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Objective: Cardiac deposition of AA amyloidosis may result in increasing left ventricular mass and systolic and diastolic dysfunction (DD). The aim of this study was to investigate the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions by both tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography (PWD) in patients with AA amyloidosis without congestive heart failure symptoms or arrthymia., Methods and Results: Twenty-four patients with AA amyloidosis without congestive heart failure symptoms or arrthymia (15 men and nine women; mean age 44.3 +/- 16.7 years) and 25 healthy subjects (19 men and six women; mean age 43.1 +/- 9.2 years) as controls were included in the study. M-mode, two-dimensional, PWD, and TDI were performed. Peak transmitral filling velocity (E wave), peak transmitral atrial filling velocity (A wave), deceleration time, and isovolumic relaxation time were measured by PWD recordings. Peak myocardial systolic velocity (Sm), peak myocardial early (Em), and late diastolic velocities (Am) were also recorded by TDI. E/A ratio less than one was accepted as DD for both methods. Ejection fraction (EF) was calculated by Teicholtz method. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: healthy controls (group 1), patients without DD (group 2), and patients with DD (group 3) according to the PWD findings. PWD echocardiography showed that DD was present in 50% of the patients, whereas TDI showed DD in 66% of such cases. In subgroup analysis, Sm wave as a systolic function index was lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2, whereas mean EF values were similar in all groups., Conclusion: Although AA amyloidosis uncommonly causes cardiac symptoms and findings, according to our results, patients with AA amyloidosis may have systolic and diastolic dysfunction eventhough they are asymptomatic. Also, tissue Doppler imaging is a more reliable method in the early detection of cardiac dysfunction in such patients.

Renal involvement may occur in cases with malignant disorders. Glomerular injury may be the first sign of these diseases and may predict the overall survival. In some cases, glomerular injury may be associated with tumor antigens, and in some others, viruses cause renal injury together with underlying malignant disease. Here we report four cases with malignant diseases and accompanying glomerular injury and review the literature.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CyA monitoring using C0 monitoring (fasting level after 12 h from last dose), and C2 monitoring (2 h after morning dose) on renal functions, lipid levels, CyA levels, and daily dosages of CyA in renal transplanted patients in the posttransplant period from the first month to the 36th month. In our center between 1992-2003, 37 of the 54 renal transplanted patients were treated with CyA, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine. The mean age was 32.36 +/-10.32 and 35.00 +/- 10.23 (p = 0.39) in C0 (M/F: 18/7) and in C2 (9/3), respectively. Cadaveric donor (d), living related d, and living unrelated d were in four patients (p), 17 p and four p in C0, and two p, seven p, and three p in C2, respectively (p = 0.79). Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) developed in 13 p (52%) and one p (8.3%) in C0 and in C2, respectively (p =0.013). Creatinine clearance values were 72.31 +/- 23.10 mL/min and 78.73 +/- 22.42 mL/min (p:0.621) at first month, 64.97 +/- 22.58 mL/min and 78.00 +/- 19.90 mL/min (p:0.065) at sixth month, 56.50 +/- 19.62 mL/min and 76.62 +/- 21.06 mL/min (p:0.006) at 12th month, 50.28 +/- 24.79 mL/min and 80.87 +/- 18.24 mL/min (p < 0.001) at 24th month, and 55.15 +/- 19.21 mL/min and 86.65 +/- 14.97 mL/min (p:0.004) at 36th month in C0 and C2, respectively. The mean daily dosages of CyA were 354.35 +/- 122.63 and 266.67 +/- 64.95 mg/d (p:0.031) at first month, 277.17 +/- 77.94 and 250.00 +/- 73.31 mg/d (p:0.228) at sixth month, 247.92 +/- 58.48 and 211.36 +/- 62.61 mg/ d (p:0.09) at 12th month, 232.95 +/- 56.90 and 170.45 +/- 41.56 mg/ d (p:0.003) at 24th month, and 240.63 +/- 52.34 and 153.57 +/- 46.61 mg/d (p:0.002) at 36th month in C0 and C2, respectively. In C2, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, uric acid, total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, and triglyceride levels were lower than those monitored with C0. In C2, HDL-C levels were also higher than those monitored with C0. None of these patients returned to dialysis or died in this period. In conclusion, during the first 36 months with monitoring C2, preservation of renal function, control of blood pressure serum lipids and uric acid were better than those with monitoring C0. In addition, daily dose of CyA was lower in C2 method and, at the same time, this effect of C2 can be accepted as cost effective.

Arteriosclerosis is characterized by stiffening of arteries. The incremental elastic modulus (Einc) measurement is a good marker of arterial wall stiffness. Metabolic, inflammatory and hemodynamic alterations cause structural changes and vascular complications in end stage renal disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the factors that may affect the development of arteriosclerosis by measurement of Einc in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Thirty-two patients (16 men; 16 female) on chronic HD with a mean age of 42.2 +/- 19.3 (range: 15-80) were included in the study. The carotid Einc was measured to determine arteriosclerosis by high-resolution echo-tracking system (Acuson Aspen, Acuson Corp., Mountain View, California, USA). Einc measurement was calculated from transcutaneous measurements of common carotid arterial (CCA) internal diameter and wall thickness and carotid pulse pressure. Common carotid compliance and distensibility were determined from changes in carotid artery diameter during systole and simultaneously measured carotid pulse pressure. Common carotid artery stuffiness (Einc) was influenced by age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressure (PP), calcium (Ca) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The distensibility of CCA was correlated with age, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), PP, Ca, ALP, and parathormone (PTH). The inflammatory parameter, hs-CRP, was increased with Einc. The mean Einc measurement was found significantly increased in patient receiving vitamin D. In conclusion, the stiffening of carotid artery in HD patients is related not only to hemodynamic changes (increased SBP, PP) but also to metabolic (increased Ca) and to inflammation (increased hs-CRP). Carotid Einc is accepted independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. Because of the positive correlation between Einc and serum Ca, vitamin D and Ca containing phosphorus (P) binders should be used carefully.

Basal cell carcinoma and amyloid deposition was reported not uncommonly, but renal failure and nephrotic syndrome were rare. Here in, we reported a 72 years old male patient with nephrotic syndrome, renal failure and relatively small basal cell carcinoma. In this patient toumoral excision caused temporary improvement. When the proteinuria reappeared, due to amyloid deposition in toumoral tissue, colchicine was began. With colchicine therapy permanent improvement of nephrotic syndrome was achieved in follow-up 18 months.

Drug induced pericarditis is reported very rarely. We presented a patient with pericarditis due to antituberculosis therapy induced pericarditis and chronic renal failure. We did not find clinical and serologic findings of pseudo-lupus clinical symptoms and pericarditis regressed in a short time with cessation of antituberculosis drugs and initiated steroid.

Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a well known morphologic abnormality and has been largely investigated with both transthoracic (TTE) and/or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Its association with other congenital and acquired heart diseases and midsystolic clicks has been reported. ASA also may be associated with an increased risk of embolic events. In many cases, it is an incidental finding. We describe a patient with acute renal failure associated with nephrotoxic drugs and ASA suggesting endocarditis.