Evaluation of serum calcium differences in hypertensive crises and control patients: A randomly matched case-control study.

The role of calcium in blood pressure has been widely studied among hypertensive patients; however, no study has explored the role of calcium in hypertensive crises. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the differences in serum calcium levels between hypertensive crises patients and a 1:1 random matched controls (age-, sex-, race-, diabetes, and body mass index matched). This study is a single-center, retrospective, chart review, case-control study of patients with hypertensive crises (case group) and patients without hypertensive crises (control group). Patients were included in the case group if they were 18 years of age or older with hypertensive crises and have a documented calcium level. The control group patients were required to be 18 years of age or older, have a documented calcium level, and have no diagnosis of hypertensive crises. The primary outcome of the study was to compare the mean serum calcium in patients with hypertensive crises vs patients without hypertensive crises. Five hundred and sixty-six patients were included in the study: 283 patients in both the case group and control group. The primary outcome results showed that serum calcium concentration was not significantly different between the case group (8.99 ± 0.78 mg/dL) and control group (8.96 ± 0.75 mg/dL) (P = .606). This study found no significant difference in serum calcium levels in patients with hypertensive crises compared to a random matched control group. Larger observational or experimental studies may be useful to evaluate the effect of calcium on blood pressure in hypertensive crises.

Evaluation of serum magnesium differences in hypertensive crises and control patients: A randomly matched case-control study.

Although the role of magnesium in blood pressure has been well studied among hypertensive patients, no study has explored the role of magnesium in hypertensive crises. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the differences in serum magnesium levels between hypertensive crises patients and matched controls (age-, sex-, race-, and diabetes-matched) in a 1:1 random match. This study is a single-center, retrospective, chart review, case-control study of patients with hypertensive crises (case group) and patients without hypertensive crises (control group). Patients were included in the case group if they were 18 years of age or older with hypertensive crises and have a documented magnesium level. The control group patients were required to be 18 years of age or older, have no diagnosis of hypertensive crises, and have a documented magnesium level. The primary outcome of the study was to compare the mean serum magnesium in patients with hypertensive crises versus patients without hypertensive crises. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients were included in the study: 179 patients in both the case group and control group. The primary outcome results showed that serum magnesium concentration was not significantly different between the case group (1.89 ± 0.29 mg/dl) and control group (1.90 ± 0.31 mg/dl) (p = .787). This study found no significant difference in serum magnesium levels in patients with hypertensive crises compared to a random matched control group. Larger observational or experimental studies may be useful to evaluate the effect of magnesium on blood pressure in hypertensive crises.

Telehealth for Home Dialysis in COVID-19 and Beyond: A Perspective From the American Society of Nephrology COVID-19 Home Dialysis Subcommittee.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, technological advancements, regulatory waivers, and user acceptance have converged to boost telehealth activities. Due to the state of emergency, regulatory waivers in the United States have made it possible for providers to deliver and bill for services across state lines for new and established patients through Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)- and non-HIPAA-compliant platforms with home as the originating site and without geographic restrictions. Platforms have been developed or purchased to perform videoconferencing, and interdisciplinary dialysis teams have adapted to perform virtual visits. Telehealth experiences and challenges encountered by dialysis providers, clinicians, nurses, and patients have exposed health care disparities in areas such as access to care, bandwidth connectivity, availability of devices to perform telehealth, and socioeconomic and language barriers. Future directions in telehealth use, quality measures, and research in telehealth use need to be explored. Telehealth during the public health emergency has changed the practice of health care, with the post-COVID-19 world unlikely to resemble the prior era. The future impact of telehealth in patient care in the United States remains to be seen, especially in the context of the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative.

Longitudinal interprofessional education in a graduate physiology course.

