Urinary excretion of urodilatin in patients with cirrhosis

J Salo, W Jimenez, M Kuhn, A Gines, P Gines, G Fernandez‐Esparrach, P Angeli, J Claria, R Bataller, V Arroyo, W Forssmann, J Rodes – 1 December 1996 – Cirrhotic patients with ascites show increased plasma levels of natriuretic peptides from cardiac origin (i.e., atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] and brain natriuretic peptide [BNP]). Urodilatin is a unique member of the natriuretic peptide family because it is exclusively synthesized in the kidney acting on a paracrine fashion in the regulation of sodium excretion.

Differential recognition of the 52‐kd Ro(SS‐A) antigen by sera from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and primary Sjogren's syndrome

T Dorner, E Feist, C Held, K Conrad, G R Burmester, F Hiepe – 1 December 1996 – Antibodies against the 52‐kd Ro(SS‐A) protein are significantly associated with the primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). A small proportion of patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) with secondary Sjogren's syndrome (PBC/SS) who are serologically characterized by antimitochondrial type 2 antibodies also express anti‐52‐kd Ro(SS‐A) antibodies.

Effects of varying doses of spironolactone without and with nitrates on portal vein pressure and kidney function in partial portal vein ligated rats

M Van de Castelle, G Van Roey, F Nevens, J Fevery – 1 December 1996 – The optimal dose of spironolactone to reduce portal vein pressure, alone or in combination with isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (IsMn), has not been identified. We studied the effects of 8 days oral treatment with spironolactone, IsMn or both on portal pressure, plasma volume and renal sodium handling in rats with partial portal vein ligation. At daily doses of 0.33; 0.50; 1, and 1.50 mg/kg, spironolactone reduced portal pressure (all P < .05) as compared with placebo.

A novel two‐nucleotide deletion in the ornithine transcarbamylase gene causing fatal hyperammonia in early pregnancy

U Schimanski, D Krieger, M Horn, W Stremmel, B Wermuth, L Theilmann – 1 December 1996 – Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency shows X‐linked inheritance. Typically, symptomatic females (who constitute 15%‐20% of all carriers) have markedly reduced enzyme activity and show first symptoms in late infancy or early childhood. Here we present the case of a previously asymptomatic 24‐year‐old woman who died of severe hyperammonemia associated with orotic aciduria but normal OTC activity in the fourth month of pregnancy.

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