No abstract

The effect on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) and excretion of albumin and beta-2-microglobulin in the urine after a high oral protein or amino acid load was investigated in young healthy males. After both test meals an increase in GFR of 10%, and in RPF of about 9-18%, was seen. The filtration fraction and albumin excretion rates were unchanged. The increase in GFR was significant from 20 to 60 min after intake of meat and remained elevated for more than 2 h. After the meat meal, a decrease in renal vascular resistance and an increase in S-creatinine, S-phosphate, S-carbamide and beta-2-microglobulin excretion rates was seen, but not after the amino acid load. During the experiments a gradual decrease in S-protein was noted. We conclude that the increase in RPF and GFR caused by intake of protein or amino acids in short-term experiments is not associated with impaired permselective properties of the glomerular membrane expressed in the albumin excretion rate.

ABSTRACT. Free light chains of immunoglobulins were measured in serum from 181 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sarcoidosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary cancer and chronic bronchitis, i.e. patients with long‐term stimulation of the immune system. Increased concentrations of light chains were found in patients with active sarcoidosis, and the light chain level appeared to be a marker of disease activity in sarcoidosis. The mean (±S.D.) concentration of kappa plus lambda chains in active sarcoidosis of more than two years' duration was 38.3± 13.7 mg/l, that is twice the concentration of 19.4±5.5 mg/l found in normals. Some patients with seropositive RA also had increased serum values. The light chain concentrations in seropositive RA were correlated to the severity of the disease measured by clinical staging and laboratory tests. A modest increase in light chains was observed in one patient with tuberculosis, and in two patients each with chronic bronchitis and pulmonary cancer.

SUMMARY A case of transient nephrotic syndrome caused by secondary syphilis is described. A renal biopsy was performed revealing subepithelial hump-like electron-dense deposits and fusion of epithelial foot-processes. Complement Clq-binding-activity and anticomplementarity were demonstrated in the blood, indicating the presence of circulating immune complexes. This strongly suggests that circulating immune complexes are significant in the immunopathogenesis of syphilitic nephropathy.