1.
Treatment of FSGS in Children.
Sethna, CB, Gipson, DS
Advances in chronic kidney disease. 2014;(2):194-9
Abstract
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a pathologic condition that represents many disease entities. The goals of therapy are to cure the disease. When this is not possible, the secondary goals are to reduce proteinuria to avoid the complications of nephrotic syndrome and to delay progression of kidney disease. Proteinuria remission is one of the most important independent predictors of kidney survival. Children with FSGS who do not achieve partial or complete remission have a 50% risk of progression to ESRD within 5 years whereas those who enter complete remission have a 5-year kidney survival rate of 90%. Treatment of idiopathic FSGS commonly involves immune-based and nonimmunologic therapy options. This manuscript will review the current state of FSGS therapy for children.
2.
Angiotensin-receptor blockers as therapy for mild-to-moderate hypertension-associated non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Georgescu, EF, Ionescu, R, Niculescu, M, Mogoanta, L, Vancica, L
World journal of gastroenterology. 2009;(8):942-54
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate insulin resistance, cytolysis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) score (NAS) using the Kleiner and Brunt criteria in 54 patients with NASH and mild-to-moderate hypertension, treated with telmisartan vs valsartan for 20 mo. METHODS All patients met the NCEP-ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome. Histology confirmed steatohepatitis, defined as a NAS greater than five up to 3 wk prior inclusion, using the current criteria. Patients with viral hepatitis, chronic alcohol intake, drug abuse or other significant immune or metabolic hepatic pathology were excluded. Subjects were randomly assigned either to the valsartan (V) group (standard dose 80 mg o.d., n = 26), or to the telmisartan (T) group (standard dose 20 mg o.d., n = 28). Treatment had to be taken daily at the same hour with no concomitant medication or alcohol consumption allowed. Neither the patient nor the medical staff was aware of treatment group allocation. Paired liver biopsies obtained at inclusion (visit 1) and end of treatment (EOT) were assessed by a single blinded pathologist, not aware of patient or treatment group. Blood pressure, BMI, ALT, AST, HOMA-IR, plasma triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were evaluated at inclusion and every 4 mo until EOT (visit 6). RESULTS At EOT we noticed a significant decrease in ALT levels vs inclusion in all patients and this decrease did not differ significantly in group T vs group V. HOMA-IR significantly decreased at EOT vs inclusion in all patients but in group T, the mean HOMA-IR decrease per month was higher than in group V. NAS significantly diminished at EOT in all patients with a higher decrease in group T vs group V. CONCLUSION Angiotensin receptor blockers seem to be efficient in hypertension-associated NASH. Telmisartan showed a higher efficacy regarding insulin resistance and histology, perhaps because of its specific PPAR-gamma ligand effect.
3.
Slowing chronic kidney disease progression: results of prospective clinical trials in adults.
Nguyen, T, Toto, RD
Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany). 2008;(9):1409-22
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease is generally thought to be a progressive disorder regardless of etiology. Over the past 15 years, investigations into the mechanisms of disease progression and treatment designed to slow or halt disease progression have been conducted, largely in the adult kidney disease population. Intervention trials have demonstrated that lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients and administration of drugs that block the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system are effective at slowing kidney disease progression, including diabetes, hypertension, and various glomerular diseases. In addition, novel strategies including anemia therapy with erythropoietin-stimulating agents have been conducted to determine whether treatment of this common complication of kidney disease can stabilize kidney function. Whereas substantial success has been achieved in more common forms of adult kidney disease such as diabetes and hypertension, slowing progression of some immune-mediated glomerular disease such as lupus nephritis and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy remain a great challenge. Moreover, there is no proven strategy, including multifactorial interventions, that clearly halts progressive chronic kidney disease that has been studied prospectively in a large-scale, long-term trial. The purpose of this review is to discuss these trials, as they form the underpinnings for current clinical practice guidelines in adults with chronic kidney disease.