Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab (Evusheld) Boosts Antibody Levels to SARS-CoV-2 in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis: A Single-Center Study.

Background and Objectives: In addition to a suboptimal and rapidly diminishing response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, hemodialysis (HD) patients are at risk for developing a severe COVID-19 infection. In 2022, the combination of cilgavimab and tixagevimab (Evusheld, AstraZeneca) was approved for COVID-19 preexposure prophylaxis in high-risk groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the humoral response and short-term safety of this antibody combination in a group of HD patients. Materials and Methods: Seventy-three adult maintenance hemodialysis patients were recruited from a tertiary-care hospital for this double-blinded, non-randomized, placebo-controlled study. Patients were placed into two groups: the intervention group (n = 43) received a single 300 mg dosage of cilgavimab and tixagevimab, while the control group (n = 30) received a saline placebo. The titer of COVID-19-neutralizing antibodies was measured at baseline and after 1 and 6 months. The patients were evaluated for any drug-related adverse effects and monitored for six months for the emergence of any COVID-19-related events. Results: Patients in the intervention group were substantially older and had been on HD for longer (p = 0.002 and 0.006, respectively). The baseline antibody levels were higher in the Evusheld group. The antibody level in the intervention group increased significantly after 1 month and remained consistent for 6 months, whereas the antibody level in the control group fell significantly after 6 months during the study period (Wald χ2 = 30.620, p < 0.001). The drug-related adverse effects were modest and well-tolerated, and only seven patients experienced them. Six months after study enrollment, 10 patients in the intervention group and 6 patients in the control group had been infected with COVID-19, respectively. In the control group, ICU admission and mortality were observed, but in the intervention group, the infection was milder with no aggressive consequences. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the short-term safety and efficacy of tixagevimab-cilgavimab for COVID-19 preexposure prophylaxis in HD patients. These findings require more studies with more HD patients and longer follow-up periods.

Urinary biomarkers for early detection of platinum based drugs induced nephrotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Nephrotoxicity is a major hazard complicating the use of platinum based drugs (PBD), which can hinder using higher doses protocols to maximize the therapeutic gain. Shortage of serum creatinine level as an accurate biomarker for acute kidney injuries (AKI) necessitates searching for novel biomarkers with better sensitivity and specificity in patients on PBD. METHODS: In a prospective cohort design, 132 patients receiving PBD were selected for the study. AKI was diagnosed by continuous follow up of serum creatinine level according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines 2012. Serum creatinine and urinary biomarkers (KIM-1, NGAL and cystatin C) was measured in the day of treatment and for 3 days after PBD cycle. RESULTS: AKI occurred in 35 patients (26.52% of patients). KIM-1, Cystatin C, and NGAL showed significant increase in samples collected in the day of AKI in comparison to their corresponding basal levels (P <  0.0001). In addition, significant increase in urinary levels of the biomarkers in samples collected 1 day before AKI in comparison to their basal levels (P <  0.0001, P <  0.0001, and P = 0.013 for KIM-1, NGAL and Cystatin C respectively). Furthermore KIM-1 data showed a significant increase 2 days before serum creatinine rise in comparison to the corresponding KIM-1 levels in patients who developed AKI (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary KIM-1, Cystatin C and NGAL can predict PBD induced AKI in earlier stages than serum createnine. KIM-1 is the most sensitive biomarker for early detection of AKI in patients receiving PBD.

