Strict therapy protocol, which would be used universally for certain morphological forms of primary nephrotic syndrome, does not exist. The aim of the study was to show the effects of used therapy protocol in treatment of primary nephrotic syndrome at the Institute of Nephrology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in period of 2000-2005. The retrospective analysis covered 48 patients (17 women and 31 men) with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, where pathomorphological changes were proved by kidney biopsy. Minimal change disease was confirmed with 6 (12.5%) patients. All patients were initially treated with corticosteroids with dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. Five patients were in the group of primary responders (83.3%) with long term total remission, and 1 patient (16.6%) was a primary responder with 3 relapses in 8 months with a therapy of corticosteroids and bolus of cyclophosphamide. Diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis was shown in 13 patients (27.1%). Seven patients from this group were treated with corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg/ kg of body weight until therapeutical response was achieved, and finally gradual exclusion of therapy after eight weeks in responsive patients). Six patients were treated with corticosteroids and one-month of bolus cyclophosphamide during half of year (10-5 mg/kg of body weight). Total remission was achieved in 37,9% of the patients. The IgA nephropathy presented with the nephrotic syndrome was shown in 10.4% (5) of the patients. Three patients from this group were treated with corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks, followed by 0,5 mg/ kg of body weight until therapeutical response was achieved, and finally gradual exclusion of therapy after eight weeks in responsive patients) and.2 patients with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide (1.5 mg/kg of body weight) during 6 months. Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome from this pathomorphological category was achieved in 2 patients. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was shown in 6 patients (12.5%). All were treated with corticosteroids plus bolus of cyclophosphamide. Partial remission was achieved in one patient. Membranous glomerulonephritis was confirmed in 18 patients (37.5 %). Combined therapy of corticosteroids and bolus of cyclophosphamide was used in 7/18 patients, in 2/18 patients therapy of corticosteroids and per os cyclophosphamide (2 mg/kg of body weight) and in 9/18 patients cyclosporine therapy (3 mg/kg of body weight). Complete remission was achieved in 38.8% of the patients. A high percentage of achieved remissions of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults shows the efficiency of immunomodulating therapy used. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis still remains a therapy problem.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a generalized skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), deterioration of the microarchitecture of bone tissue and susceptibility to fracture. Most frequently it occurs in postmenopausal women and the aged. It is a chronic condition of multifactorial etiology and is a major global healthcare problem in developed and rising in developing countries. Patients with uncomplicated OP are usually asymptomatic which contributes to serious under-diagnosing of this potentially devastating condition. It is estimated that less than half of patients with OP are diagnosed in many developed countries. Therefore preventive measures and timely diagnosis have to be a key aspect of management of this disorder. In this article we briefly underline pato-physiology of the disorder, review current methods of measuring bone mineral density, describe risk factors and evaluate current and potential therapies.

ity of patients with type  disease. Diabetic nephropathy is becoming the single most com- mon cause of end stage renal failure, while diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in working-age population. Th e main aim of the study was to evaluate the progres- sion of late microvascular complications in type  diabetic patients treated by conventional or intensifi ed insulin regimen over the period of  years. We selected a random sample of  patients, including  males and  females, aged , ± , years, with average duration of the disease of , ± , years. Th ey did not show signs of overt diabetic nephropathy, while  patients had background retinopathy. All the patients had their fasting and postprandial gly- caemia, HbAlc, /hour proteinuria, blood pressure, height and weight measured and body mass index calculated (BMI). Th ere was a trend towards increasing values of HbAlc (. ±. vs. . ± . , p < .), fasting glycaemia (. ±  vs. . ± . mmol/l, p < .), postpran- dial glycaemia (. ± . vs. . ± . mmol/l, p <.), systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (. ± . vs. . ± . mmHg, p<.; and . ± . vs. . ± . mmHg, p< .) although no hypertensive patient was diagnosed. Th ere were  persons (.) with persistent proteinuria of  mg/ hour or more and signifi cant diff erence in overall pro- teinuria in  yrs period (. ± . vs. . ± . mg/ h, p< .). Overall,  persons (.) were diagnosed with simple, background retinopathy, but  of them (.) had signs of proliferative form of the disease. Th e results indicate signifi cant changes in progression of proteinuria in both groups although retinopathic progression was observed but was not sig- nifi cant in the intensively treated group.

