Search

In recent years, the relationship of hyperuricemia and gout with a high risk of cardiovascular disease has been widely discussed. Therefore, it is important to systematically examine patients in order to diagnose comorbidities, among which cardiovascular disease and its complications occupy a leading place and consider mandatory treatment of patients with hyperuricemia and gout with high cardiovascular risk with lowering drugs, which fully reflects the provisions of the latest European recommendations for the management and treatment of patients with gout.

Tumors in the heart are rare and difficult to diagnose pathologies. There are primary and secondary tumors, the letter tumors include metastases of other tumors. In this work is presented clinical case of metastatic lesion of the right atrium with renal cell carcinoma. Modern methods of diagnostics of patients with intracardiac formations are discussed.

Data on possibilities of personalized approach for direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) choice in patients with atrial fibrillation are presented in the article. We also review clinical and fundamental studies and future perspectives on pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic tests to predict the efficacy and safety of DOAC.

Loeffler's endocarditis remains is a very rare disease, develops due to eosinophilic inflammation predominantly of the endocardium with an outcome in fibrosis and massive thrombus formation and. He is generally characterized by an unfavorable prognosis. Clinical case of a 42-year-old patient with Loeffler endocarditis is presented. The development of the disease was preceded by a polyvalent allergy, mild dry eye syndrome and pansinusitis with a single eosinophilia of blood up to 16%. The reason for the hospitalization was the appearance of biventricular heart failure. During the previous year, the level of blood eosinophils remained normal, a threefold increase in the level of eosinophilic cationic protein was observed once. A 20-fold increase in the pANCA level, a 2.5-fold increase in the level of antibodies to DNA, an antibody to the nuclei of cardiomyocytes 1:160 were detected. The diagnosis was made on the basis of electrocardiography data (low QRS voltage, atrial hypertrophy), echocardiography, multispiral computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (thickening and delayed contrasting of the endocardium, massive thrombosis of the left ventricular apex with obliteration of its cavity, encapsulated fluid in the pericardium with compression of the right ventricle). Systolic dysfunction, severe signs of restriction and arrhythmias were absent. Trombectomy, tricuspid valve plasty, pericardial resection, suturing of an open oval window were performed. Signs of active inflammation with single eosinophils, vasculitis, perimuscular sclerosis, endocardial sclerosis were detected in morphological and immunohistochemical studies of endo-, myo-, pericardium. Viral genome was not found. The therapy with methylprednisolone 24 mg/day, azathioprine 75 mg/day was started. Six months after the operation, the symptoms of heart failure are completely absent, the thrombosis did not recur.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Liver is frequently involved in the pathological process. Wide range of clinical manifestations can be seen: from asymptomatic lesion with normal liver function tests to cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Biopsy plays the key role in diagnosis of the hepatic sarcoidosis. It is essential for morphological diagnosis to exclude other causes of granulomatous liver disease, most often - primary biliary cholangitis. Nowadays there are no standard treatment protocols for patients with hepatic sarcoidosis.

The article is devoted to the actual problem - dust diseases of the lungs. The peculiarities of occurrence and course of pulmonary lesions that have a significant place in the overall structure of occupational morbidity are considered. Modern approaches to treatment, diagnostics and prevention issues in pneumoconiosis are discussed.

Generalized data on nephroprotective efficacy of pentoxifylline in chronic kidney disease (CKD) are presented. The potential of this drug in treating people suffering from CKD and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with a high risk of developing the terminal stage of renal dysfunction is considered. Antiproteinuric, antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of pentoxifylline significantly reduce the risk of progression of CKD and joining of CVD in the future. Efficacy in preventing the onset of the uremic stage of CKD, safety andapplicability at all stages of renal dysfunction development make pentoxifylline a very appealing drug not only for nephrologists but also for physicians.

