Background Kidney transplant (KT) recipients are considered a high-risk group for unfavorable outcomes in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aim To describe the clinical aspects and outcomes of COVID-19 among KT recipients. Methods This multicenter cohort study enrolled 1,680 KT recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and November 2020, from 35 Brazilian centers. The main outcome was the 90-day cumulative incidence of death, for the entire cohort and according to acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) requirement. Fatality rates were analyzed according to hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mechanical ventilation (MV) requirement. Multivariable analysis was performed by logistic regression for the probability of hospitalization and death. Results The median age of the recipients was 51.3 years, 60.4% were men and 11.4% were Afro-Brazilian. Comorbidities were reported in 1,489 (88.6%), and the interval between transplantation and infection was 5.9 years. The most frequent symptoms were cough (54%), myalgia (40%), dyspnea (37%), and diarrhea (31%), whereas the clinical signs were fever (61%) and hypoxemia (13%). Hospitalization was required in 65.1%, and immunosuppressive drugs adjustments were made in 74.4% of in-hospital patients. ICU admission was required in 34.6% and MV in 24.9%. In the multivariable modeling, the variables related with the probability of hospitalization were age, hypertension, previous cardiovascular disease, recent use of high dose of steroid, and fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting as COVID-19 symptoms. On the other hand, the variables that reduced the probability of hospitalization were time of COVID-19 symptoms, and nasal congestion, headache, arthralgia and anosmia as COVID-19 symptoms. The overall 90-day cumulative incidence of death was 21.0%. The fatality rates were 31.6%, 58.2%, and 75.5% in those who were hospitalized, admitted to the ICU, and required MV, respectively. At the time of infection, 23.2% had AKI and 23.4% required RRT in the follow-up. The cumulative incidence of death was significantly higher among recipients with AKI (36.0% vs. 19.1%, P < 0.0001) and in those who required RRT (70.8% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.0001). The variables related with the probability of death within 90 days after COVID-19 were age, time after transplantation, presence of hypertension, previous cardiovascular disease, use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate, recent use of high dose of steroids, and dyspnea as COVID-19 symptom. On the other hand, the variables that reduced the risk of death were time of symptoms, and headache and anosmia as COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusion The patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were long-term KT recipients and most of them had some comorbidities. One in every five patients died, and the rate of death was significantly higher in those with AKI, mainly when RRT was required.

We observed six cases of patients in a dialysis programme who were apparently intoxicated by ingestion of star fruit. After ingestion of 2-3 fruits or 150-200 ml of the fruit juice, the six patients, who had previously been stable in a regular dialysis programme, developed a variety of symptoms ranging from insomnia and hiccups to agitation, mental confusion and (in one case) death. In preliminary investigations to characterize the hypothetical neurotoxin in the fruit, an extract, when injected intraperitoneally or intracerebroventricularly in rats, provoked persistent convulsions of the tonic-clonic type. It appears that star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) contains an excitatory neurotoxin. Patients with renal failure on conservative or dialysis treatment should be dissuaded from ingestion of the fruit.

RESUMO -A insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) tem incidência, em torno de 2 a 5%, em pacientes hospitalizados com grande influência de fatores como: choque séptico, hipovolemia, uso de aminoglicosídeos, insuficiência cardíaca e contrastes para R-X. Uma parte desses pacientes tem sido tratada em unidades de terapia intensiva e, dependendo do quadro, pode haver alta taxa de mortalidade. Neste capítulo, apresentamos as causas mais comuns de IRA, enfatizando sua prevenção no meio hospitalar. É importante distinguir nesses casos, as causas pré-renais das renais. Entre as causas renais, destacamos a necrose tubular aguda (NTA), geralmente provocada por hipoperfusão renal e/ou nefrotoxinas endógenas e exógenas. O manitol, furosemide e dopamina têm sua ação discutida nos casos de IRA, especialmente nas primeiras 24 a 48 h que é quando, aparentemente, teriam sua maior utilidade. Com relação ao tratamento conservador, o balanço hídrico exerce papel fundamental no seguimento, além das medidas que evitam a ocorrência de infecções, que são a causa principal de complicação nos quadros de IRA. O tratamento dialítico, quando necessário, é realizado através de ultrafiltração, hemodiálise intermitente, diálise peritoneal, ou hemodiálise venovenosa contínua ("hemolenta"), além de outros métodos que são descritos na literatura. UNITERMOS - 307 1-INTRODUÇÃOA insuficiência renal aguda (IRA) pode ser definida como perda da função renal, de maneira sú-bita, independentemente da etiologia ou mecanismos, provocando acúmulo de substâncias nitrogenadas (uréia e creatinina), acompanhada ou não da diminuição da diurese. 2-EPIDEMIOLOGIAA IRA, geralmente, é considerada uma doença do paciente hospitalizado. A incidência pode variar entre 2 a 5%.(1,2,3) Em um estudo prospectivo, com incidência de 5%(2) , quando foram avaliadas 2216 internações, 79% dos episódios se correlacionaram com hipovolemia, pós-cirurgia, administração de contrastes para RX e aminoglicosídeos. Os autores responsabilizaram fatores iatrogênicos como responsá-veis em 55% dos casos. Em outro relato, foram analisados os fatores de risco para o aparecimento de IRA dentro do hospital.(4) Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas 1819 internações com incidência de 2% de IRA, a qual estava associada mais freqüentemente com os seguintes fatores: choque séptico, hipovolemia, aminoglicosídeos, insuficiência cardíaca e uso de contrastes para RX. Além disso, outros fatores de risco são importantes no desenvolvimento da IRA como: idade avançada, doença hepática, nefropatia pré-existente e diabetes. Medicina, Ribeirão Preto,Simpósio: URGÊNCIAS E EMERGÊNCIAS NEFROLÓGICAS 36: 307-324, abr./dez. 2003 Capítulo I

The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of the most common clinical features in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a sample of the Brazilian population. The medical records of 92 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease attended during the period from 1985 to 2003 were reviewed. The following data were recorded: age at diagnosis, gender, associated clinical manifestations, occurrence of stroke, age at loss of renal function (beginning of dialysis), and presence of a family history. The involvement of abdominal viscera was investigated by ultrasonography. Intracranial alterations were prospectively investigated by magnetic resonance angiography in 42 asymptomatic patients, and complemented with digital subtraction arteriography when indicated. Mean age at diagnosis was 35.1 ± 14.9 years, and mean serum creatinine at referral was 2.4 ± 2.8 mg/dL. The most frequent clinical manifestations during the disease were arterial hypertension (63.3%), lumbar pain (55.4%), an abdominal mass (47.8%), and urinary infection (35.8%). Loss of renal function occurred in 27 patients (mean age: 45.4 ± 9.5 years). The liver was the second organ most frequently affected (39.1%). Stroke occurred in 7.6% of the patients. Asymptomatic intracranial aneurysm was detected in 3 patients and arachnoid cysts in 3 other patients. In conclusion, the most common clinical features were lumbar pain, arterial hypertension, abdominal mass, and urinary infection, and the most serious complications were chronic renal failure and stroke. Both intracranial aneurysms and arachnoid cysts occurred in asymptomatic patients at a frequency of 7.14%.