Sleepiness and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Kidney Transplant Recipients in a Low-Middle Income Country: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aims to describe daytime sleepiness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Lebanese kidney transplant (KT) recipients and to examine the medical, psychosocial and transplant factors related to them. It is a cross-sectional multi-center study involving KT recipients >18 years. Daytime sleepiness was assessed using ESS Questionnaire. HRQoL was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. Social support was self-reported. A multivariable regression analysis evaluated factors associated with daytime sleepiness and HRQoL in our sample. 118 patients were recruited over a 2 years period. Excessive daytime sleepiness was prevalent in 12.7%. It was associated with Diabetes Mellitus (OR 3.97, 95% CI 0.94-16.81, p = 0.06) and obesity (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02, 1.27, p = 0.02). Social support and higher eGFR were associated with better scores on the MCS (ß 24.13 p < 0.001 and ß 0.26 p < 0.01) and the PCS (ß 15.48 p < 0.01 and ß 0.22 P 0.02). Conversely, depression and hospitalization were negatively associated with the MCS (ß -27.44, p < 0.01 and ß -9.87, p < 0.01) and the PCS (ß -0.28.49, p < 0.01 and ß -10.37, p < 0.01).

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy in a kidney transplant recipient: A first report.

Collagenofibrotic glomerulopathy (CG) is a rare disease characterized by the deposition of collagen type 3 fibrils in the glomeruli. Patients may have proteinuria, hematuria, and/or renal dysfunction. CG is considered a progressive disease with variable rates of progression. The definitive diagnosis is made by electron microscopy with the presence of characteristic subendothelial and mesangial curved, comma-like, banded collagen type 3 fibers of 40-65 nm periodicity. We are reporting the first case of CG in a kidney transplant recipient with kidney disease of unknown cause.

Switching temporary hemodialysis catheters to long-term catheters: exchange versus de-novo placement, any difference in line infection?
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BACKGROUND: Shifting from a short-term catheter to a long-term one is done either by removing the old catheter and placing a new long-term one via fresh new puncture site, or by replacing the old catheter with a long-term one over a guidewire. AIM: We aimed to describe our technique in changing a temporary line to a long-term catheter (LTC) over a guidewire and to determine the incidence of line-related infections following this procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective pilot study was conducted between 2005 and 2010 at the American University of Beirut Hospital. We compared the first group (A), which consisted of 20 patients who underwent exchange of a short-term dialysis catheter with a tunneled one over a guidewire using our technique, to a second group (B) of 60 patients who underwent de-novo LTC placement. The two groups were matched by age, with a follow-up of at least 1 month. RESULTS: The technical success rate of the catheter-conversion procedure was 100%. Our results revealed no significant difference of catheter duration between the two groups, with median duration of 6.5 vs. 4.0 days for group A and group B, respectively (p = 0.21). Moreover, there was also no significant mean time difference between any infection and long term catheter (LTC) insertion among the two groups (p = 0.31). Furthermore, there was no difference of catheter infection between the two groups (p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: We concluded that there was no difference in terms of side effects or risk of infection in the guidewire group when compared to standard technique.
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The impact of prophylactic antiviral agents and statin administration on graft longevity in kidney allograft recipients.

CONTEXT: In an earlier study, we compared the duration of kidney graft survival between two groups of recipients; one on triple (cyclosporine, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil) and the other on quadruple (cyclosporine, prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil, and sirolimus) immunosuppressive therapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of antiviral and statin therapy on graft longevity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred five kidney allograft recipients were preoperatively assessed for serological markers of infection with various viral agents. All patients were on a prophylactic antiviral regimen of acyclovir and gancyclovir. Seventeen patients were on a statin. Patients were monitored for viral infections and graft rejection or loss for period of 3 years posttransplantation. RESULTS: We detected a high preoperative prevalence rate of IgG immunoglobulins versus the latency-establishing Herpesviridae viruses. Two patients who were preoperatively IgG positive for CMV had cytomegalovirus disease after transplantation. One patient who was preoperatively IgG positive for VZV had shingles after the surgery. No other confirmed viral infections were reported. Thirteen of 88 patients (14.77%) whose treatment regimen did not include a statin suffered a rejection episode or lost the graft whereas 1 of 17 patients (5.88%) on a statin had a rejection episode. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of viral infections observed in our study population supports the utility of prophylactic administration of antiviral agents to transplant recipients. However, statins seem to have a protective effect on graft longevity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.361, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.044-2.957).

Influence of HLA disparity, immunosuppressive regimen used, and type of kidney allograft on production of anti-HLA class-I antibodies after transplant and occurrence of rejection.

