Clinical characteristics and antibiotic treatment of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas species: a review of 15 years' experience from southern China.

Pseudomonas can lead to peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis, which is characterized by a poor prognosis, such as a substantial failure rate and a high death rate. This study aimed to provide an overview of Pseudomonas peritonitis's clinical features, the regimens of antibiotic, antibiotic resistance, and outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. This study observed patients with Pseudomonas peritonitis in two large PD centers in South China from January 2008 to December 2022. The demographics, symptomatology, antibiotics regimens, resistance to common antibiotics, and clinical outcomes of all included patients were reviewed. A total of 3,459 PD patients were included, among them 57 cases of peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas, including 48 cases (84.2%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The incidence rate of Pseudomonas peritonitis was 0.0041 episode per patient-year. Of them, 28.1% (16 cases) of the patients were accompanied by exit site infection (ESI), and all had abdominal pain and turbid ascites at the time of onset. The most commonly used antibiotic combination was ceftazidime combined with amikacin. Approximately 89% of Pseudomonas species were sensitive to ceftazidime, and 88% were sensitive to amikacin. The overall primary response rate was 28.1% (16 patients), and the complete cure rate was 40.4% (23 patients). There was no significant difference in the complete cure rate of peritonitis using three and other antibiotic treatment regimens (44.8% vs 46.4%; P = 0.9). The successful treatment group had higher baseline albumin level (35.9 ± 6.2; P = 0.008) and residual urine volume (650.7 ± 375.5; P = 0.04). Although the incidence of peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas was low, the symptoms were serious, and prognosis was very poor. Pseudomonas was still highly susceptible to first-line antibiotics currently in use against Gram-negative bacteria. Patients with successful treatment had higher albumin levels and higher urine output. IMPORTANCE: Although the incidence of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis caused by Pseudomonas is very low, it seriously affects the technique survival of peritoneal dialysis patients. However, there are few studies and reports on Pseudomonas peritonitis in the Chinese mainland area. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, the regimens of antibiotic, drug resistance, and outcome of peritoneal dialysis patients in southern China in the past 15 years and summarize the clinical experience in the treatment of Pseudomonas peritonitis.

Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells Exacerbate Lupus Nephritis by Promoting B Cell Activation in Kidney Ectopic Lymphoid Structures.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) represent a new population in immune regulation, yet their role in lupus nephritis (LN) remains elusive. In the present work, systemic increases in ILC3s, particularly in the kidney, are observed to correlate strongly with disease severity in both human and murine LN. Using MRL/lpr lupus mice and a nephrotoxic serum-induced LN model, this study demonstrates that ILC3s accumulated in the kidney migrate predominantly from the intestine. Furthermore, intestinal ILC3s accelerate LN progression, manifested by exacerbated autoimmunity and kidney injuries. In LN kidneys, ILC3s are located adjacent to B cells within ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS), directly activating B cell differentiation into plasma cells and antibody production in a Delta-like1 (DLL1)/Notch-dependent manner. Blocking DLL1 attenuates ILC3s' effects and protects against LN. Altogether, these findings reveal a novel pathogenic role of ILC3s in B cell activation, renal ELS formation and autoimmune injuries during LN, shedding light on the therapeutic value of targeting ILC3s for LN.

The centre-calculated cutoff value is better for identifying fast peritoneal solute transfer of patients on peritoneal dialysis than the traditional value: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The mean 4-h dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine (4-h D/Pcr) is a vital cutoff value for recognizing the fast peritoneal solute transfer rate (PSTR) in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD); however, it shows a noticeable centre effect. We aimed to investigate our centre-calculated cutoff value (CCV) of 4-h D/Pcr and compare it with the traditional cutoff value (TCV) (0.65). Methods: In this study, we enrolled incident PD patients at our centre from 2008 to 2019, and divided them into fast or non-fast PSTR groups according to baseline 4-h D/Pcr-based CCV or TCV. We compared the efficiency of the fast PSTR recognized by two cutoff values in predicting mortality, ultrafiltration (UF) insufficiency and technical survival. Results: In total, 1905 patients were enrolled, with a mean 4-h D/Pcr of 0.71 ± 0.11. Compared with TCV (0.65), CCV (0.71) showed superiority in predicting mortality of PD patients [hazard ratio (HR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.59 vs HR 1.24, 95% CI 0.97-1.59]. The odds ratio (OR) of the fast PSTR in centre classification was slightly higher than traditional classification in predicting UF insufficiency (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.25-2.24 vs OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.15-2.22). Additionally, the restricted cubic splines 4-h D/Pcr has an S-shaped association with mortality and UF insufficiency, and the inflection points of 4-h D/Pcr were 0.71 (equal to CCV). Conclusions: The CCV of 4-h D/Pcr for identifying fast PSTR was 0.71. It was superior to TCV in predicting mortality and UF insufficiency.

