Recovery of kidney function after AKI because of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients.

Evidence on the evolution of graft function in kidney transplant recipients recovering from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is lacking. This multicenter observational study evaluated the short-term clinical outcomes in recipients with acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to COVID-19. Out of 452 recipients following up at five centers, 50 had AKI secondary to COVID-19. 42 recipients with at least 3-month follow-up were included. Median follow-up was 5.23 months [IQR 4.09-6.99]. Severe COVID-19 was seen in 21 (50%), and 12 (28.6%) had KDIGO stage 3 AKI. Complete recovery of graft function at 3 months was seen in 17 (40.5%) patients. Worsening of proteinuria was seen in 15 (37.5%) patients, and 4 (9.5%) patients had new onset proteinuria. Graft failure was seen in 6 (14.3%) patients. Kidney biopsy revealed acute tubular injury (9/11 patients), thrombotic microangiopathy (2/11), acute cellular rejection (2/11), and chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (3/11). Patients with incomplete recovery were likely to have lower eGFR and proteinuria at baseline, historical allograft rejection, higher admission SOFA score, orthostatic hypotension, and KDIGO stage 3 AKI. Baseline proteinuria and the presence of orthostatic hypotension independently predicted incomplete graft recovery. This shows that graft recovery may remain incomplete after AKI secondary to COVID-19.

Symptom Management among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience high symptom burden, both physical and psychological, that is underrecognized and undertreated. The high symptom burden significantly impacts the quality of life for patients and their families. This review enumerates the various physical and psychological symptoms that patients with CKD often experience and guides in the management of these symptoms. This review follows the recommended international guidelines and has been tailored to suit the Indian context.

Association of Plasma Procalcitonin with Various Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance in Urban Indian Population: A Novel Biomarker.

RATIONALE: Chronic low-grade inflammation is proposed as the keystone in pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The inflammatory biomarker Procalcitonin which is produced by adipose tissue, can serve as a biomarker for insulin resistant state present in metabolic syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of plasma Procalcitonin (PCT) with components of metabolic syndrome (abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia) and with insulin resistance as compared to healthy controls. DESIGN: In this case-control study Plasma Procalcitonin was measured in patients with metabolic syndrome and compared to healthy controls. Its association was investigated with insulin resistance, individual components of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular complications and microalbuminuria. RESULTS: Plasma Procalcitonin was significantly higher (mean 0.55 ± 0.60 ng/ ml, Median 0.156 ng/ml) in 53 patients with metabolic syndrome (n = 53) as compared to 26 healthy controls (p < 0.001). PCT significantly correlated with level of Insulin Resistance (p< 0.01), Waist Circumference, S. Triglycerides, S. VLDL (p < 0.05), fasting blood glucose (p < 0.01) and inversely with S.HDL (p< 0.05). PCT was significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular complication (n=16/53, z = -7.137) and in those with microalbuminuria (n=18/53, z = - 7.265) as compared to cases without complications. CONCLUSION: Raised plasma procalcitonin levels in the normal range are associated with insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome (abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, high VLDL, low HDL and hyperglycemia), suggesting its role as a promising biomarker.

Acute oxalate nephropathy: exploring the role of excess dietary oxalate intake.

Acute oxalate nephropathy is a rare but important cause of severe acute kidney injury. We report here two cases presenting as unexplained AKI which were confirmed histologically to be due to acute oxalate nephropathy. Dietary oxalate or its precursor vitamin C was the cause of oxalate exposure in both of these cases. While one patient recovered, another continued to need dialysis and succumbed to underlying metastatic cancer. This cause should be suspected in all patients presenting with unexplained AKI, and detailed history about dietary intake of oxalate or vitamin C should be inquired.

