Incidence, factors related to presentation, course and mortality of metformin-associated lactic acidosis in the healthcare area of a tertiary hospital. / Incidencia, factores relacionados con la presentación, evolución y mortalidad de la acidosis láctica asociada a metformina en el área sanitaria de un hospital de tercer nivel.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of metformin-induced lactic acidosis during the period January 2014 to March 2017 in Aragon Healthcare Area III. To analyse the associated clinical and analytical factors and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 31 cases (61.3% males). Incidence: 79.76 cases/100,000 patients-year; mean age 75.39±9.34 years; 23 of them with levels of serum metformin (21.91±15.52 mcg/ ml); milligrams/day of metformin ingested: 1790.32±499; 96.8% of cases in the context of acute kidney failure; 11 cases with a history of chronic kidney disease (35.5%); 12 required intensive care (38.7%); 13 required purification treatment (41.9%; 3 haemodiafiltration, 10 haemodialysis). There was a significant correlation between daily milligrams of metformin ingested and drug levels; levels of metformin; and peak creatinine, pH and lactate. Mortality was 25.8%. There were only significant differences between the deceased and survivors regarding the duration of stay and final creatinine. Multivariate logistic regression did not detect any study variables associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence in our healthcare area is higher than in other series, with a 25.8% mortality rate. Virtually all cases were in the context of prerenal acute kidney failure. In 29% of cases, there was an overdose. Patients must be warned about the most common lactic acidosis-inducing situations, especially dehydration, if they continue taking the drug at such times.

Thirteen treated of acute renal failure secondary to multiple myeloma with high cut off filters. / Trece tratamientos de la insuficiencia renal aguda secundaria a mieloma múltiple con filtros de high cut off.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological tumour that is characterised by uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells and a significant volume of serum free light chains (sFLCs), which can cause acute renal failure due to intratubular precipitation, resulting in cast nephropathy. Acute renal failure is a complication that can arise in more than 20% of patients with multiple myeloma, half of which will require dialysis. METHODS: We report our experience with 13 patients who were treated with dialysis using high cut off filters (HCO) between July 2011 and February 2015. A total of 6 consecutive 6-hour sessions were performed using a 2.1 m(2) HCO filter (Theralite® by Gambro®). Afterwards, further 6-hour sessions were continued on alternate days. RESULTS: A total of 151 sessions were conducted, with an average of 11.6 sessions per patient (range 6-27). The treatment proved to be effective in removing both kappa and lambda sFLCs, resulting in a 93.7% fall in sFLCs by the end of treatment. The average reduction was 57.7% per dialysis session. 10 out of the 13 cases recovered sufficient renal function to become independent of dialysis. There were no major changes in albumin levels using an infusion protocol of 2 50-mL vials of 20% albumin at the end of the dialysis session. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment with chemotherapy and long dialysis with HCO filters was effective in reducing the sFLC levels and recovering sufficient renal function in 77% of cases. With HCO filters, significant cost savings are achieved, contrary to what was previously believed.

Clinical evolution of chronic renal patients with HIV infection in replacement therapy.

Patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are a special group with growing interest. In order to study the epidemiological data of HIV+ patients on RRT in Spain, we collected individual information from 2004-2011 (period of use of highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] in the Autonomous Communities of Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Catalonia, Valencia, Castilla la Mancha, Castilla León, Galicia, Madrid, La Rioja and the Basque Country, comprising 85% of the Spanish population. A total of 271 incident and 209 prevalent patients were analysed. They were compared with the remaining patients on RRT during the same period. The annual incidence was 0.8 patients per one million inhabitants, with a significant increase during the follow-up period. The proportion of prevalent HIV+ patients was 5.1 per 1,000 patients on RRT (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4-5.8. Although glomerular diseases constituted the majority of cases (42%), diabetic nephropathy was the cause in 14% of patients. The nation-wide totals for these percentages were 13 and 25%, respectively. Compared to the total of patients in treatment, the risk of death was significantly higher in the HIV+ group: hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for age, sex and diabetes was 2.26 (95% CI 1.74 - 2.91). Hepatitis C coinfection increased the risk of death in the HIV+ group (HR 1.77; 95% CI 1.10 - 2.85). The probability of kidney transplantation in HIV+ was only 17% after 7 years, comparing with total RTT patients (HR 0.15; 95% CI: 0.10-0.24). Despite the use of HAART, the incidence of HIV+ patients on dialysis has increased; their mortality still exceeds non-HIV patients, and they have a very low rate of transplantation. It is necessary to further our knowledge of this disease in order to improve results.

The impact of processing meat and fish products on phosphorus intake in chronic kidney disease patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The use of phosphate additives in meat and fish processing leads to a phosphorus overload that we cannot quantify through labelling or food composition tables. We analysed this increase by measuring phosphorus content in these products by spectrophotometry. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We determined the phosphorus/protein ratio in fresh meat and fish products with varying degrees of processing by spectrophotometry (phosphorus) and the Kjeldahl method (proteins). We contrasted these results with those reflected in the food composition tables. RESULTS: The phosphorus/protein ratio was higher in processed meat products (15.83 mg/g) than in battered (11.04 mg/g) and frozen meat products (10.5mg/g), and was lower in fresh (8.41 mg/g) and refrigerated meat products (8.78 mg/g). Fresh white fish had a phosphorus/protein ratio of 8.58mg/g, while it increased by 22% (10.3mg/g) in frozen white fish and by 46% (12.54 mg/g) in battered fish. The information in the tables was poor and confusing, and no reference is made to the brands tested. CONCLUSIONS: Processing meat and fish products poses a serious obstacle to the reduction of phosphorus intake. The current regulatory framework does not assist us in the objective of reducing phosphorus additives, since it considers them safe for public consumption. Overcoming these barriers requires a coordinated effort to demonstrate that a high intake of these additives may be harmful to the general population and it should be more closely examined by regulators.