Left ventricular mass behaviour in hemodialysis patients during 17 years.

INTRODUCTION: Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior. METHODS: There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included. RESULTS: There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.

Comportamento do índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo de pacientes em diálise no decorrer de 17 anos / Left ventricular mass behaviour in hemodialysis patients during 17 years

ResumoIntrodução:A hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE) é alteração frequente em pacientes de diálise e imprime prognóstico sombrio. Não se conhece qual a tendência secular dessa alteração cardíaca em nossos pacientes.Objetivo:Avaliar o comportamento da HVE, pelo índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo (IMVE), no decorrer de 17 anos em pacientes de um centro universitário de diálise, bem como verificar as possíveis causas desse comportamento.Métodos:Foi realizado um estudo longitudinal retrospectivo que avaliou, por meio de ecocardiografia, o IMVE em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise em nosso Serviço de Diálise durante o período de 17 anos, de 1993 a 2010. Foram incluídos 250 exames de pacientes com doença renal crônica estágio V-D com idade superior a 18 anos que foram submetidos à avaliação ecocardiográfica de rotina.Resultados:Notou-se redução do IMVE à medida que os anos avançavam. Essa redução correlacionou-se à diminuição da pressão arterial e à elevação da hemoglobina. Em análise múltipla, a massa ventricular esquerda associou-se apenas à pressão arterial.Conclusão:A porcentagem de pacientes com HVE sofreu redução significante no decorrer de 17 anos em nossa Unidade de Diálise. O fator associado a essa redução foi a diminuição da pressão arterial.

AbstractIntroduction:Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients.Objective:To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior.Methods:There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included.Results:There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin.Conclusion:Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.

Could albumin level explain the higher mortality in hemodialysis patients with pulmonary hypertension?

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in hemodialysis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with the presence of PH in chronic hemodialysis patients and to verify whether these factors might explain the highest mortality among them. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of hemodialysis patients who started treatment from August 2001 to October 2007 and were followed up until April 2011 in a Brazilian referral medical school. According to the results of echocardiography examination, patients were allocated in two groups: those with PH and those without PH. Clinical parameters, site and type of vascular access, bioimpedance, and laboratorial findings were compared between the groups and a logistic regression model was elaborated. Actuarial survival curves were constructed and hazard risk to death was evaluated by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: PH > 35 mmHg was found in 23 (30.6%) of the 75 patients studied. The groups differed in extracellular water, ventricular thickness, left atrium diameter, and ventricular filling. In a univariate analysis, extracellular water was associated with PH (relative risk = 1.194; 95% CI of 1.006 - 1.416; p = 0.042); nevertheless, in a multiple model, only left atrium enlargement was independently associated with PH (relative risk =1.172; 95% CI of 1.010 - 1.359; p = 0.036). PH (hazard risk = 3.008; 95% CI of 1.285 - 7.043; p = 0.011) and age (hazard risk of 1.034 per year of age; 95% CI of 1.000 - 7.068; p = 0.047) were significantly associated with mortality in a multiple Cox regression analysis. However, when albumin was taken in account the only statistically significant association was between albumin level and mortality (hazard risk = 0.342 per g/dL; 95% CI of 0.119 - 0.984; p = 0.047) while the presence of PH lost its statistical significance (p = 0.184). Mortality was higher in patients with PH (47.8% vs 25%) who also had a statistically worse survival after the sixth year of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: PH in hemodialysis patients is associated with parameters of volume overload that sheds light on its pathophysiology. Mortality is higher in hemodialysis patients with PH and the low albumin level can explain this association.

