REZULTATI MERENJA FUNKCIJA BUBREGA I ARTERIJSKOG PRITISKA KOD STANOVNIKA ENDEMSKOG PODRUČJA VITINE.

Introduction The analysis of frequency of kidney diseases, causes of terminal renal failure in patients subjected to repeated dialysis in major dialysis centers in the region of Kosovo and Metohija as well as mortality rate in these patients showed a stable number of patients with kidney diseases, evidencing that the populations of Vitina and Gnjilane were the most commonly affected. These towns are designated as regions with the highest incidence of Balkan endemic nephropathy. The present analysis was aimed at: 1. establishing the incidence rate of hypertension and renal function impairment by using clinical and laboratory analyses in individuals from Vitina and neighboring villages, and 2. investigating the correlation between creatinine clearance, age and arterial blood pressure in the studied group. Material and methods The analysis included 510 individuals (excluding diabetics) over the one-month period during 2004 (201 males with their age ranging from 18 to 90 years). Blood pressure measurements were performed in all the individuals, while renal function was determined by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) , as calculated according to Cockcroft-Gault formula. Results Creatinine clearance was lower than 100 ml/min in 237 (46.5%) individuals, out of whom 62 (12%) had GFR below 60 ml/min. Among the remaining 273 (53.5%) individuals with GFR above 100 ml/min, 68 individuals had GFR above 140 ml/min. The distribution of patients depending on their systolic blood pressure values revealed that systolic blood pressure was lower in 44 subjects and higher in 302 subjects (59%). The correlation test revealed significant association between the studied parameters. The positive correlation between patients' age and kidney function means the higher the age of subjects the lower creatinine clearance value (r=-0.622, p<0.001). The negative correlation of the systolic blood pressure value and kidney function was found. meaning that higher the systolic blood pressure is accompanied by lower creatinine clearance (r=-0.204, p<0.001). Moreover, patients' age was significantly correlated with the systolic blood pressure level (r=0.511. p<0.001), as well as with the diastolic blood pressure level (r=0.299, p<0.001). The former means that higher values 0.(both systolic and the diastolic pressures were found in older subjects. No correlation was found between the diastolic blood pressure level and kidney function (the results are not presented). Conclusion The results obtained in the study confirm significant incidence of renal function impairment measured according to creatinine clearance values in patients from the endemic nephropathy region. Reduced kidney function is found in both elderly individuals and those with high systolic blood pressure. In order to establish the correlation with the incidence and presence of BEN or other kidney diseases additional population screening is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]