A high sodium intake reduces antiproteinuric response to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade in kidney transplant recipients. / La ingesta elevada de sodio disminuye la respuesta antiproteinúrica del bloqueo del eje renina-angiotensina-aldosterona en el trasplante renal.

BACKGROUND: Post-transplant proteinuria is associated with lower graft and patient survival. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers are used to reduce proteinuria and improve renal outcome. Although it is known that a high salt intake blunts the antiproteinuric effect of ACEI and ARB drugs in non-transplant patients, this effect has not been studied in kidney transplant recipients. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between sodium intake and the antiproteinuric effect of ACEI/ARB drugs in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: We selected 103 kidney transplant recipients receiving ACEI/ARB drugs for more than 6 months due to proteinuria>1 g/day. Proteinuria was analysed at baseline and at 6 months after starting ACEI/ARB treatment. Salt intake was estimated by urinary sodium to creatinine ratio (uNa/Cr). RESULTS: Proteinuria fell to less than 1g/day in 46 patients (44.7%). High uNa/Cr was associated with a smaller proteinuria decrease (r=-0.251, P=.011). The percentage proteinuria reduction was significantly lower in patients in the highest uNa/Cr tertile [63.9% (IQR 47.1%), 60.1% (IQR 55.4%), 38.9% (IQR 85.5%), P=.047]. High uNa/Cr independently relates (OR 2.406 per 100 mEq/g, 95% CI: 1.008-5.745, P=.048) to an antiproteinuric response <50% after renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade. CONCLUSIONS: A high salt intake results in a smaller proteinuria decrease in kidney transplant recipients with proteinuria treated with ACEI/ARB drugs.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe: a summary of the 2013 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report with a focus on diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: This article provides a summary of the 2013 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report (available at http://www.era-edta-reg.org), with a focus on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as the cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: In 2015, the ERA-EDTA Registry received data on renal replacement therapy (RRT) for ESRD from 49 national or regional renal registries in 34 countries in Europe and bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Individual patient data were provided by 31 registries, while 18 registries provided aggregated data. The total population covered by the participating registries comprised 650 million people. RESULTS: In total, 72 933 patients started RRT for ESRD within the countries and regions reporting to the ERA-EDTA Registry, resulting in an overall incidence of 112 per million population (pmp). The overall prevalence on 31 December 2013 was 738 pmp (n = 478 990). Patients with DM as the cause of ESRD comprised 24% of the incident RRT patients (26 pmp) and 17% of the prevalent RRT patients (122 pmp). When compared with the USA, the incidence of patients starting RRT pmp secondary to DM in Europe was five times lower and the incidence of RRT due to other causes of ESRD was two times lower. Overall, 19 426 kidney transplants were performed (30 pmp). The 5-year adjusted survival for all RRT patients was 60.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 60.5-61.3] and 50.6% (95% CI 49.9-51.2) for patients with DM as the cause of ESRD.

A comparison of acute kidney injury classification systems in sepsis. / Comparación de los sistemas de clasificación del fracaso renal agudo en la sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Since 2004, various criteria have been proposed to define and stage acute kidney injury (AKI). Nevertheless, fixed criteria for assessing severe sepsis-related AKI have not yet been established. OBJECTIVES: To assess the ability of the different AKI classification methods to predict mortality in a cohort of patients with sepsis. METHODS: A prospective study of patients>18 years with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital from April 2008 to September 2010 was conducted. Plasma creatinine levels were measured daily in the ICU. Patients were classified retrospectively according to RIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO and creatinine kinetics (CK) criteria. RESULTS: The AKI rate according to the different criteria was 74.3% for RIFLE, 81.7% for AKIN, 81.7% for KDIGO and 77.5% for CK. AKI staging by RIFLE (OR 1.452, P=.003), AKIN (OR 1.349, P=.028) and KDIGO criteria (OR 1.452, P=.006), but not CK criteria (OR 1.188, P=.148) were independently related to in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of patients with severe sepsis developed AKI, which can be classified according to different criteria. Each stage defined by RIFLE, AKIN and KDIGO related to a higher risk of in-hospital mortality. In contrast, the new CK criteria did not relate to higher mortality in patients with severe sepsis and this classification should not be used in these patients without further studies assessing its suitability.