Cornea verticillata is the typical sign of ocular involvement in Fabry disease and manifests by the whorl-like, linear opacities in the inferior part of the cornea. Aim. To study the frequency of cornea verticillata in patients with Fabry disease and it’s relation to the severity of the disease and the types of mutation in the GLA gene. Materials and methods. We studied 69 adult (over 18 years) patients with a classic form of Fabry disease that was confirmed by enzymatic and molecular genetic studies. There were 39 males and 30 females. The median age was 39 years [30.0; 50.0]. The severity of Fabry disease was assessed using the Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI) with a maximum value of 76 points. Depending on the MSSI score, patients were classified into mild (40) clinical categories. Results and discussion. At least one classic symptom of Fabry disease was present in 88.4% of patients. The majority of patients had the missense mutations of the GLA gene. Cornea verticillata was found in 65.2% of patients and occurred with a similar frequency in males (56.4%) and females (76.7%; p=0.07). Cornea verticillata was the single classic symptom of Fabry disease in only 4.9% of cases, while the rest of the patients presented with angiokeratoma, neuropathic pain and/or hypohidrosis. The frequency of classic symptoms of Fabry disease, as well as renal disease (with the exception of terminal chronic renal failure), brain and heart damage was similar in patients with and without cornea verticillata. Median MSSI scores were also similar in patienths with and without cornea verticillata (20.0 and 18.5 points, respectively; p=0.92). Similar results were obtained in males (26.5 and 30.0 points, p=0.97) and females (16.0 and 16.0 points, p=0.45). The frequency of cornea verticillata did not differ in patients with different types of mutations in the GLA gene. Conclusion. Cornea verticillata occured in 65% of adult patients with Fabry disease, was usually accompanied by the other classic symptoms of the disease, and was not associated with the severity of the disease.

Patent foramen ovale and hereditary thrombophilia are both known risk factors for ischemic stroke. Artery of Percheron is a rare anatomical variant in which vast areas of the midbrain and thalamus have a single source of blood supply. This case report presents a 45-years old female patient with bilateral thalamic stroke due to Percheron artery occlusion, with a combination of hereditary thrombophilia and patent foramen ovale as the risk factors. Modern approaches to the diagnosis and secondary prevention of this pathology are also discussed herein.

Investigation’s history and nomenclature’s evolution of the IgA-vasculitis are presented in the article. Pathogenesis of the renal and skin damages is discussed in details, particularly abnormalities of the IgA-immunity and systemic endotoxemia. Relevant world’s literature is cited.

Aim. To evaluate the 5-year results of renal denervation (RDN) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (AH). Materials and methods. The study included 14 patients to whom, during the 2011-2013 period RDN has been completed. Before and after the intervention, office blood pressure, quality of life indicators according to the EQ-5D questionnaire, mass index bodies, indicators of kidney function were duly assessed. Results. Five years after RDN, office BP decreased from 165/110 to 139/95 mm Hg. Art. (p

The article presents data of domestic and foreign authors on the relationship between occupational factors and arterial hypertension. The role of latent arterial hypertension, its frequency in the population, the lesion of the target organs and the prognosis in comparison with normotensive individuals, arterial hypertension of the "white coat" and stable arterial hypertension have been analyzed. Arterial hypertension in the workplace is a form of latent arterial hypertension. The authors review the influence of harmful production factors (physical, chemical), as well as psychosocial stress on the risk of developing arterial hypertension.The risk of developing hypertension in specified groups of workers has been analyzed separately. The place of production-related diseases in modern occupational pathology in the Russian Federation. A wider implementation of measures aimed at early diagnosis and prevention of arterial hypertension in workers is proposed.

Prolyl-4-hydroxylases of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-P4Hs) are enzymes that, under the conditions of normoxia, cause degradation of the HIF-transcriptional protein, which regulates a number of metabolic processes, including erythropoiesis, glucose level and lipid metabolism. In hypoxic conditions, on the contrary, their activity is suppressed and HIF stabilization takes place. This mechanism, i.e. stabilization of HIF by inhibition of HIF-P4Hs was the basis for the development of drugs designed for treatment of renal anemia, which are currently in stages 2 and 3 of clinical trials and are showing encouraging results. Recently, it has also been reported that inhibition of HIF-P4Hs can be effective in treatment of cardiometabolic diseases - coronary heart disease, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetic cardiomyopathy and atherosclerosis. The review, based on the most recent data, discusses in detail molecular mechanisms of therapeutic effect of HIF-P4Hs inhibition in these pathological conditions and provides evidence that these mechanisms are associated with HIF stabilization and gene expression, improving perfusion and endothelial function, reprogramming metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis, reducing inflammation and having beneficial effect on the innate immune system.

