Immunosuppressive therapies, serum creatinine and NGAL (Mehmet Agilli, 09 August 2012)
We read with great interest your article. You have shown that plasma NGAL levels were markedly higher in patients prior to transplantation compared to the levels measured at three and twelve months after transplantation. And you have found that NGAL paralleled measures of kidney function and correlated to serum creatinine and leukocyte count. This study is important because it provides scientific information on this clinically relevant condition. However, we think that some points should be...
read full comment
Caution required in advocating a return to Al-based phosphate binders (Chris Exley, 18 June 2012)
Serum Al is not as good an indicator of the body burden of Al as urinary excretion of Al, either 24h or spot tests. Serum Al 48h post administration of DFO is at the very best an hopeful estimate of body burden of Al. Urine Al, 24h if possible, should have been measured in this study to obtain a better understanding of whether significant Al was absorbed across the gut following the use of an Al-based phosphate binder.
Caution is required before using the results of this study to advocate a return to Al-based phosphate binders in HD patients.
read full comment
The horizontal axis in Figure 2, and in Figure 3, is the beta-weighted sum of Z-scores (i.e., the linear predictor minus its intercept) not the linear predictor (lp) as stated in the legend. In Figure 2, for example, the probability of HCH is plotted versus lp+1.21; not versus lp.
read full comment
A clinical trial is required before stopping the use aluminium as a phosphate binder. (sandawana william majoni, 12 September 2011)
Do aluminium-based phosphate binders continue to have a role in contemporary nephrology practice? This is a very important question which warrants a rigorous debate and a well conducted clinical trial. Depending on where one is practising nephrology, aluminium is still being used as a phosphate binder but very carefully, if at all, because of the history which has been clearly elucidated in this review article. Aluminium is an important, powerful and well tolerated phosphate binder, the use of which should be revisited since the previous association with very serious complications due to accumulation are now very rare with the use of treated water for dialysis. At present with the available evidence which is comprehensively discussed in this article, it is difficult to easily...
read full comment
Life span of permcath (vinu thomas, 23 September 2009)
Does ethanol locking affect the longevity of double lumen catheters?. In the article it is mentioned that upto 2 weeks of alcohol exposure does not harm the catheter.suppose we plan to retain a catheter for 6 months or even one year, what will be the impact?
read full comment
Comparing For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Dialysis Facilities (Philip Zager, 10 December 2008)
We read with interest the recent article entitled “Comparative mortality of hemodialysis patients at for-profit and not-for-profit dialysis facilities in the United States, 1998 to 2003: A retrospective analysis” by Foley et al. Many of these authors have major roles in assembling the United States Renal Data System’s (USRDS) Annual Data Report (ADR). The 2007 ADR states “[standardized mortality and hospitalization ratios] remain lowest in Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) units, with no other providers showing the same consistency in results.” DaVita (DV), Fresenius Medical Care of North America (FMCNA) and DCI are, by far, the largest for-profit and not-for-profit facilities, respectively, operating in the United States. According to the USRDS the standardized...
read full comment
Additional information regarding author's contributions (Adrian Mondry, 01 February 2005)
Zhu Ai Ling has contributed significantly to writing the drafts on which the original manuscript submitted in July 2004 is based. As such, her contribution should be acknowledged as follows:"A.-L. Z. did statistical analysis and contributed considerably to the drafting of the original manuscript. As such, she should be considered joined first author together with A.M. and M.N."
read full comment
Response to COMMENT: MEFV mutations and renal pathology (Patrick Fisher, 05 January 2004)
I would like to thank Konstantopoulos, et al. for their interest in our paper and their respective comments. Furthermore, I would like to respond to the comments made by Konstantopoulos regarding our paper entitled:Familial Mediterranean fever, Inflammation and Nephrotic Syndrome: Fibrillary Glomerulopathy and the M680I Missense Mutation [1].A. The clinical diagnosis in our patient was made based on the highly recognized Tel-Hashomer criteria [2], which was the same criteria used by Tunca,et al. in the article which was referenced by Konstantopoulos [3]. Furthermore, no evidence was provided by Konstantopoulos to support the comment that "resistance to colchicine treatment ...can make [the] diagnosis [of] [FMF] doubtful". Again...
read full comment
MEFV mutations and renal pathology (Kostas Konstantopoulos, 27 November 2003)
We like to comment on the work by Fisher et al on glomerulopathy complicating a case of clinical Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) carrying also a single MEFV mutation [1]. A. Although the clinical diagnosis of FMF sounds clear, the final resistance to colchicine treatment in the certain patient, observed in 25% of all true cases [2] can make diagnosis doubtful.B. Mutation screening according to the method applied by the authors is limited to the few mutations tested for [3]. This method does not exclude additional mutation(s) of the MEFV gene.C. The MEFV mutation frequency in Armenians may approximate 1:5; therefore, detection of a single mutation in people of Armenian ancestry does not per se support FMF diagnosis strongly.D. We have in the past published two cases of the so-called...
read full comment
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Immunosuppressive therapies, serum creatinine and NGAL (Mehmet Agilli, 09 August 2012)
We read with great interest your article. You have shown that plasma NGAL levels were markedly higher in patients prior to transplantation compared to the levels measured at three and twelve months after transplantation. And you have found that NGAL paralleled measures of kidney function and correlated to serum creatinine and leukocyte count. This study is important because it provides scientific information on this clinically relevant condition. However, we think that some points should be... read full comment
Comment on: Magnusson et al. BMC Nephrology, 13:8
Caution required in advocating a return to Al-based phosphate binders (Chris Exley, 18 June 2012)
Serum Al is not as good an indicator of the body burden of Al as urinary excretion of Al, either 24h or spot tests. Serum Al 48h post administration of DFO is at the very best an hopeful estimate of body burden of Al. Urine Al, 24h if possible, should have been measured in this study to obtain a better understanding of whether significant Al was absorbed across the gut following the use of an Al-based phosphate binder.
