Clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients in Razi hospital, Rasht, Iran.

BACKGROUND: In late December 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 started to spread around the world in different populations. Its clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcome in kidney transplant recipients are little known. Therefore, we describe 22 kidney transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia. METHODS: All kidney transplant recipients who referred to the Razi Hospital of Rasht with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection from February 20 to 19th of April 2020 have been included in this observational study. RESULTS: We present 22 cases of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients (median age 52 years [interquartile range 40.75-62.75 years]) and baseline eGFR 60 (mL/min/1.73 m2 ) (44.75-86.75). Patients complained of cough (72.7%), dyspnea (63.6%), fever (68.2%), and chill (72.7%) with greater prevalence. We decreased the dose of immunosuppression and started stress dose of intravenous hydrocortisone or equivalent oral prednisolone. Each patient received antiviral therapy based on the latest updated version of local protocol at the time of admission. CT scan findings in 90.9% of patients showed bilateral multifocal lesions. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was observed in 12 patients during hospitalization. Six patients died after a median of 12 days from admission (IQR, 1-21). CONCLUSIONS: In this small observational study, we observed high AKI occurrence and mortality rate in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19.

Investigating the Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Serum FGF23 Level in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in Guilan Province, A Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of current study is investigation of theimpact of serum FGF23 levels on blood pressure of patients withend-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: Based on registry, 68 patients who underwent hemodialysis(HD) in the dialysis center of Shahid Beheshti hospital, Anzali,north of Iran, from April 2016 to May 2017 were enrolled. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to determineserum FGF23 levels. 24 hours blood pressure monitoring method,AMBB, was used to monitor the mean arterial pressure of patients.Spearman related analysis method was used to statistically analyzethe correlation of serum FGF23 level with mean arterial pressure,age, HD duration, kt/v, URR weight gaining, cause of ESRD, andthe mentioned laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Serum FGF23 levels of ESRD patients were not significantlyrelated to age, time of HD and gaining weight. Furthermore,these parameters were not related to blood pressure. However,FGF23 expression levels in serum were positively correlated withphosphorous and calcium- phosphorous. The mentioned laboratoryparameters had no significant correlation with 24 hours bloodpressure changes. Meanwhile, the minimum diastolic pressureand intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level showed a significantdirect linear correlation. CONCLUSION: We suggest that understanding relationship betweenphosphate, FGF23 and cardiovascular disease can be applied intargeted phosphate-based treatment. Kidney failure and the nondippercondition may be highly related to one another and leadto ESRD. Therefore, a special investment in controlling bloodpressure and examining it with a tool such as ABPM can greatlyhelp patients to progress effectively.