The primary autoimmune liver diseases conventionally include primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis. Despite of primary autoimmune affection of different parts of the hepatobiliary system, in the recent decades, a lot of data has emerged indicating the presence of extrahepatic manifestations of these diseases, in particular, lung lesions, such as nodular and interstitial changes with possible progression and development of fibrosis and respiratory failure. In case of lungs disease, both pulmonary parenchyma and lung vessels, pleura, and intrathoracic lymph nodes can be involved. The most sensitive and specific procedure to assess the extent of the lung lesions and their evolution is high-resolution computed tomography. Due to the possibility of long-term asymptomatic course of the pulmonary disease with development of irreversible changes in patients with autoimmune liver diseases, it seems reasonable to conduct screening studies aimed at early detection and treatment of lung lesions in this population.

Primary sarcomas of the pericardium are extremely rare malignant tumors of the heart. The incidence of sarcoma increases after radiation therapy in the field of breast. The specific features of this case report are the difficulties in diagnostics of undifferentiated spindle-cell sarcoma of the pericardium and the connection between the disease and the radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Aim of the study was to explore the role of the FGF-23/sKlotho/sclerostin ratio disturbance in the determining of cardiovascular risk in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, receiving treatment with regular hemodialysis (НD) or hemodiafiltration (НDF) online in Russia. Materials and methods. 42 patients with ESRD, at the age of 18-55 years, treated with HD or HDF on line for at least 6 months, were examined. 22 (52.3%) patients received traditional HD, the remaining 20 (47.7%) - HDF online. In all the patients, in addition to a general examination, the serum levels of FGF-23, sKlotho, sclerostine (by ELISA), their associations with cardiovascular risk factors (left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), serum troponin I levels) with the numbers of techniques (ECG; Eho-CGF (with calculation of left ventricular myocardium mass index (LVMMI), as well as the relative thickness of the walls of the left ventricle (RWT); sphygmography (central (aortal) blood pressure (CBP), subendocardial blood flow (SBF) - by «Sphygmocor»), and the effect of regular HD and HDF on serum levels of the studied markers, were assessed. Results and discussion. An independent effect of FGF-23 on the risk of LVH, as well as on the increase of serum troponin I in the studied ESRD patients [β=3.576 p

Pharmacotherapy of resistant arterial hypertension represents a serious problem, because today there are no clear algorithms of action in this clinical situation. The review discusses the key works in which the authors propose a solution to this problem. The variants of a differentiated approach to treatment based on hemodynamic type, plasma renin activity, as well as a number of empirical strategies, including the predominant use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, are discussed.

The role of modified low density lipoprotein in the activation of the classical pathway of the complement system and increasing expression C3 gene in human macrophages is described, role of these processes on the progression of atherosclerotic vascular lesions is considering.

Aim. Assessment of diagnostic significance of informativeness and security of ultrasonography with contrast enhancement drug SonoVue in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and methods. The pilot conducted a prospective study which involved 15 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). All patients gave written consent to participate in the study and processing of personal data. The study included adult patients with an established diagnosis of UC and CD, with proven clinical activity of the disease. Activity was evaluated based on clinical and laboratory data on the scale of best (CDAI >150) for patients with CD and on a scale of Trulove-Witts (2-3 stage) and the Mayo index (DAI) for patients with UC. All the patients underwent colonoscopy with biopsy, ultrasound examination of abdominal cavity organs with the study of the vascularization of the intestinal wall (color Doppler, power Doppler, contrast study). Results. The use of contrast showed additional features in the instrumental evaluation of activity of inflammatory process, identification of complications and assessment of prognosis. Conclusion. The results of ultrasound of the bowel with contrast can be used to assess the activity and stage of disease in patients with UC or CD.

There is an ongoing search for the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying the development of aging and age-associated diseases. At the same time there is growing evidence geroprotective properties of vitamin D.In this review, described in detail the possible mechanisms by which vitamin D affects differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and describes the potential benefits of this vitamin in the fight against aging and age-related diseases.

