Intracardiac vascular access in haemodialysis: A last resort for exhausted traditional access.

Depletion of veins for dialysis access is a challenging life threatening situation for patients in need of haemodialysis. The utilisation of intracardiac catheter is a rare procedure with scarce reported experience. We describe the case of a 68-year-old male that contributes to the limited knowledge of performing a life-saving intracardiac catheter placement for emergency haemodialysis in a patient without immediate alternative renal replacement therapy available. We also retrospectively analyse the experience reported so far and summarise complications and outcomes. In our case, the patient was able to pursue haemodialysis after intracardiac catheter placement without any complications. Two weeks later, the patient successfully received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor and has a serum creatinine of 1.7 mg/dL after 2 years of follow-up. There are only four reported cases of kidney transplantation after the procedure, including our own. Intracardiac catheter is an emerging option that could be considered in certain patients as the last resort. Further investigation with regards to patient candidacy and procedure security are necessary.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in young adults.

Background: The clinical manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) usually appear in adulthood, however pediatric series report a high morbidity. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of ADPKD in young adults. Methods: Family history, hypertension, albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and imaging tests were examined in 346 young adults (18-30 years old) out of 2521 patients in the Spanish ADPKD registry (REPQRAD). A literature review searched for reports on hypertension in series with more than 50 young (age <30 years) ADPKD patients. Results: The mean age of this young adult cohort was 25.24 (SD 3.72) years. The mean age at diagnosis of hypertension was 21.15 (SD 4.62) years, while in the overall REPQRAD population was aged 37.6 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 28.03% and increased with age (18-24 years, 16.8%; 25-30 years, 36.8%). Although prevalence was lower in women than in men, the age at onset of hypertension (21 years) was similar in both sexes. Mean eGFR was 108 (SD 21) mL/min/1.73 m2, 38.0% had liver cysts and 3.45% of those studied had intracranial aneurysms. In multivariate analyses, hematuria episodes and kidney length were independent predictors of hypertension (area under the curve 0.75). The prevalence of hypertension in 22 pediatric cohorts was 20%-40%, but no literature reports on hypertension in young ADPKD adults were found. Conclusions: Young adults present non-negligible ADPKD-related morbidity. This supports the need for a thorough assessment of young adults at risk of ADPKD that allows early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

Comparative analysis of tools to predict rapid progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease and shows a wide phenotype. Only patients with rapid progression (RP) are included in clinical trials or are approved to receive disease-modifying drugs. This study aims at comparing different available predictive tools in ADPKD with the Mayo classification (MC) identification of rapid progressors based on high total kidney volume (TKV) according to age. Methods: A total of 164 ADPKD patients were recruited retrospectively from a single centre. The performance of diverse tools to identify RP defined as being in MC categories 1C-1E was assessed. Results: A total of 118 patients were MC 1C-1E. The algorithm developed by the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association Working Group on Inherited Kidney Disorders/European Renal Best Practice had a low sensitivity in identifying MC 1C-1E. The sensitivity and specificity of TKV to predict RP depend on the cut-off used. A kidney length of >16.5 cm before age 45 years has high specificity but low sensitivity. Assessing the MC by ultrasonography had high levels of agreement with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, especially for 1A, 1D and 1E. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline was very sensitive but had low specificity. In contrast, the Predicting Renal Outcome in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PROPKD) score was very specific but had poor sensitivity. Having hypertension before 35 years of age is a good clinical predictor of MC 1C-1E. Family history can be of help in suggesting RP, but by itself it lacks sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: The MC by ultrasonography could be an option in hospitals with limited access to MRI as it performs well generally, and especially at the extremes of the MC, i.e. classes 1A, 1D and 1E. The eGFR decline is sensitive but not very specific when compared with the MC, whereas the PROPKD score is very specific but has low sensitivity. Integrating the different tools currently available to determine RP should facilitate the identification of rapid progressors among patients with ADPKD.

