Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C among hemodialysis patients in Tunisia.

OBJECTIVE: Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk of infection by hepatitis C and B viruses, which are significant causes of mortality and morbidity. Prevention of their transmission in hemodialysis units remains a challenge worldwide. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of these two infections and to explore major risk factors among patients on chronic hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 109 hemodialysis patients (mean duration of hemodialysis of seven years) between 2012 and 2014 in a Teaching Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia. Hepatitis B and C serological markers were searched for using a chemiluminescent assay. Genome detection was performed using a commercially available quantitative real-time PCR test. RESULTS: A total of 109 hemodialysis patients were enrolled (75 males and 34 females). Ages ranged from 21 to 81 years. Six (5.5%) of these 109 patients had HBV infection defined by a positive HBsAg in four (3.7%) patients and by a detectable DNA associated with an "isolated anti-HBc" profile in the remaining two patients. Hepatitis C was observed in eight patients (7.3%) and five of them had detectable RNA. Hemodialysis duration ˃5years was the main risk factor for hepatitis C infection (P=0.01; OR: 3.11; 95% CI [1.57-13.71]). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the downward trend of the prevalence of both hepatitis B and C infections among Tunisian hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis duration remains the main risk factor for hepatitis C infection. Occult hepatitis B infection should be suspected and investigated, especially among patients with an "isolated anti-HBc" profile.

Prognostic significance of proteinuria in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are indicators of renal function. Whether proteinuria better predicts outcome than eGFR in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains to be determined. METHODS: In this explorative multicenter IVT register based study, the presence of urine dipstick proteinuria (yes/no), reduced eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2 ) and the coexistence of both with regard to (i) poor 3-month outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3-6), (ii) death within 3 months and (iii) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ECASS-II criteria) were compared. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Amongst 3398 patients, 881 (26.1%) had proteinuria and 623 (18.3%) reduced eGFR. Proteinuria [ORadjusted 1.65 (1.37-2.00) and ORadjusted 1.52 (1.24-1.88)] and reduced eGFR [ORadjusted 1.26 (1.01-1.57) and ORadjusted 1.34 (1.06-1.69)] were independently associated with poor functional outcome and death, respectively. After adding both renal markers to the models, proteinuria [ORadjusted+eGFR 1.59 (1.31-1.93)] still predicted poor outcome whilst reduced eGFR [ORadjusted+proteinuria 1.20 (0.96-1.50)] did not. Proteinuria was associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage [ORadjusted 1.54 (1.09-2.17)] but not reduced eGFR [ORadjusted 0.96 (0.63-1.62)]. In 234 (6.9%) patients, proteinuria and reduced eGFR were coexistent. Such patients were at the highest risk of poor outcome [ORadjusted 2.16 (1.54-3.03)] and death [ORadjusted 2.55 (1.69-3.84)]. CONCLUSION: Proteinuria and reduced eGFR were each independently associated with poor outcome and death but the statistically strongest association appeared for proteinuria. Patients with coexistent proteinuria and reduced eGFR were at the highest risk of poor outcome and death.

[A multicenter study on profile of hypertension in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in Tunisia]. / Profil de l'hypertension artérielle dans la hyalinose segmentaire et focale (HSF). Étude multicentrique de 116 cas en Tunisie.

UNLABELLED: Hypertension in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is frequent and responsible for the progression of the disease. It could be a circumstance of the diagnosis of FSG or a complication of the nephrotic syndrome. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension among patients with FSG diagnosed in Tunisia and to describe the profile of patients with FSG having hypertension in contrast with who do not. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective multicentric study based on 116 patient files having FSG located in 5 specialized centers in Tunisia. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension among our patients was 41%, with a feminine predominance, their mean age was 36.34 ± 15.71 years. The systolic blood pressure among the patients with hypertension was 153.18 mmHg. The nephrotic syndrome was impure due to hypertension in 14.5% of the cases. The patients affected by hypertension were more obese. Proteinuria was higher among those not having hypertension than those with it, who score an average value of 5.67 ± 4.51 g/24h, with an insignificant difference. Serum creatinine at presentation was significantly higher among patients with hypertension. Vascular lesions were present at the renal biopsy among 39.45% of patients affected by hypertension, associated with renal failure in 58.50% of patients. The etiopathogenic treatment of FSG was essentially based on steroids full dose. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is often present in FSG and its' treatment must be as soon as possible in order to slow the progression of kidney chronic disease.

