This study showed that low T3 syndrome was highly prevalent in CKD and was a remarkable finding in early CKD. Furthermore, serum T3 levels were associated with severity of CKD even in the normal TSH level.

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the recent clinical trends and antibiotic susceptibilities of the causative microorganisms in renal and perirenal abscesses, and to elucidate the factors associated with treatment strategies.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 56 patients who were diagnosed with renal and perirenal abscesses at our hospital from January 2000 to September 2007.Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years, and a female predominance of patients (75%) was observed. Diabetes mellitus (44.6%) was the most common predisposing condition. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 11.6 days, and fever (75%) was the most common symptom. Escherichia coli (44%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%) were common pathogens, and the rates of susceptibility of E. coli isolates to ampicillin, cephalothin, cefotaxime, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and imipenem were 18.2%, 27.3%, 72.7%, 72.7%, 63.6%, 63.6%, and 100%, respectively. Abscesses were classified according to the location as follows: renal abscess (n=31, 55.4%) and perirenal abscess±renal abscess (n=25, 44.6%). In the renal abscess group, the infection rate of gram-negative organisms was higher than in the perirenal abscess group. Patients were also divided according to the treatment modality: antibiotics only (n=20, 35.7%) and percutaneous intervention or surgery (n=36, 64.3%). Patients who had a perirenal abscess or a large renal abscess required more invasive treatment.Conclusions: This study revealed somewhat different results from those of previous studies. Clinical and microbial differences were observed between the renal and perirenal abscess groups. Abscess location and the size of the renal abscess were the factors associated with treatment strategies.

Extracellular volume expansion, measured by MFBIA, does not help preserve residual renal function, and is harmful for the technical and patient survival in Korean peritoneal dialysis patients.

BackgroundFluid overload is known to be associated with increased mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who are critically ill. In this study, we intended to uncover whether the adverse effect of fluid overload on survival could be applied to all of the patients with AKI who received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).MethodsWe analyzed 341 patients with AKI who received CRRT in our intensive care units. The presence of fluid overload was defined as a minimum 10% increase in body weight from the baseline. Demographics, comorbid diseases, clinical data, severity of illness [the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, number of vasopressors, diagnosis of sepsis, use of ventilator] upon ICU admission, fluid overload status, and time elapsed from AKI diagnosis until CRRT initiation were reviewed from the medical charts.ResultsPatients with total fluid overload from 3 days before CRRT initiation to ICU discharge had a significantly lower survival rate after ICU admission, as compared to patients with no fluid overload (P < 0.001). Among patients with sepsis (P < 0.001) or with high SOFA scores (P < 0.001), there was a significant difference in survival of the patients with and without fluid overload. In patients without sepsis or with low SOFA score, there was no significant difference in survival of patients irrespective of fluid overload.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that the adverse effect of fluid overload on survival is more evident in patients with sepsis or with more severe illness, and that it might not apply to patients without sepsis or with less severe illness.