Triglyceride glucose-body mass index and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) is associated with the risk of ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease. However, little attention has been given to the association between TyG-BMI and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between TyG-BMI and CVD mortality in southern Chinese patients undergoing PD. METHODS: Incident patients receiving PD from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2018, with baseline serum triglyceride, glucose, and body mass index (BMI) information, were recruited for this single-center retrospective cohort study. TyG-BMI was calculated based on fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and BMI values. The association between TyG-BMI, CVD and all-cause mortality was evaluated using a multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: Of 2,335 patients, the mean age was 46.1 ± 14.8 years; 1,382 (59.2%) were male, and 564 (24.2%) had diabetes. The median TyG-BMI was 183.7 (165.5-209.2). Multivariate linear regression showed that advanced age, male sex, history of CVD, higher levels of albumin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher urine output were correlated with a higher TyG-BMI (P < 0.05). During a median follow-up period of 46.6 (22.4-78.0) months, 615 patients died, of whom 297 (48.2%) died as a result of CVD. After adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, TyG-BMI was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.17) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.05-1.75). After full adjustment, the 28% risk of CVD mortality (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13-1.45) and 19% risk of all-cause mortality were elevated (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.31) when TyG-BMI increased by 1 stand deviation (SD) (34.2). CONCLUSIONS: A higher baseline TyG-BMI was independently associated with an increased risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in patients receiving PD.

Incremental peritoneal dialysis and survival outcomes: a propensity-matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The advantages of an incremental dialysis start are not fully clear. We aimed to evaluate the association of incremental initiation of peritoneal dialysis with mortality. METHODS: Incident peritoneal dialysis patients with a catheter placed at our hospital between 2008 and 2017 were included. All patients were followed up until December 31, 2019. Patients were categorized into different groups according to the initial daily dialysis exchanges, and were matched at a ratio of 1:2 with propensity score matching. Multiple variables including age, sex, residual kidney function, urine volume, hemoglobin, serum albumin and other important variables were included for the matching. Primary outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1315 patients with a mean age of 45.9 years were enrolled. The mean glomerular filtration rate was 4.32 ml/min/1.73 m2 at start of dialysis. Two hundred eighty-five patients in the incremental group and 502 in the full dose group were matched for age, sex, residual kidney function, urine volume, hemoglobin, serum albumin and other important variables. Patient survival and cardiovascular event-free survival were similar between the two groups. However, during the first 6 years of peritoneal dialysis, patients in the incremental group had better survival (P = 0.011) and cardiovascular event-free survival (P = 0.044) than the full dose group, while such advantages disappeared when dialysis vintage became longer. Further analysis showed that the incremental group (vs full dose dialysis) had a 39% lower risk (95% CI 0.42-0.90, P = 0.012) of all-cause mortality and a 41% decreased risk (95% CI 0.35-0.99, P = 0.047) of cardiovascular mortality during the first 6 years of dialysis. Additionally, the cumulative hazard for anuria was significantly lower in the incremental group versus the full dose group (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows a time-related survival advantage for incremental peritoneal dialysis patients, suggesting that an incremental regimen for starting peritoneal dialysis is feasible and is not associated with worse outcomes. Graphical Abstract presenting schematically the measurements of the solvation response function by processing the relevant streak camera images and the time-correlated photon counting (TCSPC) data and appropriately combining them together.

