Journal of Nephrology最新文献

We present a rare case of a patient with co-occurring exercise-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and rhabdomyolysis. A 67-year-old man was referred to our department with AKI. Five days before referral, the patient had sudden-onset loin pain while banging and kicking on a door in a holding cell at a police station. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed wedge-shaped areas of signal hyperintensity in both kidneys. Serum and urinary myoglobin levels were mildly elevated. Kidney biopsy showed cellular injury of the tubular epithelial cells and myoglobin casts in the tubules. The patient was diagnosed with exercise-induced AKI and mild rhabdomyolysis and was treated conservatively. His kidney function improved gradually with no need for hemodialysis. This case report exhibits a unique presentation of the co-occurrence of exercise-induced AKI and rhabdomyolysis after intense anaerobic and aerobic exercise. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to pathologically demonstrate co-occurring exercise-induced AKI and rhabdomyolysis.

Background: Positive anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies may characterize a subgroup of patients affected by lupus nephritis with mild kidney damage, but little is known about their clinical features and long-term prognosis.

Methods: Patients were retrospectively selected from the lupus nephritis database ( http://ln.medidata.cn ) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 2006 and 2011. Logistic regression analysis identified the clinicopathological indicators related to positive anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies. Additionally, the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to assess the association of baseline variables with clinical outcomes.

Results: Of the 485 enrolled patients, 184 (37.9%) tested positive for anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies. The group with positive anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies exhibited a higher prevalence of rash, photosensitivity, and Raynaud's phenomenon, and lower scores on the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) and the Activity Index scores in kidney biopsies. It is important to note that, although proteinuria did not differ, patients with anti-ribonucleoprotein positivity had a lower prevalence of hematuria and cylindruria, and a higher estimated glomerular filtration rate than patients without anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies. After a median follow-up of approximately 170 months, no significant differences were observed in kidney or patient survival between groups.

Conclusions: Lupus nephritis patients with anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies present milder kidney damage and more dermatological manifestations. Despite the negative correlation between anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies and both SLEDAI and activity index scores, these antibodies may not be predictive of better kidney outcomes.

Background: Performing hemodialysis without heparin is still challenging. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the impact on thrombogenicity of the hemodialysis circuit using synthetic membranes compared to the asymmetric cellulose triacetate (ATA) membrane.

Methods: Prospective, multicenter, randomized, crossover, open-label study. In each of the two phases of the study, six consecutive hemodialysis sessions were performed over two weeks, in which the patients were dialyzed with the dialyzer randomly assigned (synthetic vs asymmetric cellulose triacetate membrane). During the six sessions of both phases, the heparin dose was progressively reduced from the full usual heparin dose in the first session to zero heparin in the sixth session. After each session, visual inspection of the venous chamber and dialyzer was performed, and a coagulation score was assigned. A micro- computed tomography (CT) scanning of some dialyzers was also executed at Ghent University.

Results: Comparison of the last completed sessions shows that there were significant differences depending on the dialyzer used: 60% of dialysis sessions with asymmetric cellulose triacetate could be completed without heparin versus 24% with synthetic membranes (p = 0.01). We also found differences in the number of sessions completed: 46% with the asymmetric cellulose triacetate membrane and 7% with the synthetic membrane (p = 0.001). The results obtained with the micro-CT analysis were also better with the asymmetric cellulose triacetate.

Conclusions: Our findings strongly suggest that asymmetric cellulose triacetate membranes may be useful in situations in which dialysis should be performed without heparin or with low-dose heparins.

Trail registry: NCT06505616.

The increasing prevalence of kidney failure highlights the crucial need for effective patient-physician communication to improve health-related quality of life and ensure adherence to treatment plans. This narrative review evaluates communication practices in the context of advanced kidney disease, focusing on the frameworks of shared decision-making, advanced care planning, and communication skills training among nephrologists. The findings highlight the significant gaps in patient-physician communication, particularly in the domains of advanced care planning, shared decision-making, and dialysis withdrawal. When communication in such situations falls short, it affects patient satisfaction and outcomes. Effective communication is essential for managing advanced kidney disease, requiring a patient-centered approach that includes patients, families, and healthcare providers in care planning. This review advocates for a more integrated, empathic approach to healthcare interactions, emphasizing the importance of including patients, their families, and healthcare providers in a collaborative model based on goals of care. Moreover, it highlights the role of patient-reported outcome measures and patient experience of care in assessing the quality of care in dialysis settings. Here, we call for enhanced training programs regarding communication skills for physicians and emphasize the need for systemic changes to foster patient-centered communication.