Antibody response to non-mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) show poor antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. There is limited data on immune response to non-mRNA vaccines in KTRs. We studied the antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 non-mRNA vaccine in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: We included KTRs following up in the tertiary care transplant outpatient clinic from February to April 2022. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG antibody titers were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Data on demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were collected, and patients were characterized by the history of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in the past and the number of vaccine doses received. Predictors of antibody response were obtained using multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: S1/S2 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 197 (87.94%) of 224 KTRs with a median [IQR] titers of 307.5 AU/ml [91 AU/ml - 400 AU/ml]. Neutralizing range antibody titers were found in 170/224 (75.9%) KTRs. Diabetes at the time of vaccination was associated with poorer antibody response (aOR 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.10, 0.90; p = 0.032) and vaccination with Covishield™ (ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 Recombinant CoronaVirus Vaccine) showed higher antibody response as compared to Covaxin™ (BBV152) (aOR 5.04, 95% CI - 1.56, 16.22; p = 0.007). Graft dysfunction at baseline was associated with poorer antibody response. CONCLUSIONS: KTRs showed good antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with non-mRNA vaccines. Diabetes and graft dysfunction were associated with poor seroconversion rates.

Capacity for the management of kidney failure in the International Society of Nephrology South Asia region: report from the 2023 ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA).

The South Asia region is facing a high burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with limited health resources and low expenditure on health care. In addition to the burden of CKD and kidney failure from traditional risk factors, CKD of unknown etiologies from India and Sri Lanka compounds the challenges of optimal management of CKD in the region. From the third edition of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA), we present the status of CKD burden, infrastructure, funding, resources, and health care personnel using the World Health Organization's building blocks for health systems in the ISN South Asia region. The poor status of the public health care system and low health care expenditure resulted in high out-of-pocket expenditures for people with kidney disease, which further compounded the situation. There is insufficient country capacity across the region to provide kidney replacement therapies to cover the burden. The infrastructure was also not uniformly distributed among the countries in the region. There were no chronic hemodialysis centers in Afghanistan, and peritoneal dialysis services were only available in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Kidney transplantation was not available in Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Maldives. Conservative kidney management was reported as available in 63% (n = 5) of the countries, yet no country reported availability of the core CKM care components. There was a high hospitalization rate and early mortality because of inadequate kidney care. The lack of national registries and actual disease burden estimates reported in the region prevent policymakers' attention to CKD as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Data from the 2023 ISN-GKHA, although with some limitations, may be used for advocacy and improving CKD care in the region.

Rights-based services for adolescents living with HIV: adolescent self-efficacy and implications for health systems in Zambia.

A rights-based approach in HIV service delivery for adults is increasingly taking root in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of greater availability of antiretroviral therapy. Yet there has been comparatively little progress in strengthening a rights-based approach to adolescent HIV services, which we learned during a qualitative study in 2010 among 111 adolescents living with HIV, 21 parents and 38 health providers in three districts in Zambia. Adolescents in the study expressed a range of information and support needs and wanted locally relevant interventions to meet those needs. They wanted greater access to HIV, sexual and reproductive health information, information on how to protect themselves, privacy and confidentiality in service sites, skills training so as to be able to earn money, and better control over disclosure of their HIV status to others. Both health workers and parents acknowledged that information and services needed to be improved to meet those needs far better. This paper provides examples of successful programmes in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa and calls for adolescent services to be linked to both paediatric and adult services, peer networks to be established to increase adolescents' ability to collectively voice their concerns and support each other, interventions supporting adolescents' control over self-disclosure, and lastly that adolescent health should become a training specialty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Evaluation and Management of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate up to 10% of pregnancies and remain the major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can be classified into four groups depending on the onset of hypertension and the presence of target organ involvement: chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and superimposed preeclampsia on chronic hypertension. Hypertension during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney failure. Early diagnosis and proper treatment for pregnant women with hypertension remain a priority since this leads to improved maternal and fetal outcomes. Labetalol, nifedipine, methyldopa, and hydralazine are the preferred medications to treat hypertension during pregnancy. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the diagnostic criteria, evaluation, and management of pregnant women with hypertension.

Access to Nephrology Care for Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Perspective.

Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major public health problem with substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Women with pregnancy-related AKI require immediate access to nephrology care to prevent deleterious kidney and health outcomes. Patients with pregnancy-related AKI in low-income and lower-middle-income countries experience disparities in access to comprehensive nephrology care for many reasons. In this perspective, we highlight the burden of pregnancy-related AKI and explore the challenges among different low-income and lower-middle-income countries. The lack of adequate nephrology workforce and infrastructure for kidney health care represents a fundamental component of the problem. A shortage of nephrologists hampers the care of patients with pregnancy-related AKI leading to poor outcomes. The lack of diagnostic tools and therapeutic options, including kidney replacement therapy, impedes the implementation of effective management strategies. International efforts are warranted to empower women to get the right services and support at the right time. Dedicated preventive and early care programs are urgently needed to decrease the magnitude of pregnancy-related AKI, a complication under-represented in the literature.

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease: Progress in Health Inequity From Low-Income Settings.

The acute coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the incidence and prevalence of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease globally and in low-income settings. Chronic kidney disease increases the risk of developing COVID-19 and COVID-19 causes acute kidney injury directly or indirectly and is associated with high mortality in severe cases. Outcomes of COVID-19-associated kidney disease were not equitable globally owing to a lack of health infrastructure, challenges in diagnostic testing, and management of COVID-19 in low-income settings. COVID-19 also significantly impacted kidney transplant rates and mortality among kidney transplant recipients. Vaccine availability and uptake remains a significant challenge in low- and lower-middle-income countries compared with high-income countries. In this review, we explore the inequities in low- and lower-middle-income countries and highlight the progress made in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of patients with COVID-19 and kidney disease. We recommend further studies into the challenges, lessons learned, and progress made in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with COVID-19-related kidney diseases and suggest ways to improve the care and management of patients with COVID-19 and kidney disease.

Pregnancy-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Low-Resource Settings: Progress Over the Last Decade.

Despite immense global effort, the maternal mortality rate in low-resource settings remains unacceptably high. Globally, this reflects the grave inequalities in access to health and reproductive services. Pregnancy-associated acute kidney injury (PRAKI) is an independent risk factor for mortality. The reported incidence of PRAKI in low- and middle-income countries is higher than that of high-income countries (4%-26% versus 1%-2.8%, respectively). Hypertensive disorders are now the leading cause of PRAKI in many regions, followed by hemorrhage and sepsis. PRAKI in low-resource settings carries a high mortality for both mother and child. Outcome studies suggest that PRAKI is associated with residual kidney dysfunction and may lead to dialysis dependence. This can be a death sentence in many regions with limited kidney replacement therapy. This review will summarize data on PRAKI on the African, Latin American, and Asian continents over the past decade. It will include the progress in published data, mortality, and treatment interventions and provide recommendations for the next decade.

Cardiovascular Complications in Kidney Transplant Recipients with COVID-19: A Case Series.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at a higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 which can be associated with cardiovascular complications. We studied five KTRs recipients infected with COVID-19 who developed severe cardiovascular complications. Two patients presented with ST segment myocardial infarction and two with clinically suspected myocarditis. One patient presented with atrial fibrillation. Two of these patients developed cardiogenic shock. Inflammatory markers were at peak during the event in four of these who had presented with severe COVID-19. Coronary angiography done in two patients with STEMI did not reveal any evidence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Also, based on the cardiovascular (CV) risk estimation by Framingham score, four patients had low CV risk and one patient had intermediate CV risk. All five patients survived. Even with low CV risk, KTRs can develop myocardial injury and arrhythmias solely because of severe COVID-19.

