Significance of early detection of acute kidney function worsening among outpatients having CKD using automatic calculation system for the rate of eGFR decline.

BACKGROUND: To retard progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and reduce end-stage kidney disease, it is important to detect acute kidney function worsening on CKD (AW-CKD) immediately and bring back their kidney functions to baselines by appropriate treatment. However, in general outpatient practice, it is difficult to detect the change in the slope of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). METHODS: We made automatic calculation system for the rate of eGFR decline (ΔeGFR), and retrospectively observed the situation of AW-CKD among outpatients, who had visited all clinical departments of Steel Memorial Hirohata Hospital between May and August 2016, using the system. The patients with ΔeGFR over 20 mL/min/1.73 m2/year were classified into "Detected cases", who were immediately detected AW-CKD by the attending physicians, and "Not detected cases". For each stratum of ΔeGFR, subsequent eGFR recovery rates between two groups were compared. RESULTS: Among 6719 outpatients, 865 had CKD stages G3-5 and of which 196 had ΔeGFR over 20 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. We revealed that, in cases of ΔeGFR over 30 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, eGFR recovery rates in "Detected cases" were significantly higher than those in "Not detected cases" (103.2 vs 43.9%, p < 0.001). There were no differences in the clinical backgrounds except kidney function between two groups. CONCLUSION: In general outpatient practice, a substantial number of AW-CKD was latent. It is expected to improve kidney prognoses of outpatients having CKD through immediately detecting the patients, whose ΔeGFR over 30 mL/min/1.73 m2/year using the system and alerting the attending physicians on the electronic medical record.

Acknowledging acute kidney disease following ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy: results from a tertiary care referral center.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney disease (AKD) is a recently described syndrome consisting of kidney function abnormalities lasting less than 3 months. Little is known regarding AKD following ureteroscopy (URS) and laser lithotripsy. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence and evolution of AKD in stone patients treated with URS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 284 patients treated with URS for urinary stones were retrospectively analyzed. According to the KDIGO 2020 criteria, AKD was defined as postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) occurrence, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease ≥ 35%, or serum creatinine (SCr) increase ≥ 50%. AKI was defined as SCr increase ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or ≥ 50%. AKD evolution was evaluated 60 days post-URS. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Univariable (UVA) and multivariable (MVA) logistic regression analyses tested the association of patients' characteristics and perioperative data with the occurrence of AKD. RESULTS: Overall, postoperative AKD occurred in 32 (11.3%) patients. Recovery from AKD was found in 26 (82%) patients and persistent AKD occurred in 6 (18%) patients. At UVA, age at surgery (p = 0.05), baseline SCr (p = 0.02), baseline CKD category (p = 0.006), Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.01), operative time (p = 0.04) and postoperative complications (< 0.001) were associated with AKD. At MVA, CKD category (OR 2.99, 95% CI = 1.4-6.3; p = 0.004), operative time (OR 1.01, 95% CI = 1.001-1.018; p = 0.023) and postoperative complications (OR 3.5, 95% CI = 1.46-8.49; p = 0.005) were independent predictors of AKD. CONCLUSIONS: AKD is a frequent complication in patients treated with URS. Moreover, AKD persists in a non-neglectable percentage of patients at medium-term follow-up. Therefore, nephrological assessment should be considered, especially in high-risk patients. Current findings should be considered for the peri-operative management of stone patients.

Acute kidney disease following COVID-19 vaccination: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: Rare cases of de novo or relapsed kidney diseases associated with vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been increasingly reported. The aim of this study was to report the incidence, etiologies, and outcomes of acute kidney disease (AKD) following COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: This retrospective study extracted cases from renal registry of a single medical center from 1 March 2021 to 30 April 2022, prior to the significant surge in cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 infection in Taiwan. Adult patients who developed AKD after COVID-19 vaccination were included. We utilized the Naranjo score as a causality assessment tool for adverse vaccination reactions and charts review by peer nephrologists to exclude other causes. The etiologies, characteristics, and outcomes of AKD were examined. Results: Twenty-seven patients (aged 23 to 80 years) with AKD were identified from 1,897 vaccines (estimated rate of 13.6 per 1000 patient-years within the renal registry). A majority (77.8%) of vaccine received messenger RNA-based regimens. Their median (IQR) Naranjo score was 8 (6-9) points, while 14 of them (51.9%) had a definite probability (Naranjo score ≥ 9). The etiologies of AKD included glomerular disease (n = 16) consisting of seven IgA nephropathy, four anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated glomerulonephritis (AAN), three membranous glomerulonephritis, two minimal change diseases, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with acute deterioration (n = 11). Extra-renal manifestations were found in four patients. Over a median (IQR) follow-up period of 42 (36.5-49.5) weeks, six patients progressed to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Conclusion: Besides glomerulonephritis (GN), the occurrence of AKD following COVID-19 vaccination may be more concerning in high-risk CKD patients receiving multiple doses. Patients with the development of de novo AAN, concurrent extra-renal manifestations, or pre-existing moderate to severe CKD may exhibit poorer kidney prognosis.

Mineral bone disorders and kidney disease in hospitalized children with sickle cell anemia.

Background: Mineral bone disorders (MBD) are common in sickle cell anemia (SCA). Frequent vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) further impact MBD in children with SCA. We evaluated the prevalence of markers of SCA-related MBD (sMBD) in hospitalized children and assessed the relationship between sMBD and individual mineral abnormalities with kidney disease. Methods: We prospectively recruited 185 children with SCA hospitalized with a VOC. Serum measures of mineral bone metabolism (calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, FGF23, osteopontin) were measured at enrollment. The primary outcome was markers of sMBD defined as a composite of hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, or deficiency in 25-OH vitamin D. Secondary outcomes included individual abnormalities in mineral metabolism. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines were used to define SCA-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI was further assessed using urine NGAL as a marker of tubular injury. Acute kidney disease (AKD) was defined as a composite of AKI, an eGFR < 90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 using the Cystatin C GFR equation, or evidence of structural injury (positive biomarker test or albuminuria). Results: The mean age of children was 8.9 years and 41.6% were female. The prevalence of sMBD was 47.6%, with hypocalcemia the most frequent abnormality (29.9%, 55/184) followed by hyperphosphatemia (20.7%, 38/184), hyperparathyroidism (8.7%, 16/185), and vitamin D deficiency (5.4%, 10/185). There was no association between sMBD and sKDIGO-defined AKI using serial changes in creatinine or when incorporating biomarkers to define AKI. However, the presence of AKD was associated with a 2.01-fold increased odds of sMBD (95% CI 1.05 to 3.83) and was driven by a decrease in eGFR (OR, 2.90 95% CI: 1.59 to 5.29). When evaluating individual mineral abnormalities, hypocalcemia was associated with AKD and low eGFR while hyperparathyroidism was associated with low eGFR, AKI and structural injury. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with structural kidney injury. Vitamin D deficiency, hyperparathryoidism, and increases in FGF23 and osteopontin predicted mortality (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: MBD is common among children with SCA hospitalized with VOC. Biomarkers of kidney injury and bone health may help risk stratify children at risk of sMBD. Routine evaluation of sMBD in children with SCA may improve long-term bone health.