Sodium Excretion Pattern at 1 Year After Kidney Transplantation and High Blood Pressure.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure (BP) after kidney transplantation decreases graft and patient survival. There is a causal relationship between high salt intake and increased BP in the general population, but the role of salt intake on post-transplant hypertension remains controversial. The aims of our study were to determine the pattern of salt intake in the first year post-transplantation and its influence on BP in our kidney transplant population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We selected 270 deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients with graft survival longer than 1 year and at least 1 adequate 24-h urinary sodium excretion measurement at the first year visit in order to be included in the analysis. RESULTS: Some 87.0% patients had a sodium excretion (mean 165±73 mmol/day) higher than recommended. Male and younger recipients with a high body mass index had a higher sodium excretion. Among other variables, sodium excretion was independently related to higher systolic (b 3.529 per 100 mmol/day, 95%CI 0.725-6.334, p=0.014) and diastolic (b 1.866 per 100 mmol/day, 95%CI 0.237-3.496, p=0.025) BP. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of kidney transplant recipients have salt intake higher than recommended, contributing to increased BP. Measurement of 24-h urinary sodium excretion identifies non-compliant kidney transplant recipients who need intervention to improve BP control and graft outcome.

Haemodialysis session: the perfect storm for vascular calcification.

INTRODUCTION: Vascular calcification (VC) associated to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex phenomenon closely related to mineral bone metabolism disorders. Many are the factors implicated, as the drugs used in the treatment of CKD. Some in vitro studies suggest that electrolyte and acid-base disorders induced by hemodialysis (HD) may play a key role in VC. METHODS: We analyzed electrolyte and acid-base disorders that occur during an HD session in 26 patients randomly assigned to 1,25 mM or 1,5 mM calcium bath. RESULTS: There is a calcium load in all the patients, independently of calcium bath concentration or basal serum calcium levels. At the end of the session, 100% of the patients dialyzed with 1,5 mM calcium bath have calcium serum levels > 1,3 mM. However, this only occurs in 15% of the patients dialysed with 1,25 mM calcium bath. During this calcium load, phosphorus levels persist uncontrolled. Besides, there is a progressive alkalinization in all the patients. In the end of the session 50% have serum bicarbonate > 30 mM and 23% pH > 7,5. CONCLUSIONS: During HD sessions occur electrolyte and acid-base disorders that induce VC: Calcium load and alkalization in presence of elevated phosphorus levels. It is necessary to perform studies with kinetic models of calcium load and alkalinization different from the actual ones.

Vascular calcification in patients with nondialysis CKD over 3 years.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vascular calcification (VC) is common in CKD, but little is known about its prognostic effect on patients with nondialysis CKD. The prevalence of VC and its ability to predict death, time to hospitalization, and renal progression were assessed. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The Study of Mineral and Bone Disorders in CKD in Spain is a prospective, observational, 3-year follow-up study of 742 patients with nondialysis CKD stages 3-5 from 39 centers in Spain from April to May 2009. VC was assessed using Adragao (AS; x-ray pelvis and hands) and Kauppila (KS; x-ray lateral lumbar spine) scores from 572 and 568 patients, respectively. The primary end point was death. Secondary outcomes were hospital admissions and appearance of a combined renal end point (beginning of dialysis or drop >30% in eGFR). Factors related to VC were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Survival analysis was assessed by Cox proportional models. RESULTS: VC was present in 79% of patients and prominent in 47% (AS≥3 or KS>6). Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.02 to 1.07; P<0.001), phosphorous (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.20; P<0.001), and diabetes (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.32 to 3.35; P=0.002) were independently related to AS≥3. After a median follow-up of 35 months (interquartile range=17-36), there were 70 deaths (10%). After multivariate adjustment for age, smoking, diabetes, comorbidity, renal function, and level of phosphorous, AS≥3 but not KS>6 was independently associated with all-cause (hazard ratio [HR], 2.07; 95% CI, 1.07 to 4.01; P=0.03) and cardiovascular (HR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.27 to 9.45; P=0.02) mortality as well as a shorter hospitalization event-free period (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.22; P<0.001). VC did not predict renal progression. CONCLUSIONS: VC is highly prevalent in patients with CKD. VC assessment using AS independently predicts death and time to hospitalization. Therefore, it could be a useful index to identify patients with CKD at high risk of death and morbidity as previously reported in patients on dialysis.

Effect of calcium acetate/magnesium carbonate in the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in dialysis patients in real clinical practice. One year follow up.

