Short- and long-term outcomes of living donors in Tunisia: a retrospective study.

Despite initiatives to increase cadaveric donation, there is still a shortfall in donor organs. Kidneys from living donors now makes a significant contribution to increasing the number of organs available for transplantation in Tunisia. We performed a retrospective study of 405 kidney transplantations, including 321 (79.3%) from living donors performed from June 1986 to December 2007. We obtained information on only 162 (50.4%), namely, 64 men (39.5%) and 98 women (60.5%), whose mean age at the time of donation was 42.3 ± 12.2 years. Twelve (8.22%) perioperative complications occurred: wound infections (n = 4), pneumothorax (n = 4), phlebitis (n = 1), hematomas (n = 2), and urinary infection (n = 1). The mean follow-up period was 117.4 ± 74.4 months. Hypertension occurred in 42 donors (25.9%) with mean values of 134 ± 20 for systolic and 79 ± 10 for diastolic blood pressure. Twelve donors (7.4%) developed proteinuria (mean proteinuria, 0.08 ± 1.25 g/d). Renal insufficiency was found in 28 donors (19.44%), 2 of whom developed chronic renal failure requiring dialysis at intervals of 36 and 84 months. In both cases, we diagnosed a familial form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Two donors (1.2%) died within 10 years after kidney donation due to senility. The relatively favorable outcomes suggest that living-donor kidney transplantation is an acceptable approach, in view of the superior results it yields in recipients. However, efforts to increase the number of cadaveric donors in Tunisia should be made. It is also important to develop a registry of long-term kidney function after kidney donation.

Nephrolithiasis-induced end stage renal disease.

INTRODUCTION: Nephrolithiasis still remains a too frequent and underappreciated cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS AND PATIENTS: Of the entire cohort of 7128 consecutive patients who started maintenance dialysis in our nephrology department between January 1992 and December 2006, a total of 45 patients (26 women, 19 men) had renal stone disease as the cause of ESRD. The type of nephrolithiasis was determined in 45 cases and etiology in 42. The treatment and evolution of stone disease and patient's survival were studied. RESULTS: The overall proportion of nephrolithiasis related ESRD was 0.63%. The mean age was 48.4 years. Infection stones (struvite) accounted for 40%, calcium stones, 26.67% (primary hyperparathyroidism:15.56%; familial hypercalciuria: 4.44%, unknown etiology: 6.66%), primary hyperoxaluria type 1, 17.78% and uric acid lithiasis in 15.56% of cases. The mean delay of the evolution of the stone renal disease to chronic renal failure was 85.8 months. The feminine gender, obesity and elevated alkaline phosphatases >128 IU/L were significantly correlated with fast evolution of ESRD. The median evolution to ESRD was 12 months. The normal body mass index (BMI), medical treatment of stone and primary hyperoxaluria type 1 were correlated with fast evolution to ESRD. All patients were treated by hemodialysis during a mean evolution of 60 months. Sixteen patients died. The patient's survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 97.6, 92.8 and 69% respectively. Hypocalcemia, cardiopathy and normal calcium-phosphate product were significantly correlated with lower survival rate. CONCLUSION: Severe forms of nephrolithiasis remain an underestimated cause of ESRD. These findings highlight the crucial importance of accurate stone analysis and metabolic evaluation to provide early diagnosis and efficient treatment for conditions leading to ESRD.

[Variations of troponin T in chronic hemodialysis patients: study of 52 cases]. / Variation de la troponine Tc chez les hémodialyses chroniques: etude a propos de 52 cas.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe renal dysfunction have unexplained elevated serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T. AIM: Study the frequency of elevated cTnT in hemodialysis patients and investigated whether cTnT is elevated. METHODS: The patient population consisted of 52 patients on maintenance hemodialysis and 20 healthy subjects. cTnT was measured before and after hemodialysis by using immunoenzymatic method. cTnT were undetectable in 7 cases(< 0.01 ng/ml) and higher than normal range (up to 0.1 ng/ml) in 9 cases. 32 cases have a level of cTnT > 0.01 and < 0.1 ng/ml. In addition, TnTc levels are significantly associated with cardiac dysfunction (p < 0.05) and inflammation (p 0.01). RESULTS: After hemodialysis sessions, TnTc was less than 0.01 ng/1 in 11 patients (21.2%), between 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml in 32 subjects (61.5%) and greater than 0.1 ng/ml in 9 subjects (17.3%). In the control group, only 1 subject (5%) had a rate of TnTc between 0.01 and 0.1 ng/ml, whereas it was less than 0.01 ng/ml for all others. We aim a statistically significant positive correlation between the rate of TnTc and heart failure (p < 0.05) on the one hand and serum CRP (p < 0.01) on the other. CONCLUSION: The causes of elevated cTnT levels in hemodialysis patients was multiple: cardiac dysfunction, left ventricular dysfunction and inflammation.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The dissecting aortic aneurysm (DAA) is a rare pathology that may result in fatal outcome. We report follow up of three cases of DAA patients undergoing maintenance hemo-dialysis who were managed conservatively.

