Oral cimetidine improves the accuracy and precision of creatinine clearance in lupus nephritis

Article Abstract:

Lupus nephritis is the inflammation of the kidney associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue. In patients with lupus nephritis, the creatinine clearance (C-Cr), a measure of kidney function, does not accurately reflect the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the rate at which blood is filtered through the kidneys. This is because patients with lupus nephritis have damaged renal tubular cells and secrete creatinine. Hence, the measurement of C-Cr in patients with lupus nephritis tends to overestimate GFR. The ability of the drug cimetidine, given orally, in improving the precision of C-Cr and in reducing the overestimation of GFR was assessed in 13 patients with lupus nephritis. The results showed that cimetidine increased the accuracy and precision of C-Cr. In the presence of cimetidine, determination of C-Cr produced the most precise estimates of GFR and revealed the variation in GFR estimates. Cimetidine did not produce any side effects. These results indicate that cimetidine improves the precision and accuracy in determining C-Cr in patients with lupus nephritis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Complications and side effects, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Creatinine, Kidney diseases, Glomerular filtration rate, Cimetidine

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Stalking sarcopenia

Article Abstract:

Exercise and progressive resistance training may prevent the loss of lean muscle mass in age. Changes in body composition particularly involve the increase in fat mass and the loss of muscle after the age of 70 years. Muscle mass in the thigh may decrease from 90% in young men to 30% in old women. Loss of muscle increases during menopause and a lower level of physical activity in later age may adversely affect strength, balance, and increase the risk of falling. Interleukin-1 production changes after menopause and adversely affects appetite regulation. This change could lead to an increase in fat, a phenomenon seen in older people. Exercise and resistance training of the legs has produced great benefits among the very aged, increasing muscle mass accordingly.

Aging, Editorial, Body composition, Menopause

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Immunoablative High-Dose Cyclophosphamide without Stem-Cell Rescue for Refractory, Severe Autoimmune Disease

Article Abstract:

High-dose cyclophosphamide appears to be effective in patients with autoimmune disease. In a study of 8 patients with severe autoimmune disease that did not respond to other treatments, 7 responded to high-dose cyclophosphamide. Five went into remission and two had partial remissions. Four of the five who went into complete remission were still healthy for up to 21 months after treatment. Those who had partial remissions continued to improve. The treatment was well-tolerated and none of the patients had a stem cell transplant.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Autoimmune diseases, Cyclophosphamide

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