‘Acro-renal syndrome’ refers to co-occurrence of congenital renal and limb anomalies. The term acro-renal syndrome was coined by Curran et al. in 1972 though Dieker and Opitz were the first to report this phenomenon in three male patients in 1969. The common limb defects include oligodactyly, ectrodactyly, syndactyly or brachydactyly anomalies of the carpal and tarsal bones and the common renal anomalies observed are unilateral renal agenesis (URA), bilateral renal hypoplasia, ureteric hypoplasia, hydroureteronephrosis and duplication abnormalities. The acro-renal syndrome as originally described is rare, reported only in ∼20 patients in the international literature. We report a 23-year-old male patient with renal anomalies in the form of absent right kidney, left-sided vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) and skeletal anomalies viz short radius, absent first metacarpal ray in left hand and left undescended testis, consistent with Dieker's type acro-renal syndrome. Apart from the classical acro-renal syndrome, several anomalies of acro-renal patterns and the abnormal gene loci involved are described in the literature. This article is a comprehensive review of the development of kidneys, types of acro-renal syndromes, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), syndromes associated with combined limb and renal anomalies, and anomalies associated with URA.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is not readily available in many countries where dosing interval is spaced more than ideal. Patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on maintenance hemodialysis, have a tendency for a reduced immune response. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the distinct humoral immune response to the viral vector COVID-19 vaccine in patients with kidney failure receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: The study was carried out with two cohorts: 1) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and 2) healthcare workers from the same dialysis center as controls, each group with 72 subjects. Participants received a dose of Covishield ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine. The humoral immunological response was determined using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay which quantitatively measures antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein receptor-binding domain.Results: All study subjects in the control group developed a humoral response (antibody titer of ≥0.8 U/mL), while only 64 of 72 in the dialysis group (88.9%) were responders. Age (ρ = -0.234, p = 0.04) and sodium level (ρ = 0.237, p = 0.04) correlated with low antibody titer in bivariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only age (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.22; p = 0.045) was associated with nonresponders. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a weak antibody response of hemodialysis patients to the viral vector COVID-19 vaccine. Older age was associated with nonresponders. Evaluation of both humoral and cellular immunity after the second vaccine dose and serial antibody titers can help determine the need for booster shots.

Sleep disturbances are common in patients with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis (hemodialysis population: HDP). Higher rates of primary sleep disorders, demographic characteristics, metabolic abnormalities, and the efficacy of treatment place HDP at higher risk. The pattern observed is delayed onset of sleep, frequent awakening episodes, insomnia, sleep apnoea, excessive daytime sleepiness, restless leg syndrome, abnormal limb movements, pain in limbs, confusion, and nightmares. Two commonly used subjective assessment scores are the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to assess excessive daytime sleepiness. Objective: Subjective assessment of sleep using PSQI and ESS scores in HDP and correlation with clinical and demographic characteristics. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 148 patients with ESKD undergoing in-center hemodialysis. From June 2021 to October 2021 in Madurai medical college, Madurai, India. Subjective assessment with PSQI and ESS scores was done to identify sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, respectively. Results: The median PSQI score was 6 (IQ:4-10), and as much as 68.24% scored >5 on the PSQI (poor sleepers). The median ESS score of the study participants was 4 (Iq range 3-7), and 19.59% had a total ESS score of more than 10 (excessive daytime sleepiness). The mean age of the participants was 44±14.5. Age more than 60, lower body mass index, unemployment, higher dialysis vintage of more than 2 years, lower hemoglobin, high calcium-phosphorus product are statistically significant for both PSQI and ESS scores. Conclusion:The prevalence of poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness is high in HDP. Subjective assessment scores (PSQI and ESS) on the bedside are valuable tools in identifying sleep quality and EDS where objective assessment methods are not feasible and will help in the short time identification and management of sleep disturbances.

Uremic optic neuropathy (UON) is one of the rare causes of vision loss in chronic kidney disease patients. It is infrequently seen nowadays as most of the patients are dialyzed early owing to better availability of medical services. It is a clinical diagnosis, correlating loss of vision with optic disc edema in a patient with kidney failure which improves noticeably with hemodialysis and steroids. We describe a patient with UON with excellent improvement on timely institution of hemodialysis and steroid therapy.

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Introduction: Solid Organ Transplants (SOT) is at increased risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, which may result in acute graft dysfunction and even death. While the disease has been well studied in the general population, it is not the case in renal transplant recipients. The poor immunological response of the vaccine in postrenal transplant patients, the emergence of newer strains, and the possibility of a third wave in India, makes it even more important to know more about the course and outcome of the disease in post renal transplant patients. Aim: To evaluate the demographics, clinical presentation, biochemical profile, course of hospitalisation in post kidney transplant patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study study with 18 patients was conducted in Madurai Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India for duration of four months, from May 2021 to August 2021 and data collection from May 2021 to July 2021 and data analysis in August 2021. All post kidney transplant patients having evidence of COVID-19 were included. Detailed clinical history, biochemical profile, radiological findings, treatment, and final outcomes were collected and compared. Non parametric statistical tests were used, in addition to Chi-square test and odds ratio. Kaplan-Meier plot was used for survival analysis. Results: The most common presentation was fever 15 (83.3%), followed by cough 10 (55.6%). C-reactive Protein (CRP) {65 mg/L (11.48-94.48)}, D-dimer {0.72 mcg/mL (0.59-1.1)}, serum creatinine {3.5 mg/dL (2.12-5.93)}, and platelet count {200,000 cells/cu.mm (1.75-2.22)} and showed statistically significant (p<0.05) association with the outcome. About 15 (83.3%) patients developed Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Seven patients (38.9%) had stage three AKI necessitating haemodialysis, of which six did not survive. The median survival time was 22 days, with 95% confidence interval (19.792-24.208), with case fatality rate of 33.3%. Conclusion: Postkidney transplant patients are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. CRP, D-dimer, serum creatinine, platelet counts, and arterial oxygen saturation may serve as prognostic markers. Dialysis may be required in view of high incidence of AKI and acute graft dysfunction, though the outcome seems dismal in such patients. Hence, the need for early hospitalisation and more effective treatment protocol is essential to improve outcome.

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