Cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular event rates in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases in the CARdiovascular in rheuMAtology (CARMA) prospective study-results at 5 years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To determine cardiovascular (CV) mortality and incidence of the first CV event (CVE) in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD) after 5 years of follow-up. METHODS: This is an analysis of the CARdiovascular in rheMAatology (CARMA) study after 5 years of follow-up. It includes patients with RA (n = 775), AS (n = 738) and PsA (n = 721), and individuals without CIRD (n = 677) attending outpatient rheumatology clinics from 67 public hospitals in Spain. Descriptive analyses were performed for the CV mortality at 5 years. The Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) function at 5 years was calculated to determine the expected risk of CV mortality. Poisson models were used to estimate the incidence rates of the first CVE. Hazard ratios of the risk factors involved in the development of the first CVE were evaluated using the Weibull proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Overall, 2382 subjects completed the follow-up visit at 5 years. Fifteen patients died due to CVE. CV deaths observed in the CIRD cohort were lower than that predicted by SCORE risk charts. The highest incidence rate of CVE [7.39 cases per 1000 person-years (95% CI 4.63, 11.18)] was found in PsA patients. However, after adjusting for age, sex and CV risk factors, AS was the inflammatory disease more commonly associated with CVE at 5 years [hazard ratio 4.60 (P =0.02)], compared with those without CIRD. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular mortality in patients with CIRD at 5 years of follow-up is lower than estimated. Patients with AS have a higher risk of developing a first CVE after 5 years of follow-up.

Incidence of first cardiovascular event in Spanish patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases: prospective data from the CARMA project.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence and risk factors of first cardiovascular event (CVE) in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD). METHODS: Analysis of data after 2.5 years of follow-up from the prospective study CARMA project, that includes patients with CIRD [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)] and matched individuals without CIRD from 67 hospitals in Spain. CVE cumulative incidence per 1000 patients was calculated after 2.5 years from the start of the project. Weibull proportional hazard model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the risk factors. RESULTS: 2595 (89.1%) patients completed the 2.5 years of follow-up visit. Cumulative incidence of CVE in patients with CIRD was 15.30 cases per 1000 patients (95% CI: 12.93-17.67), being higher in the subgroup with AS; 22.03 (95% CI: 11.01-33.04). Patients with AS (HR: 4.11; 95% CI: 1.07-15.79), those with older age (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.13), systolic hypertension (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.04) and long duration of the disease (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12) were at higher risk of first CVE during the 2.5 years of follow-up. In contrast, female gender was a protective factor (HR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.18-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Among CIRD patients prospectively followed-up at rheumatology outpatient clinics, those with AS show higher risk of first CVE. Besides cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, being a man and older as well as having a long disease duration increase the risk of CVE in patients with CIRD.

JAK kinase inhibitors and varicella zoster virus infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: JAK kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are a new therapeutic option in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but they are not without risks, especially the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systematic literature review that evaluates the incidence of HZ published in the clinical trials of the different JAK is marketed or under study. RESULTS: The HZ rates ranged between 1.51 and 20.22. The results were expressed mainly as a percentage of events. The most recent studies better categorized the incidence of HZ and its severity. CONCLUSION: JAK is are associated with an increased risk of HZ. Although the HZ rates of the selective JAK1 JAK is are lower, more studies are needed to confirm these results.

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Should dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation receive oral anticoagulation?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for presenting atrial fibrillation (AF), which conditions an increased risk already present in CKD of suffering a thromboembolic event. And this risk is even higher in the hemodialysis (HD) population. On the other hand, in CKD patients and even more so in HD patients, the probability of suffering serious bleeding is also higher. Therefore, there is no consensus on whether or not to anticoagulate this population. Taking as a model what is advised for the general population, the most common attitude among nephrologists has been to opt for anticoagulation, even though there is no randomized studies to support it. Classically, anticoagulation has been done with vitamin K antagonists, at high cost for our patients: severe bleeding events, vascular calcification, and progression of nephropathy, among other complications. With the emergence of direct-acting anticoagulants, a hopeful outlook was opened in the field of anticoagulation, as they were postulated as more effective and safer drugs than antivitamin K. However, in clinical practice, this has not been the case. In this paper we review various aspects of AF and its anticoagulant treatment in the HD population.