The primary purpose of conducting two interprofessional education (IPE) experiences during a multidisciplinary physiology graduate-level course was to provide basic science, physical therapy, and physician assistant graduate students opportunities to work as a team in the diagnosis, treatment, and collaborative care when presented with a patient case focused on acute kidney injury (first case) and female athlete triad (second case). The secondary purpose was to apply basic physiology principles to patient case presentations of pathophysiology. The overall purpose was to assess the longitudinal effects and the value of IPE integrated within a basic science course. The following Interprofessional Education Collaborative subcompetencies were targeted: roles/responsibilities (RR1, RR4). Students were given a pre- and postsurvey to assess their IPE perceptions and knowledge of professional roles. There were statistically significant increases from the presurvey renal IPE experience to the presurvey endocrine IPE experience for two perception questions regarding the ability to explain the roles and responsibilities of a physical therapist (PT) and physician assistant using a Likert scale. In addition, student knowledge of the role of a PT increased significantly when comparing the renal IPE presurvey to the endocrine IPE presurvey results to open-ended questions. Students' perceptions of their knowledge as well as their ability to express, in writing, their newly learned knowledge of the role of a PT was sustained over time. Incorporating multiple IPE experiences into multidisciplinary health science courses represents an appropriate venue to have students learn and apply interprofessional competencies.

Using manual exchanges for an urgent-start peritoneal dialysis program.

BACKGROUND: Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (USPD) was designed to avoid temporary hemodialysis initiation with a hemodialysis catheter. In these patients, PD is initiated within 2 weeks of catheter placement, but typically these prescriptions utilize automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) with a cycler. Manual exchanges have not been reported previously for USPD. We hypothesize that using multiple, low-volume manual exchanges, patients will have similar rates of peritonitis, exit-site infection (ESI), pericatheter leaks and discontinuation of PD in the first 3 months after initiation. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who initiated PD in our unit from May 2014 until August 2016 using our USPD protocol. Patients with a body surface area <1.7 m2 used 750 mL dwell volumes and those >1.7 m2 used 1000 mL dwell volumes during the first 7 days. Dwell times were 2-2.5 h for two to three exchanges per day. After 7 days of successful therapy, the dwell volumes were doubled. All patients were maintained on furosemide 160 mg twice daily. RESULTS: There were 20 patients enrolled in our USPD program. Our rates of peritonitis, ESI, pericatheter leak and discontinuation of PD were 5%, 0%, 5% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Manual exchange during USPD is a viable modality with similar results as APD. Using manual exchanges allows patients to be more ambulatory during the day when they are not dwelling, allows nurses to evaluate the amount of ultrafiltration and effluent characteristics and allows for training in manual exchanges as well.

MPGN and mixed cryoglobulinemia in a patient with hepatitis C - new treatment implications and renal outcomes.

. INTRODUCTION: The association of hepatitis C virus (HCV), cryoglobulinemia, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is well known. Treatment of underlying HCV infection has greatly improved in recent years with the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAA), which have demonstrated curative sustained viral response (SVR) rates for select viral genotypes with the added benefit of less drug side effects. However, a mainstay of newer DAAs is sofosbuvir, which is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment. CASE HISTORY: We are reporting the case of a 65-year-old female with chronic systolic heart failure, hypertension, and chronic HCV genotype 1b with biopsy-proven type I MPGN with cryoglobulinemia type II, who presented with rapidly progressive renal failure requiring emergent hemodialysis. After initiation of DAA therapy including ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir plus dasabuvir, in conjunction with plasmapheresis, corticosteroids, and rituximab, there was significant improvement in renal function such that hemodialysis was no longer needed. DISCUSSION: This patient's HCV treatment is estimated to induce a greater than 90% SVR, which is notably promising for the reduction and/or reversal of HCV-related glomerulopathy. Most recent HCV guidelines from 2015 recommend this regimen; however, there is little data to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment. Therefore, it is valuable to report positive preliminary results at this time. Overall, we anticipate this treatment regimen to become a basis in the management of HCV-related renal disease; however, larger studies will still be needed to prove its efficacy in improving renal outcomes.

Effectiveness of interprofessional education in renal physiology curricula for health sciences graduate students.