The predictors of early mortality in patients starting chronic hemodialysis.

To evaluate the predictors of early mortality in patients on chronic hemodialysis, we reviewed the records of 192 patients starting chronic hemodialysis at our centre between January 1996 and September 1999. The overall incident mortality within 90 days was 32 (16.7%) patients. The cardiovascular causes accounted for 50% of all the causes of mortality. By using multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, early mortality rate was not significantly increased in the comparison of age or gender groups but increased in patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as those with reduced dialysis frequency. The most powerful predictor of survival was serum albumin level of less than 30 g/l. Thus, the survival rates in patients with serum albumin less than 30 g/l and those with serum albumin equal to or greater than 30 g/l were 67.8% and 90.2%, respectively, (p< 0.001). The odds ratio was 4.68. We conclude that these findings suggest that the important predictors of early mortality in the first 90 days of starting hemodialysis include the presence of diabetes mellitus, the decreased frequency of dialysis sessions and the presence of low serum albumin. The low serum albumin below 30 g/l was the strongest predictor of early mortality.

[Adrenocortical insufficiency in renal amyloidosis]. / L'insuffisance surrénale au cours de l'amylose rénale.

Renal involvement in amyloidosis leads to chronic renal failure. Prognosis is poor. Although amyloid deposits are frequent in adrenal glands, symptomatic adrenal dysfunction is uncommon. We report the case of a 63-year-old man with chronic renal failure (serum creatinine: 202 micromol/L) subsequent to amyloidosis who was referred to our unit for vomiting, dehydration despite a persistent nephrotic syndrome, acidosis, hyponatremia (121 mmol/l) and hyperkaliemia (7.1 mmol/l). A synacthen test was performed and disclosed adrenal insufficiency. Despite the initiation of substitution therapy, the patient died one month later from Addisonian crisis. Features of adrenal insufficiency may be masked by those of chronic renal failure, emphasizing the importance of adrenal explorations in patients with chronic renal failure due to amyloidosis.

[Pregnancy with delivery at term in hemodialyzed women]. / Grossesse avec accouchement à terme chez la femme hémodialysée.

Genital disturbances are frequent in chronic renal failure with amenorrhea anovulatory cycles, elsewhere a good hemodialysis improve these disturbances pathogenesis of there; derived from central gonado stimuline dysfunction. We stated 13 pregnancies in our hemodialysed population. Only one successful delivery of a (baby alive and in due time) is registered. Residual diuresis and blood pressure are the most important predictor pregnancy factors in spite of a good dialysance the fetal prognosis in still unclear. Complications were observed in the mother as well as new babies.

[Primary hypothyroidism and glomerular involvement]. / Hypothyroïdie primitive et atteinte glomérulaire.

Association between auto-immune dysthyroidism and glomerulonephritis is quite rare. The authors report 3 cases with proteinuria varying from 2.72 to 6.06 g/day and hypothyroidism. Nephrotic syndrome was found in 2 cases and thyroid auto-antibodies (microsomal and thyroglobulin) and circulating immun complexes (C.I.C.) in 1 case, complement fractions C3 and C4 were normal in all cases. Renal biopsy showed membranous glomerulonephritis in 2 cases and minimal lesions in the third case. Proteinuria disappeared with glucocorticoids and thyroxine in 1 case, with thyroxine alone in an other case and persisted in the third case with normal thyroid function.