The feasibility of incremental peritoneal dialysis for older patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: This study was performed to investigate the feasibility of incremental peritoneal dialysis (iPD) in older patients. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with age ≥ 60 years old at our center from 2008 to 2017. The patients were divided into two groups based on the daily PD exchanges: iPD group (≤3 × 2 L exchanges), and full dose group (≥4 × 2 L exchanges). Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox regression models were applied to evaluate the risks of anuria and mortalities between groups. Results: A total of 238 patients (186 in full dose group and 52 in iPD group) were enrolled. The mean age was 67.8 ± 5.7 years, and 45.8% were females. The baseline glomerular filtration rate was 4.15 ± 2.39 mL/min/1.73 m2 . Multivariate Cox regression models showed that patients in the iPD group patients had significantly decreased risk of anuria (hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.81; p = 0.008), and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.98; p = 0.04). Additionally, the incidence of peritonitis was significantly lower in the iPD group than that in the full dose group (0.115 vs. 0.197 episodes per person-year, p = 0.03) during the 36 months of PD commencement. Conclusion: Older patients with iPD were independently associated with better preservation of residual kidney function and survival outcomes. Moreover, iPD regimens are also associated with reduced incidence of peritonitis. The iPD strategy might offer a feasible option for older patients.

Lupus Recipe inhibits cGVHD-induced lupus nephritis in mice and promote renal LC3-associated autophagy.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) mouse model is a well-established model of SLE. LC3-associated autophagy plays a critical role in extracellular particle clearance, including pathogens and apoptotic cells. Lupus Recipe (LR) is a Chinese herbal compound that has been proven to be effective in treating SLE. In the study, we investigated the protective effects of LR or LR combined with prednisone on cGVHD mouse model and LC3-associated autophagy in the kidney. The mice were subjected to six groups. The LR treatment group received LR at the dosage of 1.15 and 2.3 g/kg/day, respectively. The corticosteroid treatment group received prednisone at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/day. The combination treatment group received LR at a dosage of 2.3 g/kg/day, and prednisone at 2.5 mg/kg/day. LR treatment reduced proteinuria and serum triglyceride levels, as well as spleen weight. LR also alleviated pathologic damage and immunoglobulin G deposition in the kidney. LR combined with a low dose of prednisone significantly improved kidney function and decreased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and spleen weight. In addition, combination treatment relieved kidney injury more effectively than LR alone. Western blot revealed that LR treatment or LR combined with prednisone increased the LC3-associated autophagy protein of Rubicon and Nox2, as well as LC3I levels in the kidney tissues. In conclusion, LR inhibited the manifestation of cGVHD-induced LN, which may attribute to the increased levels of LC3-associated autophagy.

Relationship Between Peritoneal Protein Clearance and Hemoglobin in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between higher peritoneal protein clearance (PPCl) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is unknown. We explored this relationship and interaction on all-cause mortality in this prospective cohort study with a large number of PD patients. METHODS: We enrolled prevalent PD patients in a single PD center. Demographic characteristics and clinical and biochemical data were collected. The total amount of protein loss in the dialysate and PPCl corrected for serum albumin were calculated. The primary study endpoint was all-cause mortality. We examined the relationship between PPCl, Hb, and all-cause mortality in the Cox regression model. RESULTS: We included a total of 487 PD patients (58.3% males, mean age 49.5 ± 14.9 years). The median PD duration at enrollment was 30.1 (15.8-48.3) months. Mean Hb level was 11.1 ± 1.9 g/dL, and 221 (45.3%) patients had Hb levels <11 g/dL. Patients with Hb < 11 g/dL had lower serum albumin, lower residual renal creatinine clearance, and higher PPCl. In a multilinear regression model, PPCl (ß = -0.12, P = .015) had an independent negative linear association with Hb levels. In the logistic regression model, higher PPCl was independently associated with lower Hb (<11 g/dL) (odds ratio = 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03). In the overall cohort, after adjusting for confounders in the Cox regression model, decrease in Hb level was independently associated with increased risk (hazard ratio: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.95) of all-cause mortality. Interaction-effect test showed that PPCl influenced the relationship between Hb level and all-cause mortality (P = .011). After adjusting for confounders, lower Hb level was independently associated with a higher risk (hazard ratio: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.97) of all-cause mortality only in patients with PPCl ≥59.5 mL/day and not in patients with lower PPCl. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PPCl was an independent predictive factor of lower Hb levels in PD patients. Therefore, PPCl influenced the relationship between Hb level and all-cause mortality in PD patients.

