Cardiovascular function in chronic glomerulonephritis: mechanocardiographic study

The relations between mechanocardiographic measurements, types of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and clinical data were examined in 70 cases of CGN (20 cases of the latent type, 6 cases of the nephritic type, 14 cases of the nephrotic type, 10 cases of the hypertensive type and 20 cases of the endstage). (1) In the different types of CGN, mechanocardiographic abnormalities increased in the order: latent type less than nephritic type less than nephrotic type less than hypertensive type less than endstage. (2) In the endstage, prolongations of ICT, ICT2 and PEP (p less than 0.01), shortening of LVET (p less than 0.05) and decrease of LVET/PEP (p less than 0.01) were observed. These abnormalities may be related to decreased myocardial contractility. (3) Analysis of the relations between mechanocardiographic measurements and results of various tests in all the cases showed that ICT, ICT2 and PEP were most nearly related to GFR, DBP, gamma-globulin and serum sodium and Q-T, Q-II/Q-T and (Q-T) -- (Q-II) were nearly related to Ht and age. The changes in cardiac function may be entirely due to increased blood pressure, decreased renal function, electrolyte disturbance, dysproteinemia and anemia associated with CGN. Abnormality in cardiac function seems to depend on the relative abnormalities of these factors and the extents of their influences.

Resolution of diffuse membranous changes with remission of nephrotic syndrome

A case of membranous glomerulonephritis with initial proliferative changes accompanied by nephrotic syndrome was followed up for seven years. With three serially obtained renal biopsy tissues, the regression of the glomerular membranous alterations was confirmed after the remission of nephrotic syndrome. The diagnosis of lupus nephritis was not conclusive but was suggestive. The resolution of the basement membrane seemed to start structurally at the outer, epithelial surface of the membrane with the formation of basement membrane material. The "microtubular structures" in the glomerular endothelial cytoplasm were continuously observed in three renal tissues obtained serially for five years, regardless of the clinical remission and of glomerularstructural resolution.

Multi-variate analysis of serum protein rheumatoid arthritis

The content of IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha2 macroglobulin, alpha1 acid glycoprotein, alpha1 antitrypsin, beta1C/1A globulin and beta1E globulin in the sera of 172 female rheumatoid patients and 132 female non-rheumatoid subjects was measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. Rheumatoid patients were classified into 3 groups according to their stage and class. Canonical discriminant analysis revealed that the alpha1 acid glycoprotein and beta1C/1A globulin was of assistance in differentiating the rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid groups. There is no significant difference in serum protein levels between rheumatoid factor positive and negative groups, whereas IgA and beta1E globulin levels exhibited certain differences between these two groups. Among the results of other clinical tests, the correlation observed between ESR and serum protein levels in rheumatoid arthritis should be mentioned.