The first year renal function as a predictor of long-term graft survival after kidney transplantation.

This study examined the impact of graft function at the end of the first year after kidney transplantation on long-term graft survival. We analyzed the roles of serum creatinine (Scr) and other variables as predictors of graft survival among 235 adult kidney transplant patients. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their Scr at the end of the first year: group 1, Scr < 100 micromol/L; group 2, 100 micromol/L < or = Scr < or = 150 micromol/L; and group 3, Scr >150 micromol/L. The annual rate of graft loss of 0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.77) in group 1, was lower than those in group 2 (2.1%; 95% CI, 2.02-2.18; P < .0001) and group 3 (6%; 5.74-6.26; P < .0001). Regression analysis showed the role of recipient age at the time of operation, and Scr level at the end of the first year to be independent predictors of graft loss. Graft survival was not influenced by any other studied parameter, including donor age, year of procedure, warm ischemia time, history of acute tubular necrosis, and occurrence of an acute rejection episode. We conclude that the 1-year Scr value predicts long-term renal graft survival, representing a simple, practical tool to identify recipients with an high risk for late graft failure.

Kidney transplantation: Charles Nicolle Hospital experience.

The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the short- and long-term follow-up of 298 renal transplantations performed between June 1986 and May 2005. All were first transplantations except 4 cases, with 54 from cadaveric and 244 from living donors. The recipients included 196 males and 102 females of overall mean age of 31.21 +/- 8.9 years (range, 16-61 years). A combination of prednisolone and azathioprine was presented for 212 patients or mycophenolate mofetil for 86 patients. Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies were used as induction therapy in 183 cases. Cyclosporine was administered to 188 cases and tacrolimus only to 16. HLA matching was 0 mismatches (MM) in 65 cases; 1 or 2 MM in 113; 3 MM in 99; and > or =4 MM in 21. Acute tubular necrosis occurred in 45 cases. One hundred eighteen patients experienced at least 1 acute rejection episode: 102 cases (41.8%) among living and 16 (29.6%) among cadaveric kidneys donor (P = .0007). The actuarial patient and graft survival rates at 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years were 95.9%, 87.4%, 77.5%, 65.6%, and 60.8%, and 94.9%, 84.5%, 75.4%, 65.4%, and 53%, respectively. Sixty-three patients died and 72 patients returned to dialysis. Our results were comparable to experienced centers. However, the member of kidney transplantations does not match the increased number of patients on renal replacement therapy. It is advisable to promote obtaining organs from brain-dead donors.

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia in chronic renal failure.

Gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a frequent and sometimes life-threatening complication of end-stage renal failure. Angiodysplasia (AD), vascular malformation, is the most common cause of recurrent lower-intestinal hemorrhage in patients with renal failure. We report four chronic hemodialysis patients with AD. All patients presented with severe anemia requiring transfusion. GI hemorrhage ceased spontaneously in three cases and after treatment with argon plasma coagulation in another. Diagnosis of AD is usually challenging, since its cause is still unknown, and its clinical presentation is variable. Lesions are multiple in 40-75% of cases, often located in the stomach and duodenum but can affect the colon and the jejunum. Diagnosis is improved by endoscopy which has a much higher sensitivity compared to angiography. Capsular endoscopy may reveal the hemorrhage site in the small intestine when regular endoscopy fails, and therapeutic intervention usually include argon plasma coagulation.

Risk factors of arterial hypertension after renal transplantation.

Arterial hypertension often present after kidney transplantation is of multifactorial origin. The aim of this study was to determine the role of donor and recipient factors in the development of hypertension after renal transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 280 patients transplanted between 1985 and 2005, who still had functioning grafts at 1 year after transplantation. We recorded donor and recipient parameters. One hundred eighty-seven patients (66.8%) were hypertensive. Upon multivariate analysis of recipient factors, pretransplant hypertension (odds ratio) [OR]: 8.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.5 to 16.1); serum creatinine level > 130 micromol/L at 6 months (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3 to 4,7), male gender (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.4), and chronic rejection (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2 to 4.7) were independent predisposing factors. Among donor factors, age was significantly associated with arterial hypertension upon univariate analysis. In conclusion, recipient factors, especially pretransplant hypertension, contribute to the disorder in renal transplant patients.

