Adult Post-Kidney Transplant Familial Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Successfully Treated With Eculizumab: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is the triad of nonimmune microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. When not associated with enteric infection, it is classified as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and carries a worse outcome with high mortality rate and up to 50% of the survivors will end up with end-stage renal disease. Renal transplant was restricted to a very small percentage of patients due to high recurrence rate posttransplant that approaches 90%. Our case describes a posttransplant adult patient with familial aHUS whom was successfully treated with eculizumab. We also reviewed all other reported cases of adult posttransplant aHUS, both familial and sporadic, which were treated with eculizumab. In summary, eculizumab might expand the utility of renal transplant for patients with end-stage renal disease due to aHUS.

Effect of Lowering the Dialysate Temperature in Chronic Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lowering the dialysate temperature may improve outcomes for patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. We reviewed the reported benefits and harms of lower temperature dialysis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register, OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Pubmed until April 15, 2015. We reviewed the reference lists of relevant reviews, registered trials, and relevant conference proceedings. We included all randomized, controlled trials that evaluated the effect of reduced temperature dialysis versus standard temperature dialysis in adult patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to assess confidence in the estimates of effect (i.e., the quality of evidence). We conducted meta-analyses using random effects models. RESULTS: Twenty-six trials were included, consisting of a total of 484 patients. Compared with standard temperature dialysis, reduced temperature dialysis significantly reduced the rate of intradialytic hypotension by 70% (95% confidence interval, 49% to 89%) and significantly increased intradialytic mean arterial pressure by 12 mmHg (95% confidence interval, 8 to 16 mmHg). Symptoms of discomfort occurred 2.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 9.82) times more often with reduced temperature compared with standard temperature dialysis. The effect on dialysis adequacy was not significantly different, with a Kt/V mean difference of -0.05 (95% confidence interval, -0.09 to 0.01). Small sample sizes, loss to follow-up, and a lack of appropriate blinding in some trials reduced confidence in the estimates of effect. None of the trials reported long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving chronic hemodialysis, reduced temperature dialysis may reduce the rate of intradialytic hypotension and increase intradialytic mean arterial pressure. High-quality, large, multicenter, randomized trials are needed to determine whether reduced temperature dialysis affects patient mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.

Azithromycin and Risk of Cardiovascular Death: A Meta-Analytic Review of Observational Studies.

Recent evidence, though conflicting, suggests an association between azithromycin use and cardiovascular death. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of azithromycin on risk of death. Multiple databases were searched. Authors independently screened and extracted the data from studies. Primary outcome of interest was risk of death (cardiovascular and/or noncardiovascular). Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the source of a possible heterogeneity. Random effects model meta-analysis and hazards ratio (HR) were used to pool the data and calculate the overall effect estimate, respectively. Eight hundred twenty-eight citations, identified with 5 cohort studies that involved 2,246,178 episodes of azithromycin use, met our inclusion criteria. Azithromycin use was not associated with higher risk of death from any cause, HR = 0.99 [confidence interval (CI), 0.82-1.19], I = 54%, or cardiovascular cause, HR = 1.15 (CI, 0.66-2.00), I = 64%, but there was a moderate degree of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses have shown no increased risk of death with azithromycin use in younger population with zero degree of heterogeneity, HR = 0.85 (CI, 0.66-1.09), I = 0%. However, current use of azithromycin (within 1-5 days of therapy) was associated with a higher risk of death among older population with mild degree of heterogeneity, HR = 1.64 (CI, 1.23-2.19), I = 4%. In summary, azithromycin use was not associated with higher risk of death particularly in younger population. Nevertheless, older population might be at higher risk of death with current use of azithromycin, and an alternative therapy should probably be considered.