Use of nefidipine and acute kidney injury incidence in postoperative of myocardial revascularization surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the use of nifedipine on the outcome of renal function in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation. METHODS: The casuistics and variables related to extracorporeal circulation were studied. Serum creatinine levels were measured preoperatively, 24, 48 hours and on 7th day postoperatively. Renal failure was defined as an increase in 30% of serum creatinine levels at 24 or 48 hours postoperatively compared to those at baseline. Patients were assigned to four groups: G1 (patients who received nifedipine preoperatively); G2 (patients who received nifedipine postoperatively); G3 (patients who received nifedipine pre and postoperatively) and G4 (patients who did not receive nifedipine). RESULTS: The mean serum creatinine levels postoperatively presented greater rise in G4 (G4>G1=G2=G3), and G4 also presented a higher percentage of patients with acute renal failure (G4>G1 and G4>G3, P<0.05; G1=G3 and G2=G4, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The evaluation of serum creatinine values and incidence of acute kidney injury postoperatively suggest a possible nefro-potective effect of nifedipine in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation.

Uso de nifedipina e incidência de lesão renal aguda em pós-operatório de cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio com CEC / Use of nefidipine and acute kidney injury incidence in postoperative of myocardial revascularization surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

OBJETIVO: Avaliar durante o período perioperatório o uso da nifedipina na incidência de lesão renal aguda dos pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio com circulação extracorpórea. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados, de modo prospectivo e sequencial, 94 pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio com circulação extracorpórea. As dosagens da creatinina sérica foram realizadas durante pré-operatório e pós-operatório de 24, 48 horas e no 7º dia. Estabeleceu-se como definição para presença de lesão renal a elevação da creatinina sérica 30 por cento em relação ao seu valor basal nas primeiras 24 ou 48 horas de pós-operatório. Os pacientes foram divididos em quatro grupos: G1, que recebeu nifedipina no pré-operatório; G2, que recebeu nifedipina no pós-operatório; G3, que recebeu nifedipina no pré e pós-operatórios e, G4, que não recebeu nifedipina. RESULTADOS: O grupo G4 mostrou maior elevação do percentual de creatinina sérica e maior percentual de pacientes que apresentaram insuficiência renal aguda em relação aos demais grupos no pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: Os valores da creatinina sérica e a incidência de lesão renal aguda no pós-operatório sugerem possível efeito nefroprotetor da nifedipina em pacientes submetidos à revascularização do miocárdio com circulação extracorpórea.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the use of nifedipine on the outcome of renal function in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation. METHODS: The casuistics and variables related to extracorporeal circulation were studied. Serum creatinine levels were measured preoperatively, 24, 48 hours and on 7th day postoperatively. Renal failure was defined as an increase in 30 percent of serum creatinine levels at 24 or 48 hours postoperatively compared to those at baseline. Patients were assigned to four groups: G1 (patients who received nifedipine preoperatively); G2 (patients who received nifedipine postoperatively); G3 (patients who received nifedipine pre and postoperatively) and G4 (patients who did not receive nifedipine). RESULTS: The mean serum creatinine levels postoperatively presented greater rise in G4 (G4>G1=G2=G3), and G4 also presented a higher percentage of patients with acute renal failure (G4>G1 and G4>G3, P<0.05; G1=G3 and G2=G4, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The evaluation of serum creatinine values and incidence of acute kidney injury postoperatively suggest a possible nefro-potective effect of nifedipine in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation.

[Preoperative factors for the development of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: prospective study]. / Fatores pré-operatórios associados à injúria renal aguda após cirurgia cardíaca: estudo prospectivo.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and co-morbidities associated with development of Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in patients of a predominantly tertiary care university hospital. METHODS: One hundred and fifty cardiac surgery patients were prospectively studied at the Botucatu School of Medicine University Hospital - UNESP, using a protocol which started 48h before and finished 48h after surgery. AKI was defined as a 30% increase in baseline serum creatinine. RESULTS: Were expressed as mean +/- standard deviation or median, with a significance level of 5%. Results: There was a slight male predominance (57%); mean age of the studied population was 56+/-14 years. Sixty-five per cent of patients underwent myocardial revascularization. AKI was diagnosed in 34% of cases. Multivariate analysis showed that age over 60 years and peripheral vascular disease were significantly associated with AKI development. CONCLUSION: AKI was a common complication in cardiac surgery patients at this hospital. AKI was associated with age over 60 years and presence of peripheral vascular disease.