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) as markers of active lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite much research about lupus nephritis, none of the urinary biomarkers has been proven to be truly reflecting lupus nephritis activity, response to treatment, or prognosis. We aimed to study urinary biomarkers in lupus nephritis and test their relation to kidney damage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were divided into two graoups: (1) lupus nephritis group with biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis (classes III and IV) and who did not receive immunosuppressive drugs within the preceding 3 months except for glucocorticoids and (2) lupus non-nephritis group with SLE patients without any renal manifestation. We assessed disease activity by the SLE disease activity index. uNGAL, uKim-1, uNGAL to urinary creatinine excretion (mg/dl), and uKim-1 to urinary creatinine excretion were measured in random spot urine samples at the time of renal biopsy and 6 months after the induction therapy. RESULTS: The LN group before treatment showed higher levels of uNGAL and uKIM-1 (P-value < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that uNGAL at level of > 59 has a 95 % sensitivity, a 100 % specificity, and an AUC = 0.996 in the ability to diagnose LN. While the uKIM-1 ROC showed that at level of > 1.6, it has an 85 % sensitivity, an 80 % specificity, and an AUC = 0.919. uNGAL and uKIM levels were significantly lower after treatment (P-value < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between urinary markers before and after treatment with other clinical, inflammatory, and serological markers of lupus nephritis. CONCLUSION: uNGAL, uKIM, uNGAL/Creat ratio, and uKIM/Creat ratio can be used as a predictor and a marker of disease activity for lupus nephritis. Key Points • Renal biopsy is the current standard for diagnosis of lupus nephritis and none of the urinary biomarkers has been fully concluded to have a diagnostic power to reflect the activity or the response to treatment. • However, based on the finding of the current study, uNGAL, uKIM, uNGAL/Creat ratio, and uKIM/Creat ratio showed significant diagnostic performance and were powerful indices of renal involvement in systemic lupus patients and as markers of disease activity.

Effect of Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass on Postoperative Renal Function and the Urinary Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) Level.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery has been the most effective treatment modality for morbid obesity that reduces associated comorbidities and improves quality of life. This study aims at evaluating and comparing the impact of two types of bariatric surgery-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB)-on renal functions and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MPC-1) levels in morbidly obese patients 3 months after surgery. METHODS: This is a prospective study of 40 morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. Two types of bariatric surgery were done-laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) (26 patients) and laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) (14 patients). The outcomes of the two procedures were compared in terms of renal function parameters and the level of urinary MCP-1. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the mean postoperative urinary MCP-1 (73.53 ± 21.25, 75.43 ± 26.17, P > 0.5), microalbuminuria (8.83 ± 6.26, 10.02 ± 8.6, P > 0.05), urinary creatinine (109.21 ± 43.22, 99.19 ± 48.65, P > 0.05), MCP1/Cr ratio (0.78 ± 0.36, 1.01 ± 0.70, P > 0.05), eGFR (100.32 ± 9.54, 104.39 ± 9.54, P > 0.05) in the cases who had either LSG operation or OAGB operation. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery improves all indicators of kidney malfunction and reduces the level of urinary MCP-1. Both laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) cause similar improvement of the renal function and reduction of urinary MCP-1 level.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with peginterferon alfa-2b, plus ribavirin in end stage renal disease patients treated by hemodialysis: single Saudi center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem, common worldwide, leading to acute and chronic hepatitis and its consequences of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Antiviral therapy of HCV+ in dialysis patients with interferon-α (INF-α) gives slightly better results than in the general population, but is poorly tolerated and associated with side effects. Although, Ribavirin in not recommended for dialysis patients, the addition of small doses of this medication to pegylated INF is discussed. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2b (12 kDa) plus Ribavirin in hemodialysis chronic HCV patients. METHODS: Fourteen end-stage renal disease patients (ESRD) on regular hemodialysis (HD) in Prince Salman Center for Kidney Diseases (PSCKD), ten males (71.4%) and four females (28.6) were enrolled in a prospective study. All the patients have Hepatitis C Virus infection; were treated by pegylated interferon alpha-2b (peginterferon alfa-2b) 1 mcg/kg/week subcutaneously with Ribavirin 200 mg three times weekly; for 48 weeks. Two patients were non responsive to previous course of 24 weeks peginterferon alfa-2a. HCV -RNA PCR qualitative and quantitative were tested before, 12, 48 weeks of treatment and 24 weeks after for sustained virologic response (SVR) results. α-fetoprotein level was measured in all the 14 patients before starting treatment to exclude any evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: One patient (7.1%) refused to complete the treatment because he could not tolerate the side effects and treatment was stopped after the third dose. After 12 weeks, three of 14 patients (21.4%) were still HCV-RNA PCR positive and there were not two log decrees in quantitative PCR, so treatment was stopped in this group of patients. One patient of the remaining had more than two log decrees in quantitative PCR, while nine were seroconverted to HCV-RNA PCR negative, so the treatment was completed for 48 weeks in 10 patients. After 48 weeks of treatment, qualitative and quantitative HCV-RNA PCR were done for 10 patients and the results were still negative (71.4%). Results of qualitative and quantitative HCV-RNA PCR done 24 weeks later showed that 10 patients still negative and SVR was (64%). Their mean ALT and AST dropped from 54.36 ± 36.79 IU/dL and 31.52 ± 17.02 IU/dL before starting therapy to 37.26 ± 36.53 IU/dL and 25.37 ± 23.72 IU/dL, respectively, after termination. Their mean hemoglobin (Hb) level dropped from 11.31 ± 0.86 to 10.06 ± 1.06 g/dL; (p < 0.001), and white blood cell count (WBC) dropped from 6.14 ± 0.65 × 10(3)/mm(3) to 4.51 ± 0.95 × 10(3)/mm(3); (p < 0.001). Platelet count fell from 130.11 ± 48.06 × 10(3)/mm(3) to 63.03 ± 23.19 × 10(3)/mm(3); (p < 0.001), also erythropoietin dose increased from 182.14 ± 39.30 IU/kg/w to 253.93 ± 83.07 IU/kg/w, (p = 0.776). CONCLUSION: Peginterferon alfa-2b (12 kDa) plus Ribavirin therapy in hemodialysis chronic HCV patients is safe, well tolerated and effective with accepted rates of sustained virological response up to 64%.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on chronic inflammation markers and gut bacterial endotoxins among Egyptian hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a state of chronic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate effects of Ramadan fasting on the markers of chronic inflammation and gut bacterial endotoxin levels in maintenance hemodialysis. METHOD: A prospective self-controlled observational study included 45 patients. Serum levels of High Sensitive CRP (hsCRP), indoxyl sulfate, and trimethylamine-n-levels were measured within a week before and a week after Ramadan fasting. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients have fasted more than 15 days (29 ± 2.2 days). The levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (median of 62 mg/L vs. 91 mg/L), trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO) (median of 4.5 µmoL/L vs. 17 µmoL/L), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (mean of 98.9 mg/L vs. 111.8 mg/L) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (median of 1.56 vs. 1.59) were significantly lower after Ramadan fasting with p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.04, respectively. CONCLUSION: A beneficial effect of Ramadan fasting on levels of bacterial endotoxins and markers of chronic inflammation in hemodialysis patients was observed.