We studied the effects of HLA disparity, immunosuppressive regimen used, and the type of kidney allograft on production of anti-HLA antibodies after transplant and the occurrence of rejection episodes. Five living-unrelated donors and 4 living-related donors kidney recipients received quadruple therapy (including sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil). Fifteen living-unrelated donors and 19 living-related donors received triple therapy (excluding sirolimus). A single bolus of 4 to 6 mg/kg rabbit anti-human T-lymphocyte immune serum was included with both regimens. Recipients were studied over a 3-year period. Human leukocyte antigen profiles were determined by DNA (SSP) typing, and anti-HLA class-I antibodies were determined by the complement-dependent microcytotoxicity assay and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The degree of HLA disparity did not appear to affect anti-HLA antibody production or the occurrences of rejection episodes. None of the patients who received quadruple therapy developed anti-HLA class-I antibodies. Two living-unrelated donors and 2 living-related donors recipients who received triple therapy developed anti-HLA class-I antibodies. One of the 2 living-unrelated donors antibody-positive patients rejected the kidney and returned to dialysis, and the other patient has normal graft function 3 years after the transplant. The 2 living-related donors patients with normal graft function were antibody-positive 1 year after the transplant but were antibody-negative at 2 and 3 years after transplant. Sirolimus appeared to inhibit production of antibodies after transplant. Moreover, use of present day immunosuppressive agents diminishes the role of HLA matching in relation to the occurrence of rejection episodes.

Hungry bone syndrome two weeks after starting cinacalcet: a call for caution.

Cinacalcet is an effective and safe alternative to parathyroidectomy in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Hypocalcemia is a known complication of treatment that is usually readily reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. It rarely manifests severely and symptomatically requiring hospital admission. We present the case of a 55 year old man with severe, symptomatic and prolonged hypocalcemia that occurred 2 weeks after starting cinacalcet. Cinacalcet induced a state of pharmacological parathyroidectomy with subsequent hungry bone syndrome. Serum calcium returned to normal range after 4 weeks of stopping the drug while receiving high doses of elemental calcium and vitamin D receptor activation therapy (VDRA).

The effect of hemodialysis on voice: an acoustic analysis.

Because respiration is part of the well-coordinated process necessary for phonation, this study was conducted with the purpose of analyzing the effect of chronic hemodialysis on voice characteristics of patients with chronic renal failure. A total of 57 patients were recruited for the study, including 31 males and 26 females ranging in age from 16 to 85 years. Patients underwent evaluation of their voice directly before and after hemodialysis using the Kay Elemetric VISI Pitch (Model 330; Kay Elemetric Corporation, Lincoln Park, New Jersey). The vocal acoustic parameters studied include habitual pitch, pitch range, relative average perturbation, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, voice turbulence index, maximum phonation time, and voice energy. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test for the total sample and the nonparametric test for the female and male subgroups. The total sample analysis showed a statistically significant increase in the habitual pitch after the hemodialyis (p < 0.05), with a borderline increase in the pitch range and maximum phonation time (p < 0.10). In the female group, there was a statistically significant increase in the habitual pitch and a borderline increase in the relative average perturbation. In the male group, there was a significant increase in the habitual pitch with a borderline increase in maximum phonation time. Discussion of the after-mentioned results is presented.

Bibliometric trends in ophthalmology 1997-2009.

AIMS: To track citation patterns in ophthalmic journals and contrast them with major medical and surgical journals from 1997 to 2009. In addition, we want to familiarize the ophthalmic community with bibliometrics indices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data retrieved from Institute for Scientific Information and related websites include 2-year journal impact factor JIF, 5-year impact, Eigenfactor score, H-factor, Article Influence score, and SCImago factor. RESULTS: JIF rose steadily around 10% annually in ophthalmic journals, and likewise for major medical and surgical journals. JIF correlated with recent bibliometric indicators like 5-year impact, H index, and SCImago factor but not with Eigenfactor. Ophthalmic journals publishing reviews, basic science, or large volume on broad range of topics ranked at the top for JIF, while subspecialty journals tended to have low JIF. JIF of subspecialty journal Retina rose from 0.740 (rank 23) in 2000 to 3.088 in 2007 (rank 6). CONCLUSIONS: JIF tends to rise annually by 10% in medical, surgical, and ophthalmic fields. Journals publishing reviews, basic science, or large volume on broad range of topics rank at the top for JIF. The rapid rise of JIF for Retina unlike other subspecialties that stayed status quo is multifactorial: Change in editorial policies (introduction of review articles and omission of case reports) and technological advances in the retinal field.

Bilateral multifocal posterior pole lesions in Reiter syndrome.

