Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on neutrophil oxidative burst function in hemodialysis patients

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) functions have been studied extensively in hemodialysis (HD) patients; however, results are contradictory and the mechanisms that modulate phagocytosis and oxidative burst are not completely understood. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a frequent complication of HD that may be associated with disturbed PMN function; however, the impact of HCV infection on neutrophil oxidative burst function in HD patients is unknown. We investigated Neutrophil oxidative burst function in 24 HD patients (15 HCV-positive and, 9 HCV-negative patients) before and after dialysis. HCV-RNA was detected by RT-nested PCR while, quantitative measurement of oxidative burst function was assessed by flowcytometry. Neutrophil Oxidised burst function was significantly diminished in HD patients as comapred to controls (P = 0.001, oxidised PMN (%); P = 0.02 mean flueresnce intensity, MFI), and in pre-dialysis as compared to post-dialysis samples (oxidised PMNs (%): 60.5 +/- 3.2 vs. 72.1 +/- 3.9, P = 0.02); (MFI: 352 +/- 42 vs. 500 +/- 50, P = 0.03). Alteration in Neutrophil oxidative burst function in the pre-dialysis samples was significant in HCV-positive patients as compared to HCV-negative patients (oxidized PMNs (%): 50 +/- 2.9 vs. 63 +/- 5.1, P = 0.02); (MFI: 291 +/- 31 vs. 438 +/- 64, P = 0.006). Marked reduction in E. coli induced burst in pre-dialysis samples compared to post-dialysis was found in HCV-positive when compared to HCV-negative patients (oxidized PMNs (%): 50 +/- 2.9 vs. 74.8 +/- 4.7, P = 0.001), (MFI: 291 +/- 31 vs. 493 +/- 63, P = 0.002). In conclusion, a possible role of concomitant HCV infection in alteration of Neutrophil oxidative burst function is highly suggested.

Handling of induced hypercalcaemia in children with rheumatic and rheumatoid affections

Induced hypercalcemia in rheumatic and rheumatoid children revealed the following : 1. Rheumatic and rheumatoid patients deal more effectively with induced hypercalcemia than control children. 2. A higher percentage of infused calcium in these patients is retained. This may by due to higher calcitionin activity relative to controls. 3. Induced hypercalcemia resulted in an increase in urinary 17 OH C.S. This is suggested to be due to stimulation of the adrenal cortex. These findings suggest that calcium infusion is an effective additional measure in the treatment of rheumatic and rheumatoid affection in the absence of contraindication to calcium.