Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Sep 2007
Procalcitonin as marker of infection in patients with Goodpasture's syndrome is misleading.
Procalcitonin (PCT) is routinely measured to differentiate autoimmune disorders from infection. There are reports, however, where PCT is high in the absence of infection, i.e. in vasculitis. To investigate the value of PCT in Goodpasture's syndrome, we reviewed the charts of patients with Goodpasture's syndrome who were treated from 1996 to 2006. ⋯ The measurement of PCT as a marker of infection in patients with Goodpasture's syndrome is misleading. High PCT values might rather point to a severe form of Goodpasture's syndrome with a more unfavourable prognosis. However, further studies with larger patient numbers are needed to prove this hypothesis.
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Aug 2007
Midregional proadrenomedullin reflects cardiac dysfunction in haemodialysis patients with cardiovascular disease.
Although adrenomedullin is an indicator of cardiac dysfunction in haemodialysis patients, the clinical significance of midregional proadrenomedullin has not been elucidated. Objectives. We evaluated whether midregional proadrenomedullin reflects cardiac dysfunction, systemic inflammation or blood volume in haemodialysis patients. ⋯ Plasma midregional proadrenomedullin levels increase in association with cardiac dysfunction, systemic inflammatory status and systemic blood volume in haemodialysis patients with concomitant cardiovascular disease.
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Aug 2007
Multicenter StudyBurnout in health care providers of dialysis service in Northern Italy--a multicentre study.
Few data are available regarding the prevalence of burnout among dialysis health care workers. Aims of the present study were to assess and compare burnout levels in a sample of nurses and physicians working in dialysis units, and to investigate their relationships with quality of life, in a cross-sectional observational study. ⋯ Although burnout is not a general problem in dialysis health care providers, a subgroup of them may be identified, who would benefit from supportive measures to prevent this condition. Nurses appeared more burned-out in the emotional exhaustion scale than physicians.
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Aug 2007
Erythropoietin ameliorates renal dysfunction during endotoxaemia.
Sepsis has a high mortality (50-80%) when associated with acute renal failure (ARF). Oxidant injury and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines have been shown to increase with endotoxaemia-related ARF. Since erythropoietin (EPO) has been demonstrated to possess anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, EPO may have therapeutic efficacy for treating ARF associated with endotoxaemia. ⋯ This is the first demonstration of a renal protective effect of EPO on endotoxin-related renal dysfunction.