International Journal of Nephrology最新文献

Background: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) of patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD-RPM) may potentially enhance time on therapy due to possible improvements in technique and patient survival.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of APD-RPM as compared to APD without RPM on time on therapy.

Methods: Adult incident APD patients undergo APD for 90 days or more in the Baxter Renal Care Services (BRCS) Colombia network between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019, with the study follow-up ending June 30, 2021. The exposure variable was APD-RPM vs. APD-without RPM. The outcomes of time on therapy and mortality rate over two years of follow-up were estimated in the full sample and in a matched population according to the exposure variable. A propensity score matching (PSM) 1:1 without replacement utilizing the nearest neighbor within caliper (0.035) was used and created a pseudopopulation in which the baseline covariates were well balanced. Fine & Gray multivariate analysis was performed to assess the effect of demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables on the risk of death, adjusting for the competing risks of technique failure and kidney transplantation.

Results: In the matched sample, the time on APD therapy was significantly longer in the RPM group than in the non-RPM group, 18.95 vs. 15.75 months, p < 0.001. The mortality rate did not differ between the two groups: 0.10 events per patient-year in the RPM group and 0.12 in the non-RPM group, p=0.325.

Conclusion: Over two years of follow-up, the use of RPM vs. no RPM in APD patients was associated with a significant increase in time on therapy, by 3.2 months. This result indicates that RPM-supported APD therapy may improve the clinical effectiveness and the overall quality of APD.

This retrospective exploratory study aimed to identify early clinical indicators of kidney prognosis in primary nephrotic syndrome (NS). Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis identified clinical parameters in the 2-month period after initiating immunosuppressive therapy (IST); it predicted 40% reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 36 patients with primary NS. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the predictors for the cumulative incidence of 40% reduction in the eGFR up to 8 years after initiating IST. The mean follow-up period was 71.9 months. The eGFR was reduced by 40% in four patients. Significant predictors for time to 40% reduction in the eGFR were as follows: an increase in the serum soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (s-suPAR) 2 months after initiating IST (Δs-suPAR (2M); hazard ratio (HR) for every 500 pg/mL increase: 1.36, P=0.006), s-suPAR at 2 months after initiating IST (s-suPAR (2M); HR for every 500 pg/mL increase: 1.13, P=0.015), urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (u-PCR) (u-PCR (2M); HR for every 1.0 g/gCr increase: 2.94, P=0.003), and urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (u-L-FABP) (u-L-FABP (2M); HR for every 1.0 μg/gCr increase: 1.14, P=0.006). All four factors exhibited high predictive accuracy for cumulative incidence of 40% reduction in the eGFR up to 8 years after initiating IST, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.92 for Δs-suPAR (2M), 0.87 for s-suPAR (2M), 0.93 for u-PCR (2M), and 0.93 for u-L-FABP (2M). These findings suggest that Δs-suPAR (2M), s-suPAR (2M), u-PCR (2M), and u-L-FABP (2M) could be useful indicators of initial therapeutic response for predicting kidney prognosis in primary NS.

Background: Providing well-functioning vascular access is crucial for patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Peripheral arteriovenous fistulas and grafts are the preferred accesses in hemodialysis patients. Patients with bilateral obstruction of internal jugular veins and subclavian veins require a suitable vascular access. Thus, the insertion of iliac vein tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs) by interventional nephrologists may be a good option for these patients. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of iliac vein TCCs in patients lacking other vascular options.

Methods: 80 tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheters were inserted through the iliac veins of 80 patients with an end-stage kidney disease. Catheter insertion was guided by Doppler ultrasonography followed by plain radiography to detect the catheter tip and exclude complications.

Results: The insertion success rate was 100%. 25 patients developed catheter-related infections. The mean survival time per catheter was 328 days. At the end of the study, 40 catheters were still functioning, 15 patients were shifted to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 5 patients were referred to the interventional radiology department for insertion of transhepatic inferior vena cava tunneled catheters. Resistant catheter-related infection was the main cause of catheter removal in 11 patients (17.5%) in this study. Catheter malfunction was the second most common cause of catheter removal in 9 patients (11.25%).

Conclusion: This study concluded that iliac vein TCCs can provide suitable vascular access in hemodialysis patients with bilateral obstruction of internal jugular veins and subclavian veins.