Aim of kidney transplantation is to keep the functions of graft as long as possible, with an improvement of survival and quality of patients’ lives. Aim of this article was to show the outcome of kidney transplantation in patients who were treated and monitored on Institute of Nephrology, CCU of Sarajevo in period between 1996 and 2004. and to identify the factors which can interfere with graft surviving. Retrospective analysis of data from the register of kidney transplanted patients was done. In the mentioned period 29 kidney transplants were performed, and at the same time 15 previously transplanted patients (total of 44) were monitored. Patients were followed until death or graft insufficiency. Most often cause of chronic renal failure before the transplantation were glomerular diseases (3l,8% cases), and chronic pyelonephritis in 29,5% cases. Living-donor related kidney transplantation was performed in 56,8% of patients, living-donor unrelated in 27,3% of patients and cadaveric in 15,9% of patients. Post-transplant complications occurred in 29,5% of patients. Analysis of graft surviving on 12 months, 5 years and 10 years monitoring showed functional grafts in 87,5%, 80% and 75,0% of patients. Cumulative survival of patients on one year monitoring is 100%, on 5 year 100%, and on 10 year 93,8%. Primary causes of graft function loss were recurrent kidney diseases. Three patients (6,8%) died due to concomitant diseases, irrespective of the transplantation. Kidney transplantation is a successful treatment of a chronic renal failure with a high percentage of patients survival and long term graft survival, but also with serious post-transplant complications.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease treated by hemodialysis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which is connected with various risk factors present in this population of patients, represents a major factor of high mortality. AIM To determine the plasma levels of parathormone (PTH, levels of serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in patients treated by hemodialysis, and investigate the impact of PTH as a possible risk factor for LV morphology changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 50 patients with end-stage renal disease during the first two years of haemodialysis treatment. They were followed during the period of 12 months and had the same conditions of hemodialysis treatment. All participans have the echocardiography performed, as well as serial measurements of serum calcium and phosphorus by standard laboratory tests, and measurement of PTH by immunoradiometry. RESULTS More than 2/3 of selected patients (72%) showed signs of LVH at the beginning of the study. Patients with concentric LVH have significantly higher levels of PTH than those with normal echocardiography finding. Especially high levels of PTH were observed in patients with global sistolic-diastolic LV failure (more than 84,5% than the patients with normal echocardiography). PTH is significantly and independently associated with LV mass (p=0,002) and LV volume increment (p=0,040) noted by echocardiography. Ca x P product showed higher values in patient with sistolic-diastolic LV failure as compared to patients with normal LV echocardiography. CONCLUSION PTH appears to be an independent predictor of significant changes in LV mass and volume, which indicates that this "uremic toxine" has the importance of risk factor for uremic cardiomiopathy.

Neuropsychiatric (NP) lupus and lupus nephritis are one of the most profound manifestations of the Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with wide variety of clinical manifestations. Especially NP lupus is the most poorly understood subset of the disease, and the most difficult therapeutic problem. We present case report of female SLE patient with the associated difficult and different clinical manifestations of central and peripheral nervous system disease end renal involvement. Agressive treatment option with intermittent pulsed intravenous cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids after the second month of treatment brought to complete remission of nephrotic syndrome. Improving of life-threating clinical manifestations of NP lupus was obtained after six months treatment by this immunosupressive therapy and included intravenous immunoglobulin 400 mg/kg body weight during five days monthly.