The article presents a clinical observation of two patients with generalized sarcoidosis. The woman typical granulomatous changes in the lungs and lymph nodes combined with atrial fibrillation, kidney failure and hereditary thrombophilia, men with atherosclerotic coronary arteries, re-myocardial infarction, cholestasis, tubulointerstitial nephritis. The accession of systemic manifestations was accompanied by increase of level of angiotensin-converting enzyme in the blood serum, morphological examination of lung tissue in both cases there were high histological activity of vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation. Extrapulmonary symptoms regressed when conducting immunosuppressive therapy. Discusses modern aspects of diagnosis of sarcoidosis in clinical practice.

The paper gives an overview of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines updated in 2017. The revised and amended guidelines for areas, such as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT), treatment of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and management of patients with valvular heart disease and peripheral artery disease, were presented in late summer of this year. The authors of this paper present an independent analysis and discussion of new data on the key issues of diagnosis and treatment in patients in the above areas. The recommendations on DAT pay special attention to the timing of the therapy and to the choice of its drugs. The updated data on the treatment of patients with STEMI accurately determine the time to percutaneous coronary interventions, approaches to revascularization; the updates touch upon fibrinolytic therapy and new approaches to lipid-lowering therapy too. Recommendations for the management of patients with peripheral artery atherosclerosis propose for the first time a section devoted to the choice of antiplatelet therapy (an antiaggregant and/or an anticoagulant) depending on the clinical situation.

Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stages I-III chronic kidney disease (CKD). Subjects and methods. The cohort parallel-group study included 92 patients with AF and stages I-III diabetic and non-diabetic CKD, who were treated with DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban) and vitamin K antagonists (warfarin). The follow-up duration was 12 months. Results. Thromboembolic events and bleeding, which required patient hospitalization or blood transfusions, were not recorded during 1-year follow-up. There was no clinically significant progression of CKD in the groups of therapy with vitamin K antagonists or DOACs. Just the same, a more intense decrease in glomerular filtration rate and a high rate of hemorrhagic complications were revealed in the subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) versus those with non-diabetic CKD. Conclusion. In patients with non-valvular AF and diabetic and non-diabetic CKD, the use of DOACs effectively and safely prevents thromboembolic events, irrespective of the stage of CKD. At the same time, in patients taking anticoagulants, CKD progresses more rapidly in the presence of DM than in its absence, regardless of a specific anticoagulant. Hemorrhagic complications are more common in patients with AF, DM, and CKD, which requires more frequent monitoring of their kidney function.

In recent years, one of the promising areas in clinical medicine is the study of impaired ments in endothelial function and arterial wall stiffness, which can be referred to as one of the important predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease, including that of diabetic etiology. There is strong evidence that endothelial function and great artery stiffness may be used as reliable clinical and instrumental indicators to evaluate the efficiency of therapeutic measures and the rate of progression of cardiovascular disorders in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The article presents data on the role of endothelial dysfunction and arterial wall stiffness in the progression of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus and discusses the possibility of their correction with pharmacological agents.

The paper describes clinical cases in 2 patients (brothers) with giant cell arteritis. It analyzes the genetic and epigenetic aspects of the disease. The data available in the Russian and foreign literature are given.

The paper gives an update on the role of the gut microbiome (GM) in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, liver cirrhosis (LC), and its complications, such as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and discusses the possibilities of its correction with prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The pathophysiology of the liver diseases in question demonstrates some common features that are characterized by pathogenic changes in the composition of the gastrointestinal tract microflora, by intestinal barrier impairments, by development of endotoxemia, by increased liver expression of proinflammatory factors, and by development of liver inflammation. In progressive liver disease, the above changes are more pronounced, which contributes to the development of LC, HE, and HCC. GM modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and FMT diminishes dysbacteriosis, strengthens the intestinal mucosal barrier, reduces endotoxemia and liver damage, and positively affects the clinical manifestations of HE. Further investigations are needed, especially in humans, firstly, to assess a relationship of GM to the development of liver diseases in more detail and, secondly, to obtain evidence indicating the therapeutic efficacy of GM-modulating agents in large-scale, well-designed, randomized, controlled, multicenter studies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders in the population. Researchers revealed a direct relationship between their incidence and a patient’s age long ago. One of the most challenging issues of clinical practice in patients with AF is anticoagulant therapy used in the so-called very elderly patients aged 75 years and older when age itself is a risk factor for developing both thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events due to anticoagulants, regardless of the mechanism of action of the latter. However, scientific data regarding the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic events in elderly and senile patients with AF are very scarce and often uninformative. The data from the EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation Registry Pilot Phase (EORP-AF Pilot) and the randomized clinical studies RELY, ROCKET AF, ARISTOTLE, and AVERROES were analyzed to identify the most safe and most effective anticoagulant for elderly patients (over 75 years). Relying on the analyses of literature data, the authors propose an algorithm based on clinical characteristics for choosing the anticoagulant for patients older than 75 years.