Egyptian hemodialysis patients' willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose: a multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND: Health authorities have struggled to increase vaccination uptake since the COVID-19 vaccines became available. However, there have been increasing concerns about declining immunity after the initial COVID-19 vaccination with the emergence of new variants. Booster doses were implemented as a complementary policy to increase protection against COVID-19. Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) patients have shown a high rate of hesitancy to COVID-19 primary vaccination, yet their willingness to receive booster doses is unknown. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine booster hesitancy and its associated factors in Egyptian HD patients. METHODS: A face-to-face interview was conducted with closed-ended questionnaires distributed to healthcare workers in seven Egyptian HD centers, mainly located in three Egyptian governorates, between the 7th of  March and the 7th of April 2022. RESULTS: Among 691 chronic HD patients, 49.3% (n = 341) were willing to take the booster dose. The main reason for booster hesitancy was the opinion that a booster dose is unnecessary (n = 83, 44.9%). Booster vaccine hesitancy was associated with female gender, younger age, being single, Alexandria and urban residency, the use of a tunneled dialysis catheter, not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Odds of booster hesitancy were higher among participants who did not receive full COVID-19 vaccination and among those who were not planning to take the influenza vaccine (10.8 and 4.2, respectively). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 booster-dose hesitancy among HD patients in Egypt represents a major concern, is associated with vaccine hesitancy with respect to other vaccines and emphasizes the need to develop effective strategies to increase vaccine uptake.

International evaluation of unrecognizably uglifying human faces in late and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease. Sagliker syndrome. A unique catastrophic entity, cytogenetic studies for chromosomal abnormalities, calcium-sensing receptor gene and GNAS1 mutations. Striking and promising missense mutations on the GNAS1 gene exons 1, 4, 10, 4.