UNLABELLED Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of mortality in uraemic patients treated by hemodialysis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is considered to be a major cardiac risk factor. AIM To investigate the presence of some potential adverse risk factors in hemodialysis patients with developed LVH echocardiography verified and determine their relative contribution to the LVH in comparison with patients with normal LV. METHOD The study included 50 patients with end-stage renal disease in the first 2 years of hemodialysis treatment, who were followed up during one year. All participants have the echocardiography performed as well as serial measurements of potential modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS This investigation showed that LVH is present in high percentage (72%) in uraemic patients, even at the beginning of hemodialysis treatment. This LV morphological abnormality is statistically significantly related to anaemia (p<0,001), systolic (p<0,001) and diastolic hypertension (p<0,001)), elevated mean arterial pressure (p<0,001) and hyperparathyroidism (p=0,002). CONCLUSION Modification of existing risk factors in uraemic patients could contribute to prevention and treatment of LV hypertophy and thus reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

INTRODUCTION Without sufficient insulin treatment, acceptable level of glycoregulation, avoidance of dislipoproteinaemia and maintenance of body mass is difficult to achieve in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). On the other hand sometimes it is difficult to prevent weight gain, endogenous hyperlipidemia and iatrogenic insulin resistance. AIM To compare metabolic control indicators in patients with type 1 DM in patients treated conventionally to those on intensified insulin regimen. MATERIAL AND METHODS A sample of 52 persons with type 1 DM, without late complications and long duration of the disease, was selected. Among them 19 (36.5%) persons were treated with insulin in 4 or 5 doses, and 33 (63.5%) conventionally, in 2 doses. All the participants had biochemical indicators of metabolic control determined (glycosylated Hb , fasting and postprandial glycaemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides as well as lipoprotein fractions, HDLC and LDLC), body height (BH) and weight (BW) measured, body mass index calculated (BMI) and blood pressure measured (BP). RESULTS In the group treated conventionally we found significantly higher mean values of BMI as compared to those on intensified insulin treatment (23.2 +/- 2.0 kg/m2, and 21.2 +/- 1.2 kg/m2 respectively, p%<0.01) and proportion of those with overweight was as well significantly higher (27.3% versus 0%, p =0.012). We noted higher mean values of systolic (134.2 +/- 17.6 mmHg, versus 123.4 +/- 12.7. p<0.05) and diastolic (83.2 +/- 10.1, versus 74.0 +/- 9.7, p<0.01) BP. Biohemical indicators of glycoregulation were significantly worse with, at the same time, higher total dose of applied insulin ( 55.9 +/- 8.5 IU, versus 46.3 +/- 10.0 IU, p<0.01), and insulin units per kg of body weight (0.84 +/- 0.11 IU/kg versus 0.77 +/- 0.15 IU/kg, p<0.05). CONCLUSION Results indicate that intensified insulin treatment is more favourable variant of treatment, by which the certain level of insulin resistance, which might be present in patients treated with two higher insulin doses, is probably reduced. Therefore it improves metabolic outputs, blood pressure values and body mass index but also may have beneficial impact to economic aspect of insulin treatment as well.

INTRODUCTION Anemia has been shown to be a key component of renal failure, as well as of the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), with special attention paid to the paracrine mechanism of left ventricular remodelling. AIM The aim of the study was to analyze possible association of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and LVH in hemodialysis patients with anemia treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo) during six months. METHOD LV geometry was determined by echocardiographic analysis in 20 hemodialysis patients before and after erythropoietin treatment. Serum ACE activity was measured by spectrophotometric method using hippyril-l-histidyl-l-leucin as a substrate. RESULTS Serum ACE activity increased to 47.3% in hemodialysis patients with LVH as compared to patients with normal LV mass. A significant positive correlation was found between the level of ACE activity and LV mass index (p=0.004). Six-month erythropoietin treatment of anemia led to a significant reduction of LV mass index (p<0.008) and serum ACE activity (p=0.003) from the initial values. CONCLUSION The levels of serum ACE activity are associated with LV geometry. Our findings suggested the possibility of simultaneous and modest modulation of LV mass and serum ACE activity with rHuEpo correction of renal anemia.

