Background: Increased mortality of hemodialysis (HD) patients is associated with chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD), and therefore, their correction may improve patient survival. Differences in targets recommended by KDOQI and KDIGO CKD-MBD guidelines directed us to compare the relative numbers of patients achieving these targets and to examine possible associations between compliance with the targets and patient outcome. Methods: A total of 1,744 patients (61.2% males, aged 58.7 ± 12.5 years) dialyzed in 20 HD centers in Serbia were monitored for 3 years. The number of participants achieving KDOQI/KDIGO guideline targets for serum phosphorus, calcium, and iPTH was determined. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to select variables significantly associated with risk of time to death. Results: A majority of patients were dialyzed thrice weekly for 4 h; 86.3% of them used phosphate binders and 49.3% vitamin D3. Proportions of patients achieving KDOQI and KDIGO targets were 49.5 and 44.4% for phosphorus, 53.2 and 76.7% for calcium, 21 and 42.8% for iPTH. Multivariate Cox analysis selected serum phosphorus level outside the KDIGO target, as well as serum iPTH levels outside KDOQI and KDIGO targets as significant mortality predictors. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves showed that achievement of both guideline targets for iPTH had similar survival predictive values. Conclusion: Serum phosphorus levels outside KDIGO targets and iPTH levels outside both KDOQI and KDIGO targets were associated with a significantly higher risk of death. These findings may be useful in the management of CKD-MBD and for establishing local guidelines.

Background/Aims: Glucocorticoids and classic immunosuppressive drugs can improve disease activity in primary glomerulonephritis (GN). However, these drugs have serious toxicity and patients frequently experience inadequate response or relapse, so there is a need for alternative agents. This multicenter uncontrolled study analyzed the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in high-risk patients with primary GN. Methods: A total of 51 patients with biopsy-proven membranous (n = 12), membranoproliferative (n = 15), mesangioproliferative (n = 10), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 13) and minimal change disease (n = 1) received MMF with low-dose corticosteroids for 1 year. The primary outcome included the number of patients with complete/partial remission. Results: Proteinuria significantly decreased, from its median value of 4.9 g/day (IQR 2.9–8.4) to 1.28 g/day (IQR 0.5–2.9), p < 0.001. The urine protein/creatinine ratio significantly improved, from a median of 3.72 (IQR 2.13–6.48) to 0.84 (IQR 0.42–2.01), p < 0.001. The mean area under the curve for proteinuria significantly decreased, from 4.99 ± 3.46 to 2.16 ± 2.46, between the first (visits 1–2) and last (vists 4–5) treatment periods (p < 0.001). The change was similar for every type of GN, without difference between groups. eGFR slightly increased (62.1 ± 31.8 to 65.3 ± 31.8 ml/min, p = n.s.) and ESR, total proteins, albumins, total- and HDL-cholesterol parameters improved significantly. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased (p < 0.02 for systolic blood pressure). The age of patients was the only independent predictor of complete or partial remission. Conclusion: MMF proved to be efficient in 70% of high-risk patients with primary GN, who reached either complete or partial remission without safety concern after 12 months of treatment. Favorable effects of MMF therapy have to be confirmed in the long term and particularly after discontinuation of the drug.

Minimal histological changes and disappearance of urinary abnormalities were more frequent in IMH than in AMHP patients. Kidney biopsy is useful only in patients with AMHP but it is not necessary in IMH patients.

Background/Aim. Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is often present in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and could present a risk factor for rapid progression of diabetic nephropathy and for higher incidence of cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of vitamin D supplementation on proteinuria, cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin A1c in patients with type-2 DM and vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency. Methods. This prospective, cohort study included 90 patients with type-2 DM and vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency divided into 3 equal groups: with normal proteinura, with microproteinuria and with macroproteinuria. Therapy included six months of supplementation with cholecalciferol drops: first two months with 20,000 IU twice weekly, than if level of vitamin D was below normal the same dose was given next four months. If the level of vitamin D was normal 5,000 IU was given twice weekly. At the begining and at the end of the study the levels of urea, creatinine, fasting blood glucose, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, hemoglobin A1c, intact parathyroid hormone, 24-hour urine protein and creatinine clearance were determined. Levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D were also checked 2 months after beginning of therapy due to possible correction of cholecalciferol dose. Results. The lowest level of vitamin D before therapy was found in patients with macroproteinuria, while at the end of the study the significantly higher level of vitamin D was found in all three groups. After 6 months of therapy a significant decrease of 24-hour urine protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c in all three groups, and CRP in patients with normal proteinuria and microproteinuria were found. Significantly negative correlation between vitamin D and 24-hour urine protein, cholesterol and CRP was found in patients with macroproteinuria. Also, significantly negative correlation was found between vitamin D and hemoglobin A1c, in patients with normal proteinuria, vitamin D and CRP in patients with microproteinuria. Conclusion. A preventive use of high-dose cholecalciferol supplementation in patients with type-2 DM (with or without proteinuria) decreases cholesterol, triglycerides, proteinuria, CRP and hemoglobin A1c.

Despite less favorable dialysis prescription, older patients had similar Kt/V and less frequent deviations from the target values proposed by KDOQI for serum phosphorus and iPTH but more frequent deviation for Hb value as compared with younger patients. Risk factors for mortality differ between older and younger patients; out of five KDOQI targets, only Kt/V proved to be a significant risk factor for mortality for younger and iPTH for older patients.