Hypotheses explaining pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SH) in late and severe CKD as a unique entity called Sagliker syndrome (SS) are still unclear. This international study contains 60 patients from Turkey, India, Malaysia, China, Romania, Egypt, Tunisia, Taiwan, Mexico, Algeria, Poland, Russia, and Iran. We examined patients and first degree relatives for cytogenetic chromosomal abnormalities, calcium sensing receptor (Ca SR) genes in exons 2 and 3 abnormalities and GNAS1 genes mutations in exons 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 13. Our syndrome could be a new syndrome in between SH, CKD, and hereditary bone dystrophies. We could not find chromosomal abnormalities in cytogenetics and on Ca SR gene exons 2 and 3. Interestingly, we did find promising missense mutations on the GNAS1 gene exons 1, 4, 10, 4. We finally thought that those catastrophic bone diseases were severe SH and its late treatments due to monetary deficiencies and iatrogenic mistreatments not started as early as possible. This was a sine qua non humanity task. Those brand new striking GNAS1 genes missense mutations have to be considered from now on for the genesis of SS.

Appropriateness of anemia management in hemodialysis patients.

UNLABELLED: The anemia of end stage renal disease (ESRD) is common and often severe complication that can be managed successfully by erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) administration. AIMS: To investigate current practice of anemia management in hemodialysis patients and to assess the appropriateness of anemia management by comparing observed practice to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guideline recommendations. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study was conducted at two hemodialysis centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data on anemia parameters, comorbidities, ESA dosing and iron supplementation were collected. The data were collected for 7 months retrospectively from April to the end of May 2008 and prospectively from June to October 2008. Patients who were over 18 years of age with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were included. Patients were excluded if they have cancer or receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. RESULTS: Data were collected from 87 patients. Mean Hgb value for those patients was 11.16 ± 0.97 g/dL. Thirty-nine patients (45%) had mean Hgb values between 11.0 and 12.0 g/dL the target range recommended by KDOQI guideline. The mean weekly prescribed dose of erythropoietin was 8099 ± 5946 IU/Week (135 ± 99 IU/kg/Week). Information on ferritin concentrations was available for 48 (55%) patients. The mean serum ferritin concentration for those patients was 693 ± 420.5 ng/mL. Fifty-two patients had transferrin saturation (TSAT) values recorded. The mean TSAT value was 38.5 ± 19.7%. CONCLUSIONS: There is an opportunity to improve anemia management in hemodialysis patients particularly thorough evaluation of causes of inadequate response rate and better monitoring and management of iron status.

The nature and prognosis of renal diseases in chronic hepatitis-C-infected diabetic Egyptian patients: The role of renal biopsy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Egypt has a wide prevalence of Diabetes and chronic HCV infection. The relationship between diabetes and HCV is bidirectional and both have their impact on kidney. The aim is to study the exact diagnostic and prognostic significance of renal biopsy in Diabetic HCV-infected patients with renal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we compared the clinical and histopathological characteristics of sixty-five patients all of them presented with evidence of kidney injury. The main study group included twenty patients who had DM and hepatitis c virus (DM-HCV); the other two groups were included as diseased control, twenty hepatitis c virus (HCV) patients, and twenty-five diabetic non-HCV patients (DM). RESULTS: DM-HCV patients had a statistically significantly higher percentage of sclerosed glomeruli (Median Value of 44.5% versus 7% in DM and 7% in HCV). The tendency toward diffuse (20%) and global (75%) patterns of sclerosis as well as moderate to severe tubular atrophy (45%), moderate to severe interstitial fibrosis (55%) were reported in the DM-HCV group. Electron microscopic showed a significantly higher frequency of podocytopathies (70% in DM-HCV versus 12% in DM). CONCLUSION: These results confirmed the diagnostic and prognostic significance of histopathological evaluation in guiding the management plan which cannot be replaced by just relying on clinical prediction.

Kidneys in SARS-CoV-2 era: A challenge of multiple faces.