Fatores pré-operatórios associados à injúria renal aguda após cirurgia cardíaca: estudo prospectivo / Preoperative factors for the development of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery: prospective study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características clínicas e as comorbidades pré-operatórias associadas ao desenvolvimento de injúria renal aguda (IRA) em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca em hospital universitário de atendimento predominantemente terciário. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados, prospectivamente, 150 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP, através de protocolo de estudo iniciado 48 horas antes da cirurgia e encerrado 48 horas após. IRA foi definida como aumento da creatinina sérica basal em 30 por cento. Os resultados foram apresentados como média ± desvio padrão ou mediana, com nível de significância de 5 por cento. RESULTADOS: Houve leve predomínio de homens (57 por cento), sendo a idade média da população estudada de 56 ± 14 anos. Sessenta e cinco por cento dos pacientes foram submetidos à revascularização miocárdica. IRA foi diagnosticada em 34 por cento dos casos. Após análise multivariada, idade maior que 60 anos e doença vascular periférica associaram-se de modo significativo ao desenvolvimento de IRA. CONCLUSÃO: IRA foi uma complicação freqüente em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP. Idade maior que 60 anos e presença de doença vascular periférica estiveram significativamente associados com o desenvolvimento desta complicação.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and co-morbidities associated with development of Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in patients of a predominantly tertiary care university hospital. METHODS: One hundred and fifty cardiac surgery patients were prospectively studied at the Botucatu School of Medicine University Hospital - UNESP, using a protocol which started 48h before and finished 48h after surgery. AKI was defined as a 30 percent increase in baseline serum creatinine. RESULTS: Were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median, with a significance level of 5 percent. Results: There was a slight male predominance (57 percent); mean age of the studied population was 56±14 years. Sixty-five per cent of patients underwent myocardial revascularization. AKI was diagnosed in 34 percent of cases. Multivariate analysis showed that age over 60 years and peripheral vascular disease were significantly associated with AKI development. CONCLUSION: AKI was a common complication in cardiac surgery patients at this hospital. AKI was associated with age over 60 years and presence of peripheral vascular disease.

Preoperative risk factors for the development of acute renal failure in cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical risk factors for the development of Acute Renal Failure (ARF) in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. METHOD: Over a period of 21 consecutive months, one hundred and fifty patients who underwent cardiac surgery were studied. There was a slight prevalence of men (57%) and the average age was 56 +/- 14.8 years. Sixty-six percent presented with coronary artery disease as the main diagnosis and 34% valvular heart disease. The median preoperative serum creatinine was 1.1 mg/dL. ARF was defined as a 30% increase in serum creatinine above baseline. The protocol of clinical variables initiated 48 hours before the surgical procedure and finished 48 hours after it and included cardiological and non-cardiological variables and laboratory data. RESULTS: ARF was present in 34% of the cases. After multivariate analysis, being a man and the presence of peripheral vascular disease were identified as the preoperative factors. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study identified some risk factors for the development of ARF in cardiac surgery, suggesting simple clinical procedures that may prevent renal dysfunction in these situations and, consequently, reduce the mortality rate. In the present study, the sample size has possibly impeded the identification of other significant risk factors.

Coronary artery disease treatment in dialysis patients at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu--UNESP.

BACKGROUND: Interventional treatment of coronary insufficiency is underemployed among dialysis patients. Studies confirming its efficacy in this set of patients are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of interventional treatment of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing dialysis. METHODS: A total of 34 dialysis patients submitted to coronary angiography between September 1995 and October 2004 were divided according to presence or absence of coronary lesion, type of treatment and presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. The groups were compared according to their clinical and survival characteristics. Survival of patients undergoing interventional treatment was compared to overall survival of 146 dialysis patients at the institution in the same period. Interventional treatment was indicated to the same clinical conditions in the general population. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with no angiography coronary lesions presented a survival rate of 100% in 48 months as compared to 35% of 21 patients with coronary artery disease. Diabetic patients had a lower survival rate compared with non-diabetics. Angioplasty had a worse prognosis compared to surgery; however, 80% of patients undergoing angioplasty were diabetic. Seventeen patients submitted to interventional procedures presented a survival rate similar to that of the others 146 hemodialysis patients without clinical evidence of coronary disease. CONCLUSION: This small series shows that myocardial revascularization, whenever indicated, can be performed in dialysis patients. This conclusion is corroborated by similar mortality rates in two groups of patients: coronary patients submitted to revascularization and overall dialysis patients.