The significance of blood anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA₂R) antibodies in the diagnosis of different stages of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) was investigated. The expression and distribution of anti-PLA₂R antibodies in renal biopsy tissue of patients with different stages of IMN were examined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, blood anti-PLA₂R antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence for the same patients, and the results were compared with the anti-PLA₂R antibody expression in renal biopsy tissue. The positive fluorescence intensities of IMN stages I, IV, and V were mostly ± or + (40/80). There was no significant difference in fluorescence titer between these stages (p > 0.05). These results were consistent with the immunohistochemistry results, and the kappa statistic was 0.95. The positive fluorescence intensities of IMN stages II and III were mostly ++ to ++++ (33/60). There was no significant difference in fluorescence intensities between these two stages (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in fluorescence intensities between stages II and III and stages I, IV, and V (p < 0.001). These results were consistent with the immunohistochemistry results, and the kappa statistic was 0.97 (p < 0.001). Therefore, blood anti-PLA₂R levels were positively correlated with anti-PLA₂R expression in renal biopsy tissue in patients with different stages of IMN. In addition, the fluorescence intensities of IMN stages II and III were significantly different from those of stages I, IV, and V. Therefore, blood anti-PLA₂R levels can be used for in vitro differential diagnosis and the monitoring of treatment, as it can distinguish stage II; and III; from stage I, IV, and V IMN.

Objectives: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in hemodialysis compared with nonhemodialysis patients.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients (7 hemodialysis and 50 nonhemodialysis) were included in the study. We analyzed the differences in clinical parameters and outcomes between the hemodialysis patient groups and nonhemodialysis patient groups as well as identified predictors for an intraoperative hypertensive spike.

Results: The increasing intravascular volume before surgery in hemodialysis patients made perioperative hemodynamic management safer. No significant difference in clinical parameters between the two groups was observed except for the length of hospitalization that was significantly longer in the hemodialysis patients (9 vs. 6 days, P=0.005). An increase in systolic blood pressure at CO₂ insufflation was an independent predictor of a hypertensive spike with a cutoff value of 22.5 mmHg (odds ratio 1.038, 95% confidence interval 1.012-1.078).

Conclusion: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in hemodialysis was safe and feasible. An increase in systolic blood pressure at CO₂ insufflation was a predictor of the intraoperative hypertensive spike. The research in this manuscript is not registered. This is a retrospective study.

Background: Renal amyloidosis is one of the main differential diagnoses of nephrotic proteinuria in adults and the elderly. The aim of this study with the most important series in our country is to contribute to the epidemiological, clinical, and etiological study of the renal amyloidosis.

Methods: In a retrospective study carried out between 1975 and 2019, 310 cases of histologically proven and typed renal amyloidosis were selected for this study.

Results: There were 209 men and 101 women with a mean age of 53.8 ± 15.4 years (range, 17-84 years). Of the 310 cases, 255 (82.3%) were diagnosed with AA renal amyloidosis and 55 (17.7%) with non-AA amyloidosis. Infections were the main cause of AA amyloidosis, and tuberculosis was the most frequent etiology. The period from the onset of the underlying disease to diagnosis of the renal amyloidosis was an average of 177 months. The most frequent manifestations at the time of diagnosis were nephrotic syndrome (84%), chronic renal failure (30.3%), and end-stage renal disease (37.8%). After a medium follow-up of 16 months (range, 0-68 months), mortality occurred in 60 cases.

Conclusions: Given the high frequency of AA amyloidosis in our country, awareness of the proper management of infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases remains a priority in reducing the occurrence of this serious disease.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between exposure to pregestational type 2 diabetes (T2D) and renal size and subcutaneous fat thickness in fetuses during routine obstetrical ultrasound.

Methods: This was a case-control study (January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019). Routine obstetrical ultrasounds performed between 18 and 22 weeks' gestation at a tertiary-care fetal assessment unit were reviewed. "Cases" comprised ultrasounds of fetuses exposed to pregestational T2D in utero. The control group was assembled from ultrasounds of healthy controls. Postprocessing measurements of fetal renal size and abdominal wall thickness from stored images were performed by two independent observers, and findings were compared between groups.

Results: There were 54 cases and 428 ultrasounds of healthy controls. The mean maternal age of cases was 32.1 years (SD 6.2) compared to 33.2 years (SD 5.3) for healthy controls, and the majority of ultrasounds were performed in multiparous patients (83%). At the 18 to 22 week ultrasound, there was a significant reduction in renal size amongst fetuses exposed to maternal T2D in utero compared to controls; among cases, the mean renal width was 8.0 mm (95% CI 7.8-8.1) compared to 11.4 mm (95% CI 10.6-12.7) in controls (p < 0.0001); the mean renal thickness among cases was 8.1 mm (95% CI 7.9-8.2) compared to 11.5 mm (95% CI 10.7-12.9) in controls (p=0.001). There was no obvious difference in estimated fetal weight between groups, yet fetuses exposed to maternal T2D had increased subcutaneous abdominal wall fat thickness at this early gestational age (p=0.008).