There is no established treatment for late or chronic antibody-mediated rejection of a kidney graft. Rituximab-based treatment is not effective, since long-lived high-affinity plasma cells do not express CD20 and do not depend on previous maturation steps to generate donor-specific antibodies. Conversely, daratumumab, an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, directly targets plasma cells, with proven efficacy in multiple myeloma. Early reports in heart and kidney transplantation showed its efficacy in the setting of antibody-mediated rejection or desensitization. However, the dosage to be used was assumed to be the same as in multiple myeloma treatment. We present the case of a patient with late antibody-mediated rejection, resistant to two cycles of rituximab-based therapy, who underwent a cycle of plasma exchange and intravenous gammaglobulins preceded and followed by only 2 doses of daratumumab. Bone marrow aspirate after the cycle demonstrated negativization of CD38 + cells, which was followed by negativization of the donor-specific antibodies and improvement of microinflammation at kidney biopsy. This suggests that the myeloma-like dosage used in previous reports may not be necessary for non-neoplastic diseases like antibody-mediated rejection. We propose a pragmatic approach, based on the assessment of bone marrow plasma cells after treatment, to avoid unnecessary side effects and optimize resources.

Background: Depression and anxiety are commonly experienced by people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to evaluate person- and service-level factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. We sought to also understand utilisation of mental health treatments and preferences for future psychological support.

Methods: An online survey recruited participants from six UK kidney services with varying levels of psychosocial provision. The survey was also advertised on social media. Participants completed screening questionnaires for depression and anxiety, alongside questions about mental health history, self-efficacy, treatment and support. The study included adults (18 years or older) living with CKD (stages 3b and above) or those receiving any form of Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT), including individuals with a functioning kidney transplant. Eligible participants had to complete study measures and be proficient in reading and writing in either English or Welsh, as the survey was administered in these languages. This survey was developed with our Patient and Public Involvement group and was administered from January 2023 until 31st January, 2024 using Qualtrics and RedCap.

Results: Four hundred fifty-eight people completed the survey. Moderate-severe symptoms of depression and anxiety were 37.7% and 26.5%, respectively. Over 50% reported a history of diagnosed depression. In addition to depression, sleep problems and fatigue were identified as future support needs, with over a third indicating a preference for in-centre provision. In case-mix adjusted analysis, there was no variability in depression and anxiety symptoms across centres. Centre location and size were unrelated to symptoms. Age, female gender, current mental health treatments, self-efficacy and perceptions regarding opportunity for support, were associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In sub-analysis, there was a negative association between psychosocial staffing levels and depression symptoms.

Conclusion: Patient-related factors and behavioural characteristics were related to variation of these symptoms. There was little evidence of symptom variability across centres, although in a small sub-analysis, psychosocial provision showed a weak negative correlation with depression symptoms. Our findings highlight preferences of future needs which could be helpful for designing future research and service provision.

Background: The present community-based study assessed the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD)/chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) as well as anemia in some intense agricultural zones under Hirakud Command Area and evaluated their association with pesticides and heavy metal exposure.

Methods: Random cluster sampling method was used to assess the prevalence of CKD and anemia. Hematological analysis was carried out using autoanalyzer. Pesticide residues in soil, water, rice grains, blood and urine samples were analyzed using LCMSMS and GCMS, while heavy metal levels were assessed using ICP-MS. Risks associated with exposure to pesticides and to heavy metals through dietary and non-dietary sources were assessed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method.

Results: CKDu was predominant among the farming community in "blocks" i.e. administrative units in rural governance, functioning as subdivisions of districts in India with intense agricultural activities. Blocks reporting higher prevalence of CKDu showed greater concentrations of nephrotoxic pesticide residues in the soil, water and rice grain. Heavy metals in water, such as cadmium, chromium, lead and arsenic, were found to be above permissible limits in all the hotspot blocks. Dietary exposure to pesticide residues was presumed to contribute significantly to non-carcinogenic risk among the exposed population. Analysis of blood and urine samples collected from patients with CKD/CKDu indicated the presence of nephrotoxic pesticide residues and heavy metals among the directly exposed group. Anemia was found to be prevalent among CKDu patients.

Conclusion: The present study indicated a strong association between environmental toxicants, like pesticides and heavy metals, and the onset and progression of CKD, as well as anemia in a high intensity agricultural zone. Dietary exposure to pesticides and heavy metals may pose high risks for kidney diseases.