Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is the most frequent but commonly overlooked phenotype in patients on chronic hemodialysis.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a serious complication of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, most data come from retrospective studies that included patients on chronic hemodialysis at the time of its initiation. These patients are frequently overhydrated, which significantly influences the echocardiogram findings. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of heart failure and its phenotypes. The secondary aims were (1) to describe the potential of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) for HF diagnosis in ESKD patients on hemodialysis, (2) to analyze the frequency of abnormal left ventricular geometry, and (3) to describe the differences between various HF phenotypes in this population. Methods: We included all patients on chronic hemodialysis for at least 3 months from five hemodialysis units who were willing to participate, had no living kidney transplant donor, and had a life expectancy longer than 6 months at the time of inclusion. Detailed echocardiography together with hemodynamic calculations, dialysis arteriovenous fistula flow volume calculation, and basic lab analysis were performed in conditions of clinical stability. Excess of severe overhydration was excluded by clinical examination and by employing bioimpedance. Results: A total of 214 patients aged 66.4 ± 14.6 years were included. HF was diagnosed in 57% of them. Among patients with HF, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was, by far, the most common phenotype and occurred in 35%, while HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) occurred only in 7%, HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) in 7%, and high-output HF in 9%. Patients with HFpEF differed from patients with no HF significantly in the following: they were older (62 ± 14 vs. 70 ± 14, p = 0.002) and had a higher left ventricular mass index [96(36) vs. 108(45), p = 0.015], higher left atrial index [33(12) vs. 44(16), p < 0.0001], and higher estimated central venous pressure [5(4) vs. 6(8), p = 0.004] and pulmonary artery systolic pressure [31(9) vs. 40(23), p = 0.006] but slightly lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE): 22 ± 5 vs. 24 ± 5, p = 0.04. NTproBNP had low sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing HF or HFpEF: with the use of the cutoff value of 8,296 ng/L, the sensitivity of HF diagnosis was only 52% while the specificity was 79%. However, NTproBNP levels were significantly related to echocardiographic variables, most significantly to the indexed left atrial volume (R = 0.56, p < 10-5) and to the estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (R = 0.50, p < 10-5). Conclusions: HFpEF was by far the most common heart failure phenotype in patients on chronic hemodialysis and was followed by high-output HF. Patients suffering from HFpEF were older and had not only typical echocardiographic changes but also higher hydration that mirrored increased filling pressures of both ventricles than in those of patients without HF.

Serum cytokine profile in patients with active lupus nephritis.

PURPOSE: Determination of disease activity of lupus nephritis remains challenging. Since cytokines play a role as inflammatory mediators extending renal injury, measuring serum cytokine levels might help in the clinical assessment of patients with lupus nephritis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of a panel of serum cytokines in patients with active lupus nephritis. METHODS: In this prospective controlled multicenter trial, sera of 12 patients with active lupus nephritis were collected in a clinical routine setting at the time of renal biopsy and 6 months afterwards. Fourteen patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 14 healthy subjects were used as controls. Eleven cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40), IL-12(p70), IL-18, TNF-α, TGF-ß1, IFN-α2, IFN-γ) and two soluble receptors (IL-1ra and TNF-RII) were measured by cytokine multiplex assay. RESULTS: In inactive SLE patients, serum levels of IL-10, IL-12(p40), IL-18 and TNF-RII were increased compared to healthy controls. Active lupus nephritis was found to be associated with further increase of these cytokine levels. Follow-up measurements in clinical remission of lupus nephritis showed downregulation of increased cytokines to levels found in inactive SLE. Most strikingly, TNF-RII serum level were elevated in all patients with active lupus nephritis (p<0.001) and declined after clinical remission (p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: The cytokine multiplex assay used in our study allowed a fast and stable analysis of a panel of serum cytokines in a clinical routine setting. In addition, serum cytokines, especially TNF-RII, might be excellent markers of active lupus nephritis.

CZecking heart failure in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (Czech HF-CKD): Study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients on hemodialysis. It is not easy to distinguish HF from water overload. The traditional HF definition has low sensitivity and specificity in this population. Moreover, many patients on hemodialysis have exercise limitations unrelated to HF. Therefore, we postulated two new HF definitions ((1) Modified definition of the Acute Dialysis Quality Improvement working group; (2) Hemodynamic definition based on the calculation of the effective cardiac output). We hypothesize that the newer definitions will better identify patients with higher number of endpoints and with more advanced structural heart disease. METHODS: Cohort, observational, longitudinal study with recording predefined endpoints. Patients (n = 300) treated by hemodialysis in six collaborating centers will be examined centrally in a tertiary cardiovascular center every 6-12 months lifelong or till kidney transplantation by detailed expert echocardiography with the calculation of cardiac output, arteriovenous dialysis fistula flow volume calculation, bio-impedance, and basic laboratory analysis including NTproBNP. Effective cardiac output will be measured as the difference between measured total cardiac output and arteriovenous fistula flow volume and systemic vascular resistance will be also assessed non-invasively. In case of water overload during examination, dry weight adjustment will be recommended, and the patient invited for another examination within 6 weeks. A composite major endpoint will consist of (1) Cardiovascular death; (2) HF worsening/new diagnosis of; (3) Non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke. The two newer HF definitions will be compared with the traditional one in terms of time to major endpoint analysis. DISCUSSION: This trial will differ from others by: (1) detailed repeated hemodynamic assessment including arteriovenous access flow and (2) by careful assessment of adequate hydration to avoid confusion between HF and water overload.