Reactive arthritis is associated with conjunctivitis or iritis. Rarely reactive arthritis is accompanied by permanent visual loss from macular infarction or foveal scarring. We present the case of a rheumatologist who had a sudden onset of skin lesions, arthritis of several joints and bilateral visual loss. Most of these manifestations resolved after a course of oral corticosteroids. However he was left with decreased vision in the left eye and multiple lesions in the fovea over a follow-up of 2 years.

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: The Middle East experience.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the experience of the Middle East in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN), to discuss the associated advantages and salient problems, to examine the learning curve encountered compared with that of the pioneering centres in the West, and the contribution of the regional centres to the worldwide experience. METHODS: We searched Medline and PubMed for all centres performing LDN in the Middle East. Questionnaires were e-mailed to the regional transplantation centres, and programme directors, and leading urological and transplant surgeons were contacted by telephone. RESULTS: LDN in the Middle East was first introduced in 2000; this approach has been pioneered and practised at seven transplant centres within five countries in the region, and was restricted to only three Arab countries, i.e. Lebanon, Egypt and Kuwait. Data collection yielded a total of 888 procedures over one decade, representing only 2% of the total of ≈50,000 transplants during the same period. Despite variability of accurate reporting the overall outcomes were similar to those of open DN. The spectrum of complications was comparable to that from major centres in the USA during their learning curve. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of LDN in the Middle East has been gratifying. The relative hesitancy in introducing LDN in the rest of the Arab Middle East is multifaceted. The advantages conferred to the donor underscore the need for further expansion of this approach for kidney retrieval.

Ocular coherence tomography of symptomatic phototoxic retinopathy after cataract surgery: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: High-resolution ocular coherence computed tomography enables unprecedented visualization of the retinal microarchitecture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of high-resolution ocular coherence tomography findings in the healed form of photic post-cataract retinopathy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old Caucasian man complained of paracentral scotoma, persisting for six weeks after cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: Ocular coherence tomography demonstrated a localized juxta-foveal area of retinal atrophy involving the photoreceptor layer, and the retinal pigment epithelium layer.

Periocular corticosteroid in malignant hypertensive and preeclampsic choroidopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Disk edema and serous macular detachment in either malignant hypertension or preeclampsia require several weeks to resolve, leaving these young active affected subjects with unilateral or bilateral visual handicap. METHODS: The authors treated two patients with visual loss by sub-Tenon corticosteroid. RESULTS: Visual improvement occurred within 1 week of the periocular corticosteroid from finger counting at 6 m to 20/70 in a woman with preeclampsia and from bilateral 20/50 to 20/25 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye in a man with malignant hypertension. CONCLUSION: In addition to blood pressure control, periocular corticosteroid can fasten visual recovery in serous macular detachment and disk edema from preeclampsia or malignant hypertension.

High-output cardiac failure secondary to a large arteriovenous fistula: a persistent threat to the dialysis and kidney transplant patient.

High-output cardiac failure secondary to a surgically constructed arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare entity that is usually under-diagnosed in the dialysis population. We herein present a case of a 35-year-old female who was diagnosed with high-output cardiac failure secondary to an AVF and later managed with surgical division of the fistula. Risk factors associated with this entity are discussed, and preventive screening strategies are recommended.

Characterization of a large Lebanese family segregating IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Familial aggregation of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) suggests that genetic factors contribute to the development of this trait. Because clinical manifestations in IgAN families are often limited to episodic haematuria, large kindreds tractable to linkage analysis have been difficult to identify. METHODS: We identified a large Lebanese-Druze kindred ascertained via an index case with biopsy-documented IgAN. We performed systematic screening of 38 family members and tested linkage to reported IgAN loci. RESULTS: Screening of this family identified 16 affected individuals, including 2 individuals with biopsy-documented IgAN and 14 with chronic renal failure or abnormal urinalyses on at least three separate occasions. This kindred spanned five generations and contained five consanguineous unions. Multigenerational inheritance suggested that autosomal dominant inheritance was most likely. Phenotypic manifestations among affected individuals varied from isolated haematuria to advanced renal failure necessitating transplantation; one instance of IgAN recurrence after transplantation was also documented. Older age was associated with greater severity of disease and higher incidence of renal failure. Parametric and non-parametric analyses with 33 microsatellite markers did not reveal any evidence of linkage to reported IgAN loci on chromosomes 6q22-23, 2q36 and 4q22-31. CONCLUSIONS: We describe one of the largest multigenerational IgAN kindreds reported to date. The high incidence of renal failure among older generations suggests a significant risk of progression to renal failure. We found no evidence of linkage to known loci, suggesting that familial IgAN encompasses multiple subtypes that will require distinction based on genetic or biomarker data.