UNLABELLED Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is commonly present in hemodialysis patients (HD pts) and is considered as an independent risk factor for high mortality. Many studies have confirmed sound connection between anemia and LVH in this patients. OBJECTIVE To analyse dystolic function of LVH in uraemic pts during the 6 months human recombinant erythropoectin (rHu-Epo) treatment of anemia, with emphasis on the role of nitric oxide (NO), whose role in regulation of LV diastolic distensibility has been hinted in some recent studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 20 HD pts, aged 39.6 +/- 5.3 yrs, with the same condition of HD treatment, signs of anemia and echocardiographically verified LVH. Pulse Doppler echocardiography confirmed LV diastolic function as a ratio of early to late diastolic mitral flow velocity (E/A). Nitrate concentration was determined by colorimetric method using Greiss reagent. Renal anemia was treated with rHuEpo. RESULTS Six months rHuEpo treatment of anemia in HD pts with LVH caused significant reduction of LV mass index (p = 0.008). However, we observed unfavourable fall in LV diastolic function (E/A = 0.83, p = 0.007). In the same time, it was found that the serum NO level was higher for 11.8% in HD pts with LVH as compared with the pts with normal LV mass. Also, the significant positive correlation was found between the level of NO and LV mass index before (p = 0.004) and after rHuEpo therapy (p = 0.03), as well as a significant positive correlation between NO and E/A in the same conditions (p = 0.002) and p = 0.049). Level of NO negatively correlates with blood hemoglobin level, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Correction of anemia with rHuEpo leads to the significant partial regression of LVH. Reduction of diastolic function of LV, observed after diminished LV mass index, could be related to the significant fall of NO level and damaged response of LV to NO. The results of the study strongy suggest that NO can present an important determinant of LV diastolic function in uraemic pts.

Anaemia appears to play an important role in left ventricular (LV) enlargement in chronic kidney disease patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate LV echocardiography changes during anaemia correction with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-Epo) in chronic haemodialysis patients (HD pts) with signs of anaemia and LV hypertrophy (LVH). The study included 20 HD pts aged 39,6 +/- 5,3 yrs, with the same condition of HD treatment, anaemia and echocardiographically LVH verified. At the beginning of the rHu-Epo treatment haemoglobin (Hb) level was < 90 g/L and the target Hb level was 110 g/L. Echocardiography was performed at the beginning (baseline) and after six months of rHu-Epo treatment. LVH was defined as LV mass index >100 g/m2 in women and >131 g/m2 in men. We observed significant reduction of LV mass index (LVMI) (mean 26,4%, p=0.008), as well as LV volumen. There was a significant negative correlation between Hb level and LVMI with predictive LVMI reduction of 2,317 g/m2 for each 1g/L rising of mean Hb level. The results of the study confirm the importance of early anaemia correction in haemodialysis patients aimed to improve LV parameters.

We prospectively estimated the CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level in the blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with aim to find the difference between relapse and infection, especially because the high fever is the same clinical sign for both. After following this problem, considering the relation between SLE and infection, we have found that: When SLE is active disease, the infection is common complication, Immunosuppressive therapy, particularly with steroids, prepares the conditions for infection, Infection and SLE are going together, and here is believe that infection is making the worsening of basic disease, A lot of SLE syndromes are differentiated with difficulties from syndromes caused from infection (pneumonia, arthritis, serositis). During 2 (two) years follow up of 10 patients suffering from SLE and fulfilled ARA criteria, we found 5 relapses and 3 infections, and all of them were followed and analyzed. We used the additional criteria for the estimation of the disease activity every patient separately. The CRP blood level was measured every month. According to a lot of clinicians, normal values of CRP are 0-0.5 mg/dl (0-5 mg/L) and ESR between 12-20 mm. Levels over 15 mg/L (1.5 mg/dl) are found with 4 SLE patients (5 SLE relapses), and 2 patients with infections (3 cases of infection). The median value of CRP in the course of infection was more than 60 mg/L, in comparison with SLE relapse (16.5 mg/L). All patients with SLE relapse had increased ESR level, but CRP wasn't, while with infection ESR and CRP were regularly increased in all cases. Measuring CRP in SLE is helpful in differentiating between infection and relapse, only under one condition: that serositis previously wasn't present.