BACKGROUND: This observational study was conducted to investigate the use and effectiveness of calcium acetate/magnesium carbonate (CaMg) in the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in dialysis patients in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: 120 adult CKD patients on dialysis who received CaMg alone or in combination with other phosphate binders were followed-up for 3-12 months. Serum phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, parathyroid hormone and albumin concentration was measured at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. In addition, CaMg dosage, use of concurrent phosphate binders, vitamin D and cinacalcet was documented. Patients were evaluated in 2 subgroups – CaMg alone (n=79) vs. CaMg + concurrent phosphate binder (n=41). RESULTS: In both subgroups serum phosphorus levels decreased significantly from baseline at 3, 6 and 12 months of CaMg treatment. The percentage achievement of recommended serum phosphorus targets improved after CaMg initiation. At month 6, a total of 78% were within the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) target range. Total corrected serum calcium increased during CaMg treatment, but mildly exceeded the upper limit of normal in three patients only. Asymptomatic significant increases in magnesium (p<0.001) were observed in the monotherapy group at 3, 6 and 12 months. A total of 80 patients (67%) experienced episodes of mild hypermagnesaemia (>2.6mg/mL, 1.05mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of current clinical practice shows that – consistent with findings from a randomised controlled trial – CaMg treatment leads to marked improvement in serum phosphorus levels, helping patients in trying to achieve K/DOQI and KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome) targets.

Strokes in patients on haemodialysis: incidence, onset time and associated factors.

The incidence of stroke is higher substantially among hemodialysis patients than in the overall population. In this observational cohort study, we analysed data from incident hemodialysis patients at Valdecilla University Hospital in Santander (Spain) during a 40-year period (1971-2011). A total number of 1453 patients were started on hemodialysis The total follow-up period was 4982.22 patients/year, with 84 patients having stroke. The cumulative incidence of stroke in our patients was 5.8%, with an incidence rate of 1686 strokes per 100 000 patient-years. The incidence rate in the first year was 1803 strokes per 100 000 patients-year, 6.5% higher than its average over the period studied. In the remaining period, the rates ranged between 356 and 1626 strokes per 100 000 patients-year. Significative factors related to stroke were: diabetes, myocardial infarction or angina, hypertension, arteriosclerosis/intermittent claudication, history of stroke before the HD and atrial fibrillation. Haemoglobin levels in the cohort stroke were virtually identical to those of the not stroke cohort (11.92±2.07 g/dL, compared to 11, 68±2.12 g/dL). Finally, 60.7% of the population of the stroke cohort received erythropoietin with mean dose of 9611 IU/week, compared to 51.9% and a dose of 9544 IU/week in the not stroke cohort, without significative differences among groups. In conclusion, in haemodialysis population the incidence of stroke is 7-10 times higher than in the general population. It is associated with well known factors for stroke but not with haemoglobin levels or erythropoietin dose.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe: a summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report.

BACKGROUND: This article provides a summary of the 2011 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org). METHODS: Data on renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from national and regional renal registries in 30 countries in Europe and bordering the Mediterranean Sea were used. From 27 registries, individual patient data were received, whereas 17 registries contributed data in aggregated form. We present the incidence and prevalence of RRT, and renal transplant rates in 2011. In addition, survival probabilities and expected remaining lifetimes were calculated for those registries providing individual patient data. RESULTS: The overall unadjusted incidence rate of RRT in 2011 among all registries reporting to the ERA-EDTA Registry was 117 per million population (pmp) (n = 71.631). Incidence rates varied from 24 pmp in Ukraine to 238 pmp in Turkey. The overall unadjusted prevalence of RRT for ESRD on 31 December 2011 was 692 pmp (n = 425 824). The highest prevalence was reported by Portugal (1662 pmp) and the lowest by Ukraine (131 pmp). Among all registries, a total of 22 814 renal transplantations were performed (37 pmp). The highest overall transplant rate was reported from Spain, Cantabria (81 pmp), whereas the highest rate of living donor transplants was reported from Turkey (39 pmp). For patients who started RRT between 2002 and 2006, the unadjusted 5-year patient survival on RRT was 46.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 46.6-47.0], and on dialysis 39.3% (95% CI 39.2-39.4). The unadjusted 5-year patient survival after the first renal transplantation performed between 2002 and 2006 was 86.7% (95% CI 86.2-87.2) for kidneys from deceased donors and 94.3% (95% CI 93.6-95.0) for kidneys from living donors.