Real clinical experience after one year of treatment with tolvaptan in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Tolvaptan (TV) is the first vasopressin-receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). No publications report TV experience in real clinical practice during the first year of treatment. Methods: A prospective study of an initial cohort of 220 rapidly progressing patients treated with TV for 12 months. The tolerability of TV, the evolution of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), analytical parameters, and blood pressure were analyzed. Results: A total of 163 patients (78.2%) received TV for 1 year. The main causes of treatment withdrawal were the aquaretic effects (11%), eGFR deterioration (5%), and hepatic toxicity (2.3%). eGFR decreased significantly after 1 month of treatment without further changes. The decrease in eGFR in the first month was higher in patients with an initially higher eGFR. The eGFR drop during the first year of treatment with TV was lower than that reported by patients in the 2 years prior to TV treatment (-1.7 ± 7.6 vs. -4.4 ± 4.8 mL/min, p = 0.003). Serum sodium and uric acid concentrations increased, and morning urinary osmolality decreased in the first month, with no further changes. Blood pressure decreased significantly without changes in antihypertensive medication. Conclusion: TV treatment is well tolerated by most patients. Liver toxicity is very rare and self-limited. TV reduces eGFR in the first month without showing further changes during the first year of treatment. Patients with a higher starting eGFR will suffer a greater initial drop, with a longer recovery. We suggest using the eGFR observed after a month of treatment as the reference for future comparisons and calculating the rate of eGFR decline in patients undergoing TV treatment.

Impact of physical exercise in patients with chronic kidney disease: Sistematic review and meta-analysis. / Impacto del ejercicio físico en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis.

Physical exercise may offer multiple benefits to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it was not traditionally recommended because of the possibility of impairing renal function and increasing proteinuria. The objective of this study is to review the clinical trials on physical exercise in patients with CKD and describe its effect on the progression of kidney disease and other factors associated. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing an intervention that included an exercise component with a control group without physical exercise in non-dialysis patients with CKD from 2007 to 2018 in English and Spanish were included. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Ovid (Medline) and PEDro databases were used for the search. Effects of physical exercise were summarized by the standardized mean difference (SMD). No differences were found in glomerular filtration rate or proteinuria between the intervention group and the control group: SMD -0.3 (P=.81); SMD 26.6 (P=.82). Positive effects were obtained on peak oxygen consumption: SMD 2.5 (P<.001), functional capacity: SMD 56.6 (P<.001), upper limb strength: SMD 6.8 (P<.001) and hemoglobin: SMD 0.3 (P=.003). An improvement on the quality of life was also evident using the KDQOL-36 survey: SMD 3.56 (P=.02) and the SF-36 survey: SMD 6.66 (P=.02). In conclusion, the practice of low-intensity physical exercise routinely has no negative impact on renal function. On the contrary, it improves aerobic and functional capacity, impacting positively on the quality of life.

Direct-Acting Antiretroviral Therapy in Renal Transplant Recipients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection: Report of Our Experience and Literature Review.

A minor graft and patient survival are described in renal transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection than in recipients infected with only HIV. The high efficacy of direct-acting antivirals could improve the results. The experience reported in renal transplant recipients with coinfection is very limited. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the evolution of renal recipients with HIV-HCV coinfection treated with direct-acting antivirals in our center. Clinical, analytical, and microbiological variables were collected before and after treatment. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2018 we performed 11 renal transplants in patients with HIV infection, and 6 (54.5%) had HIV-HCV coinfection. One patient lost the graft before the development of direct-acting antivirals. Another patient with functioning graft has refused to receive any treatment. Four patients have been treated with direct-acting antivirals. One was treated 18 months before the transplant; 3 received treatment after transplant. All received sofosbuvir-based therapies. All had a sustained virologic response after 12 weeks and an improvement of liver function. In the patients treated after renal transplant, time post transplant at the beginning of treatment was 99.6 (SD, 22.8) months, and follow-up after treatment in all patients was 40.2 (SD, 8.16) months. To modify immunosuppressive regimen was not necessary, although 2 patients required an increase of tacrolimus doses. We do not observe deterioration of renal function. All have maintained a good immunologic and microbiological control without requiring changes in antiretrovirals. We do not observe complications associated with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Direct-acting antivirals therapy is safe and effective and may offer new possibilities to patients with HIV-HCV coinfection.

