We read with interest the article by Drs. Ostermann and Chang (1) about the RIFLE criteria as a classification of renal failure and as a prognostic factor in intensive care. We would like to make some comments, also valid for the other articles published on this topic. One important criterion in the RIFLE classification is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It is even the sole criterion used...

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of repetition maxima to volitional failure (RM) at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM and fatigue index (FI), a determinant of the muscular endurance level. Thirty four resistance trained male participants attended two testing sessions. The first session was conducted to assess 1RM load and RM at 60%, 75% and 90% of 1RM in the supin...

BACKGROUND Cardiac assessment was not done routinely in Duchenne (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients in Northern region of England while evidence was gathering on progressive cardiomyopathy in these patients. We wanted to find out the prevalence, progression and clinical features of cardiac involvement in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. METHODS It is a retrospective rev...

A 29-year-old man was hospitalized because of heart failure causing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). On admission, he had elevated creatinine kinase levels (hyper CKemia) (4283IUl⁻) and false enlargement of bilateral calves. By a muscular biopsy, he was diagnosed as Fukuyama-type muscular dystrophy. Although neuromuscular diseases are often related to cardiomyopathy, reports showing a relation bet...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, cardiac function deteriorates with time resulting in heart failure which is often fatal. We prospectively evaluated the effect of enalapril and carvedilol on left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in middle childhood and adolescent patients with muscular dystrophy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-three patients with LV dysfunction ...

BACKGROUND Patients with muscular dystrophy have been reported to experience a variety of life-threatening complications during and after general anesthesia. We performed a systematic analysis to define the spectrum of anesthetic-related complications in patients with muscular dystrophy, with an emphasis on malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. METHODS A literature search was undertaken usin...