Tratamento da doença arterial coronariana em renais crônicos em diálise do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP / Coronary artery disease treatment in dialysis patients at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP

FUNDAMENTO: O tratamento intervencionista da insuficiência coronariana é subempregado nos pacientes em diálise, pois há poucos estudos comprovando sua eficácia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados do tratamento intervencionista da doença arterial coronariana em pacientes tratados por diálise no HC da FMB. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 34 pacientes em diálise submetidos à angiografia coronariana entre set/95 e out/04, divididos de acordo com a presença ou ausência de lesão coronariana, tipo de tratamento e presença ou ausência de diabetes. Os grupos foram comparados de acordo com suas características clínicas e sobrevida. A sobrevida dos pacientes submetidos a tratamento intervencionista foi comparada à sobrevida geral dos 146 pacientes em diálise na instituição no mesmo período. O tratamento intervencionista foi indicado nas mesmas situações clínicas que na população geral. RESULTADOS: Os 13 pacientes que realizaram coronariografia e não exibiam lesões coronarianas apresentaram sobrevida de 100 por cento em 48 meses, contra 35 por cento dos 21 coronarianos no mesmo período. Os diabéticos coronarianos apresentaram sobrevida inferior aos não-diabéticos. A angioplastia exibiu pior prognóstico quando comparada à cirurgia; entretanto 80 por cento dos submetidos a angioplastia eram diabéticos. Os 17 pacientes submetidos a procedimentos de revascularização coronariana apresentaram sobrevida semelhante aos 146 pacientes gerais do serviço. CONCLUSÃO: Esta pequena casuística mostra que a revascularização miocárdica, quando indicada, pode ser realizada em pacientes em diálise. Esta conclusão é corroborada pelo índice de mortalidade semelhante nos dois extratos de pacientes: coronarianos revascularizados e pacientes em diálise de maneira geral.

BACKGROUND: Interventional treatment of coronary insufficiency is underemployed among dialysis patients. Studies confirming its efficacy in this set of patients are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of interventional treatment of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing dialysis. METHODS: A total of 34 dialysis patients submitted to coronary angiography between September 1995 and October 2004 were divided according to presence or absence of coronary lesion, type of treatment and presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. The groups were compared according to their clinical and survival characteristics. Survival of patients undergoing interventional treatment was compared to overall survival of 146 dialysis patients at the institution in the same period. Interventional treatment was indicated to the same clinical conditions in the general population. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with no angiography coronary lesions presented a survival rate of 100 percent in 48 months as compared to 35 percent of 21 patients with coronary artery disease. Diabetic patients had a lower survival rate compared with non-diabetics. Angioplasty had a worse prognosis compared to surgery; however, 80 percent of patients undergoing angioplasty were diabetic. Seventeen patients submitted to interventional procedures presented a survival rate similar to that of the others 146 hemodialysis patients without clinical evidence of coronary disease. CONCLUSION: This small series shows that myocardial revascularization, whenever indicated, can be performed in dialysis patients. This conclusion is corroborated by similar mortality rates in two groups of patients: coronary patients submitted to revascularization and overall dialysis patients.

Fatores de risco pré-operatórios para o desenvolvimento de Insuficiência Renal Aguda em cirurgia cardíaca / Preoperative risk factors for the development of Acute Renal Failure in cardiac surgery

