Predictive Factors of Cytomegalovirus Viremia during the Clinical Course of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitis: A Single Center Observational Study.

We aim to elucidate factors to aid in the prediction of cytomegalovirus viremia during the treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). We conducted a single-center, retrospective, observational study of 35 patients with newly diagnosed AAV. Factors associated with the development of CMV viremia were investigated via a logistic regression analysis. The CMV antigenemia test was performed in 25 patients (71%), of whom 15 (60%) were diagnosed with CMV viremia. Of these 15 patients, 5 developed a CMV infection. The total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte counts at the time of the CMV antigenemia test were significantly lower in patients who developed CMV viremia. In addition, total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte count also presented significantly decreasing trends in the following order: patients who did not develop CMV viremia, patients who developed CMV viremia without any symptoms, and patients who developed CMV infection. All patients with CMV recovered. In conclusion, the total protein, hemoglobin, platelet count and lymphocyte count may be useful markers for the prediction of CMV viremia and infection after the start of induction of immunosuppressive therapy for patients with AAV.

Comparison of the factors associated with the short-term prognosis between elderly and non-elderly patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The difference in factors associated with the prognosis between elderly and non-elderly patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) is uncertain. We aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with the short-term prognosis (within 6 months from the start of the treatment) and investigate the differences in the associated factors between elderly and non-elderly individuals. METHODS: We performed a dual centre retrospective observational study of patients newly treated with AAV (eosinophilic granulomatous with polyangiitis was excluded). The primary outcome was all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and infectious complications within 6 months after the start of treatment. We analysed factors associated with these outcomes using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 79 patients, patients aged ≥75 years were defined as elderly (n=41), whereas those aged <75 years were de¬fined as non-elderly (n=38). In elderly patients, age was significantly associated with all-cause mortality. In the non-elderly patients, the geriatric nutritional risk index was significantly associated with all-cause death. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before the start of treatment was significantly associated with ESRD in elderly and non-elderly patients. In elderly patients, the Birmingham vasculitis score 3, eGFR, methylprednisolone pulse use, and cyclophosphamide use were significantly associated with infectious complications. Factors other than the serum albumin level were not significantly associated with infectious complications in the non-elderly population. CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with all-cause death and infectious complications differed between elderly and non-elderly patients. Awareness of these differences may contribute to better management of AAV.

Intravenously administered darbepoetin alfa once a week could maintain hemoglobin level more efficiently than once every 2 weeks in patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Darbepoetin alfa, which has a much longer half-life than recombinant human erythropoietin, is used to treat renal anemia. However, there are few reports investigating the efficacy of darbepoetin alfa administered every 2 weeks (Q2W). METHODS: We performed the single-center, prospective, and randomized study in chronic hemodialysis patients. Clinically stable patients on hemodialysis were recruited, and darbepoetin alfa 15-40 microg/week was administered intravenously once a week (QW) to achieve a hemoglobin (Hb) level of 10.5-12.0 g/dl for 8 weeks prior to randomization. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 different dosing frequency groups: once a week (QW) or every 2 weeks (Q2W). We switched to a double dose in the Q2W group. We measured Hb level every 2 weeks and administered darbepoetin alfa to achieve an Hb level of 10.5-11.5 g/dl. The primary endpoints were the weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa administered at week 24. RESULTS: We assigned 19 and 20 patients into QW and Q2W, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in Hb, transferrin saturation, ferritin, and weekly dose of darbepoetin alfa at end of the baseline period. There was no significant difference in Hb level at week 24, at which time the weekly dose requirement and dose per dry body weight were much higher in the Q2W than in the QW group. CONCLUSION: Administration of darbepoetin alfa Q2W could maintain Hb level similarly to to that obtained QW, but we did not confirm efficiency at a higher dose requirement or blood pressure elevation.

Administration of alfacalcidol for patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease may reduce cardiovascular disease events.

BACKGROUND: Besides its effect on calcium metabolism, vitamin D may play a part in preventing the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Only a few reports on the studies relating to whether vitamin D may reduce CVD events in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) are available, and many ambiguities remain. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 665 patients with predialysis CKD. With log-rank test using the Kaplan-Meyer survival curve, comparison of incidences of CVD events, CVD-related mortality, and all-cause mortality were made between patients in the alfacalcidol treatment group (107 patients) in the predialysis stage to whom alfacalcidol 0.25-0.5 microg/day was orally administered for at least 24 weeks, and patients in the nontreatment group (558 patients) who received no administration of alfacalcidol or other type of activated vitamin D and its analogues. Patients to whom alfacalcidol administration was discontinued within 24 weeks as well as initiation of dialysis of <24 weeks were excluded for this study. Factors relating to CVD events were examined using Cox's proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 55.1 +/- 38.9 months in the alfacalcidol treatment group and 41.9 +/- 38.4 months in the nontreatment group. CVD events occurred in 172 patients during the follow-up period, and 74 of those occurred during the predialysis period. In the alfacalcidol treatment group, the incidence of cumulative CVD events was significantly lower. In relation to all-cause deaths and CVD-related deaths, the cumulative mortality rate was significantly lower in the alfacalcidol treatment group during the follow-up period. Throughout the follow-up period, the association between CVD events and alfacalcidol use was detected when adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albumin and parathyroid hormone. CONCLUSION: These data showed that oral administration of alfacalcidol for predialysis CKD patients was associated with reduced risk for CVD.

Differential enhancing effects of alpha2,8-sialyltransferase on the cell proliferation and mobility.

alpha2,8-Sialyltransferase (alpha2,8S-T, GD3 synthase) has been reported to be involved in the enhanced cell proliferation of malignant tumors. Using a cloned cDNA of alpha2,8S-T, transfectant cells were established and the effects of the gene expression on the cell phenotypes were analyzed. In contrast with PC12 cells, in which we reported marked growth enhancement based on the transfection of alpha2,8S-T, Swiss3T3 cells showed no enhancement in either cell proliferation or phosphorylation of MAP kinases after the transfection of alpha2,8S-T when treated with platelet-derived growth factor. Correspondingly, the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor also showed no increased phosphorylation upon the factor stimulation. However, in the wound-healing scratching assay, the Swiss3T3 transfectant cells demonstrated increased mobility as the PC12 transfectant cells. These results suggest that the enhancing effects of alpha2,8S-T on the proliferation and mobility are differential depending on the cell types, and ganglioside-associating molecules in the individual cell types need to be investigated.