INTRODUCTION: With the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it was believed to be a direct respiratory virus. But, its deleterious effects were observed on different body systems, including kidneys. AIM OF WORK: In this review, we tried as much as we can to summarize what has been discussed in the literature about the relation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and kidneys since December, 2019. METHODS: Each part of the review was assigned to one or two authors to search for relevant articles in three databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Google scholar) and collected data were summarized and revised by two independent researchers. CONCLUSION: The complexity of COVID-19 pandemic and kidney could be attributed to the direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the kidneys, different clinical presentation, difficulties confronting dialysis patients, restrictions of the organ transplant programs, poor outcomes and bad prognosis in patients with known history of kidney diseases who got infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Evaluation of quality of care in a large Saudi Hemodialysis Center (Prince Salman Center for Kidney Diseases, Riyadh, KSA).

INTRODUCTION: The quality of care provided to dialysis patients is under increasing scrutiny and systematic measurements of clinical performance, relying on indicators such as levels of Kt/V, hemoglobin, and serum albumin, have been implemented. METHODS: In this retrospective study we revised clinical and laboratory data of 146 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients who met our inclusion criteria in the dialysis unit at Prince Salman Center for Kidney Diseases for a whole year - 2009. This study looked at the extent of adherence to the kidney diseases outcome quality initiative kidney diseases outcome quality initiative (K/DOQI), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prevention of transmission of infections among HD patients, and American Association of Medical Instrumentation standards for dialysis water quality. RESULTS: A total of 146 HD patients (54.8% males and 45.2% females) were included in this study with mean age 51.21 ± 15.33 years. About 97.94% of cases had thrice-weekly sessions. An arteriovenous fistula was the vascular access in 78.1% of cases, and a permanent catheter was used in 21.9%. The mean predialysis blood pressure was ≤140/90 in 91.8% of cases. The mean hemoglobin level was 11.44 ± 1.46 g/dL in prevalent HD patients; 79.45% of cases had a hemoglobin level ≥11 g/dL. The mean serum albumin level was 33.53 ± 4.02 g/L; only 31.33% of cases had serum albumin ≥35 g/L. The mean parathormone level was 34.35 ± 28.70 pmol/L; 43.0% of patients had the target range (16.5-33 pmol/L), and the mean calcium level was 2.17 mmol/L; 89.73% of cases had the target range (2.12-2.52 mmol/L) while the mean serum phosphorus level was 1.46 mmol/L; 83.56% of patients had the target range (0.81-1.78 mmol/L). The Ca × Pi product was ≤4.5 in 83.56% of cases. The mean Kt/V value was 1.45 ± 0.18 in prevalent HD patients (98.63% and 60.96% of cases had Kt/V ≥1.2 and ≥ 1.4, respectively). All patients were negative for HIV serology test while the prevalence of hepatitis C virus-positive and hepatitis B virus-positive patients was 24.7% and 4.1%, respectively. All patients (except hepatitis B virus positive) were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus. The annual mortality rate was 5.67%. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed an excellent quality of care for HD patients in the field of vascular access care, hemoglobin level, blood pressure control, and dialysis adequacy. On the other hand, this study showed the need for improving the nutritional status of patients through more dietary counseling, nutritional education, and early management for nutritional problems.

Online conductivity monitoring of dialysis adequacy versus Kt/V derived from urea reduction ratio: a prospective study from a Saudi Center.

INTRODUCTION: Adequate delivered dose of solute removal (as assessed by urea reduction and calculation of Kt/V) is an important determinant of clinical outcome in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. This requires both prescription of an adequate dose of HD and regular assessment that the delivered treatments are also adequate. Online conductivity monitoring (OCM) using sodium flux as a surrogate for urea allows for the repeated non-invasive measurement of Kt/V on each HD treatment. METHODS: We prospectively studied 17 (9 males, 8 females) established chronic HD patients over an eight-week period (408 treatments). A pre- and post-dialyzer measurement of the conductivity is performed by two mutually independent temperature-compensated conductivity cells equipped with Fresenius 4008 S(R) dialysis machines. Urea reduction was measured once a week by a single-pool calculation using immediate post-treatment sampling. No changes were made to any of the dialysis prescriptions over the study period. Values of calculated Kt/V and simultaneously obtained online Kt/V were compared. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between calculated Kt/V and online Kt/V over the study period. The mean calculated Kt/V was 1.37 +/- 0.09, and mean online Kt/V 1.02 +/- 0.15 (p = 0.000). Calculated Kt/V >or= 1.2 was achieved in all our patients, while online Kt/V >or= 1.2 was achieved in only 17.64%. Yet there was moderate correlation between calculated Kt/V and online Kt/V (r(2) = 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: Online conductivity monitoring (OCM) results underestimates dialysis efficiency compared to calculated Kt/V readings. This difference has to be considered when applying Kt/V to clinical practice.

