Robert F. Slifkin

A Comparison of Androgens for Anemia in Patients on Hemodialysis

To compare the erythropoietic effects of nandrolone decanoate, testosterone enanthate, oxymetholone, and fluoxymesterone, we performed a randomized clinical trial in patients with anemia who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis (the women were not given testosterone enanthate). After a control period of at least two months, patients received one of the drugs for six months and then returned to control status; a second and third drug were administered in a similar fashion. Seventy-seven patients completed the first drug period, 56 the second, and 35 the third. The response to nandrolone and testosterone enanthate, the two drugs given by injection, was clearly superior to the response to oxymetholone or fluoxymesterone, given by mouth, in terms of the percentage of patients responding and the mean rise in hematocrit. Approximately half the patients had an increase of at least 5 percentage points in hematocrit after an injectable androgen was given; more than half the women responded. Patients who required transfusions regularly and those who had bilateral nephrectomies did not respond.

Patients surviving 10 years of hemodialysis

Experience with 37 patients surviving 10 years of hemodialysis therapy was reviewed. These patients were compared with 103 patients who began hemodialysis between 1967 and 1971 and who subsequently died. Males had an excess risk of death. Patients with polycystic kidneys survived longer. There was more uncontrolled hypertension among a control group than in 10-year survivors. In survivors, the hematocrit level increased over time and averaged 30.4 percent at 10 years. Over 10 years, many complications arose including parathyroidectomy (24), pericarditis (13), gastrointestinal bleeding (11), myocardial infarction (10), septicemia (eight), and active tuberculosis (six). Despite complications, most patients are now stable. Between their eighth and 10th years they required an average of only one hospitalization with a mean stay of 9.7 days. Eighteen patients were not hospitalized. Excluding housewives, 67 percent of patients between ages 20 and 59 years are employed full-time and 10 percent part-time. Patients surviving 10 years are not progressively deteriorating and may look to the future with cautious optimism.

Contrasting alterations in pulmonary gas exchange during acetate and bicarbonate hemodialysis.

We studied 10 patients during acetate and 10 patients during bicarbonate hemodialysis to assess changes of minute ventilation; oxygen consumption (VO2); and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) as well as pO2, pCO2 and pH. We also measured the extent of pulmonic shunting by administering 100% O2. Our studies revealed that VO2 increased significantly during acetate dialysis, while it decreased slightly during bicarbonate dialysis. Since VCO2 decreased with both baths, the respiratory exchange ratio (R) decreased during acetate dialysis but did not change during bicarbonate dialysis. By the alveolar gas equation, these changes in R could account for a difference in alveolar pO2 and consequently arterial pO2. The fact that pO2 fell during bicarbonate dialysis may relate to decreased minute ventilation paralleling decreases in VCO2. The degree of intrapulmonic shunting was not altered during dialysis with either bath. We conclude that hypoxemia during dialysis relates to decreases in minute ventilation and that a greater decrease during acetate dialysis is a consequence of enhanced VO2 and its effect on R. Bicarbonate dialysis does not increase VO2.

Intestinal Mucormycosis in Hemodialysis Patients Following Deferoxamine

Two maintenance hemodialysis patients receiving deferoxamine to chelate iron and aluminum developed intestinal mucormycosis. One patient had pulmonary mucormycosis as well. The patients lacked the usual predisposing factors to mucormycosis, ie, diabetes and acidosis, but both had liver disease. The role of siderophores such as deferoxamine in promoting certain infections is discussed with reference to this particular clinical setting.

Bilateral nephrectomy for hypertension in patients with chronic renal failure on a dialysis program.

During the last 6 years 33 bilateral nephrectomies have been performed for severe hypertension in patients with chronic renal failure on a dialysis program. Nephrectomy resulted in a prompt and sustained reduction in blood pressure, an improved sense of well-being and a gain of weight. Despite the fact that the mean hematocrit decreased from 25 to 18 per cent all patients thrived. The nephrectomy group showed an 85 per cent 5-year cumulative survival rate compared to 55 per cent in the non-nephrectomy group. There was 1 mortality and low morbidity. Simultaneous nephrectomy by 2 teams, using a posterior approach, proved more satisfactory than an anterior or bilateral flank apprach. The indications for and arguments against bilateral nephrectomy are discussed.

Cure of Cryptococcemia in an Immunocompromised Patient with Lupus nephritis

The first documented cure of cryptococcosis with cryptococcemia is reported. The patient had systemic lupus erythematosis and had received corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs for diffuse proliferative nephritis. She had additional poor prognostic factors including high serum cryptococcal antigen titer, low cerebrospinal leukocyte count, and absence of anticryptococcal antibody. Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed concurrently and subsequently she developed disseminated herpes zoster. During amphotericin B therapy, renal function worsened. Cure of cryptococcosis with cryptococcemia was accomplished despite multiple concurrent infections and transient worsening of renal function.

Nephronophthisis with massive proteinuria.

A 23-year-old male whose uncle died of nephronophthisis, and whose pathology is also discussed, presented with 5 g of protein in a 24-hour urine collection. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and salt wasting were present in addition to azotemia. Characterization of the proteinuria, including elevated alpha globulins by electrophoresis and markedly elevated urinary beta-microglobulins by radioimmunoassay (49.55 mg/L) indicated predominantly tubular proteinuria. A percutaneous renal biopsy showed normal glomeruli, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. Electron microscopy revealed notable alterations of the tubular basement membrane.

PERSISTENT IMMUNOGLOBULINURIA IN IRREVERSIBLE RENAL ALLOGRAFT REJECTION IN HUMANS

SUMMARY To evaluate the extent of injury in short- and long-term renal allografts, the urinary excretion of IgG, IgA, and IgM was observed during acute rejection crisis. In reversible rejection, treatment resulted in prompt correction of immunoglobulinuria, whereas in irreversible crisis urinary immunoglobulin levels continuously increased in spite of the same antirejection treatment. A good prognosis in long-term allografts was shown by low levels of immunoglobulinuria; unstable graft function had higher levels. Immunoglobulinuria can be used as an additional test to evaluate the reversibility of acute rejection, and also has significance in the long-term situation.