Glomerulopathies are one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease. In the last years, clinical research has made significant contributions to the understanding of such conditions. Recently, rituximab (RTX) has appeared as a reasonably safe treatment. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines (KDIGO) recommended RTX only as initial treatment in antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody associated vasculitis (AAV) and in non-responders patients with lupus nephritis (LN), but these guidelines have not been updated since 2012. Nowadays, RTX seems to be at least as effective as other immunosuppressive regimens in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). In minimal-change disease, (MCD) this drug might allow a long-lasting remission period in steroid-dependent or frequently relapsing patients. Preliminary results support the use of RTX in patients with pure membranous LN and immunoglobulin-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), but not in patients with class III/IV LN or complement-mediated MPGN. No conclusion can be drawn in idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) because studies are small, heterogeneous, and scarce. Lastly, immunosuppression including RTX is not particularly useful in IgA nephropathy. This review presents the general background, outcomes, and safety for RTX treatment in different glomerulopathies. In this regard, we describe randomized controlled trials (RCTs) performed in adults, whenever possible. A literature search was performed using clinicaltrials.gov and PubMed.

Hyperkalemia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders, responsible for a high number of adverse outcomes, including life-threatening arrhythmias. Potassium binders are largely prescribed drugs used for hyperkalemia treatment but unfortunately, there are many adverse events associated with its use, mostly gastrointestinal. Identification of patients at highest risk for the serious complications associated with the current potassium binders, such as colon necrosis and perforation, could prevent fatal outcomes. The authors present a case of a 56-year-old man with secondary diabetes and chronic renal disease that was treated for hyperkalemia with Calcium Polystyrene Sulfonate (CPS). He later presented with acute abdomen due to cecum perforation and underwent ileocecal resection but ultimately died from septic shock a week later. During surgery, a solid white mass was isolated in the lumen of the colon. The mass was identified as a CPS bezoar, a rare drug-mass formed in the gastrointestinal tract that contributed to the perforation. A previous history of partial gastrectomy and vagothomy was identified as a probable risk factor for the CPS bezoar development. Hopefully, the two new potassium binders patiromer and (ZS-9) Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate will help treat such high-risk patients, in the near future.

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Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) are associated with small vessel vasculitis but their prevalence is not rare in other immune diseases. In lupus nephritis (LN), their pathological role and clinical relevance have been the target of controversial views. We present a case of acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome in a young woman with diffuse global proliferative and membranous nephritis on her kidney biopsy, showing a full-house immunofluorescence pattern, very allusive of class IV + V LN, but lacking associated clinical criteria and laboratory findings to support the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Furthermore, the patient presented with high titers of ANCA, steadily decreasing alongside the renal function and proteinuria improvements, with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroid treatment. The authors believe this is a case of lupus-like nephritis, in which ANCAs are immunological markers, although they are not directly involved in the pathogenesis.

Background: There is an ongoing increasing focus on person -centered individualized dialysis prescription. For this model, incremental peritoneal dialysis has been established as a strategy to start peritoneal dialysis, with an intention to increase the dose of peritoneal dialysis, as a consequence of renal clearance declines. In spite of being broadly accepted, the evidence of non -inferiority of the incremental approach in comparison with full dose peritoneal dialysis is weak. To disclose the possibility and safety of an incremental approach in incident patients, we assessed patients and technique survival (main outcomes) between incremental and full dose peritoneal dialysis. We also compared the effects in the clinical parameters of adequacy, urinary output and peritonitis incidence in both approaches. Methods: Following a retrospective design, we undertook an observational study in our center over 20 years. We investigated 106 patients divided into two groups, according to initial peritoneal dialysis strategy (incremental or full dose). We used multivariate multinomial model to assess predictors of peritonitis. The main outcomes were studies using a competing risk model. Results: One year after peritoneal dialysis start, our data disclosed statistically significant differences of phosphatemia and solute removal between full dose and incremental approach, favoring the latter. In an incremental approach, two or more peritoneal infections and drop out to hemodialysis were less usual. Conclusions: Incremental peritoneal prescription seems to be a good choice to start peritoneal dialysis. Potential benefits and, above all, safety reinforce the adoption of incremental peritoneal dialysis in incident patients as a strategy of individualized care, in compliance with new guidelines.

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Following a retrospective, observational design, we assessed demographic, clinical and microbiological profiles of patients with peritonitis undergoing chronic PD in our center during the period between 1993 and 2018. The authors defined 2 main study variables: total number of peritonitis and peritonitis in the first year of PD. The main outcome variable was time until death or transfer to HD. Study population This study included all prevalent patients (under treatment for at least 3 months), older than 18 years who started PD therapy in our

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