Dissecting aneurysm of the celiac trunk: a case report.

Aneurysms of visceral arteries are relatively rare entities. Spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection is an uncommon diagnosis, with only a few reported cases. We report the case of 52-year-old man who had an asymptomatic celiac trunk dissecting aneurysm detected by tomographic angiography. Because of the combined risk of rupture and ischemia, we decided to treat this lesion by a conventional bypass.

Competing-risk analysis of death and dialysis initiation among elderly (≥80 years) newly referred to nephrologists: a French prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Reasons underlying dialysis decision-making in Octogenarians and Nonagenarians have not been further explored in prospective studies. METHODS: This regional, multicentre, non-interventional and prospective study was aimed to describe characteristics and quality of life (QoL) of elderly (≥80 years of age) with advanced chronic kidney disease (stage 3b-5 CKD) newly referred to nephrologists. Predictive factors of death and dialysis initiation were also assessed using competing-risk analyses. RESULTS: All 155 included patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 45 ml/min/1.73 m2. Most patients had a non anaemic haemoglobin level (Hb) with no iron deficiency, and normal calcium and phosphate levels. They were well-fed and had a normal cognitive function and a good QoL. The 3-year probabilities of death and dialysis initiation reached 27% and 11%, respectively. The leading causes of death were cardiovascular (32%), cachexia (18%), cancer (9%), infection (3%), trauma (3%), dementia (3%), and unknown (32%). The reasons for dialysis initiation were based on uncontrolled biological abnormalities, such as hyperkalemia or acidosis (71%), uncontrolled digestive disorders (35%), uncontrolled pulmonary or peripheral oedema (29%), and uncontrolled malnutrition (12%). No patients with acute congestive heart failure or cancer initiated dialysis. Predictors of death found in both multivariate regression models (Cox and Fine & Gray) included acute congestive heart failure, age, any walking impairment and Hb<10 g/dL. Regarding dialysis initiation, eGFR <23 mL/min/1.73 m2 was the only predictor found in the Cox multivariate regression model whereas eGFR<23 mL/min/1.73 m2 and diastolic blood pressure were both independently associated with dialysis initiation in the Fine & Gray analysis. Such findings suggested that death and dialysis were independent events. CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians and Nonagenarians newly referred to nephrologists by general practitioners were highly selected patients, without any symptoms of the common geriatric syndrome. In this population, nephrologists' dialysis decision was based exclusively on uremic criteria.

Radio-opaque fecal impaction and pseudo-occlusion in a dialyzed patient taking lanthanum carbonate.

Lanthanum therapy is an efficient therapy of hyperphosphoremia by chelating phosphore in the digestive tract. Lanthanum is a silvery white metallic element that belongs to group 3 of the periodic table. This drug is lightly absorbed and has low water solubility. It should be borne in mind that abdominal X-rays of patients taking lanthanum carbonate may have a radio-opaque appearance typical of imaging agents. This characteristic is suggested to confirm adherence of the patient by doing an abdominal X-ray. We describe in our case a particular good compliant patient with slow digestive transit, which ends by pseudo-occlusion.

Role of plasma exchange in the thyroid storm.

Inadequately treated thyroid storm can lead to death. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a suggested treatment when conventional treatments fail, but its indication is not well codified. We report our experience through three explicit cases. Three elderly patients were admitted to our hospital for cardiac or neurologic symptoms due to thyroid storm. After initiation of conventional therapy, TPE was performed with clinical and biological improvement. The speed of symptom resolution varies depending on the severity. This technique must be carried out by experienced medical staff as many complications can occur; nevertheless, in our patients with severe comorbidities, no complications occurred. The action of TPE mainly results from plasma removal of cytokines, putative antibodies, and thyroid hormones and their bound proteins. TPE has a transitory effect and thus should be associated with other thyroid blockers. When there are threatening symptoms, TPE should be done early, without waiting for the efficiency of conventional treatment, since it is the fastest method known for the improvement of the clinical condition. We also suggest starting TPE in case of neurologic symptoms because of very slow and incomplete regression. The Burch and Wartofsky score seems to be a helpful tool in establishing the diagnosis of thyroid storm and for deciding on when to initiate TPE.

