Dying with end stage kidney disease: factors associated with place of death on a palliative care program / Fim de vida na doença renal terminal: fatores associados ao local de óbito num programa de cuidados paliativos

Abstract Introduction: End of life care of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) may be particularly challenging and requires the intervention of a specialized palliative care team (PCT). Objective: To characterize the population of ESKD patients referred to a PCT and evaluate the determinants of planned dying at home. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients with ESKD referred to our PCT between January 2014 and December 2021 (n = 60) and further characterized those with previously known ESKD regarding place of death (n = 53). Results: The majority of the patients were female and the median age was 84 years. Half of the patients were on conservative treatment, 43% were on chronic hemodialysis, and the remainder underwent hemodialysis on a trial basis and were subsequently suspended. Of those with previously known ESKD, 18% died at home and neither gender, age, cognition, performance status, comorbidities, CKD etiology, or treatment modality were associated with place of death. Anuria was significantly associated with dying at the hospital as was shorter time from dialysis suspension and death. Although not reaching statistical significance, we found a tendency towards a longer duration of palliative care follow-up in those dying at home. Conclusion: Dying at home is possible in a palliative domiciliary program regardless of age, gender, etiology of CKD, major comorbidities, and treatment modality. Anuria and shorter survival from RRT withdrawal may be limiting factors for planned dying at home. A longer follow-up by palliative care may favor dying at home.

Resumo Introdução: Os cuidados de fim de vida em doentescom doença renal terminal (DRT) podem ser desafiantes e necessitar do apoio de uma equipa especializada em cuidados paliativos (ECP). Objetivo: Caracterizar a população de doentes com DRT encaminhada à ECP e avaliar os determinantes para um fim de vida planeado no domicílio. Métodos: Realizámos um estudo de coorte observacional retrospectivo dos doentes com DRT encaminhados à ECP entre janeiro/2014 e dezembro/2021 (n = 60) e caracterizámos aqueles com DRT previamente conhecida relativamente ao local de fim de vida (n = 53). Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes eram mulheres comidade mediana de 84 anos. Metade dos doentes encontrava-se em tratamento conservador, 43% em hemodiálise crónica e os restantes suspenderam diálise iniciada agudamente. Daqueles com DRT previamente conhecida, 18% morreram em casa. Não foi objetivada associação entre género, idade, cognição, status funcional, comorbilidades, etiologia da DRC ou modalidade de tratamento da DRT e o local de óbito. A anúria e a menor sobrevida após suspensão de diálise associaram-se a um fim de vida no hospital e verificámos uma tendência para o fim de vida em casa nos doentes com mais tempo de acompanhamento pela ECP. Conclusão: O fim de vida no domicílio é possível num programa domiciliário de cuidados paliativos, independentemente de idade, sexo, etiologia da DRC, principais comorbilidades e modalidade de tratamento. A anúria e o menor tempo de sobrevida após suspensão da TRS podem ser fatores limitantes. Um acompanhamento mais longo em cuidados paliativos pode favorecer o fim de vida no domicílio.

Dying with end stage kidney disease: factors associated with place of death on a palliative care program.

INTRODUCTION: End of life care of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) may be particularly challenging and requires the intervention of a specialized palliative care team (PCT). OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population of ESKD patients referred to a PCT and evaluate the determinants of planned dying at home. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of all patients with ESKD referred to our PCT between January 2014 and December 2021 (n = 60) and further characterized those with previously known ESKD regarding place of death (n = 53). RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female and the median age was 84 years. Half of the patients were on conservative treatment, 43% were on chronic hemodialysis, and the remainder underwent hemodialysis on a trial basis and were subsequently suspended. Of those with previously known ESKD, 18% died at home and neither gender, age, cognition, performance status, comorbidities, CKD etiology, or treatment modality were associated with place of death. Anuria was significantly associated with dying at the hospital as was shorter time from dialysis suspension and death. Although not reaching statistical significance, we found a tendency towards a longer duration of palliative care follow-up in those dying at home. CONCLUSION: Dying at home is possible in a palliative domiciliary program regardless of age, gender, etiology of CKD, major comorbidities, and treatment modality. Anuria and shorter survival from RRT withdrawal may be limiting factors for planned dying at home. A longer follow-up by palliative care may favor dying at home.

Kidney Disease in Ankylosing Spondylitis: a case series and review of the literature / Doença Renal na Espondilite Anquilosante: uma série de casos e revisão da literatura

Abstract Background Kidney disease is a rare manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its pathological alterations remain poorly described. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation and pathological alterations on kidney biopsy of AS patients and review and discuss the current literature on the issue. Methods: We retrospectively studied the clinical presentation and kidney pathological alterations of 15 Caucasian AS patients submitted to kidney biopsy between October 1985 and March 2021. Results: Patients were predominantly male (66.7%) with median age at the time of kideney biopsy of 47 years [IQR 34 - 62]. Median serum creatinine at presentation was 1.3 mg/dL [IQR 0.9 - 3] and most patients also had either proteinuria (85.7%) and/or hematuria (42.8%). The most common indication for kidney biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (33.3%), followed by acute or rapidly progressive kidney injury (20%) and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (20%). Chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) (n=3) and AA amyloidosis (n=3) were the most common diagnosis. Others included IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (n=2), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n=2), membranous nephropathy (n=1), and immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN)(n=1). Conclusions: We present one of the largest series of biopsy-proven kidney disease in Caucasian AS patients. We found a lower prevalence of IgAN than previously reported in Asian cohorts. We found a higher prevalence of CIN and a lower prevalence of AA amyloidosis than that described in previous series of Caucasian patients. We also present the first case of AS-associated IC-MPGN.