Cystatin C and albuminuria as predictors of long-term allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Although cystatin C (Cys) and albuminuria (Alb) are predictors of end-stage renal disease in the general population, there are limited data about the performance of these markers alone or combined with respect to the prediction of the kidney transplant outcome. We assessed the ability of one-yr creatinine (Cr), MDRD equation, Cys, Hoek equation, Alb, the logarithm of albuminuria (LogAlb), and two products of these variables for predicting death-censored graft loss (DCGL) in 127 kidney transplant recipients. Mean follow-up time was 5.6 ± 1.7 yr. During this time, 18 patients developed DCGL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for DCGL ranged from 71.1% to 85.4%, with Cys*LogAlb being the best predictor. Cys-based variables and variables combining LogAlb and renal function estimates have better discrimination ability than Cr-based variables alone. After multivariate analysis, quartiles of all one-yr variables (except of Cr and MDRD) were independent predictors for DCGL. Predictors combining Alb and a Cr- or Cys-based estimate of renal function performed better than those markers alone to predict DCGL. Cys-based predictors performed better than Cr-based predictors. Using a double-marker in kidney transplantation, it is possible to identify the highest risk group in which to prioritize specialty care.

Characteristics of bone mineral metabolism in patients with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease not on dialysis: results of the OSERCE study.

OSERCE is a multi-centre and cross-sectional study with the aim of analysing the biochemical, clinical, and management characteristics of bone mineral metabolism alterations and the level of compliance with K/DOQI guideline recommendations in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis. The study included a total of 634 patients from 32 different Spanish nephrology units, all with CKD, estimated glomerular filtration rates <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and not on dialysis (K/DOQI stage: 33% stage 3, 46% stage 4, and 21% stage 5). In 409 of these patients, laboratory parameters were also measured in a centralised laboratory, including creatinine, calcium, phosphorous, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-OH-vitamin D, and 1,25-OH2-Vitamin D levels. The rates of non-compliance with the K/DOQI objectives for calcium, phosphorous, intact PTH, and calcium x phosphate product among these patients were 45%, 22%, 70%, and 4%, respectively. Of the 70% of patients with intact PTH levels outside of the target range established by the K/DOQI guidelines, 55.5% had values above the upper limit and 14.5% had values below the lower limit. Of the 45% of patients with calcium levels outside of the target range, 40% had values above the upper limit and 5% had values below the lower limit. Of the 22% of patients with phosphorous levels outside of the target range, 19% had values above the upper limit, and 3% had values below the lower limit. Finally, 4% of patients also had values for the calcium x phosphate product that were outside of the recommended range. Only 1.8% of patients complied with all four K/DOQI objectives. The values detected in centralised laboratory analyses were not significantly different from those measured in the laboratories at each institution. In addition, 81.5% of patients had a deficiency of calcidiol (25-OH-D3) (<30 ng/ml); of these, 35% had moderate-severe deficiency (<15 ng/ml) and 47% had mild deficiency (15-30 ng/ml). Calcitriol (1,25-OH2-D3) levels were deficient in 64.7% of patients. Whereas the calcidiol deficiency was not correlated with the CKD stage, calcitriol deficit were more pronounced at more advanced stages of CKD. The results of the OSERCE study confirm the difficulty in reaching the target values recommended by the K/DOQI guidelines in patients with CKD not on dialysis, in particular in the form of poor control of secondary hyperparathyroidism and vitamin D deficiency. With this in mind, we must review strategies for treating bone mineral metabolism alterations in these patients, and perhaps revise the target parameters set by current guidelines.

Renal replacement therapy in Europe-a summary of the 2010 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report.

BACKGROUND: This study provides a summary of the 2010 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry Annual Report (available at www.era-edta-reg.org). METHODS: This report includes data on renal replacement therapy (RRT) using data from the national and regional renal registries in 29 countries in Europe and bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Individual patient data were received from 27 registries, whereas 18 registries contributed data in aggregated form. We present incidence and prevalence of RRT, transplant rates, survival probabilities and expected remaining lifetimes. The latter two are solely based on individual patient records. RESULTS: In 2010, the overall incidence rate of RRT for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among all registries reporting to the ERA-EDTA Registry was 123 per million population (pmp) (n = 91 798). The highest incidence rate was reported by Turkey (252pmp) and the lowest reported by Montenegro (21 pmp). The overall prevalence of RRT for ESRD at 31 December 2010 among all registries reporting to the ERA-EDTA Registry was 741 pmp (n = 551 005). The prevalence varied from 124 pmp in Ukraine to 1580 pmp in Portugal. The overall number of renal transplantations performed in 2010 among all registries was 29.2 pmp (n = 21 740). The highest overall transplant rate was reported from Spain, Cantabria (73 pmp), whereas the highest transplant rate for living donor kidneys was reported from the Netherlands (28 pmp). For patients who started RRT between 2001 and 2005, the unadjusted 5-year patient survival on RRT was 46.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 46.0-46.3], and on dialysis 38.6% (95% CI 38.5-38.8). The unadjusted 5-year patient survival after the first renal transplantation performed between 2001 and 2005 was 86.6% (95% CI 86.1-87.1) for deceased donor kidneys and 94.1% (95% CI 93.4-94.8) for living donor kidneys.

