Browsing by Author "Jovanovic, Dragan (17734929100)"

This prospective study was conducted with the aim of examining the efficacy of lowering dialysate calcium (dCa) in order to: (i) stimulate bone turnover in hemodialysis patients with biochemical signs of adynamic bone disease (ABD) (hypercalcemia, normal alkaline phosphatase and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) <150 pg/mL); and (ii) diminish hypercalcemia in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) (hypercalcemia, high alkaline phosphatase and iPTH > 400 pg/mL), thus permitting the use of calcium-containing phosphorus binders and vitamin D metabolites. Patients were divided into: an ABD-treated group (24 patients), a sHPT-treated group (18 patients), an ABD-control group (12 patients) and a sHPT-control group (11 patients). For the ABD- and sHPT-treated patients, hemodialysis was conducted with dCa 1.5 mmol/L for three months and then with dCa 1.25 mmol/L for an additional three months, while in the control groups hemodialysis was conducted with dCa 1.75 mmol/L during the entire study. Reduction of dCa in patients with ABD caused a slight but insignificant decrease of Ca, but a significant and permanent increase of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and intact parathyroid hormone level serum levels. Reduction of dCa in patients with sHPT slightly but insignificantly decreased Ca and intact parathyroid hormone level values. Nevertheless, this enabled the calcium-based phosphate binder dose to be raised and vitamin D3 metabolites to be introduced. Logistic regression analysis indicated that milder bone disease (both ABD and sHPT) was associated with more the favorable effect of dCa reduction. Thus, low dCa stimulated parathyroid glands and increased bone turnover in ABD patients, and enabled better control of mineral metabolism in sHPT patients. © 2007 International Society for Apheresis.

Authors want to correct the list of authors by expanding the number of coauthors and by including all contributors in the Vascular Access Study Group. Vascular Access Study Group (in alphabetic order): Andric Branislav, Antic Miodrag, Aracki Snezana, Arsenovic Aleksandra, Berto Sabo Anika, Bogdanovic Jasmina, Cekovic Biljana, Cuckovic Cedomir, Cukic Zoran, Cveticanin Anica, Djordjevic Verica, Dudic Svetlana, Gajic Snezana, Gojakovic Biljana, Golubovic Predrag, Gucic Ljubinka, Hadzibulic Edvin, Hadzifejzovic Mersada, Hamzagic Nedim, Haviza-Lilic Branimir, Ilic Mira, Ilic Nasta, Jelacic Rosa, Kostic Mirjana, Kovacevic Miodrag, Lazarevic Tatjana, Markovic Rodoljub, Micunovic Vesna, Milenkovic Olgica, Milenkovic Radomir, Milenkovic Srboljub, Milicevic Biserka, Milicevic Olivera, Nikolic Zora, Obrenovic Slavica, Orescanin Mira, Pavlovic Stevan, Pesic Snezana, Petkovic Dobrila, Pilipovic Dragana, Prokopovic Miomir, Radovanovic Zoran, Rakic Nenad, Rangelov Vanja, Sefer Kornelija, Sibalic Simin Marija, Stefanovic Nikola, Stojanovic Dragoslav, Stojanovic Stanojevic Marina, Tirmenstajn Jankovic Biserka, Vasic Jovanovic Vesna, Vasilic Kokotovic Olivera, Vojinovic Goran, Vuckovic Dragana, Vukelic Vesna, Vukic Jasmina, Zagorac Nikola, Zec Nenad. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Background/Aims: Glucocorticoids and classic immunosuppressive drugs can improve disease activity in primary glomerulonephritis (GN). However, these drugs have serious toxicity and patients frequently experience inadequate response or relapse, so there is a need for alternative agents. This multicenter uncontrolled study analyzed the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in high-risk patients with primary GN. Methods: A total of 51 patients with biopsy-proven membranous (n = 12), membranoproliferative (n = 15), mesangioproliferative (n = 10), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 13) and minimal change disease (n = 1) received MMF with low-dose corticosteroids for 1 year. The primary outcome included the number of patients with complete/partial remission. Results: Proteinuria significantly decreased, from its median value of 4.9 g/day (IQR 2.9-8.4) to 1.28 g/day (IQR 0.5-2.9), p < 0.001. The urine protein/creatinine ratio significantly improved, from a median of 3.72 (IQR 2.13-6.48) to 0.84 (IQR 0.42-2.01), p < 0.001. The mean area under the curve for proteinuria significantly decreased, from 4.99 ± 3.46 to 2.16 ± 2.46, between the first (visits 1-2) and last (vists 4-5) treatment periods (p < 0.001). The change was similar for every type of GN, without difference between groups. eGFR slightly increased (62.1 ± 31.8 to 65.3 ± 31.8 ml/min, p = n.s.) and ESR, total proteins, albumins, total- and HDL-cholesterol parameters improved significantly. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased (p < 0.02 for systolic blood pressure). The age of patients was the only independent predictor of complete or partial remission. Conclusion: MMF proved to be efficient in 70% of high-risk patients with primary GN, who reached either complete or partial remission without safety concern after 12 months of treatment. Favorable effects of MMF therapy have to be confirmed in the long term and particularly after discontinuation of the drug. © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.