The primary purpose of conducting an interprofessional education (IPE) experience during the renal physiology block of a graduate-level course was to provide basic science, physical therapy, and physician assistant graduate students with an opportunity to work as a team in the diagnosis, treatment, and collaborative care of a patient with acute kidney injury. The secondary purpose was to enhance the understanding of basic renal physiology principles with a patient case presentation of renal pathophysiology. The overall purpose was to assess the value of IPE integration within a basic science course by examining student perceptions and program evaluation. Graduate-level students operated in interprofessional teams while working through an acute kidney injury patient case. The following Interprofessional Education Collaborative subcompetencies were targeted: Roles/Responsibilities (RR) Behavioral Expectations (RR1, RR4) and Interprofessional Communication (CC) Behavioral Expectations (CC4). Clinical and IPE stimulus questions were discussed both within and between teams with assistance provided by faculty facilitators. Students were given a pre- and postsurvey to determine their knowledge of IPE. There were statistically significant increases from pre- to postsurvey scores for all six IPE questions for all students. Physical therapy and physician assistant students had a statistically significant increase in pre- to postsurvey scores, indicating a more favorable perception of their interprofessional competence for RR1, RR4, and CC4. No changes were noted in pre- to postsurvey scores for basic science graduate students. Incorporating planned IPE experiences into multidisciplinary health science courses represents an appropriate venue to have students learn and apply interprofessional competencies.

Retroperitoneal Hematoma Causing Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Malfunction.

BACKGROUND: We present the unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis catheter dysfunction in a patient who developed a retroperitoneal hematoma following an endoscopic procedure and review the existing literature regarding this rare complication. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old male with end stage renal disease presented with PD catheter dysfunction. A computerized tomography scan of his abdomen showed a large left retroperitoneal hematoma. He underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy and PD catheter revision. The retroperitoneal hematoma had ruptured into the peritoneum with clots clogging the catheter. Clots were evacuated and the catheter was flushed. He restarted on low--volume PD three days after surgery and increased to full-volume within a week with no further issues. CONCLUSIONS: This case summarizes the unusual complication of a retroperitoneal bleed from an endoscopic procedure which manifested as PD catheter dysfunction. The increasing utilization of PD catheters requires surgeons remain aware of potential complications.

Retroperitoneal Hematoma Causing Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Malfunction.

BACKGROUND: We present the unusual complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter dysfunction in a patient who developed a retroperitoneal hematoma following an endoscopic procedure and review the existing literature regarding this rare complication. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old man with end stage renal disease presented with PD catheter dysfunction. Computed tomography scan of his abdomen showed a large left retroperitoneal hematoma. He underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy and PD catheter revision. The retroperitoneal hematoma had ruptured into the peritoneum with clots clogging the catheter. Clots were evacuated and the catheter was flushed. He restarted on low volume PD three days after surgery and increased to full volume within a week with no further issues. CONCLUSIONS: This case summarizes the very unusual complication of a retroperitoneal bleed from an endoscopic procedure that manifested as PD catheter dysfunction. The increasing utilization of PD catheters requires that surgeons remain aware of potential complications.

Louisiana State University Nephrology: Initiation of a Multicenter Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis Program.

Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) refers to the initiation of PD in new-start end-stage renal disease patients who present either emergently in the hospital or urgently in clinic. These patients are called "late-referred patients." Our academic practice group, like many private practice and academic groups, currently functions within 4 hospitals and 4 clinics. The patient base consists of a large indigent population with limited access to health care and also of insured patients. An urgent-start PD program was initiated to provide all patients with a choice of dialysis modality.Our faculty understood that, for their urgent-start PD program to be successful, they had to have the support of the house staff, hospitalists, surgeons, and the PD nurse. The education began with grand rounds on urgent-start PD in the medicine department. We also educated the hospitalists at the other private hospitals on our urgent-start program. Once the primary care services were comfortable with urgent-start PD, our nephrology group then educated the surgeons about best-practice guidelines for PD catheter placement. At that time, a direct feedback communication loop was created between the PD nurse, surgeon, and nephrologist about the placement and functionality of the catheter. Here, we present our success in the creation of an urgent-start PD program.

New developments in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia affects 3% to 5% of all pregnancies and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This disorder is characterized by a constellation of signs and symptoms, most notably new-onset hypertension and proteinuria during the last trimester of pregnancy. In this review, the molecular mechanisms of preeclampsia with an emphasis on the role of circulating antiangiogenic proteins in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and its complications will be discussed.