Nutritional Predictors of Mortality after 10 Years of Follow-Up in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease at a Multidisciplinary Unit of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Nutritional monitoring in advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) units provides personalized care and improves clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify mortality risk factors in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on nutritional follow-up in the multidisciplinary ACKD unit. A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 307 CKD patients' stage 3b, 4−5 followed-up for 10 years. Clinical and nutritional monitoring was performed by malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS), biochemical parameters (s-albumin, s-prealbumin, and serum C-reactive protein (s-CRP), body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), anthropometry, and handgrip strength measurements. The sample was classified into non-survivors, survivors, and censored groups. Of the 307 CKD patients, the prevalence of protein-energy wasting (PEW) was 27.0% using MIS > 5 points, s-CRP > 1 mg/dL was 19.20%, and 27.18% died. Survivors had higher significant body cell mass (BCM%) and phase angle (PA). Survival analyses significantly showed that age > 72 years, MIS > 5 points, s-prealbumin ≤ 30 mg/dL, PA ≤ 4°, and gender-adjusted handgrip strength (HGS) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. By univariate and multivariate Cox regression, time on follow-up (HR:0.97), s-prealbumin (HR:0.94), and right handgrip strength (HR:0.96) were independent predictors of mortality risk at 10 years of follow-up in the ACKD unit. Nutritional monitoring in patients with stage 3b, 4−5 CKD helps to identify and treat nutritional risk early and improve adverse mortality prognosis.

Anti-Spike antibodies 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster dose in patients on hemodialysis: the prospective SENCOVAC study.

Background: Patients on hemodialysis are at high-risk for complications derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present analysis evaluated the impact of a booster vaccine dose and breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on humoral immunity 3 months after the booster dose. Methods: This is a multicentric and prospective study assessing immunoglobulin G anti-Spike antibodies 6 and 9 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis that had also received a booster dose before the 6-month assessment (early booster) or between the 6- and 9-month assessments (late booster). The impact of breakthrough infections, type of vaccine, time from the booster and clinical variables were assessed. Results: A total of 711 patients [67% male, median age (range) 67 (20-89) years] were included. Of these, 545 (77%) received an early booster and the rest a late booster. At 6 months, 64 (9%) patients had negative anti-Spike antibody titers (3% of early booster and 29% of late booster patients, P = .001). At 9 months, 91% of patients with 6-month negative response had seroconverted and there were no differences in residual prevalence of negative humoral response between early and late booster patients (0.9% vs 0.6%, P = .693). During follow-up, 35 patients (5%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers at 9 months were independently associated with mRNA-1273 booster (P = .001), lower time from booster (P = .043) and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (P < .001). Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, higher titers of anti-Spike antibodies at 9 months were associated with mRNA-1273 booster, lower time from booster and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Higher Proportion of Non-1-84 PTH Fragments in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Compared to Hemodialysis Patients Using Solutions Containing 1.75 mmol/l Calcium.

Background: The prevalence of low- turnover bone disease (LTBD) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is higher than in hemodialysis (HD) patients. LTBD patients may be at risk for vascular calcification, and cardiovascular disease. Current therapy for chronic kidney disease metabolic bone disorders (CKD-MBD) is guided by biochemical parameters, as bone biopsy is not used in routine clinical care. Methods: We assessed intact PTH (iPTH: 1-84PTH plus non-1-84PTH), 1-84PTH, and the 1-84PTH/non-1-84PTH ratio in 129 hemodialysis and 73 PD prevalent patients dialyzed with solutions containing 1.75 mmol/L calcium. Results: Hemodialysis and PD patients presented similar iPTH and tCa values and prevalence of putative LTBD as defined according to KDOQI iPTH cut-off levels or 1-84 PTH levels. However, iCa accounted for a higher percentage of tCa in PD (53%) than in hemodialysis (39%) p < 0.001, and the 1-84PTH/non-1-84PTH ratio was lower in PD than in hemodialysis patients (0.44 ± 0.12) vs. (0.60 ± 0.10), p < 0.001. The prevalence of putative LTBD when using the coexistence of 1-84PTH/non-1-84PTH ratio < 1.0 and iPTH < 420 pg/m, was higher in PD than in hemodialysis patients (73 vs. 16% respectively, p < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, dialysis modality was the main determinant of the 1-84PTH/non-1-84PTH ratio. Conclusion: Solutions containing 1.75 mmol/L calciums are associated to a higher proportion of non-1-84PTH fragments in PD than in HD patients. Different analytical criteria result in widely different estimates of LTBD prevalence, thus impairing the ability of clinicians to optimize therapy for CKD-MBD.

