Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Oct 1996
Follow-up of intracranial aneurysms in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by magnetic resonance angiography.
The purpose of this study was to assess the value of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the follow-up of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and saccular intracranial aneurysms (ICA), the risk of MRA-defined growth of asymptomatic incidental ICA, and the rate of development of MRA-defined de novo ICA in these patients. Between 1989 and 1995, 15 asymptomatic incidental ICA measuring 1.5 to 6.5 mm in diameter, three symptomatic aneurysms, and one asymptomatic concurrent aneurysm were detected by MRA in this study in 18 patients from 15 families. Four-vessel cerebral angiography in the three patients with symptomatic ICA and autopsy in one patient with an asymptomatic incidental ICA did not reveal additional aneurysms undetected by MRA. ⋯ Development of de novo aneurysms was not detected. These results indicate that MRA is an appropriate technique to follow small asymptomatic incidental ICA in patients with ADPKD and that the risk for rapid growth of these aneurysms is low. Although the results of this study should be viewed as preliminary, they do not suggest a higher rate of development of de novo aneurysms or a higher frequency of multiple aneurysms in patients with ADPKD and ICA as compared with patients with sporadic ICA in the general population.
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Oct 1996
Why is it difficult for staff to discuss advance directives with chronic dialysis patients?
General experience and reported data show that a substantial number of patients, at least 10% in many surveys, eventually choose to withdraw from chronic dialysis. There are additional studies suggesting that discussing and completing advance directives (AD) can promote more acceptance and less acrimony for patients, families, and staff when patients die. Even so, surprisingly few AD are completed, and dialysis staff often shun discussion of AD with patients. ⋯ The results of this survey underscore important differences between individual professional disciplines that affect both the perceived barriers to, as well as the likelihood of, discussing AD with patients. It seems that emotional issues such as death and dying stress interdisciplinary team interaction and amplify discomfort. However, it may be possible to increase the level of comfort in talking to patients about AD for each professional discipline by addressing the findings from this study (role differences and barriers) through focused interventions and by facilitating mutual support among the distinct members of the dialysis staff.
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Oct 1996
Review Case ReportsSevere hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia: a dilemma in patient management.
In the following report, a case of severe hyperphosphatemia and tetanic hypocalcemia resulting from the inadvertent oral ingestion of a phosphate enema is described. The physiology of serum phosphate regulation and the mechanism by which the elevation of serum phosphate is thought to induce hypocalcemia is discussed, and the treatment of hyperphosphatemia is reviewed. Finally, the potential consequences of the administration of calcium to treat tetany in a patient with severe hyperphosphatemia are considered.
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Aug 1996
Hypertension may be transplanted with the kidney in humans: a long-term historical prospective follow-up of recipients grafted with kidneys coming from donors with or without hypertension in their families.
In several genetic hypertensive rat strains, transplantation studies have established that the kidney carries at least a portion of the genetic message for hypertension. In man it has, of course, been more difficult to obtain clearcut results. This historical prospective observational study, double-blinded for knowledge of donors' and recipients' family history for hypertension, concerns 85 transplanted patients, not treated with cyclosporine and with stable renal function, followed up for an average of 8 yr. ⋯ More detailed analyses show that, in recipients without familial hypertension, the transplantation of a "hypertensive" kidney determines a tenfold larger increase in the requirement of antihypertensive therapy than the transplantation of a "normotensive" kidney, to obtain a similar blood pressure control (P = 0.003). This results is confirmed by the analysis of time-profile trends for antihypertensive therapy, adjusted for missing data, in the most clinically stable period (2nd to 10th yr after transplantation). The transmission of familial hypertension with the kidney is thus seen only in recipients coming from "normotensive" families, because a familial tendency for hypertension blunts the effect of receiving a "hypertensive" kidney.
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J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. · Jul 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialDopamine does not enhance furosemide-induced natriuresis in patients with congestive heart failure.
The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of low-dose (renal-dose) dopamine to furosemide therapy enhances natriuresis in patients with compensated congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association Class II or III. We performed a randomized, controlled, open-label, crossover study wherein urinary sodium, creatinine, and furosemide excretion rates and GFR determined by inulin clearance rates were measured during each of three treatment interventions: furosemide infusion alone, dopamine infusion alone, and furosemide and dopamine infusions administered concurrently. Six of eight recruited subjects (4 male, 2 female) were able to complete the study. ⋯ No significant additional increment in natriuresis occurred when dopamine and furosemide were administered concurrently (253.8 +/- 73.6 mEq/3 h). Neither dopamine, furosemide, or their coadministration affected GFR. In conclusion, infusion of low-dose dopamine does not enhance furosemide-induced urinary sodium excretion rates in patients with compensated congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association Class II or III.