Mineral metabolism disorders, vertebral fractures and aortic calcifications in stable kidney transplant recipients: The role of gender (EMITRAL study).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between mineral metabolism disorders, bone fractures and vascular calcifications in kidney transplant recipients has not been established. METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional study in 727 stable recipients from 28 Spanish transplant clinics. Mineral metabolism parameters, the semi-quantification of vertebral fractures and abdominal aortic calcifications were determined centrally. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD3<15ng/ml) was more common in female recipients at CKD-T stages I-III (29.6% vs 44.4%; p=0.003). The inverse and significant correlation between 25OHD3 and PTH was gender-specific and women exhibited a steeper slope than men (p=0.01). Vertebral fractures (VFx) with deformity grade ≥2 were observed in 15% of recipients. Factors related to VFx differed by gender; in males, age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.06) and CsA treatment (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.6-6.3); in females, age (OR 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12) and PTH levels (OR per 100pg/ml increase: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.043-1.542). Abdominal aortic calcifications were common (67.2%) and related to classical risk factors but not to mineral metabolism parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is more common among female kidney transplant recipients at earlier CKD-T stages, and it contributes to secondary hyperparathyroidism. Prevalent vertebral fractures are only related to high serum PTH levels in female recipients.

Changes in bone mineral metabolism parameters, including FGF23, after discontinuing cinacalcet at kidney transplantation.

Little is known about the effects of the administration of cinacalcet in dialytic patients who are scheduled for kidney transplantation, and in particular about the changes in FGF23 and other mineral metabolism parameters after surgery compared with recipients not on cinacalcet at kidney transplantation. We performed a prospective observational cohort study with recruitment of consecutive kidney transplant recipients at our institution. Patients were classified according to whether they were under treatment with cinacalcet before transplantation. Bone mineral metabolism parameters, including C-terminal FGF23, were measured at baseline, on day 15, and at 1, 3, and 6 months after transplantation. In previously cinacalcet-treated patients, cinacalcet therapy was discontinued on the day of surgery and was not restarted after transplantation. A total of 48 kidney transplant recipients, 20 on cinacalcet at surgery and 28 cinacalcet non-treated patients, completed the follow-up. Serum phosphate declined significantly in the first 15 days after transplantation with no differences between the two groups, whereas cinacalcet-treated patients showed higher FGF23 levels, although not significant. After transplantation, PTH and serum calcium were significantly higher in cinacalcet-treated patients. We conclude that patients receiving cinacalcet on dialysis presented similar serum phosphate levels but higher PTH and serum calcium levels during the initial six months after kidney transplantation than cinacalcet non-treated patients. The group previously treated with cinacalcet before transplantation showed higher FGF23 levels without significant differences, so further studies should investigate its relevance in the management of these patients.

Lesão renal aguda como complicação da ingestão excessiva de suco do fruto biri biri (Averrhoa bilimbi)

O fruto biri-biri pertence à família das Oxalidacae, espécie Averrhoa bilimbi. Este fruto tem um alto conteúdo de oxalato solúvel e é utilizado na culinária, na produção de picles, geleias, e como tratamento para algumas doenças como hipertensão, diabetes e hiperlipidemia. Assim como outros frutos ricos em oxalato, pode provocar lesão renal aguda. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 50 anos, hipertenso, com função renal normal, que ingeriu uma grande quantidade de suco em jejum para tratamento de hipertensão. O paciente desenvolveu quadro de lesão renal aguda associado a dores lombares, soluços e diarreia. A lesão renal aguda era não oligúrica e teve uma evolução favorável em 10 dias sem necessidade de tratamento dialítico. A função renal retornou ao normal após esses 10 dias de seguimento.

Advantages of pinhole collimator double-phase scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine if pinhole collimator-acquired images can improve the detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Forty-two patients being treated with cinacalcet for secondary hyperparathyroidism were studied prospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), the hormone that defines response to treatment: "responders" (PTH <300 pg/mL) and "nonresponders" (PTH ≥ 300 pg/mL). Double-phase scintigraphy using 888 MBq of (99m)Tc-MIBI was used to acquire early and late parallel-hole and pinhole collimator images. Neck ultrasonography was performed on all patients to identify intrathyroid nodules. All focal uptake in any of the acquired scintigraphic images was considered positive. RESULTS: The responder group included 24 patients, whereas 18 patients were considered as nonresponders. At least 1 parathyroid gland with (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake was detected in 33 of 42 patients, with a total of 50 parathyroid glands located. We found significant differences between the detection rates of late pinhole collimator and the late parallel-hole images (74% vs 48%, P = 0.0036). This detection rate was highest with late parallel-hole images in the nonresponder group (89%). CONCLUSIONS: The late pinhole collimator acquisition showed the highest detection rate of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands using (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy in secondary hyperparathyroidism patients treated with cinacalcet.

Earlier decrease of FGF-23 and less hypophosphatemia in preemptive kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, a phosphaturic hormone, increase from the early stages of CKD and are dramatically elevated in dialysis patients. Excessive FGF-23 may be involved in the hypophosphatemia and inappropriately low calcitriol levels observed after kidney transplantation (KT).This prospective observational cohort study was carried out to determine whether there are any differences in the changes in FGF-23 levels after surgery in KT recipients according to whether they were or not on dialysis before transplantation and to assess the influence of FGF-23 in the development of posttransplantation hypophosphatemia. METHODS: Consecutive KT recipients at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona were recruited. Patients developing delayed graft function were excluded. Mineral metabolism parameters, including C-terminal fragment of FGF-23, intact parathyroid hormone, and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), were measured in 72 KT recipients (58 on dialysis before transplantation and 14 preemptive transplant recipients) at baseline, on day 15, and at 1, 3, and 6 months after transplantation. No patients received treatment with calcimimetics, bisphosphonates, vitamin D, or phosphate supplementation during the follow-up. RESULTS: FGF-23 decreased significantly in the first month after transplantation. Baseline and FGF-23 levels within the first posttransplantation month were lower in preemptive transplant recipients than in patients on dialysis at transplantation. Serum phosphate levels were lower in dialysis patients until the third month after transplantation. Pretransplantation FGF-23 was the main predictor of posttransplantation phosphate blood levels. CONCLUSIONS: FGF-23 levels and the risk of developing posttransplantation hypophosphatemia were lower in preemptive kidney transplant recipients than in patients on dialysis before transplantation.

Bacteriemia por Chryseobacterium indologenes em diabético em hemodiálise ambulatorial / Bacteremia by Chryseobacterium indologenes in a diabetic patient undergoing ambulatory hemodialysis

Chryseobacterium indologenes é uma bactéria de baixa virulência, encontrada no meio ambiente, raramente associada às infecções não hospitalares. A maioria das infecções causadas por ela associa-se ao uso de dispositivos invasivos durante a permanência em hospital. O presente relato trata de paciente renal crônico, diabético, apresentando episódios de bacteriemia durante sessões de hemodiálise ambulatorial por meio de cateter permcath.

Chryseobacterium indologenes is a low-virulent bacterium found in the environment, which is rarely associated with non-nosocomial infections. Most infections caused by this pathogen are associated with the use of invasive devices in hospitalized patients. This study reports the case of a diabetic patient with chronic renal disease presenting episodes of bacteremia undergoing ambulatory hemodialysis with permcath catheter.