Bone mineral disorder in chronic kidney disease: Klotho and FGF23; cardiovascular implications. / Enfermedad óseo mineral relacionada con la enfermedad renal crónica: Klotho y FGF23; implicaciones cardiovasculares.

Cardiovascular factors are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Bone mineral metabolism disorders and inflammation are pathological conditions that involve increased cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease. The cardiovascular risk involvement of bone mineral metabolism classical biochemical parameters such as phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D and PTH is well known. The newest markers, FGF23 and klotho, could also be implicated in cardiovascular disease.

A lower proportion of circulating active parathyroid hormone in peritoneal dialysis does not allow the pth inter-method adjustment proposed for haemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) shows a strong correlation with histomorphometric and biochemical parameters of bone turnover, however its measurement presents limitations due to inter-method variability. Circulating PTH is a mixture of peptides, but only on its whole form (1-84 PTH) is responsible of PTH biological activity. Carboxyl-terminal fragments exhibit antagonist actions and their proportion differs at each stage of chronic kidney disease, as consequence of differences on their renal clearance. The aim of this study is to evaluate possible differences in the proportion of these fragments according to dialysis type: haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum total (Ca) and ionized calcium (iCa), phosphate (P), carboxyl-terminal telopeptides of collagen type I (BCTx) were measured in 73 patients on PD (46 men and 27 women with an age between 22 and 82 years). PTH was quantified by six second generation assays (one isotopic and five chemiluminescence assays) and by one third generation PTH method. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of Ca, iCa, P and BCTx were 9.03, 4.76, 4.73 mg/dl and 1181 pmol/l, respectively. Significant differences were observed in PTH values according to the method used. Adjustment of PTH results to PTH Allegro (Nichols) range of 150-300 nmol/l in PD patients showed higher values than those assessed previously for HD population. The percentage of biologically active 1-84 PTH as the 1-84 PTH/ 7-84 PTH ratio in PD were significantly lower than in HD patients, reflecting the higher proportion of 7-84 PTH circulating fragments for a given intact PTH result in PD. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients have a higher proportion of 7-84 PTH circulating fragments. Consequently, the inter-method adjustment algorithms proposed for HD patients are not useful for PD patients. This study proposes alternative algorithms for PTH inter-method adjustment to be applied in PD.

Terapia de conductos en una cita: un estudio clínico / One appointment root canal therapy: a clinical study

Los objetivos de este estudio son: a) conocer la frecuencia del dolor postoperatorio en pacientes tratados endodónticamente en una cita y b) establecer qué relación existe entre el diagnóstico pulpar y el dolor postoperatorio. Para el estudio se tomaron en cuenta 50 casos de dientes anteriores a los cuales se les estableció un diagnóstico pulpar, se les realizó el trabajo biomecánico del conducto y se obturó con la técnica de condensación lateral. Se observó el comportamiento del dolor postoperatorio a las 24, 48 horas y a la semana del tratamiento. A los datos obtenidos se les aplicó la prueba estadística X2 (chi cuadrado) a fin de comparar frecuencias de dolor contra su ausencia. De los 50 casos tratados: 12 de ellos (24 por ciento) presentaron algún tipo de dolor posoperatorio a las 24 horas, a las 48 horas o a la semana del tratamiento. No se encontró una correlación entre el diagnóstico pulpar y el dolor posoperatorio. La terapia de conducto en una cita puede ser practicada en la mayoría de los casos. El dolor posoperatorio es el principal síntoma que se presenta. Las condiciones del pacinetes y la habilidad del profesional también son factores que se deben tomar en cuenta para la selección de la técnica de tratamiento