UNLABELLED The concentration of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was investigated in the group of 9 patients with revealed systemic lupus crythematosus in active disease period and remission. In the same time it was estimated the blood level of complement C3 and C4, anti-dsDNA antibody and qualitative estimation of antinuclear antibody (ANF). It was estimated the significance of their changes in the remission and in activity period. CIC were performed with N-Latex (Clq) CIC nephelometry, C3 and C4 k.k. with nephelometry, and anti-dsDNA antibodies with ELISA test, specific for dsDNA antigen, IgG type, and ANF was performed with direct immunofluorescence microscopy. In the results, we found increase the concentration of CIC with all patients in active disease period, but in the remission period it was decreased (therapy effect). The blood level of ANF, C3, C4 were not significantly different between activity and remission period. The anti-dsDNA level was significantly elevated (90%) in the period of high SLE activity, while decrease was confirmed during remission. IN CONCLUSION the CIC level in patients with SLE is adequate parameter for disease activity estimation, together with measuring other immunological parameters (C3, C4, anti-dsDNA antibody), is useful in follow up of SLE activity.

The use of the method of direct immunofluorescence (DIF) in the examination of the renal biopsy tissue, differentiation of various forms of glomerulonephritis, identification of immunopathogenetic mechanisms of the disease and mediators of immune reaction, are presented. In the study are described the characteristics findings of DIF in differentiation of morphologic groups of glomerulonephritis, made after light microscopy (LM). Here are presented the type and localisation of immune deposits within the kidney tissue (glomerules, blood vessels, tubules and interstitium). It was performed 52 renal biopsies in the period between 1997 and 2001 year, at the Institute of Nephrology in Sarajevo, than divided after DIF and LM in 11 different groups, with dominant membranous glomerulopathy (11 cases), diffuse mesangioproliferative with IgA nephropathy (9 cases) and minimal change glomerulonephritis (9 cases), between them. It was described the method of renal biopsy, the preservation and preparation of biopsy spacemen, and the act of fluorescence microscopy.

BACKGROUND Vertiginous syndrome appears in more then 100 diseases, therefore subject of intensive investigation. Insufficient research has been done on vertiginous syndrome in patients on chronic program of haemodialisis. The aim of this study is to search anatomical and structural changes on blood vessels of the brain by neuroimaging techniques, as well as increased circulatory resistance on TCD, in patients on chronic program of haemodialysis. METHODS The research has been done on 30 patients with vertiginous syndrome, 22 males and 8 females, average age 45.9 years, average duration of haemodialysis 5.83 +/- 4.5. In all patients relevant diagnostic procedures had been done (EEG, TCD, audio vestibulogram, X-ray of cervical spine), and in 14 patients with increased circulatory resistance TCD we have done MRI and MRA of the brain. Pathological EEG has been found in 10%, 40% of the patients have had normal EEG finding, while 50% had slowing (non-specific disfunction) in EEG record. RESULTS MRI and MRA had been done in 14 patients of average age 51.21 +/- 10.82. In 13 patients we had a pathological finding of MRI and MRA, while in one patient only we had normal finding of MRA, and another one patient with normal MRI scan. In 64.2% of the sample we have had cortical cerebral atrophy, in 57.1% cortical atrophy of cerebellum, while in 35.8% apart from the mentioned changes atrophy of cerebellar vermis had been found. In 71.4% of all patients cerebrovascular disease (stroke) could be identified. Atherosclerosis changes in blood vessels of anterior or posterior circulatory segment were found in 78.5% of the patients, while spasm of arteries had been registered in 21.4% of the sample. CONCLUSION MRI and MRA of the brain brought light on aethiological aspect of vertigo in these patients. Results of our research indicate vascular aethiology of vertiginous syndrome in patients on chronic program of haemodialysis.