HLA class II, MICA and PRL gene polymorphisms: the common contribution to the systemic lupus erythematosus development in Czech population.

The genetic components contribute to the systemic lupus erythematosus development. This study for the first time determined the distribution of the polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium in HLA class II, MICA and PRL gene among patients suffering from SLE and healthy Czech individuals. DNA was obtained from the peripheral blood cells of 123 SLE patients and 96 healthy people. Allele variants of the HLA class II, MICA transmembrane polymorphism and PRL extrapituitary promoter -1149G/T SNP were detected using the sequence-specific primers analysis, PCR-fragment analysis and PCR-RFLP, respectively. In Czech population, only DRB1*03-DQB1*0201 haplotype is significantly associated with increased risk for SLE development: the frequency in SLE group was 44.7% in comparison with 15.2% in controls, P (c) < 0.0001; OR 4.54 CI 95% (2.36-9.09). The MICA-A5.1 allele is present significantly more often in SLE (55.7%) than controls (39.9%), P (c) = 0.005; OR 1.88 CI 95% (1.29-2.77), and the combination of HLA DRB1 *03 together with MICA-A5.1 is strongly associated with SLE [P (c) < 0.000001; OR 9.71 CI 95% (3.4-27.7)]. On the other hand, the MICA-A6 allele is less frequent in SLE patients compared to controls, 10.6% and 19.7%, respectively [P (c) = 0.035; OR 0.48 CI 95% (0.28-0.82)], and the combination of absence both alleles MICA-A6 and HLA DRB*11 seems to be risk for SLE development compared to controls, 84.6 and 70.2%, respectively, [P (c) = 0.0003 OR 2.32 CI 95% (1.47-3.70)]. We found that only G allele of the -1149 G/T SNP is associated with specific clinical manifestation of SLE, arthritis [P (c) = 0.022; OR 2.63, CI 95% (1.45-4.81)]. HLA class II-MICA combinations may increase/decrease a risk for SLE development. Multiple studies focusing on the ethnical differences as well as genetic-epigenetic relationships are necessary for better understanding SLE pathogenesis.

The production of mannan-binding lectin is dependent upon thyroid hormones regardless of the genotype: a cohort study of 95 patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Complement mannan-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and autoimmune diseases. Previous studies suggested that the production of MBL is stimulated by thyroid hormones. The aim of our study was to investigate this association in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). Serum levels of MBL and parameters of the thyroid function were determined in 62 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 33 with Graves' disease and 47 blood donors. Follow-up measurements were performed after 6 to 24 months. MBL2 genotypes were determined using multiplex PCR and compared to 359 healthy Czech individuals. Serum levels of MBL tightly correlated with thyroid hormones, leading to strongly increased MBL levels in hyperthyroidism and decreased levels in hypothyroidism. With normalization of the thyroid function during follow-up, MBL levels decreased or increased respectively. The observed correlations were not due to MBL polymorphisms since the frequency of MBL2 polymorphisms in AITD patients was not different from the general population. We conclude that AITD are not associated with MBL polymorphisms. However, the MBL production is strongly dependent on thyroid function, regardless of the genotype.

Prognostic value of anti-CRP antibodies in lupus nephritis in long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies against monomeric C-reactive protein (anti-CRP-Ab) observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) were suggested to be associated with active LN and a poor response to therapy during short-term follow-up. The aim of this study was to confirm this finding and to investigate the prognostic value of anti-CRP-Ab in patients with LN during long-term follow-up. METHODS: Sera of 57 SLE patients (47 women, 10 men) with biopsy proven LN and 122 healthy individuals were analyzed for the presence of anti-CRP-Ab by in-house ELISA. Anti-CRP-Ab levels were studied in relation to routine laboratory tests, urine analysis, levels of C3, C4, other immunological markers and the overall disease activity as assessed by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The prognostic value of anti-CRP-Ab was tested in a subgroup of 29 newly diagnosed LN patients (median follow-up 5.9 years). Response to therapy at various time points was assessed with respect to baseline anti-CRP-Ab levels. At least partial response in the first/second year of treatment was considered as a "favorable outcome", while non-response, renal flare or end stage renal disease were considered as "unfavorable outcome". RESULTS: Anti-CRP-Ab were only detected in patients with active renal disease and their levels correlated with SLEDAI (rs = 0.165, p = 0.002). The time to response was shorter in patients being anti-CRP-Ab negative at baseline compared to anti-CRP-Ab positive patients, p = 0.037. In the second year of therapy, baseline anti-CRP-Ab positivity was a significant predictor of "unfavorable outcome" (OR [95% CI] = 15.6 [1.2-771]; p = 0.021). The predictive value of "baseline anti-CRP positivity" further increased when combined with "non-response to therapy in the first year". Baseline anti-CRP-Ab positivity was not a predictor of "unfavorable outcome" at the end of follow-up, (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [0.6-71.1], p = 0.169). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline serum levels of anti-CRP-Ab seem to be a strong risk factor for a composite outcome of non-response, renal flare or end stage renal disease after two years of standard treatment of LN. The response to therapy seems to be delayed in anti-CRP-Ab positive patients.