Successful use of rituximab for hydralazine-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis.

Hydralazine is a commonly used anti-hypertensive medication. It can, however, contribute to the development of autoimmunity, in the form of drug-induced lupus and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis. We report a 45-year-old patient with hypertension managed with hydralazine for four years who presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), requiring hemodialysis, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), requiring mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient's autoantibody profile was consistent with a drug-induced autoimmune process and renal histology revealed focal necrotizing crescentic GN. She was treated with high-dose steroids, plasma exchange and rituximab. DAH resolved and her renal function improved, allowing discontinuation of hemodialysis. This case reveals that rituximab can be successfully used in the setting of hydralazine-induced vasculitis, including critically ill patients with severe DAH and acute kidney injury from RPGN.

A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effect of Cooler Dialysate Temperature on Hemodynamic Stability During Prolonged Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury.

OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Complications of renal replacement therapy include hemodynamic instability with ensuing shortened treatments, inadequate ultrafiltration, and delay in renal recovery. Studies have shown that lowering dialysate temperature in patients with end-stage renal disease is associated with a decrease in the frequency of intradialytic hypotension. However, data regarding mitigation of hypotension by lowering dialysate temperature in patients with acute kidney injury are scarce. We conducted a prospective, randomized, cross-over pilot study to evaluate the effect of lower dialysate temperature on hemodynamic status of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury during prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy. DESIGN: Single-center prospective, randomized, cross-over study. SETTING: ICUs and a step down unit in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Acute kidney injury patients undergoing prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to start prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy with dialysate temperature of 35°C or dialysate temperature of 37°C. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was the number of hypotensive events, as defined by any of the following: decrease in systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg, decrease in mean arterial pressure greater than or equal to 10 mm Hg, decrease in ultrafiltration, or increase in vasopressor requirements. The number of events was analyzed by Poisson regression and other outcomes with repeated-measures analysis of variance. Twenty-one patients underwent a total of 78 prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy sessions, 39 in each arm. The number of hypotensive events was twice as high during treatments with dialysate temperature of 37°C, compared with treatments with the cooler dialysate (1.49 ± 1.12 vs 0.72 ± 0.69; incidence rate ratio, 2.06; p ≤ 0.0001). Treatment sessions with cooler dialysate were more likely to reach prescribed ultrafiltration targets. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute kidney injury undergoing prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy with cooler dialysate experienced significantly less hypotension during treatment. Prevention of hemodynamic instability during renal replacement therapy helped to achieve ultrafiltration goals and may help to prevent volume overload in critically ill patients.

Minimal change disease: A case report of an unusual relationship.

Kidney injury associated with lymphoproliferative disorders is rare, and the exact pathogenetic mechanisms behind it are still poorly understood. Glomerular involvement presenting as a nephrotic syndrome has been reported, usually secondary to membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. We report a case of a 63-year-old male who presented with bilateral leg swelling due to nephrotic syndrome and acute kidney injury. A kidney biopsy showed minimal change disease with light chain deposition; however, no circulating light chains were present. This prompted a bone marrow biopsy, which showed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with deposition of the same kappa monoclonal light chains. Three cycles of rituximab and methylprednisolone resulted in remission of both CLL and nephrotic syndrome, without recurrence during a three-year follow-up.

Prolonged Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy.

Prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy (PIRRT) is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. There are significant practice variations in the provision of PIRRT across institutions, with respect to prescription, technology, and delivery of therapy. Clinical trials have generally demonstrated that PIRRT is non-inferior to continuous renal replacement therapy regarding patient outcomes. PIRRT offers cost-effective renal replacement therapy along with other advantages such as early patient mobilization and decreased nursing time. However, due to lack of standardization of the procedure, PIRRT still poses significant challenges, especially pertaining to appropriate drug dosing. Future guidelines and clinical trials should work toward developing consensus definitions for PIRRT and ensure optimal delivery of therapy.