Hantavirus infection belongs to a group of zoonoses rare in the Balkan Peninsula, causing two major syndromes, depending on the viral serotype involved: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) also known as endemic nephropathy and cardiopulmonary syndrome (CPS). Because there is no specific treatment or vaccine for this condition approved in the USA or Europe, the key to minimizing the risk of adverse progression to chronic kidney disease, secondary hypertension or even death is primarily the recognition and early diagnosis of this condition with prompt therapeutic intervention. The aim of this study was to review the literature data on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and management of this disease and to identify several aspects related to the difficulties encountered in diagnosing this pathology, taking into consideration that the disease is not endemic in this geographical area.
Background: Kidney involvement is a frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and kidney biopsy is essential in differentiating lupus nephritis (LN) from thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) secondary to antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL). Association between antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and acquired hemophilia due to inhibitors was very rarely described in SLE patients. Case presentation: We present the case of a 61-year-old male diagnosed with SLE who acquired deficiency of clotting factor VIII due to circulating inhibitors, admitted for acute kidney injury (AKI), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diplopia. Kidney biopsy showed TMA due to APS, but no signs of LN. Head computed tomography identified low dense areas in the white matter, suggesting small blood vessels’ involvement. A diagnosis of probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) was established and treatment with low molecular weight heparin, intravenous methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, and rituximab was initiated, followed by resolution of AKI, diplopia, and TMA with complete depletion of CD19+B-lymphocytes (CD19+B-Ly) after one month. We further review the current knowledge regarding pathogenesis and management of CAPS in SLE patients. Conclusions: Targeted therapy was possible after kidney biopsy, improving renal and general prognosis. CD19+B-Ly repopulation preceded biological relapse, so monitoring of CD19+B-Ly may serve as a tool to predict relapses and guide rituximab therapy.
(1) Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). (2) Methods: The aim was to identify the incidence, severity, and risk factors for AKI during the first 100 days after allo-HSCT; we performed a prospective observational study on 135 consecutive patients. (3) Results: The mean age was 38.3 ± 11.9 years (50.6% females), AKI developed in 93 patients (68.9%), the median time of appearance was 28 days, and the mean serum creatinine at the time of AKI was 1.8 ± 0.8 mg/dL. A total of 36 (38.7%) patients developed stage 1 AKI, 33 (35.5%) patients developed stage 2, and 24 (25.8%) patients developed stage 3; eight (8.6%) patients required temporary hemodialysis, and the mortality rate in these patients was 87.5%. Death was twice as frequent in the AKI subgroup, without statistical significance. Cyclosporine overdose (HR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.45–3.85, p = 0.001), tacrolimus overdose (HR = 4.72, 95% CI: 2.22–10.01, p < 0.001), acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) (HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.13–3.40, p = 0.01), and CRP level (HR = 1.009, 95% CI: 1.007–1.10, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for AKI. Sepsis (HR = 5.37, 95% CI: 1.75–16.48, p = 0.003) and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HR = 5.10, 95% CI: 2.02–12.85, p = 0.001) were found as independent risk factors for AKI stage 3. (4) Conclusions: AKI occurs with high incidence and increased severity after allo-HSCT. Careful monitoring of calcineurin inhibitors and proper management of sepsis may reduce this risk.
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a common cause of acute kidney injury in patients with malignancies, and it is a frequent condition for which the nephrologist is consulted in the case of the hospitalized oncological patient. Recognizing the patients at risk of developing TLS is essential, and so is the prophylactic treatment. The initiation of treatment for TLS is a medical emergency that must be addressed in a multidisciplinary team (oncologist, nephrologist, critical care physician) in order to reduce the risk of death and that of chronic renal impairment. TLS can occur spontaneously in the case of high tumor burden or may be caused by the initiation of highly efficient anti-tumor therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, dexamethasone, monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is caused by lysis of tumor cells and the release of cellular components in the circulation, resulting in electrolytes and metabolic disturbances that can lead to organ dysfunction and even death. The aim of this paper is to review the scientific data on the updated definition of TLS, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and recognition of patients at risk of developing TLS, as well as to point out the recent advances in TLS treatment.
Cancer patients are at high risk for developing acute kidney injury (AKI), which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in these patients. Despite the progress made in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and etiology of AKI in these patients, the main prevention consists of avoiding medication and nephrotoxic agents such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contrast agents used in medical imaging and modulation of chemotherapy regimens; when prophylactic measures are overcome and renal impairment becomes unresponsive to treatment, renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required. There are several methods of RRT that can be utilized for patients with malignancies and acute renal impairment; the choice of treatment being based on the patient characteristics. The aim of this article is to review the literature data regarding the epidemiology and management of AKI in cancer patients, the extracorporeal techniques used, choice of the appropriate therapy and the optimal time of initiation, and also the dose-prognosis relationship.