The Short-Term Renal Effects of Bariatric Surgery: A Comparative Study Between Sleeve Gastrectomy and One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass Operations Among Egyptian Patients With Severe Obesity.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a major health problem with many renal sequelae. Bariatric surgery (BS) has become the treatment of choice for severe obesity. This study was conducted to assess the short-term renal effects of BS and to compare such effects between two distinct forms of BS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center non-randomized prospective observational study was conducted on 57 patients with severe obesity. Two distinct forms of BS have been performed; laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). Anthropometric measurements, 24-h urinary creatinine clearance (CLCr), protein and oxalate excretion, and abdominal fat tissue analysis by computerized tomography were performed prior to surgery and 6 months later. RESULTS: LSG and OAGB were performed in 47 and 10 participants, respectively. BS resulted in pronounced reduction of body mass index (- 27.1% ± 7.11), with no substantial weight loss discrepancy between LSG and OAGB. The median percent change in 24-h urinary CLCr and protein and oxalate excretion were - 35.7, - 42.2, and - 5.8, respectively. The median (IQR) percent change of urinary oxalate excretion was - 11.1 (- 22.6, - 1.4) and 113.08 (82.5, 179.7) for LSG and OAGB, respectively (p < 0.001). The subcutaneous abdominal fat surface area has been found to be the significant predictor of the persistence of glomerular hyperfiltration after BS. CONCLUSION: Both LSG and OAGB can alleviate many of the obesity-related pathological renal changes. However, postoperative hyperoxaluria remains a serious issue particularly in OAGB. Detailed radiological abdominal fat tissue analysis by CT may aid in predicting the renal outcome following BS.

Renal changes and estimation of glomerular filtration rate using different equations in morbidly obese Egyptian patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity is a worldwide pandemic with multiple consequences including kidney affection. This study aimed to assess the effects of obesity on renal functions and to detect the most reliable formula of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 82 morbidly obese patients. Anthropometric measurements were done for all patients and body adiposity (BAI) and visceral adiposity (VAI) indices were calculated after assessment of abdominal fat tissue analysis by computerized tomography (CT). Serum creatinine was incorporated into six different formulae of eGFR, then eGFR was compared with the 24-h measured creatinine clearance (CLcr) values. RESULTS: The mean body mass index was 55.8 ± 9.5 kg/m2. Proteinuria and glomerular hyperfiltration (CLcr > 130 ml/min/1.73 m2) were detected in 68.3% and 91.5% of the patients, respectively. Cockcroft-Gault formula using total (CCG-TBW-eGFR) and adjusted body water (CCG-AjBW-eGFR) had the nearest values to measured CLCr. These two formulae had a moderate reliability and the lowest percentage of error (30% and 23%, respectively). Visceral and total abdominal fat tissue surface area and volume assessed by CT were directly correlated to the 24-h urinary protein excretion (r = 0.32, 0.24, 0.37 and 0.34, respectively; p = 0.02, 0.03, 0.004 and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria are highly prevalent in morbidly obese patients. There is no ideal formula for GFR estimation in morbidly obese patients, however, TBW and AjBW incorporated into the Cockcroft-Gault can be helpful in those patients.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on arterial stiffness parameters among Egyptian hypertensive patients with and without chronic kidney disease.

