[Long-term evaluation of immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in 136 patients undergoing hemodialysis]. / Evaluación a largo plazo de la respuesta inmunológica a la vacuna de la hepatitis B en 136 pacientes en hemodiálisis.

UNLABELLED: Hemodialysis (HD) patients have an impaired response to hepatitis B(HB) vaccines, and the persistence of immunity, the efficacy of revaccination and the periodicity of post-vaccination testing are not well defined. We present the experience during 13 years in an outpatient dialysis center of 136 HD patients who completed a HB vaccination program consisting in 3 doses of 40 microg intramuscular recombinant B vaccine (Engerix-B). In all patients anti-HBs titers were determined annually and in 31 patients every 6 months. Nonresponders patients and responders patients that lost their antibodies(< 10 UI/ml) received annually a booster double dose of vaccine. Seventy-four patients(54.4%) developed immunity and the remaining 62 patients were considered nonresponders. When compared both groups, gender and the etiology of chronic kidney disease did not differ between the two groups; nevertheless, nonresponders patients were significantly older than responders. After 1 year of follow-up, 32% of responders had no detectable anti-HBs levels, and only 18% of patients remained immunoreactive 6 years afer vaccination. The peak anti-HBs titer immediately after completion of the vaccination schedule was found to be a major predictor of maintaining immunity: 75% of patients with anti-HBs titers greater than 1000 IU/ml remained immunoreactive 3 years after vaccination compared to 47% of patients with titers between 100-999 IU/ml(p=0.08) and 34% of patients with titers between 11-99 IU/ml(p=0.02). The administration of additional doses of vaccine were effective in 24% of the nonresponders patients, and 69% of them remained seropositive at the end of the 1-year follow up. Repeated booster doses of vaccine in nonresponders patients to the first booster dose afforded seroconversion in 19.6% of the patients. Performing post-vaccination testing every six months it would have allowed to give booster doses of vaccine in 16% of responder patients before the annual period. CONCLUSION: This current study demonstrates that a HB vaccination schedule with a regular serological follow-up and repeated booster doses , affords an acceptable seroprotection in HD patients.

[Recurrent episodes of acidosis with encephalopathy in a hemodialysis program patient with short bowel syndrome]. / Episodios recurrentes de acidosis con encefalopatía en un paciente en programa de hemodiálisis con síndrome del intestino corto.

We present a case of a patient with short bowel syndrome in a hemodialysis program, with recurrent episodes of serious acidosis. The presence of a D-lactic acidosis peak secondary to bacterial overgrowth in the intestine was discovered during an acute episode of acidosis, with neurological affection. The detection of acidosis in predialysis measurements and the acute episodes of acidosis, made it necessary to administer bicarbonate to the patient and give him additional hemodialysis sessions.

Echocardiographic evaluation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.

Cardiovascular abnormalities have been considered important extrarenal manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). However, little is known about their prevalence in patients with ADPKD undergoing hemodialysis (HD). To investigate whether cardiac abnormalities are more prevalent in these patients, clinical and echocardiographic manifestations of cardiovascular disease were evaluated in a group of 32 patients with ADPKD and a matched control group of 32 patients without diabetes treated by chronic HD for more than 6 months. Predialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), prevalence of hypertension, and number of patients requiring antihypertensive medications were lower in the ADPKD group than controls. There was no difference in the prevalence of cardiac events, including cardiac failure, ischemic heart disease, and arrhythmia. Systolic dysfunction, diastolic patterns, and left ventricular hypertrophy were similar in the two groups. In patients with ADPKD, simple regression analysis showed left ventricular mass (LVM) index was correlated with hemoglobin level and predialytic systolic and diastolic BPs. In multiple regression analysis, predialysis systolic BP was the only independent variable linked to LVM index. The prevalence of aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease did not differ between groups. In conclusion, the occurrence of cardiovascular complications in patients with ADPKD is similar to that of HD patients with other primary renal diseases, although hypertension is less prevalent.