ObjectivePatients with diabetes are at increased risk of foot ulcers, which may result in limb amputations. While regular foot care prevents ulcerations and amputation in those patients with diabetes not on dialysis, evidence is limited in diabetic hemodialysis patients. We investigated the association between the implementation of a routine foot check program in diabetic incident hemodialysis patients, and major lower limb amputations.MethodsIn 1/2008, monthly intradialytic foot checks were implemented as part of standard clinic care in all Fresenius Medical Care North America hemodialysis facilities. Patients with diabetes who initiated hemodialysis between 1/2004 and 12/2007 constituted the preimplementation cohort, and patients starting hemodialysis between 1/2008 and 12/2011 comprised the postimplementation cohort. In addition, we conducted a sensitivity analysis where we excluded patients from the clinics with <10 patients in the postimplementation period and where percent difference in patient with diabetes number between postimplementation and preimplementation period was <20%. We compared lower limb amputation rates employing Poisson regression models with offset of exposure time in these two cohorts.ResultsWe studied 35 513 patients in the preimplementation and 25 779 patients in the postimplementation cohort. In the postimplementation cohort, amputation rate decreased by 17% (p=0.0034). The major lower limb amputation rate was 1.30 per 100 patient years in preimplementation and 1.07 in postimplementation cohort. These beneficial results were corroborated in the multivariate analysis (p=0.0175) and were even more pronounced in the sensitivity analysis (p=0.0083).ConclusionMonthly foot checks are associated with reduction of major lower limb amputations in diabetic incident hemodialysis patients.

Background and Objectives: The pathogenesis of anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients is dependent on multiple factors, with decreased red blood cell life span (RBCLS) being a significant contributor. Although the impact of reduced RBCLS on anemia is recognized, it is still a subject that is not well researched. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between RBCLS and inflammatory biomarkers in chronic HD patients. Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements: RBCLS was calculated from alveolar carbon monoxide concentrations measured by gas chromatography. Interleukins (IL) IL-6, IL-18, IL-10, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured using bead-based multiplex assay. Measurements were carried out at baseline and during follow-up. The associations between RBCLS and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated using linear mixed effects models. Results: RBCLS measurements were available for 54 HD patients. Their average age was 58.5 ± 14.4 years, 68.5% were males, 48.1% were diabetics, and the HD vintage was 51 ± 48 months. In 4 patients, RBCLS was measured once, while in 50 patients, up to 5 repeated RBCLS measurements were available. RBCLS was 73.2 ± 17.8 days (range 37.7-115.8 days). No association was found between RBCLS and any of the inflammatory biomarkers. Of note, RBCLS was positively correlated with levels of uric acid (p = 0.02) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN; p = 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that inflammation pathways reported by these biomarkers only have a limited role in causing premature RBC death. The positive correlation with uric acid and BUN warrants further studies.

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Background and AimsBoth insulin and plasma exchange (PE) are used in hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP). Our aim was to compare the efficacy of both treatments.MethodsA randomized, parallel group study performed in a tertiary hospital in 22 HTG-AP patients with non-severe prognosis and triglycerides between 15 and 40 mmol/L. Patients were randomized to daily PE or insulin infusion until triglycerides were &lt;10 mmol/L. Primary outcome was % reduction in triglycerides within 24 h. Secondary outcomes were days needed to lower triglycerides &lt;10 mmol/L, highest CRP and percentage of patients with a severe course of pancreatitis.ResultsThere was a trend toward a greater decrease in triglycerides within the first 24 h in the PE group (67 ± 17% vs. 53 ± 17%, p = 0.07), but the absolute difference was modest [mean difference of 6 mmol/L (14% of initial value)]. Triglycerides fell below 10 mmol/L in a median (IQR) of 1 (1–2) and 2 (1–2) days, respectively (p = 0.25). Secondary outcomes related to disease severity were also comparable: highest CRP 229 vs. 211 mg/L (p = 0.69) and severe course of pancreatitis in 2/11 cases in both groups (p = 1.0). Regarding treatment complications, there was one mild hypoglycemia and one allergic reaction during PE. Survival was 100% in both groups.ConclusionThere was no significant difference, but only a trend toward a greater decrease in triglycerides with PE, and the clinical course was also comparable. These results do not support universal use of PE in patients with HTG-AP.Clinical Trial Registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT02622854].