Peripheral Eosinophil Count Associated with Disease Activity and Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with Lupus Nephritis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of peripheral eosinophil (EOS) count with disease activity and kidney outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. METHODS: A total of 453 hospitalized and biopsy-proven LN patients at our hospital from 2006 to 2013 were enrolled, of which 388 patients had repeated measurements of EOS. Relationships were explored between average EOS and disease activity at baseline, using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity (SLEDAI) and activity index (AI) on kidney biopsy. Follow-up data were available through December 2016. The primary outcome measure was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine and end-stage kidney disease after a median follow-up of 51 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the enrolled 388 LN patients was 33.1 ± 10.8 years old, and 335 (86%) were female. The median average peripheral EOS count was 0.033 (0.015-0.057) ×109/L. Mean AI and SLEDAI score were 6.8 ± 2.5 and 14.9 ± 5.4, respectively. Logistic regression models showed that decreased average EOS was independently associated with higher AI (≥6) and higher SLEDAI (≥15) (odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90-0.97; and OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.99, respectively). There was a parabolic relationship between average EOS and the primary outcome, with hazard ratio (HR) > 1 for both levels ≤0.033 and >0.16 × 109/L. CONCLUSION: Lower EOS count was independently associated with severe disease activity and kidney progression in LN.

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Technique Failure in the First Year of Peritoneal Dialysis: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study in Southern China.

BACKGROUND: Technique failure is more likely to occur during the first 12 months after peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation, which is a great challenge encountered in PD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with technique failure within the first year of PD patients in Southern China. METHODS: Incident PD patients who were followed up for at least one year at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2015 were included. Technique failure was defined as transferring to hemodialysis (HD) for more than 30 days or death within the first year after start of PD. A competitive risk regression analysis was used to explore the incidence and risk factors of the technique failure. RESULTS: Overall, 2,290 incident PD patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 48.2 ± 15.7 years, 40.9% female and 25.2% with diabetes. A total of 173 patients (7.5%) had technique failure during the first year of PD. Among them, the patient death account for 62.4% (n = 108) and transferring to HD account for 37.6% (n = 65). The main reasons for death were cardiovascular diseases (n = 32, 29.6%), infection (n = 15, 13.8%) and for conversion to HD were mechanical cause (n = 28, 43.1%), infection cause (n = 22, 33.8%). The risk factors for the technique failure included advanced age (HR 2.78, 95%CI 1.82-4.30), low body mass index (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2: HR 1.77, 95%CI 1.17-2.67), history of congestive heart failure (HR 2.81, 95%CI 1.58-4.98), or time on HD before PD ≤ 3 months (HR 1.49, 95%CI 1.05-2.10), peritonitis (HR 2.02, 95%CI 1.36-3.01);while higher serum albumin (HR 0.93, 95%CI 0.89-0.96) and using employee medical insurance to pay expenses (HR 0.47, 95%CI 0.32-0.69) were associated with reduced risk. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age, poor nutritional status, history of HD or congestive heart failure, and peritonitis are related factors that increase the risk of technique failure in the first year of PD, while patients' type of medical insurance may also have an influence on early technique failure.

The incidence of pain and its association with quality of life in patients with peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of pain in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and to analyze the correlation between pain and quality of life. METHODS: PD patients who followed up in our PD center from March 2016 to December 2017 were included. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess pain status. Depression status, sleep quality, quality of life and clinical data were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 463 PD patients were included, of whom 153 patients (33.1%) with pain. The main cause of pain was calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorder (51.6%). About 101 patients (66.0%) had multiple sites of pain, and 28 patients (18.3%) with pain were treated with analgesic drugs. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that older age (OR = 1.026; p = 0.032) and higher intact parathyroid hormone level (OR = 1.043; p = 0.040) were independent risk factors for pain in PD patients. Multivariate analysis showed that score of pain rating index was an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms (OR = 1.100; p = 0.015), the score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (B = 0.005; p = 0.044) and the score of physical component scale (B= -0.727; p = 0.016) in PD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pain in PD patients was 33.1%. Older age and higher intact parathyroid hormone level were independent risk factors for pain. Pain was independently associated with depressive symptoms, sleep quality and quality of life in PD patients.

