We retrospectively analyzed clinical presentation, immunopathological data and renal outcome in 13 patients with glomerulonephritis (GN) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or related diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (WDLL) of B-cell lineage. B-cell proliferation and glomerulopathy were simultaneously diagnosed in seven of the 13 patients. Nephrotic syndrome was observed in nine patients. Serum creatinine was elevated (greater than 120 mumol/liter) in 10 patients and exceeded 400 mumol/liter in three patients. A clear cut relationship between GN and hematologic disease could be established in nine cases: five patients had MPGN caused by type I or type II cryoglobulinemia; two had MPGN or mesangial hypertrophy with circulating and deposited noncryoprecipitating monoclonal IgG K and IgM K, respectively; in the two remaining patients, monotypic IgG K glomerular deposits exhibiting fibrillary organization were observed in association with MGN or MPGN, despite the absence of circulating M-component by immunofixation. The pathophysiologic link between glomerular lesions and B-cell proliferation was further evidenced by effectiveness of specific treatment of the malignancy by chlorambucil. This drug, used in the absence of steroids, induced complete remission of nephrotic syndrome in the five patients to whom it was given. Moreover, in the five patients with creatininemia greater than 200 mumol/liter who received chemotherapy, substantial improvement in renal function was observed. These overall data demonstrate that the occurrence of GN in B-CLL and related lymphoma is not fortuitous, and testify to the paraneoplastic nature of glomerular involvement mediated by deposition and possibly processing of cryoprecipitating or noncryoprecipitating M-components.

The pharmacokinetics of meropenem (ICI 194,660) and its open-ring metabolite (ICI 213,689) were studied in 6 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with moderate to severe renal impairment after a single intravenous dose of 500 mg given as a 30-min infusion. Concentrations of unchanged meropenem in plasma and urine were measured by both microbiological and high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assays. A good correlation was found between the two techniques. Pharmacokinetic parameters of unchanged meropenem were determined by using the HPLC data. The terminal half-lfe of unchanged meropenem increased in relation to the degree of renal impairment, being 1.2 h in subjects with normal renal function and 10 h in patients with end-stage renal failure. Total body clearance and renal clearance of unchanged meropenem are lnearly related to creatinine clearance. The concentrations of the metabolite in plasma, which are very low in healthy subjects, signcantl increased in uremic patients. The apparent half-life of ICI 213,689 increased in uremic patients and was about 35 h in patients with severe renal insufficiency. Meropenem and its metabolite are effectively removed by hemodialysis. The dialysis clearance of the unchanged drug was 81 J 22 ml/min. Dosage adjustments of meropenem will be necessary in patients with severe renal impairment.Meropenem (ICI 194,660) is a new parenteral carbapenem antibiotic characterized by a broad antibacterial spectrum. It has been shown to have activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens, including anaerobes such as Bacteroidesfragilis. Meropenem is more active in vitro than imipenem against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Unlike imipenem, meropenem shows a good stability against human renal dehydropeptidase I and does not require the coadministration of a dehydropeptidase I enzyme inhibitor such as cilastatin (4,7,(9)(10)(11).The purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of meropenem (ICI 194,660) and of its open-ring metabolite (ICI 213,689) in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment after a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of 500 mg given as a 30-min infusion.

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