Point-of-Care Testing to Differentiate Various Acid-Base Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: Normal-anion-gap metabolic acidosis (AGMA) and high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) are two forms of metabolic acidosis, which is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of various acid-base disorders in patients with advanced CKD using point-of-care testing (POCT) and to determine the relationship between POCT parameters. METHODS: In a group of 116 patients with CKD in stages G4 and G5, with a mean age of 62.5 ± 17 years, a sample of arterial blood was taken during the arteriovenous fistula procedure for POCT, which enables an assessment of the most important parameters of acid-base balance, including: pH, base excess (BE), bicarbonate (HCO3-), chloride(Cl-), anion gap (AG), creatinine and urea concentration. Based on this test, patients were categorized according to the type of acidosis-base disorder. RESULTS: Decompensate acidosis with a pH < 7.35 was found in 68 (59%) patients. Metabolic acidosis (MA), defined as the concentration of HCO3- ≤ 22 mmol/L, was found in 92 (79%) patients. In this group, significantly lower pH, BE, HCO3- and Cl- concentrations were found. In group of MA patients, AGMA and HAGMA was observed in 48 (52%) and 44 (48%) of patients, respectively. The mean creatinine was significantly lower in the AGMA group compared to the HAGMA group (4.91 vs. 5.87 mg/dL, p < 0.05). The AG correlated positively with creatinine (r = 0.44, p < 0.01) and urea (r = 0.53, p < 0.01), but there was no correlation between HCO3- and both creatinine (r = -0.015, p > 0.05) and urea (r = -0.07, p > 0.05). The Cl- concentrations correlated negatively with HCO3- (r = -0.8, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The most common type of acid-base disturbance in CKD patients in stages 4 and 5 is AGMA, which is observed in patients with better kidney function and is associated with compensatory hyperchloremia. The initiation of renal replacement therapy was significantly earlier for patients diagnosed with HAGMA compared to those diagnosed with AGMA. The more advanced the CKD, the higher the AG.

The Influence of Healthy Habits on Cognitive Functions in a Group of Hemodialysis Patients.

(1) Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is more prevalent in hemodialysis (HD) patients than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine if behavioral, clinical, and vascular variables are linked with CI in individuals with HD. (2) Methods: Initially, 47 individuals with chronic HD volunteered to participate in the trial, but only 27 patients ultimately completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Computerized Cognitive Assessment Tool (CompBased-CAT). We collected information on smoking, mental activities, physical activity (Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity, RAPA), and comorbidity. The oxygen saturation (rSO2) and pulse wave velocity (PWV; IEM Mobil-O-Graph) of the frontal lobes were measured. (3) Results: Significant associations were discovered between MoCA and rSO2 (r = 0.44, p = 0.02 and r = 0.62, p = 0.001, right/left, respectively), PWV (r = -0.69, p = 0.0001), CCI (r = 0.59, p = 0.001), and RAPA (r = 0.72, p = 0.0001). Those who actively occupied their time during dialysis and non-smokers achieved higher cognitive exam results. A multivariate regression study demonstrated that physical activity (RAPA) and PWV had separate effects on cognitive performance. (4) Conclusions: Cognitive skills are related to inter-dialysis healthy habits (physical activity, smoking) and intra-dialysis activities (tasks and mind games). Arterial stiffness, oxygenation of the frontal lobes, and CCI were linked with CI.

Prone Position Facilitates Creation of Ulnar-Basilic Arteriovenous Fistula.

BACKGROUND: The distal ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula (UBAVF) is a rarely used alternative type of vascular access for haemodialysis. The location of the vein on the back aspect of the forearm forces an extremely uncomfortable external rotation of the upper limb during surgery when the patient is in a supine position. METHODS: We present a new approach towards creating UBAVF, which involves placing the patient in the prone position, thus eliminating the aforementioned inconvenience. The procedure was performed and described in a 46-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to diabetic nephropathy. In the period from September 2021 to December 2021, we created an additional three UBAVFs with such modifications. RESULTS: All fistulas were patent both immediately after the procedure and 2 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The prone position may improve the comfort of both the operator and the patient during the procedure. On top of this, it may have a positive impact on the quality of the arteriovenous anastomosis.

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in adults: early clinical course and prognostic factors for short-term outcome / Glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentariaenadultos: evoluciónclínicatemprana y factorespronósticos de resultados a cortoplazo