Resumo Antecedentes: A doença renal é uma manifestação rara de espondilite anquilosante (EA) e as suas alterações patológicas permanecem pouco descritas. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a apresentação clínica e alterações patológicas na biópsia renal de doentes com EA bem como rever e discutir a literatura atual sobre o assunto. Métodos: Estudamos retrospectivamente a apresentação clínica e alterações patológicas renais de 15 doentes caucasianos com EA submetidos a biópsia renal entre Outubro de 1985 e Março de 2021. Resultados: Os doentes eram predominantemente homens (66,7%) com idade mediana no momento da biópsia de 47 anos [IIQ 34 - 62]. A creatinina sérica mediana na apresentação foi de 1,3 mg/dL [IIQ 0,9 - 3] e a maioria dos pacientes apresentava também proteinúria (85,7%) e/ou hematúria (42,8%). A indicação mais comum para biópsia renal foi a síndrome nefrótica (33,3%), seguida de lesão renal aguda ou rapidamente progressiva (20%) e doença renal crónica de etiologia desconhecida (20%). A Nefrite intersticial crónica (NIC) (n=3) e a amiloidose AA (n=3) foram os diagnósticos mais comuns. Outros incluíram nefropatia por IgA (NIgA) (n=2), glomeruloesclerose segmentar focal (n=2), nefropatia membranosa (n=1) e glomerulonefrite membranoproliferativa mediada por imunocomplexos (GNMP-IC) (n=1). Conclusões: Apresentamos uma das maiores séries de doenças renais comprovadas por biópsia em doentes caucasianos com EA. Encontramos uma prevalência de NIgA menor do que a relatada anteriormente em coortes asiáticas. Encontramos uma maior prevalência de NIC e uma prevalência menor de amiloidose AA do que a descrita em séries anteriores de pacientes caucasianos. Também apresentamos o primeiro caso de GNMP-IC associada à EA.

Kidney Disease in Ankylosing Spondylitis: a case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Kidney disease is a rare manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its pathological alterations remain poorly described. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical presentation and pathological alterations on kidney biopsy of AS patients and review and discuss the current literature on the issue. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical presentation and kidney pathological alterations of 15 Caucasian AS patients submitted to kidney biopsy between October 1985 and March 2021. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male (66.7%) with median age at the time of kideney biopsy of 47 years [IQR 34 - 62]. Median serum creatinine at presentation was 1.3 mg/dL [IQR 0.9 - 3] and most patients also had either proteinuria (85.7%) and/or hematuria (42.8%). The most common indication for kidney biopsy was nephrotic syndrome (33.3%), followed by acute or rapidly progressive kidney injury (20%) and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (20%). Chronic interstitial nephritis (CIN) (n=3) and AA amyloidosis (n=3) were the most common diagnosis. Others included IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (n=2), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n=2), membranous nephropathy (n=1), and immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN)(n=1). CONCLUSIONS: We present one of the largest series of biopsy-proven kidney disease in Caucasian AS patients. We found a lower prevalence of IgAN than previously reported in Asian cohorts. We found a higher prevalence of CIN and a lower prevalence of AA amyloidosis than that described in previous series of Caucasian patients. We also present the first case of AS-associated IC-MPGN.

Spleen-Restricted Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in the First Year After Kidney Transplant - A Case Report.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are a feared complication after transplant. They are mostly of B cell origin and are frequently Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive, particularly in early onset PTLD. Later on, non-B and EBV-negative PTLD are increasingly reported. EBV seronegative receptors (particularly when paired with an EBV seropositive donor) together with the net degree of immunosuppression-a concept often difficult to quantify-are the most consistently described risk factors for the development of PTLD. Conversely, its association with a particular immunosuppressive agent or other virus, namely cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease, has been inconsistently reported. We present a challenging case where an EBV negative monomorphic peripheric T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in the first year after kidney transplant in a patient with a recent history of CMV disease from a resistant strain.

The Genetics of Papillary Microcarcinomas of the Thyroid: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications.

Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid (mPTC) is defined by the WHO as a papillary thy-roid cancer measuring 10mm or less in diameter and it is nowadays a topic of intense debate among the members of the medical community due to its apparent "epidemic" rise. Although these tumors follow almost always an indolent clinical course and carry an excellent prognosis, it is known that a small sub-set may display a potentially aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, we still lack an accurate way of predict-ing those which will cause significant disease. In an attempt to address this problem, a number of clini-co-pathologic features have been studied as poor prognostic markers in mPTC, and their association with known genetic alterations in thyroid cancer has been evaluated. Herein we review the present knowledge concerning mPTC's genetic profile, namely the prevalence of BRAF (V600E), RAS and TERT promoter mutations and RET/PTC and PAX8-PPARG rearrangements and report the results of the evaluation in the putative prognostic value of these genetic alterations in mPTC.