who had undergone successful renal biopsy due to asymptomatic urinary abnormalities. The patients were subdivided into a group with isolated microhematuria (IMH-62 patients) and a group with asymptomatic microhematuria and proteinuria (MHP-58 patients). Light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy revealed that MHP was associated with more severe morphological changes, than IMH. The latter group included 6 subjects with normal biopsies and 13 subjects with minor abnormalities found only in two patients with MHP. The frequencies of particular nephropathies in the groups with IMH and MHP were as follows: 35% and 55% for IgA nephritis, 24% and 31% for non-IgA mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), 2% and 3% for focal proliferative GN, 3% and 3% for diffuse proliferative GN, 5% and 1% for thin basement membrane nephropathy, respectively. Rebiopsy, performed in eight patients due to worsening of proteinuria during the follow-up period, showed evidence of progression of morphological changes. Patients with IMH had significantly less prominent histopathological changes than patients with MHP. Therefore, renal biopsy cannot be recommended for patients with IMH unless specific indications are present. © 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

The aim of the study was to assess the characteristics of histopathological changes in 120 young males, both recruits and soldiers, who had undergone successful renal biopsy due to asymptomatic urinary abnormalities. The patients were subdivided into a group with isolated microhematuria (IMH-62 patients) and a group with asymptomatic microhematuria and proteinuria (MHP-58 patients). Light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy revealed that MHP was associated with more severe morphological changes, than IMH. The latter group included 6 subjects with normal biopsies and 13 subjects with minor abnormalities found only in two patients with MHP. The frequencies of particular nephropathies in the groups with IMH and MHP were as follows: 35% and 55% for IgA nephritis, 24% and 31% for non-IgA mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (GN), 2% and 3% for focal proliferative GN, 3% and 3% for diffuse proliferative GN, 5% and 1% for thin basement membrane nephropathy, respectively. Rebiopsy, performed in eight patients due to worsening of proteinuria during the follow-up period, showed evidence of progression of morphological changes. Patients with IMH had significantly less prominent histopathological changes than patients with MHP. Therefore, renal biopsy cannot be recommended for patients with IMH unless specific indications are present. © 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Background/Aim. Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is unknown which biomarkers best describe the degree of diastolic dysfunction in patients with CRF. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD-LV) with the degree of CRF. Methods. The study included 100 adult patients with CRF without major cardiac and cerebral incidents who did not start actively treating CRF. According to the degree of CRF, the patients were divided into two groups: G1 (moderate degree), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, and G2 (more severe degree), GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Blood concentrations of BNP and NTproBNP were measured and Doppler echocardiographic measurement performed to estimate diastolic dysfunction (DD-LV). According to the degree of DD-LV, all the patients were divided into two groups: DD-LV1 (mild diastolic dysfunction) and DD-LV2 (severe diastolic dysfunction). According to the degree of CRF and DD-LV, the patients were divided into four groups: I (G1, DD-LV1), II (G1, DD-LV2), III (G2, DD-LV1) and IV (G2, DD-LV2). Results. There was a highly significant statistical correlation between BNP and NTproBNP with GFR (p < 0.001), and DD-LV with BNP (p < 0.023) and NTproBNP (p = 0.035). In patients with DD-LV2, a statistically significantly higher BNP concentrations were registered in patients with G2 (p < 0.001). Unlike BNP in the patients with diastolic dysfunction DD-LV1 and those with diastolic dysfunction DD-LV2, significantly higher concentrations of NTproBNP were registered in the patients with G2 (DD- LV1: p = 0.006; DD-LV2: p < 0.001). Conclusion. Biomarkers BNP and NTproBNP are not the best predictors in the assessment of diastolic dysfunction because they are correlated with the degree of renal insufficiency. © 2017, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved.

Background/Aims: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been increasingly used for the treatment of lupus nephritis (LN). The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of MMF used with low doses of corticosteroids as maintenance therapy in patients with LN. Methods: The study covered 35 patients, most of them with proliferative types of LN (5 WHO class III, 26 class IV), while 1 had class V and 3 class VI nephritis. MMF was administered in the dose of 1.5-2 g/24 h and prednisone at 10-20 mg/day. The treatment effects were followed over a 12-month period. Results: After 3 months of therapy significant reduction in proteinuria was achieved (2.1 ± 2.4 g/24 h vs. 1.0 ± 1.0 g/24 h, p < 0.01) and maintained to the end of the study. In parallel, a significant rise in serum albumin, a fall of cholesterol and a significant increase in mean glomerular filtration rate were noted. Complete remission was achieved in 16 patients (45.7%), including all patients in class III and V plus 10 patients in class IV. Not a single adverse effect was observed. Conclusion: MMF combined with low doses of steroids is an effective and safe treatment for the maintenance of stable remission of LN. © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.