Arterial stiffness (AS) increases progressively in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is a strong predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. This study aims at evaluate of the effect of Ramadan fasting on AS parameters, augmentation index (AIx), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in hypertensive patients with and without CKD. A cohort of 71 patients (mean age = 57.14 ± 14.5 years, 42 females and 29 males) were enrolled in this study; 34 with CKD and 37 without CKD. All patients had hypertension, while 25 patients had diabetes mellitus. Serum creatinine (Cr), serum urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by CKD-EPI formula, brachial and central systolic blood pressure (BSP and CSP respectively), brachial and central diastolic blood pressure (BDP, CDP, respectively), AIx and PWV (measured by cuff based oscillometric method) were assessed before and after Ramadan fasting. In patients without CKD BSP, BDP, CSP, and CDP significantly decreased (P = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001, and 0.0001, respectively). In patients with CKD BSP and CSP significantly decreased (P = 0.005 and 0.005), while BDP and CDP decreased, but the change was not statistically significant. AIx significantly decreased in patients without CKD (P = 0.0001, mean 36.24 before and 26.22 after Ramadan fasting), but did not significantly change in patients with CKD (P 0.381 mean 25.94 before and 25 after Ramadan fasting). PWV decreased in both groups, but the change was not significant. Serum Cr significantly increased (P = 0.03 mean 1.06 mg/dL before and 1.11 mg/dL after Ramadan fasting), while eGFR did not significantly decrease (P = 0.072, mean 69.73 mL/ min/1.73 m2 before and 67.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 after Ramadan fasting) in patients without CKD. Serum Cr significantly decreased (P 0.028 mean 1.93 mg/dL before and 1.87 mg/dL after Ramadan fasting) and eGFR significantly increased (P 0.006 mean 32.65 mL/min/1.73 m2 before and 34.68 mL/min/1.73 m2 after RF) in patients with CKD. Ramadan fasting is associated with improved peripheral and central blood pressure control in hypertensive patients with and without CKD. It is also associated with improved arterial compliance (decreased AIx) in hypertensive patients without CKD.

Impact of Laparoscopic Banded Gastric Bypass on Weight Loss Surgery Outcomes: 5 Years' Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate 5-year outcomes of banded gastric bypass (BRYGB) as a primary and conversion bariatric procedure. METHODS: Retrospective review of BRYGB between January 2011and March 2013. Outcomes included percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), weight loss maintenance, and band-related complications. RESULTS: One hundred forty-two patients underwent BRYGB, 106 primary and 36 conversions. Indications for conversion to BRYGB were complications of the primary procedure (n = 19), insufficient weight loss (n = 5), and weight regain (n = 12). In the primary group, mean preoperative BMI was 44.8 kg/m2 (± 6.9 kg/m2). Compared with preoperative weight, mean %TWL was 33.9% (n = 95), 34.1% (n = 82), 34.0% (n = 70), 33.9% (n = 62), and 31.8% (n = 75) after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. In conversions secondary to failed primary procedure (insufficient WL and weight regain), mean preoperative BMI was 40.8 kg/m2 (± 6.01 kg/m2). Despite one patient gaining weight, mean %TWL was 25.7% (n = 13), 28% (n = 11), 23.9% (n = 8), 18.3% (n = 8), and 15.1% (n = 12) after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. In conversions secondary to primary procedure complications (n = 19), mean preoperative BMI was 28.4 kg/m2 (± 3.5 kg/m2). After 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, mean BMI was 28.1 (n = 15), 29 (n = 10), 29.8 (n = 9), 30.6 (n = 10), and 30.9 (n = 12) kg/m2, respectively. Band-related complications after 5 years: three erosion and five patients complained of persistent dysphagia. One band needed reposition. Perioperative surgical complications: two bleeding, one leakage, one port-site hernia, and one food impaction. CONCLUSION: Banded gastric bypass has good results in terms of weight loss and weight loss maintenance in both primary and conversional bariatric procedures with acceptable incidence of band-related complications.

