The Journal of Bucharest College of Physicians and the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences

Liliana Albusoiu

Liliana Albusoiu

Is the Importance of Magnesium in Chronic Kidney Disease Underappreciated?

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the most important cations in the organism, essential for regulating vascular tone, cardiac rhythm, and endothelial functions. In patients with advanced stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) Mg deficit was associated in various studies with vascular calcifications and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Patients with CKD frequently have hyperparathyroidism, parathormone (PTH) being an important risk factor for vascular calcifications. Increased serum Mg levels inhibit PTH secretion and stimulate left ventricular hypertrophy, while low serum Mg levels stimulate PTH secretion. Correcting Mg de deficiency results in reduced cardiovascular mortality in these patients.

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Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis

The link between kidney damage and HT remains a challenge in medical research from a century when HT concept was defined, taking in consideration than HT is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease morta-lity worldwide, due to the increasing prevalence, poor compliance to treatment and many complications[1-3]. The hypertensive nephrosclerosis is currently diagnosed in the latest stages of the disease because, for a long period of time, the injuries are compensated by kidney and therefore the clinical presentation is not specific[4]. The current diagnostic methods are non-specific, especially for early diagnosis of hypertensive nephrosclerosis, except the renal biopsy which is considered the gold standard but is rarely indicated in clinical routine due to its invasiveness and possible severe complications[5]. The pathogenic mechanism is complex and not very well understood but renal microcirculation impairment seems to be responsible for the onset and progression of this disease[6]. Therefore, any method that can accurately assess the early microvasculature changes of renal cortex, easy to use, simple and safe, with no invasiveness, could be an important diagnostic tool in hypertensive nephrosclerosis approach. [...]

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