Many studies reported a higher risk of COVID-19 disease among patients on dialysis or with kidney transplantation, and the poor outcome of COVID-19 in these patients. Patients in conservative management for chronic kidney disease (CKD) have received attention only recently, therefore less is known about how COVID-19 affects this population. The aim of this study was to provide evidence on COVID-19 incidence and mortality in CKD patients followed up in an integrated healthcare program and in the population living in the same catchment area. The study population included CKD patients recruited in the Emilia-Romagna Prevention of Progressive Renal Insufficiency (PIRP) project, followed up in the 4 nephrology units (Ravenna, Forlì, Cesena and Rimini) of the Romagna Local Health Authority (Italy) and alive at 1.01.2020. We estimated the incidence of COVID-19, its related mortality and the excess mortality within this PIRP cohort as of 31.07.2020. COVID-19 incidence in CKD patients was 4.09% (193/4,716 patients), while in the general population it was 0.46% (5,195/1,125,574). The crude mortality rate among CKD patients with COVID-19 was 44.6% (86/193), compared to 4.7% (215/4,523) in CKD patients without COVID-19. The excess mortality of March-April 2020 was +69.8% than the average mortality of March-April 2015–19 in the PIRP cohort. In a cohort mostly including regularly followed up CKD patients, the incidence of COVID-19 among CKD patients was strongly related to the spread of the infection in the community, while its lethality is associated with the underlying kidney condition and comorbidities. COVID-19 related mortality was about ten times higher than that of CKD patients without COVID. For this reason, it is urgent to offer a direct protection to CKD patients by prioritizing their vaccination.
We report on the development of nephrotic proteinuria and microhematuria, with histological features of renal thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), following the first dose of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) and COVID-19 diagnosis. A 35-year-old previously healthy man was admitted at our hospital due to the onset of foamy urine. Previously, 40 days earlier, he had received the first injection of the vaccine, and 33 days earlier, the RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 tested positive. Laboratory tests showed nephrotic proteinuria (7.9 gr/day), microhematuria, serum creatinine 0.91 mg/dL. Kidney biopsy revealed ultrastructural evidence of severe endothelial cell injury suggestive of a starting phase of TMA. After high-dose steroid treatment administration, complete remission of proteinuria was achieved in a few weeks. The association of COVID-19 with renal TMA has been previously described only in patients with acute renal injury. Besides, the correlation with COVID-19 vaccine has not been reported so far. The close temporal proximity (7 days) between the two events opens the question whether the histological findings should be ascribed to COVID-19 itself or to vaccine injection.
Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is a rare disorder defined by the combination of biochemical abnormalities, tubulointerstitial nephritis, and uveitis. We describe a 12-year-old female, presented with a ten-day history of fever, characterized by sudden onset and rapid spontaneous resolution in few hours, accompanied by shivering, extreme fatigue, and loss of appetite. Laboratory values were consistent with renal failure of tubular origin. Renal biopsy confirmed a tubulointerstitial nephritis, with acute tubulitis, polymorphonuclear infiltration, and microabscesses. The renal interstitium was occupied by a dense inflammatory infiltrate, consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Glomerular structures were preserved. Ophthalmological examination that suggested a previous asymptomatic bilateral uveitis and HLA typing (HLA-DQA1∗0101/0201 and HLA-DQB1∗0303/0503) further supported the suspect of TINU syndrome. TINU syndrome is probably an underdiagnosed disorder, responsible for many cases of idiopathic anterior uveitis in young patients, especially in those who have asymptomatic renal disease and when proper diagnostic tests are not performed at the time of presentation.
The aim of this multicenter, prospective study was to explore the possibility of carrying out routine sessions of post-dilution hemodiafiltration with a polyacrylonitrile membrane grafted with heparin (HeprAN) and reduced anticoagulation. Forty-four patients from eight centers were included in the study and treated by means of post-dilution on-line hemodiafiltration with automatic control of TMP, according to three different modalities tested consecutively: phase 1, polyethersulfone filter primed with heparinized saline and anticoagulated with continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin 1000/h; phase 2, HeprAN membrane filter primed with saline without heparin. Anticoagulation: a 1000-unit bolus of unfractionated heparin at the start of session followed by a second one at the end of the second dialysis hour; phase 3, same filter and priming procedure as in phase 2; anticoagulation with nadroparin calcium at the beginning of treatment. Partial or massive clotting of the dialyzer occurred in less than 1% of sessions in phase 1; 10% and 7% in phase 2; and 1% and 2% in phase 3. Clotting limited to the drip chambers was observed in 13%, 34% and 12%, respectively. The study of coagulation parameters showed a better profile when low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was used in association with HeprAN membrane, while the generation of TAT complexes did not differ from that observed with the standard anticoagulation modality used in phase 1. Our results suggest that the HeprAN membrane can be used safely in routine post-dilution hemodiafiltration with reduced doses of LMWH.
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