Tuberculosis after renal transplantation.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in our country. Its diagnosis in immunodeficient patients is difficult. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the prevalence, clinical presentation, and outcome of TB after renal transplantation (RT) in our Tunisian team's experience. Among 359 renal transplant recipients, 9 (2.5%) developed TB at 49.6 months (range, 3-156 months) after RT. There were 7 men and 2 women of mean age 37.8 years (range, 15-53 years). The organs involved included lymph nodes in 1 case; lung in 5 cases; genitourinary system in 1 case; rachis in 1 case; pleural in 1 case; and both pulmonary and urinary systems in 1 case. The diagnosis was bacteriologic in 6 cases; histologic in 1 case; and 2 patients had a high index of suspicion. All patients were treated with a combination of rifampicin, isoniazide, pyrazinamide, and ethambutal. Recurrence of TB infection was noted in 3 cases with multiple localizations: lymph node, muscle abscess, meningitis, genitourinary system, rachis, and lung. Two patients died. In conclusion, among renal transplant patients, extrapulmonary involvement and recurrence of TB were frequent.

[Indications, complications and cost of internal jugular catheters in hemodialysed patients: study of 533 cases]. / Indications, complications et cout des catheters jugulaires internes chez les hemodialyses: etude de 533 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Central venous catheters for hemodialysis are very useful as blood accesses when arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are not available. The aim of this study is to analyse the clinical impact of internal jugular catheters (IJC) in hemodialysed patients and to assess their economic consequences. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study realised from July 1998 to March 2002 including 533 hemodialysed patients without functional AVF: 280 males and 253 females aged between 17 and 87 years (mean age: 54.1 +/- 15 years). Single lumen polyurethane Vygon were used. All catheters were placed using Seldinger procedure and the posterior route of Jernigan which is more comfortable for patient. RESULTS: Indications of IJC placement were new hemodialysed patients without AVF in 73.5% cases and no functional AVF in 26.5% cases. During the period of the study. IJC was placed in 533 patients. We failed to place the IJC at the first attempt in 42 patients but we succeed in placing it on the controlateral side. During IJC placement, we observed 50 (9.4%) cases of accidental puncture of carotid artery. The median duration use of IJC was 41 days (extreme: 1 to 413 days). IJC were removed mainly because of the use of AVF in 469 (88%) cases and the catheter infection in 41 (77%) cases. Bacteriological analysis were made only for 25 patients: staphylococci were identified in 16 cases and catheter cultures were negative in the 9 other cases. All patients were treated with antibiotics. Outcome was favourable for 39 of them and we had 2 deaths by septicemia. The IJC cost was 44,287 Tunisian Dinars (DT) coresponding to 31.633 Euro including 10125 DT (7,232 Euro) for infectious treatment. CONCLUSION: The use of IJC is frequent in our center with a high rate of infectious complications which increased the hemodialysis cost. The realisation of AVF, in patients with chronic renal failure before the beginning of hemodialysis, is the best way to limit the use of catheters.

[Lupus nephritis: 211 cases]. / Néphropathie lupique : à propos de 211 cas.

PURPOSE: Renal involvement is one of the most severe and frequent manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Prognosis factors are variable in the different studies. We analyze in 211 patients clinical, biological and histologic characteristics of lupus nephritis and the different prognosis factors. METHODS: It's a retrospective study in 211 with lupus nephritis followed-up between 1975 and 2003. RESULTS: There were 195 women and 16 men aged meanly of 28,8 years. At first presentation, we noted hypertension in 32,3% of cases, nephrotic syndrome in 47,7% of cases and renal failure in 51,6% of cases. histologic examination of kidney revealed class III in 59 cases, class IV in 97 cases and class V in 33 cases. Two hundred and five patients were treated by corticosteriods associated with immunosupressive agents in 95 cases. After a mean follow-up of 103 months (2-289 months), we obtained remission in 55,3% deterioration of renal function in 34,8% with end stage renal failure in 14,7% and relapses occurred in 51% of cases. Thirty-three patients died. Age <24 years, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and initial renal failure were statistically associated with deterioration of renal function. CONCLUSION: Lupus nephritis is severe in our patients with predominance of proliferative forms. Age <24 years, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and initial renal failure were statistically associated with deterioration of renal function.

