RESUMEN

Recombinant human erythropoietin has proved to be effective to treat anemia of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety profile of Epotin, a rHuEPO produced in the Middle East. One hundred thirty patients with Hct

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Choroidopathy in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has rarely been reported. We report a patient with SLE and choroidopathy manifested by bilateral multifocal, serous elevations of the neurosensory retina. Control of the systemic disease resulted in resolution of the serous detachment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Although peritonitis is the major complication and leading cause of morbidity in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), there are other complications of this long-term renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality. In order to evaluate the non-peritonitis complications, we retrospectively studied 60 new patients who were accepted in our CAPD program over a period of eight years from 1984 to 1993. Out of the 60 patients, 31 were females and 29 were males, with a mean age of 37.0 +/- 18 years. Tenckhoff's catheter was implanted by surgeons under direct vision in the operating theater through a midline incision. Nine of our patients had previous abdominal surgery and 11 females had pregnancies before CAPD, ranging from one to 10 with a mean of four. A total of 49 episodes of complications were observed, 32 early and 17 late. Early complications were defined if they occurred within three months from starting the procedure and late complications were defined as occurring after this period. There were 15 catheter blocks (25%), nine dialysate leaks (15%) and five hemoperitoneums (8.3%). Two serious and unusual complications were observed. In one of our patients, a mesenteric blood vessel injury occurred during catheter insertion, which necessitated massive blood transfusions and laparotomy. The other patient developed intestinal obstruction due to obstruction of intestinal loops around the catheter; this was corrected by removal of the catheter without the need for laparotomy. The late complications included six hernias, three hydroceles, three exit site infections, three tunnel infections and one case of loss of ultrafiltration.

RESUMEN

To describe hypercholesterolemia in an urban community in Saudi Arabia, total serum cholesterol (TSC) was measured in 966 apparently healthy males (475 Saudi Arabs, 351 other Arabs and 140 non-Arabs) using a portable analyzer (Boehringer Model[R]). Mean age was 35.9 years (SD+/-9.1) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.2 kg/m(2) (SD+/-3.4) with a mean TSC of 5.20 mmol (SD+/-1.21). Mean TSC was significantly higher among non-Arabs at 5.74 mmol/L (SD+/-1.48) than in Saudi Arabs at 4.93 mmol/L (SD+/-1.11), P<0.001 mmol/L. TSC was higher than 5.20 mmol/L in 44.3% and higher than 6.80 mmol/L in 6.9% of the population. TSC was higher than 6.80 mmol/L in 3.6% of Saudi Arabs, 8.0% in other Arabs and 15.7% in the non-Arabs. This calls for cholesterol screening of the indigenous male population for hypercholesterolemia and other coronary heart disease risk factors at every opportunity. Among expatriate males, a mass screening strategy might be appropriate. The health care system needs appropriate adjustment to deal with this growing health problem.