ImmuKnow as a diagnostic tool for predicting infection and acute rejection in adult liver transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Immune status monitoring of transplant recipients could identify patients at risk of acute rejection, infection, and cancer, which are important sources of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The ImmuKnow assay provides an objective assessment of the cellular immune function of immunosuppressed patients. Inconclusive results concerning the ability of the ImmuKnow test to predict acute rejection and infection have raised concerns about the predictive value of ImmuKnow in liver transplant recipients. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies published up to March 2012 that documented the use of ImmuKnow for monitoring immune function in liver transplant recipients. The study quality was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 score. We identified 5 studies analyzing ImmuKnow performance for infection and 5 studies analyzing ImmuKnow performance for acute rejection. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve were 83.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 78.5%-88.3%], 75.3% (95% CI = 70.9%-79.4%), 3.3 (95% CI = 2.8-4.0), 14.6 (95% CI = 9.6-22.3), and 0.824 ± 0.034, respectively, for infection and 65.6% (95% CI = 55.0%-75.1%), 80.4% (95% CI = 76.4%-83.9%), 3.4 (95% CI = 2.4-4.7), 8.8 (95% CI = 3.1-24.8), and 0.835 ± 0.060, respectively, for acute rejection. Heterogeneity was low for infection studies and high for acute rejection studies. In conclusion, the ImmuKnow test is a valid tool for determining the risk of further infection in adult liver transplant recipients. Significant heterogeneity across studies precludes the conclusion that ImmuKnow identifies liver transplant patients at risk for rejection.

Prediction at first year of incident new-onset diabetes after kidney transplantation by risk prediction models.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyze the performance of two scores developed for predicting diabetes in nontransplant populations for identifying kidney transplant recipients with a higher new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) risk beyond the first year after transplantation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 191 kidney transplants, which had at least 1-year follow-up posttransplant. First-year posttransplant variables were collected to estimate the San Antonio Diabetes Prediction Model (SADPM) and Framingham Offspring Study-Diabetes Mellitus (FOS-DM) algorithm. RESULTS: Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of FOS-DM and SADPM scores to predict NODAT were 0.756 and 0.807 (P < 0.001), respectively. FOS-DM and SADPM scores over 75 percentile (hazard ratio 5.074 and 8.179, respectively, P < 0.001) were associated with NODAT. CONCLUSIONS: Both scores can be used to identify kidney recipients at higher risk for NODAT beyond the first year. SADPM score detects some 25% of kidney transplant patients with an eightfold risk for NODAT.

Anemia trials in CKD and clinical practice: refining the approach to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.

As our knowledge of managing renal anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin has grown, new clinical challenges have emerged. Although initial observational studies produced important favorable results, troubling observations later came from 4 randomized controlled trials that assigned CKD patients to intervention with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) to achieve high hemoglobin levels (Hb). The difference between the observational studies and these randomized controlled trials comes from the observation of higher cardiovascular events when targeting higher Hb, but lower events once patients had achieved these Hb targets. In all of the 4 RCTs, the primary intervention was 'targeting' a higher Hb, and using higher dosages of ESA as the means. Therefore, the question to be solved is: what is harmful with recombinant human erythropoietin--targeting higher hemoglobin or achieving higher hemoglobin? Evidence supporting a relationship between ESA exposure and worse outcomes is not universal, and these comorbidities would require the administration of high doses. However, increasing ESA doses in hyporesponsive patients to achieve a specific target is not reasonable. Managing anemia in CKD patients is complex. It is affected by the underlying disease, comorbid conditions, the environment and several other factors that differ among patients. Thus, anemia management in these patients needs an individualized approach. Each patient should be treated according to a Hb target with the lowest effective ESA dose, while avoiding large fluctuations in Hb levels or prolonged periods outside the target. This strategy may necessitate changes to the ESA dose, dosing frequency and iron supplementation over the course of a patient's treatment, and proactive management of conditions that can affect ESA responsiveness. While all ESAs effectively increase Hb levels, differences with respect to route of administration, pharmacokinetics, and dosing frequency and efficiency should be considered to maximize the benefits of ESA treatment for the individual patient.

