Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) is frequently used to treat refractory ascites in Japan. However, its efficacy remains unclear. This controlled cohort study verified the serum albumin elevating effect of CART by comparisons with simple paracentesis. Ascites patients receiving CART (N = 88) or paracentesis (N = 108) at our hospital were assessed for the primary outcome of change in serum albumin level within 3 days before and after treatment. A significantly larger volume of ascites was drained in the CART group. The change in serum albumin level was +0.08 ± 0.25 g/dL in the CART group and −0.10 ± 0.30 g/dL in the paracentesis group (P < 0.001). The CART – paracentesis difference was +0.26 g/dL (95%CI +0.18 to +0.33, P < 0.001) after adjusting for potential confounders by multivariate analysis. The adjusted difference increased with drainage volume. In the CART group, serum total protein, dietary intake, and urine volume were significantly increased, while hemoglobin and body weight was significantly decreased, versus paracentesis. More frequent adverse events, particularly fever, were recorded for CART, although the period until re-drainage was significantly longer. This study is the first demonstrating that CART can significantly increase serum albumin level as compared with simple paracentesis. CART represents a useful strategy to manage patients requiring ascites drainage.

Sulfatides are glycosphingolipids that are associated with coagulation and platelet aggregation. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) activates platelet function and often leads to thrombotic complications. These facts suggest an association between serum sulfatides and AAV. We aimed to clarify the significance of serum sulfatide levels in patients with AAV. We conducted a retrospective, single-center, observational pilot study that included 35 patients who developed AAV and 10 control patients who were candidates for living-donor kidney transplantation. We compared serum sulfatide levels between the control and AAV patients. We analyzed the differences in serum sulfatide levels among four classes (focal, crescentic, mixed, and sclerotic class) of glomerular lesions that were categorized by histopathologic classification of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. Serum sulfatide levels in patients with AAV were significantly lower than those in the controls. Serum sulfatide levels were significantly different between the four classes. Additionally, serum sulfatide levels in the crescentic class were significantly lower than those in the other classes. Serum sulfatide levels were significantly correlated with albumin, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and pentraxin 3. In conclusion, serum sulfatide levels are significantly correlated with inflammation, reflecting crescentic glomerulonephritis, which is an active glomerular lesion in AAV patients.

Ascites total protein concentration (A-TP) affects the performance of cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART). As the factors determining A-TP remain unclear, we examined peritoneal and liver metastasis. Among 98 patients who received CART, 68 with cancer, ascites from no other apparent cause, and complete CT and A-TP data were recruited. Sixty-six patients (97%) with peritoneal and/or liver metastasis on CT were divided into the peritoneal metastasis group (PM group), peritoneal and liver metastasis group (PM + LM group), and liver metastasis group (LM group). A-TP was highest in the PM group (3.9 g/dL [3.4-4.4]), lowest in the LM group (1.0 g/dL [0.9-2.0]), and broadly dispersed in the PM + LM group (3.3 g/dL [2.0-3.8]). All differences were statistically significant. The percentage of metastasis volume occupying the liver was negatively and significantly related to A-TP in the PM + LM group. Taken together, the presence and severity of peritoneal and liver metastasis may influence A-TP.

BackgroundArteriovenous fistulae can restrict daily living behaviors involving the upper limbs in hemodialysis patients, but no studies have investigated the detailed effects of an arteriovenous fistula on routine life activities. Accordingly, many medical caregivers are unable to explain the effects of an arteriovenous fistula on daily life, particularly during non-dialysis periods, because they cannot observe them directly.MethodsThirty outpatients undergoing hemodialysis at 2 facilities scored the difficulty due to an arteriovenous fistula in performing 48 living behaviors during non-dialysis and 10 behaviors during dialysis into 5 grades in a comprehensive questionnaire survey. These behaviors were selected based on an open-answer pre-questionnaire administered to the 30 patients beforehand. The scores were also compared between dominant arm and non-dominant arm arteriovenous fistula groups.ResultsDuring non-dialysis, the difficulty scores of behaviors restricted out of concern for arteriovenous fistula obstruction (wear a wristwatch, hang a bag on the arm, carry a baby or a dog in the arms, wear a short-sleeved shirt, etc.) increased. The difficulties of “wear a wristwatch” and “hang a bag on the arm” were significantly higher in the non-dominant arm arteriovenous fistula group (both P < 0.05). In contrast, scores related to motor function (write, eat or drink, scratch an itch, etc.) increased remarkably during dialysis because of connection of the arteriovenous fistula to the dialysis machine. The difficulties of “write” and “eat or drink” were significantly higher in the dominant arm arteriovenous fistula group (both P < 0.05).ConclusionsSeveral key daily living behaviors restricted by an arteriovenous fistula were identified in this questionnaire survey. These results will be useful for pre-operative explanation of arteriovenous fistula surgery and arm selection in end-stage renal disease patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-018-1097-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We aim to elucidate factors to aid in the prediction of cytomegalovirus viremia during the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of 35 patients with newly diagnosed AAV. Factors associated with the development of CMV viremia were investigated via a logistic regression analysis. The CMV antigenemia test was performed in 25 patients (71%), of whom 15 (60%) were diagnosed with CMV viremia. Of these 15 patients, 5 developed a CMV infection. The total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte counts at the time of the CMV antigenemia test were significantly lower in patients who developed CMV viremia. In addition, total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte count also presented significantly decreasing trends in the following order: patients who did not develop CMV viremia, patients who developed CMV viremia without any symptoms, and patients who developed CMV infection. All patients with CMV recovered. In conclusion, the total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte count may be useful markers for the prediction of CMV viremia and infection after the start of induction of immunosuppressive therapy for patients with AAV.