Latin American registry of renal involvement in COVID-19 disease. The relevance of assessing proteinuria throughout the clinical course.

The Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension conducted a prospective cohort, multinational registry of Latin American patients with kidney impairment associated to COVID-19 infection with the objective to describe the characteristics of acute kidney disease under these circumstances. The study was carried out through open invitation in order to describe the characteristics of the disease in the region. Eight-hundred and seventy patients from 12 countries were included. Median age was 63 years (54-74), most of patients were male (68.4%) and with diverse comorbidities (87.2%). Acute kidney injury (AKI) was hospital-acquired in 64.7% and non-oliguric in 59.9%. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS) due to COVID-19 and volume depletion were the main factors contributing to AKI (59.2% and 35.7% respectively). Kidney replacement therapy was started in 46.2%. Non-recovery of renal function was observed in 65.3%. 71.5% of patients were admitted to ICU and 72.2% underwent mechanical ventilation. Proteinuria at admission was present in 62.4% of patients and proteinuria during hospital-stay occurred in 37.5%. Those patients with proteinuria at admission had higher burden of comorbidities, higher baseline sCr, and MODS was severe. On the other hand, patients with de novo proteinuria had lower incidence of comorbidities and near normal sCr at admission, but showed adverse course of disease. COVID-19 MODS was the main cause of AKI in both groups. All-cause mortality of the general population was 57.4%, and it was associated to age, sepsis as cause of AKI, severity of condition at admission, oliguria, mechanical ventilation, non-recovery of renal function, in-hospital complications and hospital stay. In conclusion, our study contributes to a better knowledge of this condition and highlights the relevance of the detection of proteinuria throughout the clinical course.

Contaminación de líquido de preservación en trasplante renal. Reporte y revisión de la literatura / Contamination of preservation fluid in kidney transplant. Report and literature review

Resumen La enfermedad renal crónica es un problema de salud pública con una alta morbilidad y mortalidad. El trasplante renal es una de las actuales alternativas terapéuticas. Se incluyen en este artículo 12 trabajos publicados referentes a la contaminación del líquido de preservación en trasplante renal, 4 reportes de caso, y 8 estudios de prevalencia. En este estudio la prevalencia de contaminación de líquido de preservación para cualquier microorganismo varió entre 17,43 % a 59,72 %, mientras que para los limitados al reporte de Candida sp, la frecuencia varió de 1,69 % a 8,57 %. En los reportes de caso, todos fueron asociados a la infección por Candida sp, con arteritis de la arteria renal y pérdida del injerto como las complicaciones más frecuentes. En nuestra institución, Hospital de Especialidades de las Fuerzas Armadas N°1, de un total de 59 pacientes trasplantados se aisló al menos un microorganismo en 20 casos (28,17 %). Con estos resultados sugerimos que la contaminación del líquido de preservación es un fenómeno frecuente en trasplante renal, sin embargo al no poseer publicaciones en las que se describan las complicaciones asociadas a la infección por otros microorganismos, creemos que la contaminación por Candida sp, a pesar de no tener una gran frecuencia, es clínicamente la más relevante.

Abstract Chronic kidney disease is a public health problem with high morbidity and mortality, kidney transplantation being one of the current therapeutic alternatives. In12 published works concerning the contamination of the preservation fluid in kidney transplant, four case reports, and eight prevalence studies. The prevalence of preservation liquid contamination for any microorganism ranged from 17.43% to 59.72%, while for those limited to the Candida sp report, the frequency varied from 1.69% to 8.57%. In the case reports, all were associated with Candida infection, with renal artery arteritis and graft loss as the most frequent complications. In our institution, of a total of 59 transplant patients, at least one microorganism was isolated in 20 cases (28.17%). Preservation fluid contamination is a frequent phenomenon in kidney transplantation. However, since no publications are describing the complications associated with infection by other microorganisms, we could say that contamination by Candida sp, despite not having a high prevalence, it is clinically the most relevant.

Descripción de la ferropenia en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica terminal en hemodiálisis, Quito, Ecuador / Description of iron deficiency in patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis, Quito, Ecuador