The study demonstrated the results of the comparative analysis of various types of renal replacement therapy effects on the quality of life patients with terminal stage of chronic kidney disease on the basis of standardized questionnaires. It has been shown that the quality of life is significantly improved after a kidney transplantation. At the same time, it has also been found that the introduction of home dialysis, epoetins, active metabolites of vitamin D, calcimimetics in the clinic care expanded the opportunities for the labor rehabilitation of the dialysis patients and made their quality of life comparable with the same of the kidney transplant recipients.

The paper gives Russian and foreign authors’ data on a relationship between occupational factors and cardiovascular diseases. It considers the impact of psychosocial stress on the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular events in representatives of different professional groups.

The review considers the current views of the mechanisms of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic renal failure. It shows indications for the use of different classes of phosphate-binding drugs to correct hyperphosphatemia.

The paper discusses the present-day idea on a relationship between atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease, the specific features of therapeutic policy, and the place of antithrombotic therapy in particular. Based on the results of population-based studies, the authors set forth the specific features of cardiac arrhythmias concurrent with kidney injury, as well as promising directions to optimize management schemes for this category of patients.

Heart injury is one of the extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The paper gives Russian and foreign authors’ data on a relationship between CHC and myocardial injury. It discusses different pathogenetic components (the direct effect of the virus, immunological components), through which hepatitis C virus can induce myocarditis and cardiomyopathies in patients with CHC.

The purpose of the review - to present the literature on the role of central arterial pressure (CAP) and arterial stiffness progression cardio-vascular complications (CVC) and renal dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The main provisions. In this review we discuss the pathogenetic questions damaging effect of increasing CAP and arterial stiffness on the vascular wall, the development of arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaque in the blood vessels of the kidneys. All this is the direct cause of the CVC and renal dysfunction in CKD.

The paper discusses the specific features of the current course of acute glomerulonephritis, the spectrum of its etiological factors, and clinical manifestations. The factors influencing the course and outcomes of acute glomerulonephritis, including the risk of its progression to chronic kidney disease, are specially depicted.

Aim. To analyze changes in the serum concentrations of the morphogenetic proteins fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and Klotho, as well as sclerostin, an osteocyte-secreted glycoprotein, in relation to the degree of hypertension, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and arterial stiffness in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at its different stages. Subjects and methods: Sixty-five patients (33 men and 32 women) aged 20—65 years, including 25 with chronic glomerulonephritis, 15 with tubulointerstitial nephritis, and 25 with hypertensive nephrosclerosis, were examined. A control group consisted of 15 healthy volunteers matched to the study group patients for age and gender. Serum FGF-23 concentrations and blood pressure (BP) were measured in the all subjects. Patients with BPs >140/80 mm Hg underwent echocardiography, followed by determination of LV mass (LVM) and calculation of LVM index. Vascular circulation, pulse wave velocity, cardiac and vascular calcifications, and vascular functional properties were estimated. Results. There was a strong direct correlation between the serum concentration of FGF-23 and the stage of CKD and an inverse correlation between the levels of Klotho and sclerostin and the stage of CKD. As the glomerular filtration rate became lower, the concentration of FGF-23 increased and that of Klotho and sclerostin decreased just in Stage III CKD while hyperphosphatemia and elevated parathyroid hormone levels were noted in Stages IV-V CKD. As CKD progressed, the serum concentrations of Klotho and sclerostin were inversely correlated with the levels of phosphorus and parathyroid hormone. The degree of blood pressure elevation correlated positively with serum FGF-23 concentrations and inversely with Klotho levels. There was no significant correlation of the level of sclerostin with the degree of BP increase. The direct correlation between higher FGF-23 level and higher VLM is most pronounced in hypertensive patients. There was a strong direct relationship between FGF-23 and Klotho levels and a strong inverse relationship between sclerostin levels and pulse wave velocity. Lower Klotho concentrations were associated with the detection rate of calcifications in the heart valves and large arteries (the abdominal aorta). The reduced serum levels of Klotho and sclerostin were also correlated with concentric LV remodeling. Conclusion. It was demonstrated that there was a clear link between increased serum FGF-23 and decreased Klotho concentration as CKD progressed, and that between arterial stiffness and calcification and myocardial remodelling regardless of traditional risk factors. More experimental and clinical studies are required to clarify the role of sclerostin in CKD.