Renal amyloidosis followed more than 5 years: report of 12 cases.

Renal involvement with amyloidosis is common but causes patient survival to be poor, rarely reaching 5 years. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed clinical and biological characteristics as well as treatments and outcomes of patients with renal amyloidosis followed for more than 5 years. Between 1975 and 2003, 485 patients were diagnosed with renal amyloidosis including only 12 patients who were followed more than 5 years. The six men and six women of mean age 42.4 years (range 18 to 66 years) displayed renal signs of lower limb edema in all cases; hypertension in four cases, proteinuria on urinalysis in all cases with microscopic hematuria in five cases. Biological tests showed nephrotic syndrome in 11 patients, normal renal function in nine patients, and renal failure in three patients whose mean creatinine was 481.6 micromol/L (range 294 to 726). The amyloidosis was AA type in 11 cases and non-AA in one case. An etiologic survey revealed spondylarthropathy in one patient, pulmonary tuberculosis in two patients, chronic bronchitis in three patients, hepatic hydatic cyst in one patient, Mediterranean familial fever in two patients, Crohn's disease in one patient, Hodgkin's lymphoma in one patient, and multiple myeloma in one patient. Specific treatment was initiated with colchicine in seven patients. At a 110-month mean follow-up (range 53 to 153 months), remission of nephrotic syndrome was observed in four cases, progression to chronic renal failure in two patients, and to end-stage renal failure in five cases (range 53 to 196 months), with stabilization of renal function in seven patients. In conclusion, primary amyloid disease should be optimally suppressed in patients with renal involvement. The role of this treatment in remission of renal amyloidosis is not well established. This efficacy of the treatment has been demonstrated in some patients with improved survival.

Impact of initial blood pressure on the mortality of diabetics undergoing renal replacement therapy.

The aim of this study was to determine the blood pressure (BP) profiles and their impact on mortality among a cohort of uremic diabetics treated by hemodialysis. The studied population includes all type II diabetics starting hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease between 1990 and 1996. There were 221 patients (144 men, 77 women) aged from 37 to 78 years, were all followed until death or December 2003 without any censored data. Survival analysis to identify predictors of death was performed using the actuarial method, Cox proportional model, including systolic, diastolic, mean, and pulse blood pressures (SBP, DBP, MBP, PP). One hundred seventy-eight patients (80.5%) were hypertensive at the start of dialysis. Hypertension preceded the diagnosis of diabetes in eight cases (4.5%); 154 patients (86.5%) received antihypertensive drugs and only 23 (14.9%) had well-controlled hypertension. Our population was subdivided into four groups according to their BP levels at the time of beginning of dialysis; G1 (19.5%): normal BP (SBP [90 to 140] and DBP [60 to 90]); G2 (30.3%): Hypertension stage 1 (SBP [140 to 160] and/or DBP [90 to 100]); G3 (32.1%): hypertension stage 2 (SBP [160 to 180] and/or DBP [100 to 110]); G4 (18.1%) hypertension stage 3 (SBP [180 to 220] and/or DBP [110 to 120]). Mean age and comorbidities were similar among the four groups. During a cumulative follow-up period of 872 patient-years, 191 patients died, representing a rate of 21.9 per 100 patient-years; 20.42% of these deaths occurred during the first 3 months of dialysis. Normotensive patients showed lower survival rates without any significant difference in comparison with those of other hypertensive groups. None of the initial BP parameters (SBP, DBP, PP, MBP, hypertension stages) seemed to influence early or global mortalities, which were rather related to the urgent onset of renal replacement therapy, to age, to serum albumin, and to the score of associated morbidities. We conclude that mortality of our hemodialyzed diabetics was not influenced by the blood pressure parameters recorded at the onset of dialysis.

[Obstructive acute renal failure revealing visceral leishmaniasis in a diabetic patient]. / Une insuffisance rénale aiguë obstructive révélant une leishmaniose viscérale chez un diabétique.

We report a case of a 22 years old type 1 diabetic man with a history of weight loss, weakness, anorexia, fever and recurrent urinary tract infection since February 2001. In April 2001, he presented anuria due to obstructive acute renal failure. Hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were absent at physical examination. Laboratory tests revealed a high level of gamma globulin (53.4 g/l) and anaemia (haemoglobin 7.7 g/100 ml) without leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. CT scan showed multiple retroperitoneal lymphadenopathies causing compression of the two ureters, hydro-ureter associated with hydronephrosis, hepatosplenomegaly and multiple pulmonary nodes. Lymphadenopathies, anaemia, high level of gamma globulin, high titres of anti-leishmanial antibodies and the excellent outcome after treatment with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) confirmed visceral leishmaniasis. This report documented an unusual clinical presentation of Visceral leishmaniasis in a diabetic patient.