Conclusions: Fetal renal size in cases exposed to pregestational T2D is significantly smaller compared to controls, and subcutaneous abdominal wall fat is significantly thicker. Given emerging evidence about the developmental origins of disease, further study is needed to correlate the association between fetal renal size and fat distribution in the fetus and the long-term risk of chronic renal disease and diabetes in these offspring.

Background: Urinary podocyte excretion is related to a reduction in glomerular podocyte numbers, glomerulosclerosis, and urinary protein selectivity. To elucidate the role of urinary podocytes in proteinuria and renal prognosis and to identify the factors that cause podocyte detachment, we examined urinary podocytes in 120 renal biopsy patients.

Methods: Podocytes were identified in urinary sediments stained with fluorescent-labeled anti-podocalyxin antibodies in ten high power fields. The amounts of protein bands, separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were calculated using an image software program and the correlation with urinary podocytes was analyzed. Podocyte surface pores were observed using a low-vacuum scanning electron microscope. The renal prognosis, including induction of hemodialysis or 30% reduction in eGFR, was investigated.

Results: Urinary podocyte excretion showed a higher positive correlation with albumin excretion compared to IgG, prealbumin, and transferrin. There were no significant correlations between urinary podocyte count and low molecular weight proteins, including β2-microglobulin and α1-microglobulin. The number of podocyte surface pores was positively correlated with proteinuria, suggesting enhanced albumin transcytosis. The hemodynamic pressure on the glomerular capillary wall, including products of pulse pressure and pulse rate (water hammer pressure), was positively correlated with urinary podocyte excretion. Urinary podocyte excretion and Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) were independent risk factors for renal prognosis but were not related to response to treatment.

Conclusion: Urinary podocyte excretion was correlated with urinary albumin excretion, indicating specific albumin transport by podocytes. Podocytes were detached from the glomerular capillaries by water hammer pressure and THP was involved in the renal prognosis.

Haemodialysis is extremely limited in low-income countries. Access to haemodialysis is further curtailed in areas of active conflict and political instability. Haemodialysis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia has been dramatically affected by the ongoing civil war. Rapid assessment from the data available at Ayder Hospital's haemodialysis unit registry, 2015-2021, shows that enrollment of patients in the haemodialysis service has plummeted since the war broke out. Patient flow has decreased by 37.3% from the previous yearly average. This is in contrary to the assumption that enrollment would increase because patients could not travel to haemodialysis services in the rest of the country due to the complete blockade. Compared to the prewar period, the mortality rate has doubled in the first year after the war broke out, i.e., 28 deaths out of 110 haemodialysis recipients in 2020 vs. 43 deaths out of 81 haemodialysis recipients in the year 2021. These untoward outcomes reflect the persistent interruption of haemodialysis supplies, lack of transportation to the hospital, lack of financial resources, and the unavailability of basic medications due to the war and the ongoing economic and humanitarian blockade of Tigray in Northern Ethiopia. In the setting of this medical catastrophe, the international community should mobilize to advocate for resumption of life-saving haemodialysis treatment in Ethiopia's Tigray region and put pressure on the Ethiopian government to allow the passage of life-saving medicines, essential medical equipment, and consumables for haemodialysis into Tigray.

Methods: The study was performed in a retrospective and observational manner. All adult (age 18 years or older) in-hospital subjects treated from January until December 2019 were included. CKD was diagnosed according to the KDIGO 2012 CKD Guideline. The following variables were assessed: CKD stage, quantification/analysis (yes/no) of blood pressure, proteinuria, serum phosphate, serum 25-OH-D3, ferritin and transferrin saturation, and blood gas analysis. In addition, recommendations of the following medicines were analyzed (given/not given): ACE inhibitor or sartan, phosphate binder, vitamin D3 (activated or native), iron, erythropoietin, and bicarbonate. It was also evaluated whether discharge letters contained CKD-related diagnoses or not.

Results: In total, 581 individuals were included in the study. The majority of aspects related to the monitoring and therapeutic management of CKD were either considered in only a small proportion of affected individuals (e.g., quantification of PTH - 5.5%/25-OH-D3 - 6%/transferrin saturation - 13.6%) or avoided nearly at all (e.g., recommendation of erythropoietin-1%, documentation of CKD-MBD diagnosis-0.3%). A reasonable quality of care was identified concerning the blood pressure monitoring (performed in 100%) and blood gas analysis (55% of the patients received analysis). Serum phosphate was measured in 12.9%, particularly in subjects at higher CKD stages.

Conclusions: The current investigation revealed poor quality of care in CKD patients treated at the Brandenburg University Hospital over the period of one year. Quality improvement must be achieved, most likely via a standardized educational program for physicians and a directer access to CKD management guidelines.