Resumen Introducción: la anemia y ferropenia son condiciones muy prevalentes en hemodiálisis asociadas al incremento en la morbimortalidad. Objetivo: describir las características de la ferropenia y anemia de pacientes con enfermedad renal terminal en hemodiálisis, y analizar los parámetros del hemograma para predecir la deficiencia de hierro en ellos. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en la unidad de hemodiálisis del Hospital de Especialidades de las Fuerzas Armadas N°1 y CLINEF Norte, Quito, Ecuador, durante diciembre de 2018 y enero de 2019. El análisis se basó en la comparación de dos grupos, pacientes ferropénicos y no ferropénicos. Resultados: se incluyeron 268 pacientes con edad promedio de 16 y 59 años; 89 pacientes (33,21 %) fueron ferropénicos, sin embargo presentaron parámetros hematimétricos normales en la mayoría de ellos. Encontramos además que el 80,22 % de los pacientes incluidos eran anémicos, con poca frecuencia de microcitosis e hipocromía. Entre ellos, el 33,21 % fueron ferropénicos, siendo la hemoglobina un pobre marcador de ferropenia. Adicionalmente, para predecir ferropenia, y de no contar con ferritina o saturación de transferrina, encontramos útil la hemoglobina corpuscular media, el volumen corpuscular medio, el ancho de distribución eritrocitaria y el índice de Srivastava, sin embargo el valor predictivo se incrementó al incluir la sideremia como en nuestro modelo propuesto. Conclusiones: dada la alta frecuencia de anemia sin hipocromía o microcitosis en los pacientes con enfermedad renal terminal en hemodiálisis, incluso en ferropenia, es fundamental la evaluación regular del metabolismo férrico, así como el análisis del hemograma con enfoque en el paciente dialítico.

Abstract Introduction: Anemia and iron deficiency are very prevalent conditions in hemodialysis and have been associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Objective: Describe the characteristics of iron deficiency and anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, and analyze the parameters of the blood count to predict iron deficiency in them. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in the hemodialysis unit of the Specialties Hospital of the Armed Forces No. 1 and CLINEF Norte, Quito, Ecuador, during December 2018 and January 2019. The analysis was based on the comparison of two groups, ferropenic and non-ferropenic patients. Results: We included 268 patients with an average age of 59.16 years; 89 patients (33.21%) were ferropenic. However, they presented normal hematimetric parameters in most of them. We also found that 80.22% of the patients included were anemic, with little frequency of microcytosis and hypochromia. Among them, 33.21% were ferropenic, being hemoglobin a poor marker of iron deficiency. Additionally, to predict ferropenia, and not to have ferritin or transferrin saturation, we find especially useful the mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte distribution width, and Srivastava index, however the predictive value increases when including the syderemia as in our proposed model. Conclusions: Given the high frequency of anemia without hypochromia or microcytosis in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, even in iron deficiency, regular evaluation of ferric metabolism is essential, as well as the analysis of the blood count with a focus on the dialysis patient.

Vasculitis en adultos mayores. A propósito de dos casos y revisión de la literatura / Vasculitis in elderly. About two clinical cases and literature review

Resumen Actualmente vivimos un proceso de transición en la pirámide poblacional. Por lo tanto, se hacen más frecuentes las enfermedades renales en los ancianos. Así, las vasculitis primarias en adultos mayores son enfermedades raras, causadas por la inflamación de los vasos sanguíneos y muy poco diagnosticadas. La literatura se limita a escasos casos clínicos. La vasculitis por anticuerpo citoplasmático anti neutrófilo (ANCA) positivo (VAA) es más frecuente en personas mayores de 50 años. La detección de ANCA es de peor pronóstico en esta población. También, es importante la alta sospecha y diagnóstico oportuno, ya que así se puede brindar un tratamiento óptimo y disminuir las complicaciones propias de la enfermedad y aquellas asociadas a la inmunosupresión. Los adultos mayores con VAA tienen mayor compromiso renal, hipertensión, dislipidemia y mortalidad incrementada. Por lo que a continuación se detallan dos casos clínicos desde la fecha del diagnóstico, edad, valores de laboratorio de la presentación inicial y la escala de actividad de vasculitis de Birmingham confirmados con biopsia renal (ANCA positivo) identificados en un hospital de especialidades de Ecuador.

Abstract Currently we live a process of transition in the population pyramid. Therefore, kidney diseases become more frequent in the elderly. Thus, primary vasculitis in older adults are rare diseases, caused by the inflammation of blood vessels and poorly diagnosed. The literature is limited to few clinical cases. Cytoplasmic anti-neutrophil antibody (ANCA) positive vasculitis (AAV) is more common in people older than 50 years. The detection of ANCA gives a very poor prognosis in this population. Also, high suspicion and timely diagnosis is important, as this can provide optimal treatment and reduce the complications of the disease and those associated with immunosuppression. Older adults with AAV have greater renal involvement, hypertension, dyslipidemia and increased mortality. Therefore, two clinical cases from the date of diagnosis, age, laboratory values of the initial presentation and the scale of activity of Birmingham vasculitis confirmed with renal biopsy (ANCA positive) identified in a specialty hospital of Ecuador are detailed below.