In 24 patients with a functioning kidney transplant, hypoglycemia-induced somatotropin (STH), adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion was studied. In a further 24 transplanted patients, secretion of lutropin, follitropin and testosterone after the intravenous administration of luliberin was assessed. Data obtained in this paper suggest the presence of abnormal function of the pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-gonadal axis and abnormal STH secretion in patients with a functioning transplant. Type and duration of immunosuppressive therapy seem to influence the intensity of the above-mentioned endocrine abnormalities.

In 24 patients with a functioning kidney transplant and in 33 healthy subjects plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone and vasopressin (AVP) levels were assessed under basal conditions and after dietary sodium restriction. Twelve patients were treated with azathioprine and another 12 with cyclosporine A. From the results obtained it seems that immunosuppressive drugs used in transplanted patients ar involved in the pathogenesis of endocrine abnormalities and that the kind of immunosuppressive therapy is of minor importance in their development of maintenance. Transplanted kidneys show a preserved reaction pattern of renin secretion to sodium deprivation and upright position.

This study presents long-term results of treatment of urethral strictures in 178 men who underwent direct vision cold urethrotomy between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1984. Satisfactory urodynamic results were achieved in 69.7% of cases.

In 24 patients with a kidney transplant and in 10 healthy subjects the test meal response of immunoreactive insulin (IRI), glucagon (IR-G), pancreatic polypeptide (IR-PP) and gastrin (IR-Ga) was studied. Patients with a kidney transplant showed significantly elevated basal plasma glucagon levels but normal levels of plasma IRI, IR-PP and IR-Ga. After administration of a test meal a significantly suppressed response of IRI, IR-PP and IR-Ga secretion was observed both in the patients treated with azathioprine as well as those treated with ciclosporin. In patients of the ciclosporin group the compromised response of IR-Ga and IRI secretion was significantly more marked than in subjects in the azathioprine group. From the results obtained in this paper it follows that the type of immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine or ciclosporin) seems to be of minor importance in the pathogenesis of the described endocrine abnormalities.

The authors review their experience with percutaneous endopyelotomy in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stenosis. The method was used in 64 patients of whom 59 had also renal stones. There was only one patient with secondary UPJ stenosis following pyeloplasty. The total success rate was 61%. It is pointed out that the results depend in a great part on the skill of the surgeon.