Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the most common complications of chronic renal failure (CRF). Its pathogenesis is multifactorial and still not completely understood. Pathological mechanism of hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and calcitriol deficiency are basic characteristics of CRF and main reason for morphological changes in parathyroid glands and hyperparathyroidism (HP). We present a case of a female patient born in 1975. At the age of 10, a urinary infection was diagnosed for the first time and treated. Six years later, as nausea and vomiting started, CRF based on bilateral reflux was diagnosed and the patient was included in the hemodialysis treatment. The patient was again examined in 1997, when biochemical parameters, including the level of parathyroid hormone, ultrasonography of the neck, scintigraphy of the skeleton and densitometry revealed secondary HP. Parathyreoidectomy was perfomed in 1998. During the follow up period, a tumefaction on a ramus mandibulae dex. was noticed, which was cytologically diagnosed as osteitis fibrosa, "brown tumor", a rare complication of the secondary HP. Surgery was performed and PHD was granuloma gigantocelulare. Prevention and therapy of secondary HP is a problem that demands early actions to avoid possible complications.

Dysfunction of the cardiovascular system is a common complication of chronic renal insufficiency. Many factors can cause left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and hypertension and anemia are among them. They play an important role in the pathogenesis of LVH as well as in the development of cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography enables early detection of functional macrocirculatory changes as well as adequate measuring of cardiac structures and LV mass. Anemia of end-stage chronic renal insufficiency (ESRD) is only one among its many complications and has complex pathogenesis; one of the primary factors causing anemia is insufficient production of erythropoietin, a leading factor in the production of erythropoiesis. Anemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in ESRD has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. In this study the authors examined the hemodynamic effect of erythropoietin in anemic patients undergoing hemodialysis and observed its positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Twenty-two patients were included in the study (13 men and 9 women) mean age x=39.5 years. All patients were dialyzed three times a week for 4 hours and were all (Abstract continued) treated, according to protocol, with r-HuEPO for 8 months. Left ventricular mass was measured by the Penn Convention formula. The authors noticed the effectiveness of this therapy through an increase of hemoglobin of 35% and of hematocrit of 34% and a direct effect on the cardiovascular system. Echocardiographic findings showed decrease of LV mass from 391 to 274 mg (30%). The correction of renal anemia with erythropoietin leads to structural microcirculatory changes and partial morphologic regression of preexistent LVH, which again leads to regression of cardiac dysfunctions and improved hemodynamic effect, physical capacity, and cardiopulmonary status, and ultimately better quality of life for dialyzed patients.

To assess the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) in patients with acute pancreatitis, as well as the factors predictive of a lethal outcome, we retrospectively studied the data of all patients admitted to our hospital over a 5-year period. Between 1989 and 1993, 554 patients presented with acute pancreatitis, of which 24 (4.4%) subsequently developed ARF. Death occurred in 14/24 (58%) of patients with ARF, and was associated with an increased incidence of multiorgan failure. There was no statistically significant difference in the age, admission blood pressure, or admission pulse rate of the patients who survived and those who died. In contrast, death was associated with a higher Ranson score, and the increased prevalence of multiorgan failure. The length of hospitalization of the nonsurviving group was significantly shorter. Acute renal failure is not a common finding in patients with acute pancreatitis. However, when it occurs, it is associated with a poor prognosis, and is predicted by a higher Ranson score and the presence of multiorgan failure.

Dyslipoproteinemia is involved in the origin of arteriosclerosis by changing the architecture of the coronary artery wall and therefore represents an important factor in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo A1) serve as protection against the origin and development of coronary obstructive disease. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relations among the plasma lipids, their fraction Apo A1, HDL, and positive coronary arteriography, and to estimate their importance as markers of the degree of coronary lesions. The study included 101 subjects, 77 men and 24 women, aged 35 to 75 years, mean age = 55.7 years. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: 1 group--CAD with positive coronary arteriography (n = 70), and the other group--CAD with negative coronary arteriography (n = 31). According to the anatomic localization of atherosclerotic lesion, the first group of subjects was divided into 1-vessel (n = 26), 2-vessel (n = 20), and multiple-vessel lesion (n = 24) subgroups. The results show a significant difference in Apo A1 and Apo A1/Apo B (p<0.005) in the 2- and multiple-vessel disease in relation to the control group, while subject significance was not proved for 1-vessel disease. A positive correlation and significance for HDL as well as cholesterol ratio/HDL (p<0.05) was noted for 1- and multiple-vessel disease, while a negative correlation was noted for 2-vessel disease in relation to the control group. This study stressed the diagnostic significance in determining Apo A1 and Apo A1/Apo B1 as better predictors than HDL cholesterol in evaluating coronary lesion severity. Dyslipoproteinemia, namely, the level of lipoproteins of low density, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and the development of CAD.

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