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The aim of the study was to determine the pulmonary 67-gallium uptake, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differentiation and the activity of BAL cells, measured as release of superoxide anion (O2-), and to investigate the results whether there are relations. In 11 nonsmoking systemic scleroderma (SS) patients and 11 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lung involvement double-sided BAL were performed, mainly in regions with increased 67-gallium uptake. Release of O2- was measured by INT-assey. BAL cell differentiation was in SS and SLE pathological in 68.2% without side-difference. In contrast to SS, O2(-)-release in SLE depends on BAL cell differentiation and is most increased in normal BAL cell differentiation. There is no correlation between 67-gallium uptake and both BAL cell differentiation and O2(-)-release. The results suggest, that in contrast to SS, BAL cells in SLE with pathological differentiation are less activated than BAL cells with normal differentiation probable due to autoimmunological factors. Pulmonary 67-gallium scan and BAL seem to be independent from each other.

It is reported about 6 patients suffering from sarcoidosis with splenomegaly. In these cases indication for splenectomy was given by symptoms of hypersplenism, abdominal pain and ineffective cortisone therapy. In general after operation activity of sarcoidosis is unchanged. Different markers of activity were used after a time interval of 2-11 years. In one case it has to be discussed an overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI).

In 14 patients with chronic renal failure and without obvious signs of congestive heart failure, cardiac function was analyzed immediately before and after hemodialysis through radiocardiography, phon

It is sought for alternative methods for the endogenous creatinine clearance as parameters for the GFR. For this purpose served investigations with Tc-99m-Sn-DTPA. It was found a good reproducibility for the slope clearance with 3 blood takings between 60 and 120 minutes. When combined with the camera function scintigraphy a side-separated quantitative statement of the clearance equivalent is possible. The inulin clearance serves as reference method. The investigations at the gamma-camera with Tc-99m-Sn-DTPA also allow the determination of the perfusion which is particularly of interest in patients with hypertension. According to the comparison at the gamma camera a diagnostic schema is recommended.

Calcium metabolism was studied in the serum of 10 patients before and during haemodialysis with the help of 47-Ca. The patients were in a stabilized condition within a chronic dialysis programme. The measured metabolic rate fell from 0.395 h-1 to 0.208 h-1 during dialysis. This corresponds to a reduction of metabolism by 0.43 mmol L-1 h-1. It is to be assumed that this alteration corresponds to the calcium inflow rate through the dialyser.

For characterising the elimination and metabolisation performance of the liver in chronic renal insufficiency the galactose load test was carried out. 9 children with healthy liver and kidneys, 35 children with chronic renal insufficiency (15 were conservatively treated = group 1, 20 were in the chronic haemodialysis programme = group 2) as well as 5 children after kidney transplantation were examined. In group 1 a normal blood galactose concentration was present. Patients of the 2nd group showed increased concentrations of galactose in the blood which might refer to a decreased redox potential in the liver caused by the uraemic intoxication. In the group of patients who underwent a kidney transplantation in the patients with azathioprine therapy a disturbed use of galactose was present. Children with cyclosporin-A had a normal galactose concentration.