Association of Abnormal Iron Status with the Occurrence and Prognosis of Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis: A Longitudinal Data-Based 10-Year Retrospective Study.

This retrospective study investigated the effect of iron status on peritonitis by analyzing longitudinal iron parameters in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Patients who received PD at our center from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015 were included and followed up until 31 December 2017. According to the joint quartiles of baseline transferrin saturation and ferritin, iron status was categorized as reference iron status (RIS), absolute iron deficiency (AID), functional iron deficiency (FID), and high iron status (HIS). Generalized estimating equations and Cox regression models with time-dependent covariates were used. A total of 1258 PD patients were included; 752 (59.8%) were male, with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 47.4 (±14.9) years. During a median follow-up period of 35.5 (interquartile range, 18.4-60.0) months, 450 (34.3%) patients had 650 episodes of peritonitis. By analyzing longitudinal data, patients with AID were independently positively associated with the occurrence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.45) and treatment failure of peritonitis (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.85). Patients with HIS were positively associated with the treatment failure of peritonitis (AHR = 2.70). Longitudinal AID and HIS were associated with the episodes and poor prognosis of peritonitis. Active clinical monitoring and correction of iron imbalance in patients with PD are needed.

Patient-reported gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with peritoneal dialysis: the prevalence, influence factors and association with quality of life.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the influence factors of gastrointestinal symptoms, and its association with the quality of life (QOL) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: Continuous ambulatory PD patients (CAPD) who followed up in our PD center between March 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) was used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms. The related clinical data were also collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was test for the influence factors associated with score of GSRS and QOL. RESULTS: This study included 471 CAPD patients. The mean age was 48.5±13.9 years, 53.9% were male and 15.1% with diabetic nephropathy. The median duration of PD was 37.3 (17.5~66.5) months. The median score of GSRS was 1.2(1.1~1.3) scores. Totally 82.2% (n=387) CAPD patients had at least one gastrointestinal symptom. Higher glycosylated hemoglobin, higher score of depression, lower diastolic blood pressure, urine output, score of instrumental activities of daily living scale and more amount of pills per day were independently associated with higher score of GSRS (all P<0.05). Score of dyspepsia and eating dysfunction were independently associated with worse score of QOL and physical health (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal symptoms were common but not serious in CAPD patients. Glycemic control, depression, blood pressure, urine output, activity of daily life and amount of pills were all associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were correlated with QOL of PD patients.

Increased risk of catheter-related infection in critically ill patients given catecholamine inotropes during continuous renal replacement therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Previous in vitro studies have shown that catecholamine inotropes are potent stimulators of bacterial growth and biofilm formation on catheter surfaces. This study aimed to investigate the effects of administering catecholamine inotropes during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on catheter-related infections in critically ill patients. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients requiring CRRT in an intensive care unit from 2016 to 2017, who were divided into those who received and did not receive catecholamine inotropes for ≥24 h (catecholamine and control groups, respectively). The primary endpoint was catheter-related infection, including catheter-related colonization (CRCOL) and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). FINDINGS: We included 235 patients with 297 dialysis catheters. The catecholamine group had higher proportions of cardiovascular disease (p = 0.002), shock (p < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), and antibiotic use (p = 0.013). There was no significant between-group difference in the CRBSI incidence (5.742 vs. 3.143 events/1000 catheter-days; p = 0.205). However, the CRCOL incidence was significantly higher in the catecholamine group than in the control group (6.221 vs. 0.898 events/1000 catheter-days; p = 0.006). The prominent pathogenic bacteria were gram-negative bacteria. After adjusting for confounding factors in multivariate logistic models, catecholamine inotropes (OR: 3.575, 95% CI: 1.422-9.912, p = 0.008) and immunosuppression (OR: 2.980, 95% CI: 1.137-7.812, p = 0.026) were independently associated with a higher risk of catheter-related infections. DISCUSSION: We observed a similar incidence of catheter-related infection with that in other CRRT patients. Using catecholamine inotropes in those patients increased CRCOL risk, which is consistent with previous in vitro studies. Our findings suggest that catecholamine inotropes is an independent risk factor for catheter-related infections in critically ill patients undergoing CRRT.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: A case-control study from China.