Prognostic survival factors in elderly renal failure patients treated with peritoneal dialysis: a nine-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies specifically investigating elderly patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) have been conducted and great uncertainty remains on the factors involved in the vital prognosis. The objective of this study was to describe our population of patients aged 75 years or older at the time PD was initiated and to study their survival in terms of the relevant nephro-geriatric criteria inventoried at the beginning of treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of all the elderly patients that began first-line PD in our center between 1 January 1997 and 31 July 2006 (n = 112). RESULTS: Mean duration of survival on PD was 19.6 +/- 13.9 months; by the end of the study 87 patients had died and 7 had been transferred to hemodialysis. The Cox model multivariate analysis of survival allowed us to select 5 independent predictive variables that had a considerable impact on survival: absence of nephrologic care before dialysis, associated comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index), loss of physical and/or mental autonomy (AGGIR group), and polymedication. Above and beyond the weight of these clinical variables, institutionalization or, more generally, social isolation was a determining factor for the duration of survival in PD. CONCLUSION: Any patient considered for peritoneal dialysis should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team in collaboration with geriatric specialists for both the overall medical situation and the social and family environment.

A confusional state associated with use of lanthanum carbonate in a dialysis patient: a case report.

A 75-year-old woman was admitted with febrile confusion and abdominal pain. She was taking medications that included lanthanum carbonate. Examination, biology, a cerebral scan, and a review of her medications could not explain the confusion. The plain film of the abdomen revealed multiple diffuse calcium-like deposits throughout the digestive tract. The plasma levels of lanthanum were higher than normal. The confusion resolved after discontinuation of the lanthanum carbonate. This case raises the problem of the potential role played by lanthanum tablet residue in the genesis or aggravation of diverticular flare-up and the problem of the potential permeability of the blood-brain barrier with lanthanum use in case of its digestive accumulation, leading to increased serum concentrations.

[Cost of dialysis in France]. / Coût de la prise en charge de la dialyse en France.

The provision of care for patients with end-stage chronic renal failure is an important medical and economic challenge for the Health Insurance. Previous studies have shown a lower cost for home dialysis. More recently, studies have confirmed identical short-term survival rates between haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Notwithstanding, home dialysis techniques utilization remains weak in France. This work aims at: determining the average annual cost of dialysis, per patient and per technique of dialysis, and assessing the global annual cost of dialysis in France, from the Health Insurance perspective. Methodologically, this article provides a static estimation of the cost of dialysis. Costs related to co-morbidities of end-stage chronic renal failure have not been considered. Standard patient care schemes have been outlined by a multidisciplinary expert committee, for each dialysis technique, and have been valorised using publicly available data and tariffs recorded in 2005. Our result show that home dialysis techniques are the less costly, with an average annual cost per patient of 49.9, 49.7 and 50.0 k euro respectively for home haemodialysis, automated peritoneal dialysis, and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Autodialysis, autonomous in-center haemodialysis and in-center haemodialysis respectively cost 59.5, 62.3 and 81.5 k euro per patient and per annum. The total 2005 cost of dialysis for the Health Insurance is estimated at 2.1 billion euro. Therefore, the development of alternative techniques to in-center haemodialysis, such as home dialysis or autonomous in-center haemodialysis, autodialysis being already well developed, could generate savings for the Health Insurance. From the patient's perspective, it could also allow the enlightened choice of the best customized technique, less guided by local offer than by medical or social criteria, as well as by the patient's own opinion.

[Choosing between peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis: a critical appraisal of the literature]. / Le choix entre dialyse péritonéale et hémodialyse: une revue critique de la littérature.