Nephrology around Europe: organization models and management strategies: Spain.

The main aim of this report is to present a picture of the current organization of nephrology in Spain. The Spanish health system offers almost universal coverage, a wide variety of services and a high-quality network of hospitals and primary care centers. Spain has a specialized health care training system that is highly developed, highly regulated, with the capacity to provide high-quality training in 54 different specialties. Nephrology is basically a hospital-based specialty. There are no private dialysis patients in Spain. Hemodialysis centers are 40% public, 15% private and 45% run by companies. The National Health System covers 95% of the population, and there is no cost to patients for treatment of renal disease (dialysis and transplant). We observed a clear decrease of nephrology in residents' election rankings, with position 29 out of 47 specialties in 2007. Some of the reasons for this are the complexity of the subject, no clear information at the university, reduction of professional posts and a very good public service with minimal private practice. In Spain, a model of organization for transplantation was adopted based on a decentralized transplant coordinating network. For cadaveric donors, it compares favorably with rates in other Western countries. Living donor transplantation is very low in Spain--just 10% of total renal transplantation activity. New programs due to financial constraints need to include reduced dialysis costs, greater cost-effectiveness of prescriptions, better handling of ethical issues related to the need for using a clinical score of chronic kidney disease patients to make decisions about conservative or renal replacement therapy and an action plan for improvement of organ donation and transplantation. Recovery of skills (acute kidney injury, biopsies, vascular access, etc.), research and advances in autonomous activities (imaging, surgical and medical vascular training, etc.) are some of the future educational paths needed in nephrology. Adequate decisions in the context of economic restrictions need to be discussed for the sustainability of nephrological care.

Using RIFLE criteria to evaluate acute kidney injury in brain-deceased kidney donors.

BACKGROUND: The limited supply of deceased donors for renal transplantation led to considering alternative strategies for making more organs available. One of these strategies is the use of donors with renal dysfunction, as this is usually a reversible condition. RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss and end-stage renal failure) criteria were developed to standardize the definition and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) but have not been previously used in brain-deceased donors. We applied the RIFLE classification to evaluate renal function changes in our donor pool, in an attempt to know its influence in transplant outcome. METHODS: Data were collected from the renal transplant patient and the intensive care unit brain-dead donors prospectively maintained databases of our hospital. Risk was defined when creatinine increased x1.5, injury when it increased x2 and failure when last creatinine increased x3 with respect to admission-day creatinine. RESULTS: From 176 donors, 10.8% suffered AKI and 7.9% were included in 'risk', 2.3% in 'injury' and 0.6% in 'failure' categories. There were no significant differences between AKI and non-AKI groups in donor and intensive care management variables, except in last-day creatinine. First-day urine volumes were lower (P = 0.043) and delayed graft function rates were higher (P = 0.013) in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group recipients. Graft survival and other outcome variables were not different between AKI and non-AKI recipients. CONCLUSIONS: The RIFLE classification system offers us an opportunity to standardize and quantify renal injury in donors. Although >10% of brain-deceased donors can suffer AKI, these grafts can perform adequately. Hence, the development of AKI in donors cannot be an isolated criterion to discard kidney donation.

Insights in anemia management.

After almost 20 years, anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its treatment remain the focus of multiple questions for clinicians and investigators. The optimal hemoglobin (Hb) for patients with CKD is controversial and different targets are probably required for different populations. The current literature does not support an upper Hb target >12 g/dl and there is a clear demonstration of increased risk with Hb targets >13 g/dl. With this narrow target of 11-12 g/dl, fluctuations in Hb concentration are commonly observed in patients being treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Studies to date provide a suggestion of an association between Hb cycling and mortality, but they have been primarily exploratory in nature and clinical trials comparing treatment strategies leading to different degrees of Hb variability are needed. The great majority of incidences of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) was associated with ESA therapy and was first recognized several years ago after a change in the formulation in which human serum albumin was eliminated and replaced by polysorbate-80 in patients on epoetin alfa (Eprex). Years later, a registry (PRIMS) was established by the health authorities as part of a reapproval of the subcutaneous route to confirm that the cause of PRCA has been eliminated. The ongoing PRIMS study is a 3-year observation period prospective multicenter and international (Europe and Australia) registry that could serve as a model for assessment of the immunogenicity profiles of currently marketed and future ESAs. The association with a change in formulation makes PRCA of interest to the biotechnology industry as well as the medical community because it raises the broader question of the potential immunogenicity of biopharmaceuticals in general.