Plasma exchange (PE) is a technique of extracorporeal blood purification which removes large molecular weight substances from plasma. The Department of Dialysis, Zagreb University Hospital Center's database, which includes data on 509 patients, or 4857 PE treatments, was retrospectively analyzed to test the safety of PE. A total of 231 adverse reactions were recorded (4.75% of treatments). The most common complications were paresthesias (2.7%), hematoma at the puncture site (2.4%), clotting (1.7%), mild to moderate allergic reactions (urticaria; 1.6%) and bleeding (0.06%). True anaphylactoid reactions were recorded in five procedures. The incidence of severe, potentially life-threatening adverse reactions was 0.12%. The prophylactic use of calcium and potassium was responsible for a low incidence of electrolyte disturbances. There was no lethal outcome associated with PE. When carried out by experienced staff, PE is a relatively safe procedure. The use of fresh frozen plasma is associated with a higher rate of adverse reactions.
Currently used diagnostic criteria in different endemic (Balkan) nephropathy (EN) centers involve different combinations of parameters, various cut-off values and many of them are not in agreement with proposed international guidelines. Leaders of EN centers began to address these problems at scientific meetings, and this paper is the outgrowth of those discussions. The main aim is to provide recommendations for clinical work on current knowledge and expertise. This document is developed for use by general physicians, nephrologists, urologist, public health experts and epidemiologist, and it is hoped that it will be adopted by responsible institutions in countries harboring EN. National medical providers should cover costs of screening and diagnostic procedures and treatment of EN patients with or without upper urothelial cancers.
Spontaneous tendon ruptures in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been occasionally reported. We describe the largest group of patients with spontaneous rupture of major tendons so far reported. Rupture of 16 tendons occurred in 9 patients. The mean patient age was 52.78 years; 77.7% were male. Four patients were treated with hemodialysis, 4 received a renal transplant and 1 was treated with automated peritoneal dialysis. Bilateral rupture was found in 5 patients (3 quadriceps, 1 Achilles and 1 supraspinatus and subscapularis tendon rupture). Distal brachial biceps tendon rupture, Achilles tendon rupture, unilateral quadriceps and rupture of the oblique internal abdominal muscle tendon were developed by 1 patient each. Patients were treated with renal replacement therapy for 3–21 years (mean 12.89). Five patients were treated with steroids and 6 patients received quinolone antibiotic before the tendon rupture. All patients had laboratory and clinical signs of hyperparathyroidism. A patient who was treated with automated peritoneal dialysis for 3 years had primary hyperparathyroidism with nephrolithiasis as the cause of ESRD. Our results demonstrated that patients with hyperparathyroidism are at increased risk for development of spontaneous tendon ruptures, and the risk is further amplified when they receive quinolone antibiotics and/or steroids.
BACKGROUND Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can be performed either on a membrane‐based system (mTPE) or on a device that separates blood components by centrifugation (cTPE). The number of studies in this field is limited. This randomized study is the first that offers data on the membrane‐based Diapact device (B. Braun Medical, Inc.) for TPE procedures and compares it to the centrifuge‐based Spectra Optia (Terumo BCT, Inc.). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty‐seven patients were enrolled in this randomized prospective head‐to‐head study comparing the mTPE and cTPE systems. Procedures on both devices were standardized and the plasma removal efficiency (PRE); total procedure time (including setup and priming time); and removal efficiencies of blood cells, immunoglobulin (Ig)G, and fibrinogen for all procedures were analyzed. RESULTS While both systems removed similar amounts of plasma, it took the cTPE device a mean of 101.5 ± 24.6 minutes to finalize a procedure that was one‐third less than procedures on the mTPE device (157 ± 26.2 min; p < 0.0001), due to a difference in PRE between the Spectra Optia (83.0% ± 4.9%) and the Diapact (53.2% ± 6.6%; p < 0.0001). The difference in removal efficiencies of IgG and blood cells were not significantly different but the Spectra Optia was more efficient in removing the larger fibrinogen protein than the Diapact (72.3% ± 8.5% vs. 62.9% ± 16.1%, respectively; p < 0.02). CONCLUSION This study shows that, although both systems perform adequate and safe TPE procedures, those on the Spectra Optia in comparison to the Diapact are more efficient in terms of plasma removal and significantly shorter.
