Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenin are positively related to erythropoietin dose in hemodialysis patients

Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis in a very low-birthweight infant treated with erythropoietin

Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis (DNH) is a rare condition characterized by the concomitant development of multiple cutaneous infantile hemangiomas (IH) and visceral hemangiomas. Recently, an association between erythropoietin treatment and an increased incidence of infantile hemangioma was noted. A Japanese male infant was born via cesarean section at 27 weeks of gestation. Following the commencement of erythropoietin treatment for anemia of prematurity, he developed multiple cutaneous hemangiomas, high cardiac output heart failure and hepatomegaly. Abdominal imaging indicated comorbidity of diffuse infantile hepatic hemannigomas, resulting in the final diagnosis of DNH. The discontinuation of erythropoietin treatment and long-term therapy with propranolol improved the hepatic lesions and cutaneous hemangiomas. The possibility of multiple organ involvement and the exacerbating effects of erythropoietin treatment should be considered in cases in which multiple cutaneous hemangiomas develop in preterm infants receiving erythropoietin treatment.

Renalase, kidney and cardiovascular disease: are they related or just coincidentally associated?

Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension are the leading cause of death in the developed countries. Diabetes and chronic kidney disease became also more prevalent reaching almost the level of epidemy. Researchers are looking eagerly for the new risk and/or pathogenetic factors, as well as therapeutic option in these disease. It has been suggested that human kidney releases a protein named renalase into the bloodstream. It is supposed to be an enzyme which breaks down catecholamines in the blood circulation and regulate blood pressure. However, there were several doubts whether renalase exerts monoaminooxidase activity, or if it is monoaminooxidase at all. Recently, a hypothesis that it is also a cytokine was postulated. Studies on renalase polymorphisms in hypertension, cardiovascular disease or diabetes are inconsistent. Similarly, there are several discrepancies in the animal on the possible role of renalase in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Some studies report a protective role of renalase in acute kidney injury, whereas others showed that renalase levels were mainly dependent on kidney function, indicating rather a role of kidney in excretion of this substance. Moreover, validated assays are needed to evaluate renalase levels and activity. On one hand a deeper and more accurate link between renalase and cardiovascular diseases require further profound research, on the other hand whether or not renalase protein could be a new therapeutic target in these pathologies should also be considered. Whether renalase, discovered in 2005, might be a Holy Grail of hypertension, linking kidney and cardiovascular diseases, remains to be proven.