The paper discusses current approaches to organizing a diagnostic process in health care facilities. It describes approaches to improving patient examinations in multidisciplinary hospitals.

Aim. To study the role of serum surfactant protein D (SP-D) as a biomarker of lung injury in scleroderma systematica (SDS) in relation to the presence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Subjects and methods. Fifty-six patients (mean age 46±14 years) with diffuse and circumscribed SDS were examined and underwent pulmonary functional tests, X-ray and, if lung injury was present, high-resolution computed tomography of the lung, echocardiography, gastroduodenoscopy, and barium X-ray of the esophagus; an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine serum SP-D levels. Results. SP-D concentrations significantly correlate with the presence of lung injury in SDS and are significantly higher in the presence of pulmonary fibrosis and the signs of frosted glass and honeycomb lung patterns. SP-D levels were higher in the patients with lung injury and SDS in the group of those with pulmonary fibrosis and GER than in the group of pulmonary fibrosis patients without the latter. Conclusion. Serum SP-D may be considered in a number of biomarkers for the severity of lung injury in SDS, including GER-associated lung injury.

The paper describes a case of Fabry disease in a patient in whom kidney biopsy enabled the renal lesion be characterized in detail. Fabry nephropathy-associated kidney tissue changes, including renal lesion, have been verified using electron microscopy of renal tissue.

The paper describes a case of giant cell arteritis whose leading clinical sign is long-term fever. It discusses current approaches to diagnosing giant cell arteritis.

AIM. To evaluate the efficiency of treatment for renal anemia in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), by using erythropoietin and its combination with hypoxic altitude chamber training (HACT). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sixty-three patients (41 men and 22 women) (mean age 37.1±13.3 years) with CGN during the predialysis phase of chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated by anemia. Hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and red blood cell indices (mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)), platelet count, serum iron, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine levels were determined in all the patients at baseline and during a prospective follow-up. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured using with the Rehberg-Tareev test. Along with standard renal protective therapy, all the patients received either epoetin beta (n=31; Group 1) or its combination with HACT (n=32; Group 2). In Group 1 patients (n=31), erythropoietin (EPO) was given in an initial dose of 20-50 IU/kg thrice daily, followed by the dose being adjusted until the target Hb level was reached. Group 2 patients (n=32) received HACT cycles by the standard procedure in combination with EPO given in lower doses (20-50 IU/kg once weekly). A prospective follow-up of the patients was carried out during one year. RESULTS. Following one year, the number of patients who had achieved the target Hb level was 74.1% in Group 1 and 87.5% in Group 2. Over time, there were increases in the concentration of Hb (from 108.6±19.4 to 124.5±14.09 g/l; p

The 2013 European Society of Hypertension guidelines, including treatment policy changes presupposing that one two-component combination of antihypertensive agents may be substituted for another and their full-dose combinations may be prescribed if monotherapy is ineffective, are discussed. A rationale is provided for the most effective two-component full-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs.

AIM. To assess the role of angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in interstitial lung diseases (ILD), such as fibrosing alveolitis, sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The blood levels of endothelial dysfunction and neoangiogenesis markers (ET-1 and VEGF) were investigated in 96 patients with different clinical forms of ILD at it different stages; the found changes were compared with the clinical and morphological manifestations of the disease. RESULTS. It has been ascertained that regardless of the clinical type of ILD, there is a correlation between the blood levels of VEGF and ET-1 and the intensity of lung neoangiogenesis, the expression of VEGF by the endothelium of newly formed blood vessels, the production of angiogenic factors, the degree of endothelial dysfunction, the extent of pulmonary fibrosis, the degree of pulmonary vascular remodeling, and the severity of pulmonary hypertension. The findings suggest that the markers of neoangiogenesis play an important role in the mechanisms of ILD progression. CONCLUSION. The study of these parameters in the blood may be used to clarify the activity and prognosis of ILD.