In France, incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are increasing, requiring a more rational use of available replacement therapies. To help practitioners make their choice between treatment modalities of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD), critical appraisal of relevant literature has been conducted. Although few absolute or relative contraindications for PD and HD exist, arguments in favour of one versus the other dialysis technique can be made. When patients receive adequate and complete information, their preference is neutral between PD and HD. To date, no trial presenting a convincing level of evidence has been published which demonstrates the superiority of one technique compared to the other. Relative to mortality, it appears that no difference can be observed between the two modalities. However, in those instances where patients expect a rapid transplantation, PD is the preferred technique. This analysis suggests that peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis are not competitive but rather complementary treatments. It is therefore interesting to identify the reasons supporting the various choices between the two different treatment modalities amongst France's regions. Access to transplant, economic or organizational factors must be considered.

In vivo expression of putative LMX1B targets in nail-patella syndrome kidneys.

The nail-patella syndrome (NPS) is characterized by nail and bone abnormalities, associated with glomerular involvement in approximately 40% of patients. Typical glomerular changes consist of fibrillar material in the irregularly thickened glomerular basement membrane. NPS is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and caused by heterozygous loss of function mutations in LMX1B, a member of the LIM homeodomain protein family. Mice with homozygous inactivation of the gene exhibit nail and skeletal defects, similar to those observed in patients, associated with glomerular abnormalities. Strong reduction in the glomerular expression of the alpha3 and alpha4 chains of type IV collagen, and of podocin and CD2AP, two podocyte proteins critical for glomerular function, has been observed in Lmx1b null mice. The expression of these proteins appeared to be regulated by Lmx1b. To determine whether these changes in podocyte gene expression are involved in the development of NPS nephropathy, using immunohistological techniques, we analyzed the podocyte phenotype and the renal distribution of type IV collagen chains in the kidneys of seven NPS patients with severe glomerular disease. We also examined the nature of the fibrillar material present within the glomerular extracellular matrix. The glomerular basement membrane fibrillar material was specifically labeled with anti-type III collagen antibodies, suggesting a possible regulation of type III collagen expression by LMX1B. The expression of the alpha3 and alpha4 chains of type IV collagen, and of podocin and CD2AP, was found to be normal in the seven patients. These findings indicate that heterozygous mutations of LMX1B do not appear to dramatically affect the expression of type IV collagen chains, podocin, or CD2AP in NPS patients.

Efficacy and safety of a 7.5% icodextrin peritoneal dialysis solution in patients treated with automated peritoneal dialysis.

In a randomized, prospective, multicenter study, we compared the safety, efficacy, and metabolic effects of a 7.5% icodextrin solution (Extraneal) with a 2.27% glucose solution for long dwell exchanges in patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis. Thirty-nine stable patients on automated peritoneal dialysis were randomized to receive either icodextrin (n = 20) or glucose 2.27% solution (n = 19). The study included a 2-week baseline period followed by a 12-week icodextrin treatment phase and a 2-week follow-up period when switching back to glucose. The average net ultrafiltration during the long dwell period was 278 +/- 43 mL/d for the icodextrin group and -138 +/- 81 mL/d for the control group (P < 0.001). The higher ultrafiltration volume with icodextrin was associated with higher creatinine (2.59 +/- 0.09 mL/min versus 2.16 +/- 0.11 mL/min) and urea (2.67 +/- 0.09 mL/min versus 2.28 +/- 0.12 mL/min) peritoneal clearances for the long dwell (both P < 0.001). Ultrafiltration rate per mass of carbohydrate absorbed was +5.2 +/- 1.2 microL/min/g in the icodextrin group and -5.5 +/- 2.8 microL/min/g in the glucose group (P < 0.001). In the icodextrin group, there was a decrease in serum sodium and chloride compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Total dialysate sodium removal increased in the icodextrin group from 226.7 mEq to 269.6 mEq (week 12, P < 0.001). Serum alpha-amylase activity decreased from 103 U/L to 16 U/L (P < 0.001). The total icodextrin plasma levels reached a steady-state concentration of 6,187 +/- 399 mg/L after 1 week of treatment. Urine volume and residual renal function were not specifically affected by icodextrin compared with glucose. None of the laboratory changes resulted in any reported clinically meaningful side effect. Icodextrin produced increased, sustained ultrafiltration during the long dwell period, increasing (convective) peritoneal clearance and sodium removal in automated peritoneal dialysis patients.