Availability and prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccines among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and kidney failure during the height of the pandemic: a global survey by the International Society of Nephrology.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or kidney failure receiving replacement therapy (KFRT) are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is effective, but access differs around the world. We aimed to ascertain the availability, readiness and prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccines for this group of patients globally. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study and ISN-Global Kidney Health Atlas developed an online survey that was administered electronically to key nephrology leaders in 174 countries between 2 July and 4 August 2021. RESULTS: Survey responses were received from 99 of 174 countries from all 10 ISN regions, among which 88/174 (50%) were complete. At least one vaccine was available in 96/99 (97%) countries. In 71% of the countries surveyed, patients on dialysis were prioritised for vaccination, followed by patients living with a kidney transplant (KT) (62%) and stage 4/5 CKD (51%). Healthcare workers were the most common high priority group for vaccination. At least 50% of patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or KT were estimated to have completed vaccination at the time of the survey in 55%, 64% and 51% of countries, respectively. At least 50% of patients in all three patient groups had been vaccinated in >70% of high-income countries and in 100% of respondent countries in Western Europe.The most common barriers to vaccination of patients were vaccine hesitancy (74%), vaccine shortages (61%) and mass vaccine distribution challenges (48%). These were reported more in low-income and lower middle-income countries compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced CKD or KFRT were prioritised in COVID-19 vaccination in most countries. Multiple barriers led to substantial variability in the successful achievement of COVID-19 vaccination across the world, with high-income countries achieving the most access and success.

High dependency renal unit for the management of COVID-19 in patients with severe acute or chronic kidney disease.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with severe impairment of kidney function is associated with high mortality. We evaluated the effect of high dependency renal unit (HDRU), with nephrologists as primary care physicians, as a quality improvement initiative for the management of these patients. This was a quasi-experimental observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in western India. Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with pre-existing end-stage-renal-disease and those with severe AKI requiring dialysis (AKI-D) were included. For the first 2 months, these patients were cared for in medical wards designated for COVID-19, after which HDRU was set up for their management. With nephrologists as primary care providers, the 4 key components of care in HDRU included: care bundles focusing on key nephrology and COVID-19 related issues, checklist-based clinical monitoring, integration of multi-specialty care, and training of nurses and doctors. Primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality before and after institution of the HDRU care. Secondary outcomes were dialysis dependence in AKI-D and predictors of death. A total of 238 out of 4254 (5.59%) patients with COVID-19, admitted from 28th March to 30th September 2020, had severe renal impairment (116 AKI-D and 122 end-stage-renal-disease). 145 (62%) had severe COVID-19. From 28th May to 31st August 2020, these patients were managed in HDRU. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant improvement in survival during HDRU care [19 of 52 (36.5%) in pre-HDRU versus 35 of 160 (21.9%) in HDRU died, P ≤ .01]. 44 (67.7%) AKI-D survivors were dialysis dependent at discharge. Breathlessness and altered mental status at presentation, development of shock during hospital stay, and leukocytosis predicted mortality. HDRU managed by nephrologists is a feasible and potentially effective approach to improve the outcomes of patients with COVID-19 and severe renal impairment.

Clinical Course and Outcomes of COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Introduction: Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in KTR. Methods: We reviewed the clinical profile, outcomes, and immunological responses of recipients admitted with COVID-19. We determined the risk factors for mortality and severe COVID-19. Results: Out of 452 recipients on follow-up, 60 were admitted with COVID-19. Prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (71%), diabetes (40%), lung disease (17%). About 27% had tuberculosis. The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at presentation was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-5). There was a high incidence of diarrhea (52%) and anemia (82%). Treatment strategies included antimetabolite withdrawal (85%), calcineurin inhibitor decrease or withdrawal (64%), increased steroids (53%), hydroxychloroquine (21%), remdesivir (28.3%), and tocilizumab (3.3%). Severe COVID-19 occurred in 34 (56.4%) patients. During a median follow-up of 42.5 days (IQR 21-81 days), 83% developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and eight (13%) died. Mortality was associated with the baseline graft dysfunction, hypoxia at admission, lower hemoglobin and platelets, higher transaminases, higher C reactive protein, diffuse radiological lung involvement, hypotension requiring inotropes, and Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 3 AKI (univariate analysis). Around 57% of patients remained RT-PCR positive at the time of discharge. By the last follow-up, 66.6% of patients developed IgM (immunoglobulin M) antibodies and 82.3% of patients developed IgG antibodies. Conclusion: COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients is associated with a high risk of AKI and significant mortality.