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) in newborns and infants is challenging and accumulation of citrate can occur.There are only a few studies reporting the detailed data on RCA. We aimed to analyze RCA-CRRT at our institution with focus on citrate accumulation. Critically ill newborns and infants up to 11 kg of body weight (BW), treated with RCA-CRRT in the 2011-2016 period were included in this retrospective observational study.Prismaflex(R) and Multifiltrate-CiCa(R) dialysis monitors were used with either automated or manual RCA. Data was collected regarding the circuit lifetime, parameters of RCA, markers of citrate accumulation (total/ionized calcium ratio > 2.5), and metabolic complications. We included 10 children with mean age of 2.6 ± 3.8 months and BW of 4.6 ± 2.7 kg. In-hospital mortality was 60%. RCA-CRRT parameters were: blood flow 46 ± 9 mL/min (12 ± 5 mL/min/kg BW), citrate dose 2.8 ± 0.6 mmol/L of blood resulting in estimated citrate load to the patient of 1.7 ± 0.8 mmol/h/kg BW. In total, 57 dialysis circuits were used with mean filter lifetime of 39 ± 29 h. Citrate accumulation (total/ionized calcium ratio > 2.5) was observed in 7/10 patients and in 14/57 (25%) of circuits; those circuits were performed in children with lower age and BW, had higher relative blood flow and citrate load, while citrate dose was similar. When citrate load to the patient was used to predict citrate accumulation, AUC under the ROC curve was 0.78 and 1.7 mmol/h/kg BW was considered the optimal cutoff value (sensitivity 71% and specificity 72%). CRRT with RCA using equipment, developed for adult population, is feasible in newborns and infants. Signs of citrate accumulation developed relatively often. To prevent it, we suggest avoiding citrate loads above 1.7 mmol/h/kg BW, which can best be achieved by keeping the blood flow below 9 mL/min/kg BW. K E Y W O R D Scitrate accumulation, continuous renal replacement therapy, infants, newborns, regional citrate anticoagulation 498 | PERSIC Et al.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The role of extracorporeal myoglobin removal in the treatment of rhabdomyolysis-associated severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is not yet fully established. High cut-off (HCO) and medium cut-off (MCO) dialysis membrane and cytokine adsorber (CytoSorb®) have been used to this purpose in clinical practice. The data on comparative effectiveness of those methods are scarce. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this single-center retrospective study, we included patients with AKI and concomitant rhabdomyolysis (myoglobin &#x3e;20,000 μg/L), who underwent at least one extracorporeal myoglobin removal procedure. The main outcome parameter was myoglobin reduction ratio, whereas albumin was assessed as a safety parameter. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We analyzed data for 15 patients, who underwent 28 procedures (13 HCO, 9 MCO, and 6 adsorber). Pre-treatment serum myoglobin levels were similar between the groups and myoglobin reduction was significant in HCO (<i>p</i> = 0.03) and MCO groups (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01) and borderline significant in adsorber group (<i>p</i> = 0.06). Reduction ratios were comparable between the groups (median 0.64 (inter-quartile range IQR 0.13–0.72), 0.54 (IQR 0.51–0.61) and 0.50 (IQR 0.37–0.62), respectively, <i>p</i> = 0.83). Both pre- and post-procedure serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the MCO group. However, with routine albumin substitution in the HCO group only, serum albumin remained stable during the procedures in all subgroups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Novel MCO membrane might represent the optimal mode of treatment of severe rhabdomyolysis-associated AKI, as it allows for efficient removal of myoglobin, avoids albumin supplementation and is associated with lower costs. For patients requiring cytokine removal, the adsorption capsule can simultaneously reduce cytokine and myoglobin levels.

The aim of our study was to evaluate vascular access in patients treated with chronic hemodialysis for 30 years or more. Patients who had started dialysis in 1978 or earlier were identified from the Slovenian Renal Replacement Therapy Registry. The data on vascular access on April 2008 are presented. Sixteen patients were still alive, seven men and nine women aged 62 +/- 12 years (46-84), and they had been treated for 32 +/- 1.7 years (30-35), mainly with chronic HD. They had started HD at the age of 30 +/- 12 years (13-50), and none had diabetes. The vascular access in nine was a native arteriovenous (AV) fistula, on the forearm in eight patients, and a brachiobasilic fistula in one patient. Four patients had their primary AV fistulas still in use (maximum 35 years). In the remaining five patients, multiple salvage procedures had been performed or new AV fistulas created. The vascular access in four patients was the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, functioning for 1-8 years. In three patients, a non-cuffed, single-lumen hemodialysis catheter (a precurved jugular in two patients and a subclavian in one) locked with 30% citrate, with mupirocin at the exit site, was used for 5-12 years. The catheters were exchanged approximately once every two years over a guide-wire because of mechanical damage. None of these three patients had had catheter-related sepsis or exit-site infection. Before catheters, these patients had had multiple AV fistulas and PTFE grafts. Although native AV fistula is the predominant type of vascular access, a greater than 30-year survival on hemodialysis is possible with the combined use of AV fistula, PTFE graft, and a non-cuffed hemodialysis catheter locked with citrate.

The aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic mapping of both arm and forearm vessels before primary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) construction in elderly patients with end-stage renal disease. There were 129 patients aged 75 +/- 6 (65-93) years, 58% men, 37% diabetics, who participated in the study. The inner diameter of veins (under compression) and arteries, and the arterial peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured. The presence of arterial calcifications was noted. The positions for possible native AVF construction (radiocephalic and brachiocephalic) were suggested and an AVF was constructed by a trained nephrologist. An adequate cephalic vein was present in 76 (59%) patients (diameter 4.9 +/- 1.1 mm) in the right arm, and in 83 (64%) patients (4.7 +/- 1.2 mm) in the left arm. Suitable veins in the forearm were recorded in 73 (57%) patients on the right (3.7 +/- 0.7 mm) and in 76 (59%) patients on the left (3.5 +/- 1.0 mm) side. The inner arterial diameter was: brachial-right 4.6 +/- 0.6 mm (calcifications in 26%), left 4.6 +/- 0.7 mm (calcifications in 20%); radial-right 2.3 +/- 0.4 mm (calcifications in 36%), left 2.3 +/- 0.5 mm (calcifications in 29%). In 32% of patients, one native AVF was possible, in 17% two, in 23% three and in 18% four, while in 10% no AVF was possible. In 84% of patients an AVF was constructed, with no significant difference in non-diabetic vs. diabetic patients (88% vs. 80%) or females vs. males (87% vs. 83%). Native AVF can be constructed in the majority of elderly patients, often in multiple positions, with no significant differences in terms of sex or diabetic status.