(1) Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent major global health problems, with important social and economic implications. It was reported that CKD is a risk factor for antimicrobial resistance, but evidence is scarce. In addition, CKD is recognized to be a risk factor for complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). (2) Methods: We conducted an observational study on 564 adult in-hospital patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors for AMR, as well as multiple drug resistance (MDR) and the implicated resistance patterns. (3) Results: The mean age was 68.63 ± 17.2 years. The most frequently isolated uropathogens were Escherichia coli strains (68.3%) followed by Klebsiella species (spp. (11.2%). In 307 cases (54.4%)), the UTIs were determined by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) and 169 cases (30%) were UTIs with MDR strains. Increased age (≥65) OR 2.156 (95% CI: 1.404–3.311), upper urinary tract obstruction OR 1.666 (1.083–2.564), indwelling urinary catheters OR 6.066 (3.919–9.390), chronic kidney disease OR 2.696 (1.832–3.969), chronic hemodialysis OR 4.955 (1.828–13.435) and active malignancies OR 1.962 (1.087–3.540) were independent risk factors for MDR UTIs. In a multivariate logistic regression model, only indwelling urinary catheters (OR 5.388, 95% CI: 3.294–8.814, p < 0.001), CKD (OR 1.779, 95% CI: 1.153–2.745, p = 0.009) and chronic hemodialysis (OR 4.068, 95% 1.413–11.715, p = 0.009) were risk factors for UTIs caused by MDR uropathogens. (4) Conclusions: CKD is an important risk factor for overall antimicrobial resistance, but also for multiple-drug resistance.
Background and Aims The term chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder has the role of highlighting that the disturbed mineral and bone metabolism is a major contributor to vascular calcification and finally cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in hemodialysis. This relationship was less studied in peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of metabolic bone disorder (MBD) on symptomatic atherosclerosis (stable angina SA, acute coronary syndrome ACS, ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease PAD) in non-diabetic PD patients. We choose to exclude diabetic patients since they are already at increased risk for atherosclerosis. Method We performed a prospective study in non-diabetic population of patients in stable PD programme for at least 6 months. We analysed clinical and biological parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism (calcemia Ca, phosphatemia P, CaxP product, intact parathormone iPTH), presence of atherosclerotic disease and we performed carotid ultrasound for measurement of intima media thickness (IMT) as a marker for subclinic atherosclerosis. Independent risk factors for atherosclerotic disease were identified by multivariate analysis through logistic regression using IBM SPSS ver. 20.0. Results 246 consecutive non-diabetic PD patients (pts) were included (128M, 118F), mean age 56.3 + 15.7 years (20-85), with a follow up of 6.5±1.1 years. 19 pts (7.7%) had calcemia (Ca)>10.2 mg/dl, no patient had a Ca<8.2 mg/dl, 127 pts (51.6%) had phosphatemia (P)>5.5 mg/dl, 45 pts (18.3%) had CaxtaP product>55 mg2/dl2, 68 pts (27.6%) had iPTH<150 pg/ml, 95 pts (38.6%) had iPTH>300 pg/ml. We found a weak positive correlation between IMT and Ca (r=0.283, p=0.005); pts with iPTH<150 pg/ml and those with iPTH>300 pg/ml had a higher risk of increased IMT compared to pts with iPTH 150-300 pg/ml (OR 4.1, p=0.009, for iPTH<150 pg/ml, respectively OR 3.4, p=0.01 for iPTH>300 pg/ml). Pts with atherosclerotic disease had significantly higher P and CaxP, without differences regarding Ca and iPTH (Table 1). An iPTH<150 pg/ml was a risk factor for SA, ACS and PAD, while iPTH>300 pg/ml was a risk factor for SA and ACS (Table 2). We perfomed multivariate analysis to identify independent risk factors for SA, ACS, stroke and PAD by entering in the analysis the factors identified in univariate analysis to be significantly associated with different manifestations of atherosclerosis. Among independent risk factors identified for atherosclerotic disease, iPTH<150 pg/ml was risk factor for SA (adjusted OR 11.5, p=0.007) and ACS (adjusted OR 221.4, p=0.01), iPTH>300 pg/ml was risk factor for ACS (adjusted OR 5.2, p=0.03), CaxP >55 mg2/dl2 was risk factor for ACS (adjusted OR 33.5, p=0.02) and ischemic stroke (adjusted OR 4.4, p=0.01). No parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism were identified as independent risk factors for PAD. Conclusion We found significant independent correlations between different parameters which characterize MBD and presence of symptomatic atherosclerosis in non-diabetic PD pts. The most important risk factors identified were abnormally low or high iPTH level, and elevated CaxP. The most striking result was the low iPTH associated with SA and especially ACS, suggesting that an adynamic bone is incapable to buffer the serum calcium and phosphate, thus increasing the risk of vascular calcifications. Future studies may address the issue whether correction of these parameters may be associated with attenuation of atherosclerotic disease in this population.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.