Markers of tubular and glomerular injury in predicting acute renal injury outcome in thermal burn patients: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Thermal injury elicits several systemic consequences. Acute renal failure (ARF) is a well-known complication of severe burn and is an important factor leading to an increase in mortality. We aimed to focus on early diagnosis of acute renal failure occurring in major burns and to determine the predictors for acute renal failure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with moderate to severe thermal burn injury--second- to third-degree with >20% of total body surface area--constituted the material of our study. The following parameters were recorded: age, sex, cause of the burn injury, burn surface of second and third degrees expressed as total body surface area burned in %, and Apache II score. All patients were subjected to routine investigations, including serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, fractional excretion of sodium, urinary malondialdehyde and microalbuminuria, completed on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21. RESULTS: Nine patients (22.5% of all cases) developed acute renal failure, and four patients required supportive dialysis. The group that developed ARF showed rising markers of glomerular damage with appearance of microalbuminuria on day 0 that was maximal (3-4 times its normal level) at day 14 and constant with elevated serum creatinine, as well as burn size in the third week that progressed to overt proteinuria in three cases. Urinary malondialdehyde was also elevated before developing acute renal failure about three times their normal values, gradually increasing on day 14, associated with rising microalbuminuria followed by its decrease after controlling of septicemia. Two cases (22.2%) in ARF group who developed septicemia and required dialysis died on the 32(nd) and 36(th) days post-burn. Burn size and occurrence of septicemia were the only predictors of acute renal failure using multiple regression analysis (SE B 0.003 and 0.104; p value of 0.001 and .0371, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Acute renal failure, which complicates 22.5% of burn patients, was found to be related to the size and depth of burn. Microalbuminuria and urinary malondialdehyde are useful markers for prediction of renal outcome in such group of patients. In our study. burn size and septicemia proved to be the only clinical parameters that predict renal outcome.

Effect of hepatitis C virus on hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in saudi hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus infection is common among patients undergoing hemodialysis, and HD patients are at high risk for infection with such virus. Recently, some studies and case reports indicated attenuated anemia in HD patients with HCV infection, and they previously considered this to be related to increased erythropoietin production after hepatic stimulation by chronic infection with hepatitis virus. AIM: The aim of our study is to investigate whether HCV-positive HD patients have higher hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) values compared to HCV-negative patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 83 chronic HD patients from Prince Salman Center for Kidney Disease, and monthly samples were collected between July 2007 and July 2008. The HCV status was determined by anti-HCV antibodies and confirmed with RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Those with a history of blood transfusion or massive blood loss during the last six months were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Thirty-three percent of our patients tested positive for anti-HCV antibody (51.8% were male). The mean age for HCV-positive group was 54.92 +/- 15.61 years, while it was 51.01 +/- 14.81 years for the HCV-negative group (p = 0.27). Mean Hb in the HCV-positive group was 11.18 +/- 1.41 gm/dL compared to 10.87 +/- 1.29 gm/dL for the HCV-negative group (p = 0.05). Mean HTC values for the HCV-positive group was 34.4 +/- 3.9, compared to 32.41 +/- 3.41 for the HCV-negative group 12 months after starting hemodialysis. Eighty-one patients (27 HCV-positive and 54 HCV-negative) received erythropoietin (EPO) therapy. Seventy-two patients (25 HCV-positive and 47 HCV-negative) received IV iron (p = 0.28). Mean erythropoietin dose was (114.83 +/- 84.92 IU/kg/week) for HCV-positive compared to (122.2 +/- 91.46 IU/kg/week) for HCV-negative group (p = 0.74). Liver function tests were normal except for higher bilirubin level in the HCV-positive group, 7.74 +/- 4.03 Umol/L compared to 5.47 +/- 3.71 Umol/L in the HCV-negative group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that ESRD patients on HD with HCV infection have higher Hb and HCT levels compared with HCV-negative patients.

The health of elderly living kidney donors after donation.

BACKGROUND: Elderly donors may have increased risks in the peri- and post-transplant period. We performed a retrospective study to determine the outcome of elderly living donors in our center. MATERIAL/METHODS: Analysis of our live-related transplant program from Mar 1976 to Mar 2005 revealed that 146 donors were older than 50 years (range 50 to 69 yr) at the time of transplantation. We attempted to contact all donors to determine long-term outcome regarding their remaining kidney but 78 (53.4%) of them responded and were subjected to assessment. Their data were compared to the age matched health tables of the Egyptian general populations.
RESULTS: Most donors (85%) gave their kidneys to their offspring. Twenty four donors became hypertensive (30.8%) and nearly 62% received one drug only. Five donors were diabetics and 5 with arrhythmia. The mean serum creatinine at the follow up was 1.0+/-0.9 mg/dl. Five donors developed proteinuria, none of them with >2 gm/day. The rate of diabetes and hypertension was similar to the age matched general population.
CONCLUSIONS: Donor nephrectomy has minimal adverse effects on overall health status. Our data underscore the need to develop prospective trials for long-term follow up of elderly kidney donors.