Acute Renal Failure in Kidney Transplantation Due to Subcapsular Hematoma After a Renal Allograft Biopsy: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

The compression of the renal parenchyma due to a subcapsular hematoma, also known as the "Page kidney," is a potentially serious but treatable complication of renal biopsy. Hypertension is very common and, in some cases, renal failure may be present. In kidney transplantation, it is a not well-described entity. Rapid intervention is essential to avoid irreversible damage of the graft and preserve its function. We report 2 cases of acute renal failure due to Page kidney in patients with renal transplant after a percutaneous biopsy with successful recovery after surgical treatment. In addition, we conducted a literature review in order to describe the clinical characteristics of this infrequent complication in patients with a history of renal transplant.

Characteristics and Evolution of Renal Transplant Recipients Infected by Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplant (RT) recipients are especially susceptible to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) infections. However, published experience is limited. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics and evolution of RT recipients with KPC infection in our hospital. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all RT recipients with KPC infection in our hospital from December 1, 2017 (first case), to July 31, 2019. For each RT recipient infected with KPC, 3 controls were selected. RESULTS: During the study period, 8 RT recipients presented KPC infection. Seven were detected in the first year post-RT. The most common site of infection was urine. In 2 cases the germ was isolated in blood. The number of patients with diabetes was significantly higher in the group with KPC infection (P = .023), and urologic interventions were more frequent in those patients (P = .039). No differences were found in the immunosuppressive treatment. A total of 62.5 % of patients required readmission after the KPC infection. One patient died of septicemia by KPC. In all these cases, the clone of KPC isolated was KPC ST512. CONCLUSION: KPC infection is more frequent in the first months after the RT and causes an important number of hospital admissions. It can be cause of death in RT recipients, especially in those with isolation of the germ in blood. Diabetes and urologic interventions were more frequent in this population. The analysis by molecular typing suggests exposure to a common source, highlighting the importance of preventive isolation measures and surveillance for limiting the transmission of this bacteria.

Use of residual banana for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production: case of study in an integrated biorefinery.

Polyhydroxybutyrate is a type of biopolymer that can be produced from hydrolyzed polysaccharide materials and could eventually replace polypropylene and polyethylene, being biodegradable, biocompatible and produced from renewable carbon sources. However, polyhydroxybutyrate is not still competitive compared to petrochemical polymers due to their high production costs. The improvement of the production processes requires a search for new alternative raw materials, design of the pretreatment technique and improvement in the fermentation and separation steps. In addition, if the polyhydroxybutyrate production is coupled into a multiproduct biorefinery it could increase the economic and environmental availability of the process through energy and mass integration strategies. In this work alternatives of energy and mass integrations for the production of polyhydroxybutyrate into a biorefinery from residual banana (an agro-industrial waste) were analyzed. The results show that the energetic integration can reduce up to 30.6% the global energy requirements of the process and the mass integration allows a 35% in water savings. Thus, this work demonstrates that energy and mass integration in a biorefinery is a very important way for the optimal use of energy and water resources hence decreasing the production cost and the negative environmental impacts.

Valorization of glycerol through the production of biopolymers: the PHB case using Bacillus megaterium.

In this work technical and economic analyses were performed to evaluate the glycerol transformation into Polyhydroxybutyrate using Bacillus megaterium. The production of PHB was compared using glycerol or glucose as substrates and similar yields were obtained. The total production costs for PHB generation with both substrates were estimated at an industrial scale. Compared to glucose, glycerol showed a 10% and 20% decrease in the PHB production costs using two different separation schemes respectively. Moreover, a 20% profit margin in the PHB sales price using glycerol as substrate resulted in a 166% valorization of crude glycerol. In this work, the feasibility of glycerol as feedstock for the production of PHB at laboratory (up to 60% PHB accumulation) and industrial (2.6US$/kgPHB) scales is demonstrated.