ABSTRACT Background: Primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis progresses to end-stage renal disease in every other patient, and therefore determinants of its long-term outcome have been extensively studied. Immediate response to treatment has been regarded as a positive prognostic predictor and short-term manifestation of the disease could affect its determinants. Therefore, we have sought to assess the early clinical course of primary adult focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and analyze its prognostic factors. Methods: We have retrospectively assessed clinical course of primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis ("not otherwise specified" histological variant) in 84 adults. Renal function was expressed as serum creatinine concentration and equilibrated glomerular filtration rate (MDRD equation). Proteinuria was expressed as protein to urinary creatinine ratio, assessed in the morning voiding sample. The evaluation of these parameters was performed every 3 months after diagnosis. Statistical analysis was achieved using package Statistica. Results: As result of treatment, complete remission of proteinuria, was attained in 30 subjects (35.7%), partial remission in 37 persons (44%), whereas in 17 patients protein excretion rate remained unchanged (20.2%). The severity of glomerular injury, at initial presentation of the disease, correlated with its early (12 months) outcome: patients attaining early complete remission have had the lowest initial proteinuria, higher serum albumin and total protein concentrations than those who have failed to achieve remission. Pharmacotherapy with prednisone, but not with calcineurin inhibitors or mycophenolate mofetil was demonstrated to significantly affect achievement of remission. Conclusions: Early remission of proteinuria in response to treatment is feasible in 44% of patients with primary focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, it is best achieved in subjects presenting with mild glomerular injury, and in patients treated with prednisone. Higher serum albumin and total protein concentrations predict better response to induction of remission.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: La glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentaria se convierteennefropatía terminal enuno de cada dos pacientes, por lo que losfactoresdeterminantes de susdesenlaces a largo plazohansidoobjeto de muchosestudios. La respuestainmediata al tratamiento se considera un factor pronóstico favorable, y las manifestaciones a cortoplazo de la enfermedadpuedenafectarlosfactoresdeterminantes. Portodoello, hemosbuscadoevaluar la evoluciónclínicatemprana de la glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentariaprimaria, y analizarsusfactorespronósticos. Material y métodos: Hemosrealizado un estudioretrospectivo para evaluar la evoluciónclínica de la glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentariaprimaria (variantehistológica "sin otraespecificación") en 84 pacientesadultos. Se evaluó la función renal a través de la creatininasérica y filtrado glomerular equilibradocalculadomediante la ecuación MDRD. La proteinuria se expresócomorelaciónproteína/creatininaurinaria, evaluadaen la muestramiccionalmatutina. La evaluación de estosparámetros se realizócada 3 mesesdespués del diagnóstico. El análisisestadístico se logróutilizando el paqueteStatistica. Resultados: Como resultado del tratamiento, se obtuvounaremisióncompleta de la proteinuria en 30 sujetos (35,7%), unaremisiónparcialen 37 personas (44%), mientras que, en 17 pacientes, la tasa de excreción de proteínas se mantuvo sin cambios (20,2%). En la presentacióninicial de la enfermedad, la gravedad de la lesión glomerular se correlacionó con suresultadotemprano (12 meses): lospacientes que lograronunaremisióncompletatempranamostraronlosnivelesmásbajos de proteinuria inicial, y concentracionesmásaltas de albúminasérica y proteínastotales que aquellos que no alcanzaron la remisión. Se demostró que la farmacoterapia con prednisona -pero no con inhibidores de calcineurina o micofenolato de mofetilo- condiciona de forma significativa el logro de la remisión. Conclusiones: La remisióntemprana de la proteinuria enrespuesta al tratamientoesfactibleen el 44% de lospacientes con glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentariaprimaria; se obtienenmejoresresultadosensujetos que presentanunalesión glomerular leve y enpacientestratados con prednisona. Las concentracionesmásaltas de albúminasérica y proteínastotalespredicenunamejorrespuesta para inducir la remisión.

Celiac disease: uncommon, oligosymptomatic course of illness, with profound hypoalbuminemia in an adult patient.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease, caused by gluten, occurring in people with genetic predisposition. The course of the disease can vary and includes both intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations. Many patients are undiagnosed for many years and some of them, in particular with nonspecific symptoms or asymptomatic, might never be diagnosed. We present a rare case of a patient, who's first and practically the only symptom of the disease was a pathological fracture of the ribs. In addition, despite the lack of clinical symptoms of malabsorption syndrome, malnutrition and proteinuria, we observed profound hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia. This case suggests that CD diagnostic should be undertaken in evaluation of every patient with osteoporotic fractures and hypoalbuminemia.

Risk factors of the Clostridium difficile infection in patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a Gram-positive bacillus responsible for diarrhea and colitis, mainly among hospitalized patients. It is a leading cause of nosocomial infections. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the study was to assess the risk factors of the C. difficile infection in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the medical records of all patients treated at the Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation of the Research and Development Center in the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland, between February 2009 and May 2012, who developed diarrhea, abdominal pain and/or fever within 72 h after admission. In patients with these symptoms, an enzyme cassette immunoassay was performed to detect antigens of C. difficile toxins A and B in stool. RESULTS: There were 207 patients enrolled in the study, presented with the symptoms of the C. difficile infection. Out of these patients, 69 (33%) persons were positive for C. difficile toxins. Longer hospitalization time and lower initial serum albumin concentration significantly increased the risk of infection (p < 0.05). Apart from the C. difficile infection, age, the number of used antibiotics, longer hospitalization time, and lower initial serum albumin concentration significantly augmented the risk of death (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CKD, longer hospitalization time and lower serum albumin concentration significantly increased the risk of the C. difficile infection. The C. difficile infection, age, the number of used antibiotics, longer hospitalization time, and lower initial serum albumin concentration notably augmented the risk of death. Although the incidence of the C. difficile infection did not correlate with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 67% of patients who tested positive were class 5 of CKD, whereas only 5.7% were class 1.