The paper shows the value of chronic kidney disease as a population-wide determinant of vascular dementia, including moderate cognitive impairments. It discusses the role of risk factors of cardiovascular events, including those associated with chronic kidney disease, in the development of vascular dementia and moderate cognitive impairments.

AIM: To determine the nature and magnitude of changes in the detectable serum and urinary biomarkers of water-salt metabolism in patients with proteinuric forms of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), their importance for assessing the activity and prognosis of the disease/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients with CGN were examined. Group 1 included 10 patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and decreased renal function; Group 2 comprised 16 patients with persistent NS and normal renal function; Group 3 consisted of 10 patients with partial remission of NS; Group 4 included 11 patients with active hematuric CGN. A control group consisted of 9 healthy individuals matched for gender and age with the patients with CGN. The serum level of copeptin and the urinary excretion of aquaporine-2 (AQP-2) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)/RESULTS: In the NS patients with and without renal dysfunction, the serum copeptin concentration was significantly higher than that in those with partial remission of NS or hematuric CGN and in the controls. In the patients with hematuric CGN, this indicator was virtually different from that in the control group. Urinary AQP-2 excretion was significantly similar in 3 NS groups. In the patients with hematuric CGN, the urinary AQP-2 concentration was higher than that in those with NS, but it was significantly lower than in the control group. The highest urinary excretion of KIM-1 was found in the patients with NS and diminished renal function while its excretion was significantly lower in the patients with NS and stable renal function, as in those with partial remission of NS. The lowest values were seen in the patients with hematuric CGN and in the control group; the differences between these groups were statistically insignificant. Correlation analysis showed that there was an inverse correlation between serum copeptin and urinary AQP-2 levels and between urinary AQP- 2 and KIM-1 levels/CONCLUSION: Serum copeptin levels and urinary AQP-2 secretion may be used to assess the activity of CGN and NS and to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness. The determination of urinary KIM-1 excretion may be of the same practical value in patients with NS. It has been shown that the concentrations of copeptin, APQ-2, and KIM-1 may be used as a differential diagnostic criterion for hematuric CGN.

The paper discusses current approaches to diagnosing in an internal medicine clinic and to improving diagnostic tactics. It gives prospects for training physicians in current diagnostic approaches in the framework of the continuing medical education system.

The paper discusses the molecular, biochemical, and physiological properties of natriuretic peptides, including the clinical applications of their synthetic formulations, as well as the renal and extrarenal mechanisms of water-salt metabolism in chronic kidney disease.

The paper discusses approaches to improving educational technologies in therapeutic disciplines taught at higher medical education institutes according to the basic curricula in Therapeutics (060101).

AIM: To study the specific features of cognitive impairments (CI) in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD)/MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examinations were made in 51 patients aged 52±10 years with CKD, including 20 patients with Stages I-II CKD (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2; signs of kidney lesion), 20 with Stage III (GFR 60-30 ml/min/1.73 m2), and 11 with Stage IV (GFR 30-15 ml/min/1.73 m2). GFR was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (DMRD) formula. The authors made a questionnaire survey to identify day-to-day activity limitations and depressions and performed neuropsychological tests using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), a frontal assessment battery (FAB) for frontal lobe dysfunction, a short-term and delayed memory test (Luria's 10 words test), and a regulatory function assessment test (RFAT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out to clarify the etiology of CI/RESULTS: CI was detected more frequently in the patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) (Stages III-IV CKD) than in those without CRF (Stages I-II CKD) (in 90.3 and 35%, respectively (p

The paper shows the role of phosphate binders in the correction of phosphorus and calcium metabolic disturbances in chronic kidney disease. The results of clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy and safety of sevelamer are discussed.

The paper discusses the specific features of the diagnosis and treatment of kidney involvement in patients with Fabry disease.