The records of 563 patients admitted to the hospital with diagnosis of acute pancreatitis have been studied retrospectively. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) in these patients, and to evaluate the most important risk factors for ARF development and mortality. The prevalence of ARF in studied population was 14%, but only 3.8% of ARF patients with acute pancreatitis had isolated renal failure. Other patients had additional failure of other organ systems, 68.4% of whom had multiorgan failure (MOF) before the onset of ARF. In only 8.9% of ARF patients was the renal system the first organ system to fail. Patients with ARF were significantly older, had more preexisting chronic diseases (including chronic renal failure), usually had MOF, and local pancreatic complications relative these in the group with normal renal function. The development of ARF was directly influenced by severity of acute pancreatitis. The mortality rate in ARF patients was 74.7%, compared to an 7.4% mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis and normal renal function. Preexisting chronic disease, the presence of MOF and their number, local pancreatic complications, and older age of the patients increased mortality in ARF patients. The prognosis of patients with oliguric ARF requiring renal replacement therapy was extremely poor, indicating the importance of prevention of ARF in the patients with acute pancreatitis.
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an important pathogen after renal transplantation. In the present study, we examined the prevalence, clinical presentation and outcome of VZV infections in renal transplant recipients. Charts and medical records of adult renal allotransplant recipients were investigated to find patients with VZV infection. From December 1972 until July 2010, 1,139 patients received kidney allograft at our institution. VZV infection was diagnosed in 40 patients (3.51%). 28 patients (70%) had intensified immunosuppression prior to VZV infection occurrence. Median time of onset was 2.13 years after transplantation (range 9 days to 19.2 years). 35 patients developed VZV during the first post-transplant year (median 0.61 years). Four patients developed VZV infection more than 12 years after transplantation. 33 patients (82.5%) had dermatomal distribution, 5 (12.5%) disseminated herpes zoster (HZ), and 2 patients (5%) who were VZV IgG-negative before transplantation, developed chickenpox. Immunosuppression was reduced and patients received acyclovir. Cutaneous scarring was recorded in 7 cases (17.5%). Two patients developed post-herpetic neuralgia, which was accompanied by scarring and skin depigmentation in 1 of them. Five patients (12.5%) experienced relapse of HZ. Timely initiation of therapy may prevent development of complications and the visceral form of disease. Based on our experience with development of chickenpox, we suggest active immunization for all seronegative patients before organ transplantation.
Screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria are common in KTRs despite uncertainties around the benefits and harms. In an era of antimicrobial resistance, further studies are needed to address the diagnosis and management of asymptomatic bacteriuria in these patients.
Arterial hypertension (AH) per se is, together with diabetes mellitus, the most important cause of renal failure and of dialysis in the western world. AH is also a well known consequence of chronic renal disease, and at the same time one of the main factors which causes diabetic and/or non-diabetic chronic renal failure progression. AH is mostly registered in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The pathophysiology and the mechanism of AH within primary glomerular diseases are complex, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), sodium retention, volume expansion and decreased synthesis of vasodilatatory substances. As autoregulation of glomerular pressure in chronic glomerular disease is disturbed, the increment in systemic blood pressure leads to the rise in glomerular pressure. Glomerular hypertension results in glomerular capillary wall stretch, endothelial damage and a rise in protein glomerular filtration. These processes, in turn, cause changes of mesangial and proximal tubular cells, ultimately resulting in the replacement of functional by non-functional connective tissue and the development of fibrosis. One of the most important factors in the progression of chronic renal failure is activation of the RAS. Its effect is not only elevated blood pressure, but also the promotion of cell proliferation, inflammation and matrix accumulation. Many studies, first in experimental animals and later in humans, have shown that the lowering of blood pressure (and proteinuria) is associated with a slower progression of kidney disease. It seems that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are more renoprotective than other antihypertensives (the protection beyond the antihypertensive effect), although some studies have also confirmed a comparatively beneficial effect of non-dihydropiridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). Moreover, it seems that a combination of antihypertensives (e.g. ACEI + CCB, ACEI + ARB) has a more effective action than either of the drugs alone. However, the effects depend first on the degree of blood pressure reduction. According to comprehensive studies, the achievement of adequate blood pressure (not higher than 130/85 mmHg) is the most important factor. An even lower blood pressure (125/75 mmHg) has been suggested as the limit value in patients with proteinuria of >1 g/24 h and in Blacks.
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