OBJETIVO:Avaliar os fatores de risco clínicos pré-cirurgicos para o desenvolvimento de Insuficiência Renal Aguda (IRA) em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. MÉTODO: Foram estudados, de modo prospectivo, 150 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, durante 21 meses consecutivos, havendo um leve predomínio de homens (57 por cento), idade média de 56 ± 15 anos, sendo que 66 por cento apresentavam insuficiência coronariana como principal diagnóstico e 34 por cento valvulopatias. A mediana da creatinina sérica no período pré-operatório foi de 1,1 mg/dl. IRA foi definida como elevação de 30 por cento da creatinina sérica basal. O protocolo de variáveis clínicas teve seu preenchimento iniciado 48 horas antes do procedimento cirúrgico e encerrado 48 horas após o mesmo, incluindo variáveis cardiológicas e não-cardiológicas, além de resultados laboratoriais. RESULTADOS: A IRA esteve presente em 34 por cento dos casos. Após análise multivariada, presença de doença vascular periférica foi fator pré-operatório identificado. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo permitiram sinalizar alguns fatores contributivos para o desenvolvimento de IRA em cirurgia cardíaca, o que pode possibilitar condutas clínicas simples para evitar a disfunção renal nestas situações e, conseqüentemente, redução da taxa de mortalidade. No presente trabalho, o tamanho da amostra talvez tenha impedido a identificação de outros fatores de risco significativos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical risk factors for the development of Acute Renal Failure (ARF) in patients who undergo cardiac surgery. METHOD: Over a period of 21 consecutive months, one hundred and fifty patients who underwent cardiac surgery were studied. There was a slight prevalence of men (57 percent) and the average age was 56 ± 14.8 years. Sixty-six percent presented with coronary artery disease as the main diagnosis and 34 percent valvular heart disease. The median preoperative serum creatinine was 1.1 mg/dL. ARF was defined as a 30 percent increase in serum creatinine above baseline. The protocol of clinical variables initiated 48 hours before the surgical procedure and finished 48 hours after it and included cardiological and non-cardiological variables and laboratory data. RESULTS: ARF was present in 34 percent of the cases. After multivariate analysis, being a man and the presence of peripheral vascular disease were identified as the preoperative factors. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study identified some risk factors for the development of ARF in cardiac surgery, suggesting simple clinical procedures that may prevent renal dysfunction in these situations and, consequently, reduce the mortality rate. In the present study, the sample size has possibly impeded the identification of other significant risk factors.

Fisiopatologia da hipertensão arterial em diálise: [revisão] / Pathophysiology of arterial hypertension in dialysis: [review]

A Insuficiência Renal Crônica tem se tornado cada vez mais prevalente no Brasil e no mundo. A hipertensão arterial e o Diabetes Mellitus se destacamcomo as principais doenças associadas ao seu aparecimento. Embora grandes avanços tenham sido conquistados no manuseio dessas doenças, aindanão é possível impedir que uma parcela desse grupo de pacientes evolua para a necessidade de terapia de substituição renal, diálise e/ou transplante.Apesar da melhora nas técnicas dialíticas, a mortalidade tem permanecido elevada, com destaque para as causas cardiovasculares, em que ahipertensão arterial representa importante fator de risco. Compreender a fisiopatologia da hipertensão nos pacientes em diálise faz-se necessário paradirecionar adequadamente o tratamento visando redução da morbidade e mortalidade. Esta revisão descreve mecanismos relacionados à hipertensãoem diálise com ênfase na retenção de sódio e água e as suas interações não apenas com o sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona, mas também como sistema nervoso autônomo simpático e outros de regulação pressórica cujo conhecimento pode auxiliar na prática nefrológica rotineira.

End stage renal failure has an increasing prevalence in Brazil and worldwide. Arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus emerge as the leading diseasesassociated with its development. Despite larger advances in management of these two conditions, we are not able to refrain the progression of some ofthese patients to end stage renal disease and reduce the demand for dialysis or kidney transplant. Irrespective of the improvement in dialysis techniques,the mortality of end-stage renal disease patients remains elevated with cardiovascular diseases playing a pivotal role in this regard. Hypertension is animportant risk factor to this end-point. The understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertension in dialysis may be instrumental to an appropriate treatmentaiming to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates of these patients. This review describes mechanisms related to the development of hypertension indialysis with emphasis in sodium overload and its relationships with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system and othermechanisms of blood pressure regulation whose knowledge may help the quotidian working journey of many nephrologists.