BACKGROUND: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is an uncommon, but serious complication in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) who have a considerable mortality rate. This study aimed to identify risk factors and outcomes of EPS in Chinese patients on PD. METHODS: Sixteen patients on PD who met the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis criteria for diagnosis of EPS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from 1997 to 2018 were included. Patients without EPS were matched for age, sex and the duration of PD and selected at a 1:3 ratio for the controls. A case-control study was conducted to analyse the clinical profile and risk factors associated with EPS in patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of EPS in patients on PD in our centre was 0.55%. The percentage of EPS significantly increased with the duration of PD. In univariate regression analysis, a history of peritonitis (odds ratios (OR): 2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-9.68; p = 0.08), peritoneal glucose exposure (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03-1.22; p < 0.01) and a high peritoneal transport status (OR: 14.70; 95% CI: 1.85-117.02; p < 0.01) were associated with EPS in patients on PD. However in the multivariate model, only a high peritoneal transport status (adjusted odds ratios (aOR): 13.65; 95% CI: 1.69-109.96; p = 0.01) was independently associated with EPS. CONCLUSION: The rate of EPS significantly increases with the duration of PD. Progressive peritoneal dysfunction, especially a high peritoneal transport status, is associated with a higher risk of EPS in this population.

Fetal and maternal outcome in patients with active lupus nephritis: comparison between new-onset and pre-existing lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate fetal and maternal outcomes in women with active lupus nephritis (LN). Specifically, we compared women who had new-onset LN and those with pre-existing LN during pregnancy. METHODS: Patients with active LN during pregnancy were divided into the new-onset group (LN first occurred during pregnancy) and the pre-existing group (a history of LN) on the basis of the onset time of LN. Data on clinical features, laboratory findings, and pregnancy outcome were collected and analyzed between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare the effects of active LN on adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: We studied 73 pregnancies in 69 women between 2010 and 2019. Of these, 38 pregnancies were in the pre-existing LN group and 35 were in the new-onset group. Patients with pre-existing LN had a higher risk of composite adverse fetal outcomes than those with new-onset LN [adjusted odds ratio (ORs), 44.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21-1664.82; P = 0.039]. However, the two groups had similar adverse maternal outcomes (ORs, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.36-4.29). Serum albumin and proteinuria significantly improved after pregnancy (P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the long-term renal outcome was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant patients with pre-existing LN were associated with a higher risk of composite adverse fetal outcomes than those with new-onset LN. However, these two groups of patients had similar adverse maternal outcomes. The long-term renal outcomes were not different after pregnancy between these two groups.

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Cognitive Impairment in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in patients with CKD or diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the relevance between DM and CI in diabetic patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) has not been clearly established. This study aimed to explore the role of DM in CI, the association of glycemic control with CI, and clinical outcomes of CI in diabetic PD patients. METHODS: Continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) patients followed up in our PD center between 2014 and 2016 were enrolled. The participants were followed until an endpoint was reached or December 2017. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected, and laboratory parameters were measured. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate global cognitive function, and a score of <26 was considered to indicate CI. A propensity score matching according to age, gender, and mean arterial pressure was conducted between the DM and non-DM groups. RESULTS: A total of 913 CAPD patients were enrolled, of whom 186 (20.4%) had diabetes. After appropriate matching, 175 patients in the DM group and 270 patients in the non-DM group were included. Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of CI and lower scores for visuospatial/executive function, naming, language, delayed recall, and orientation. Higher HbA1c (odds ratio [OR], 1.547; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.013-2.362) and cardiovascular disease (CVD; OR, 2.926; 95% CI, 1.139-7.516) significantly correlated with a risk of CI in diabetic patients. During a median of 26.0 (interquartile range 13.5-35.6) months of follow-up, diabetic patients with CI demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate than those without CI, and CI was an independent risk factor for mortality after adjustment (hazard ratio, 7.224; 95% CI, 1.694-30.806). However, they did not show worse technique survival or higher peritonitis rate than patients without CI. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c and CVD are independent risk factors for CI in diabetic patients undergoing CAPD, and CI is independently associated with a higher risk of mortality.