Caution is required before using the results of this study to advocate a return to Al-based phosphate binders in HD patients. read full comment
Comment on: Pepper et al. BMC Nephrology, 12:55
Correction (Randy Carter, 04 January 2012)
The horizontal axis in Figure 2, and in Figure 3, is the beta-weighted sum of Z-scores (i.e., the linear predictor minus its intercept) not the linear predictor (lp) as stated in the legend. In Figure 2, for example, the probability of HCH is plotted versus lp+1.21; not versus lp. read full comment
Comment on: Bessette et al. BMC Nephrology, 12:65
A clinical trial is required before stopping the use aluminium as a phosphate binder. (sandawana william majoni, 12 September 2011)
Do aluminium-based phosphate binders continue to have a role in contemporary nephrology practice?
This is a very important question which warrants a rigorous debate and a well conducted clinical trial. Depending on where one is practising nephrology, aluminium is still being used as a phosphate binder but very carefully, if at all, because of the history which has been clearly elucidated in this review article. Aluminium is an important, powerful and well tolerated phosphate binder, the use of which should be revisited since the previous association with very serious complications due to accumulation are now very rare with the use of treated water for dialysis. At present with the available evidence which is comprehensively discussed in this article, it is difficult to easily... read full comment
Comment on: Mudge et al. BMC Nephrology, 12:20
Life span of permcath (vinu thomas, 23 September 2009)
Does ethanol locking affect the longevity of double lumen catheters?. In the article it is mentioned that upto 2 weeks of alcohol exposure does not harm the catheter.suppose we plan to retain a catheter for 6 months or even one year, what will be the impact? read full comment
Comment on: Broom et al. BMC Nephrology, 10:23
Comparing For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Dialysis Facilities (Philip Zager, 10 December 2008)
We read with interest the recent article entitled “Comparative mortality of hemodialysis patients at for-profit and not-for-profit dialysis facilities in the United States, 1998 to 2003: A retrospective analysis” by Foley et al. Many of these authors have major roles in assembling the United States Renal Data System’s (USRDS) Annual Data Report (ADR). The 2007 ADR states “[standardized mortality and hospitalization ratios] remain lowest in Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) units, with no other providers showing the same consistency in results.” DaVita (DV), Fresenius Medical Care of North America (FMCNA) and DCI are, by far, the largest for-profit and not-for-profit facilities, respectively, operating in the United States. According to the USRDS the standardized... read full comment
Comment on: Foley et al. BMC Nephrology, 9:6
Additional information regarding author's contributions (Adrian Mondry, 01 February 2005)
Zhu Ai Ling has contributed significantly to writing the drafts on which the original manuscript submitted in July 2004 is based. As such, her contribution should be acknowledged as follows:"A.-L. Z. did statistical analysis and contributed considerably to the drafting of the original manuscript. As such, she should be considered joined first author together with A.M. and M.N." read full comment
Comment on: Mondry et al. BMC Nephrology, 6:1
Response to COMMENT: MEFV mutations and renal pathology (Patrick Fisher, 05 January 2004)
I would like to thank Konstantopoulos, et al. for their interest in our paper and their respective comments. Furthermore, I would like to respond to the comments made by Konstantopoulos regarding our paper entitled:Familial Mediterranean fever, Inflammation and Nephrotic Syndrome: Fibrillary Glomerulopathy and the M680I Missense Mutation [1].A. The clinical diagnosis in our patient was made based on the highly recognized Tel-Hashomer criteria [2], which was the same criteria used by Tunca,et al. in the article which was referenced by Konstantopoulos [3]. Furthermore, no evidence was provided by Konstantopoulos to support the comment that "resistance to colchicine treatment ...can make [the] diagnosis [of] [FMF] doubtful". Again... read full comment
Comment on: Fisher et al. BMC Nephrology, 4:6
MEFV mutations and renal pathology (Kostas Konstantopoulos, 27 November 2003)
We like to comment on the work by Fisher et al on glomerulopathy complicating a case of clinical Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) carrying also a single MEFV mutation [1]. A. Although the clinical diagnosis of FMF sounds clear, the final resistance to colchicine treatment in the certain patient, observed in 25% of all true cases [2] can make diagnosis doubtful.B. Mutation screening according to the method applied by the authors is limited to the few mutations tested for [3]. This method does not exclude additional mutation(s) of the MEFV gene.C. The MEFV mutation frequency in Armenians may approximate 1:5; therefore, detection of a single mutation in people of Armenian ancestry does not per se support FMF diagnosis strongly.D. We have in the past published two cases of the so-called... read full comment
Comment on: Fisher et al. BMC Nephrology, 4:6