Renal replacement therapy for diabetic end-stage renal disease. Experience of a Tunisian hospital centre.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 299 uremic diabetics at the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and to evaluate their morbidity and the factors influencing their mortality during the dialysis period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients starting RRT for diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis during a period of seven years (1990-1996) constituted the study population. During the follow-up period ended on December 31, 2000, all morbid events, hospitalizations and deaths were recorded. Multivariate analysis according to the Cox proportional hazards model was performed to identify the predictors of mortality. RESULTS: There were 238 type 2 (79.6%) and 61 type 1 diabetics (20.4%) representing 20.3% of all patients accepted for RRT. The mean age at the onset of RRT was 53.16 +/- 12.43 years (range: 23 to 80 years). A poor glycemic control was observed in 46.7% of type 2 diabetics and in 67.3% of type 1 diabetics (p=0.0055). A third of patients started RRT in emergency conditions and 91% required a temporary vascular access. At the time of onset of RRT, 86.7% of patients were hypertensive and 52.1% had a nephrotic syndrome. Blindness was observed in 22.9% of type 1 diabetics and in 7.5% of type 2 diabetics (p=0.0014). During the follow-up period, 217 patients died representing a rate of 22% patient-years, 26.7% of these deaths occurred during the first 3 months of RRT and 53% were attributed to infectious or cardiovascular complications. Actuarial survival rates were 68.4%, 59.6% and 45.3% at 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively. Age, co-morbidities and conditions of onset of RRT were independently correlated with survival time. CONCLUSION: Diabetes is a frequent cause of ESRD in Tunisia, the delayed referral to a nephrologist and coexistence of serious co-morbidities at the initiation of RRT resulted in a high rate of early death. Greater efforts should be made in our country in view of improving the quality of medical care of uremic diabetics before and during RRT.

[Tumorous calcinosis in hemodialysis: anatomo-clinical study apropos of 3 cases]. / La calcinose tumorale des hémodialysés: étude anatomoclinique: à propos de trois cas.

Three patients (2 females, 1 male) with a mean age of 51.4 years receiving long term hemodialysis affected by tumoral calcinosis were analysed. Clinical, radiological and pathological features were evaluated and pathogenic were reviewed. The joints involved int the cases presented in this report were the hip shoulder and finger. The lesions were bilateral in shoulder. An increased calcium-phosphorus product (Ca x P) was observed in all patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism in one case. Surgery was carried out in all patients. No relapse of the tumoral calcinosis was observed after surgery. The most important pathogenic factor involved in uremic tumoral calcinosis is an increase in calcium-phosphorus product (Ca x P) not necessarily related to hyperparathyroidism. Therefore, maintaining the calcium x phosphate product within the normal range appears to be the most important factor ito prevent the appearance of uraemic tumoral calcinosis.

Influence of surgery on renal amyloidosis.

It is well known that renal amyloidosis (RA) leads to ESRD in a few years. This evolution may be accelerated by several factors such as steroids, renal vein thrombosis, infections or surgery. We report 22 patients (14M,8F) mean age = 41.6 years (13-72) with RA in whom surgery revealed or aggravated renal disease. The group I includes 15 patients with no previous history of renal disease and who developed oedema few days after surgery with acute renal failure in 5 of them. Proteinuria was present in all the cases with a nephrotic syndrome in 10. Percutaneous kidney biopsy (KB) showed renal amyloidosis in all patients (AA+ = 8 cases, AA- = 3 cases). Only 9 patients were followed-up (mean period = 40 months): 2 patients are stationary; 1 is on complete remission 2 are on HD and 4 died. The group II includes 7 patients with a previous history of nephropathy (Histologically proven amyloidosis: 3 CRF = 1, Oedema: 3). All these patients developed oedema few days after surgery with acute RF in 4 patients. KB performed in all of them showed RA (AA+ = 33, AA- = 1). 6 patients were followed up for a mean period of 11 months: 5 died, 1 patient is on HD. The influence of surgery on renal amyloidosis is often unforeseeable. It may have no effect on renal disease, but very often it reveals RA and sometimes dramatically aggravates the course of the disease with occurrence of irreversible CRF. The pathogenic role of surgery on RA is discussed.