Early initiation of PD therapy in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of death.

BACKGROUND: The effect of early initiation of dialysis on outcomes of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the association between the timing of peritoneal dialysis (PD) initiation and mortality in different age groups. METHODS: In this single-centre cohort study, incident patients receiving PD from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2016 were enrolled. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the initiation of PD, with early, mid and late initiation of PD defined as eGFR ≥7.5, 5-7.5 and <5 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 2133 incident patients receiving PD were enrolled with a mean age of 47.1 years, 59.6% male and 25.3% with diabetes, of whom 1803 were young (age <65 years) and 330 were elderly (age ≥65 years). After multivariable adjustment, the overall and cardiovascular (CV) mortality risks for young patients receiving PD were not significantly different between these three groups. However, for elderly patients, early initiation of PD therapy was associated with increased risks of all-cause {hazard ratio [HR} 1.54 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-2.25]} and CV [HR 2.07 (95% CI 1.24-3.48)] mortality compared with late initiation of PD, while no significant difference was observed in overall or CV mortality between the mid- and late-start groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in mortality risk was found among the three levels of eGFR at PD therapy initiation in young patients, while early initiation of PD was associated with a higher risk of overall and CV mortality among elderly patients.

Association of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity with cognitive impairment in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between cognitive impairment (CI) and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has not been clearly clarified. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between CI and arterial stiffness in PD patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled PD patients who performed a vascular profiler test at a single PD center in China between January 2014 and June 2016. The cognitive function was evaluated using the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). A noninvasive vascular screening device was used to assess arterial stiffness relevant indicators. RESULTS: A total of 643 PD patients with median age 45 (37-57.4) years and median duration of PD 27.8 (8.7-56.4) months were enrolled. The rate of CI was 49.9%. The mean brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was 17.2 ± 5.6 m/s. Compared with normal cognitive function group, patients with CI had higher baPWV (18.6 ± 7.0 vs. 15.8 ± 3.2 m/s), systolic blood pressure (150.3 ± 21.5 vs. 144.2 ± 20.2 mmHg), and pulse pressure (59.7 ± 14.7 vs. 52.5 ± 11.6 mmHg), and lower ankle-brachial index (ABI, 1.12 ± 0.12 vs. 1.15 ± 0.09) (all p<.05). Compared with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and ABI in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, baPWV had better performance in predicting CI (area under curve: 0.68, 95% confidence interval: 0.64-0.72). BaPWV was independently associated with MoCA score (B per SD, -0.42 [95% confidence interval, -0.71 to -0.12]; p = .006) and CI (OR per SD, 1.55 [95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.17]; p = .011) in PD patients after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Higher baPWV was independently associated with CI in PD patients.

Elevated Serum Trimethylamine N-Oxide Levels Are Associated with Mortality in Male Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) have been previously linked to adverse cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, the clinical significance of serum TMAO levels in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD) is unclear. METHODS: A total of 1,032 PD patients with stored serum samples at baseline were enrolled in this prospective study. Serum concentrations of TMAO were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Cox proportional hazards and competing-risk regression models were performed to examine the association of TMAO levels with all-cause and CV mortality. RESULTS: The median level of serum TMAO in our study population was 34.5 (interquartile range (IQR), 19.8-61.0) µM. During a median follow-up of 63.7 months (IQR, 43.9-87.2), 245 (24%) patients died, with 129 (53%) deaths resulting from CV disease. In the entire cohort, we observed an association between elevated serum TMAO levels and all-cause mortality (adjusted subdistributional hazard ratio [SHR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.01-1.48; p = 0.039) but not CV mortality. Further analysis revealed such association differed by sex; the elevation of serum TMAO levels was independently associated with increased risk of both all-cause (SHR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.76; p = 0.013) and CV mortality (SHR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.02-1.94; p = 0.038) in men but not in women. CONCLUSIONS: Higher serum TMAO levels were independently associated with all-cause and CV mortality in male patients treated with PD.