Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Mar 1999
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialAsymmetric dimethylarginine plasma concentrations differ in patients with end-stage renal disease: relationship to treatment method and atherosclerotic disease.
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase. Its concentration is elevated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), in part because it is excreted via the kidneys. In this study, the plasma concentrations of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine, and L-arginine were determined in relation to plasma nitrate levels (as an index of NO formation) for a group of 80 patients with ESRD. ⋯ This study confirms that ADMA is accumulated in ESRD. PD-treated patients exhibit significantly lower ADMA levels than do HD-treated patients. Accumulation of ADMA may be a risk factor for the development of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease in patients with ESRD.
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Mar 1999
Prevalence and clinical outcome associated with preexisting malnutrition in acute renal failure: a prospective cohort study.
Malnutrition is a frequent finding in hospitalized patients and is associated with an increased risk of subsequent in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Both prevalence and prognostic relevance of preexisting malnutrition in patients referred to nephrology wards for acute renal failure (ARF) are still unknown. This study tests the hypothesis that malnutrition is frequent in such clinical setting, and is associated with excess in-hospital morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Hospital length of stay was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the presence of severe malnutrition was associated with a significant increase of in-hospital mortality (OR 7.21; 95% CI, 4.08 to 12.73, P < 0.001). Preexisting malnutrition was a statistically significant, independent predictor of in-hospital mortality at multivariable logistic regression analysis both with comorbidities (OR 2.02; 95% CI, 1.50 to 2.71, P < 0.001), and with comorbidities and complications (OR 2.12; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.89, P < 0.001). Malnutrition is highly prevalent among ARF patients and increases the likelihood of in-hospital death, complications, and use of health care resources.