Biopsy-proven BK virus nephropathy in renal transplant recipients: A multi-central study from Turkey (BK-TURK STUDY).

AIM: BK polyomavirus infection is a challenging complication of renal transplantation. The management is not standardized and is based on reports from transplantation centers' experiences, usually with small sample sizes. Therefore, we aimed to present our countrywide experience with BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was carried out with the participation of 30 transplantation centers from all regions of Turkey. Only cases with allograft biopsy-proven BKVN were included in the study. RESULTS: 13,857 patients from 30 transplantation centers were screened, and 207 BK nephropathy cases were included. The mean age was 46.4 ±  13.1 years, and 146 (70.5%) patients were male. The mean time to diagnosis of BK nephropathy was 15.8 ± 22.2 months after transplantation. At diagnosis, the mean creatinine level was 1.8 ±  0.7 mg/dL, and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 45.8 ± 19.6 mL/min/1.73m2. In addition to dose reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppressive drugs, 18 patients were treated with cidofovir, 11 patients with leflunomide, 17 patients with quinolones, 15 patients with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 5 patients with cidofovir plus IVIG, and 12 patients with leflunomide plus IVIG. None of the patients receiving leflunomide or leflunomide plus IVIG had allograft loss. During follow-up, allograft loss occurred in 32 (15%) out of 207 patients with BK nephropathy. CONCLUSION: BKVN is still a frequent cause of allograft loss in kidney transplantation and is not fully elucidated. The results of our study suggest that leflunomide treatment is associated with more favorable allograft outcomes.

Acute kidney injury in Turkey: epidemiological characteristics, etiology, clinical course, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the etiologies, comorbidities, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Turkey and determine any potential differences among different geographical parts of the country. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted by the Acute Kidney Injury Working Group of the Turkish Society of Nephrology. Demographical and clinical data of patients with AKI at the time of diagnosis and at the 1st week and 1st, 3rd, and 6th months of diagnosis were evaluated to determine patient and renal survival and factors associated with patient prognosis. RESULTS: A total of 776 patients were included (54.7% male, median age: 67 years). Prerenal etiologies, including dehydration, heart failure, and sepsis, were more frequent than other etiologies. 58.9% of the patients had at least one renal etiology, with nephrotoxic agent exposure as the most common etiology. The etiologic factors were mostly similar throughout the country. 33.6% of the patients needed kidney replacement therapy. At the 6th month of diagnosis, 29.5% of the patients had complete recovery; 34.1% had partial recovery; 9.5% developed end-stage kidney disease; and 24.1% died. The mortality rate was higher in the patients from the Eastern Anatolian region; those admitted to the intensive care unit; those with prerenal, renal, and postrenal etiologies together, stage 3 AKI, sepsis, cirrhosis, heart failure, and malignancy; those who need kidney replacement therapy; and those without chronic kidney disease than in the other patients. CONCLUSION: Physicians managing patients with AKI should be alert against dehydration, heart failure, sepsis, and nephrotoxic agent exposure. Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AKI in their countries would help prevent AKI and improve treatment strategies.

Comparison of erectile function in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis and kidney transplantation.

To investigate the frequency and risk factors of ED in haemodialysis patients (HDps) and kidney transplantation (KTx) recipients (KTxRs). HDps and KTxRs between the ages of 18-65 were compared in terms of ED. IEFF-15 (International Index of Erectile Function) score was used to evaluation of ED. Fifty-seven male HDps and 52 male KTxRs with a mean age of 45.6 ± 10.4 years were included in our study. DM, CAD, hyperlipidaemia, smoking and beta blocker use were higher HDps (p = 0.037, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.031 respectively). There was no ED in five (8.8%) HDps and 27(51.9%) KTxRx. Severity of ED was significantly higher in HDps (p < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, KTx was found the most relevant associated factor with ED. KTxRs had decreased risk for ED (OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.02-0.30, p < 0.001). ED is significantly more common in HDps than KTxRs. Known risk factors for ED, HT, DM, CAD, HL, smoking, obesity and beta-blocker use were not related to ED in the HDps and KTxRs, and the KTx was positively effective for ED in patients undergoing renal replacement therapy.

Is the preoperative MPV value related to early thrombus formation in microvascular anastomosis?

OBJECTIVE: One of the most common encountered problems in free flap surgeries is anastomotic thrombosis. The mean platelet volume (MPV) may indicate the concentration of intra-platelet proactive substances and the thrombogenic potential of the platelets. MPV is used as a clinical monitoring index in routine blood counts, it has not yet been effectively used in free flap surgery. METHODS: This study evaluates the relationship between the preoperative MPV value and anastomotic thrombus formation during the postoperative 48 hours in 32 free flap operations from September 2013 to September 2014. The mean patient age was 36.75 years. The preoperative MPV value, which was obtained from the complete blood count, was recorded and correlation of MPV and postoperative thrombus formation was investigated. RESULTS: Four anastomotic thrombus were encountered in 34 free flaps during the postoperative 48 hours. Two of them were salvaged by performing thrombectomy and/or administration of i.v. heparin. There was no statistical relationship between MPV value and postoperative thrombus formation during 48 hours follow-up (p = 0.925). CONCLUSION: Even though this study didn't find a correlation between preoperative MPV value and postoperative early anastomotic thrombus, it would be helpful to validate the results using multi-centre and comprehensive studies with larger patient cohorts.

Prolonged hypophosphatemia following parathyroidectomy in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common problem in patients with end-stage renal disease. In cases with severe and resistant SHPT, surgical parathyroidectomy (PTX) is recommended. Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) following surgical PTX is most often associated with hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia. The mechanisms for the HBS are not clear, and a method for its prevention has not been established. We present three hemodialysis patients with persistant hypophosphatemia after PTX. In our parathyroidectomized patients, hypocalcemia could be corrected with calcium and vitamin D treatment, but hypophosphatemia continued for eight months in one patient and in two other patients until the last visit (10 and 2 months, respectively). Predisposing factors such as old age, diabetes mellitus and parathyroid adenoma were not found in our patients. All three patients were younger (<35 years old) and anuric. Hemodialysis durations were seven, three and two years. In summary, HBS presented with hypocalcemia, and especially hypophosphatemia cannot be developed uncommonly and may persist for a long time following PTX in HD patients.

Expression of p53, Ki67, epidermal growth factor receptor, transforming growth-factorα, and p21 in primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SH) is major problem in chronic renal failure. There are studies to examine proliferation and apoptosis associated biomarkers expressions in parathyroid lesions to reveal specific features. In this study, we evaluated the expression of some growth factors and their receptors in parathyroid gland of patients with SH or primary hyperparathyroidism (PH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 patients had been operated for PH and 26 for SH. Parathyroid tissue samples were evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically using antibodies to human p53, KI-67, anti-human p21, antitransforming growth factor (TGF) α, CPP32 (caspase 3), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). RESULTS: Adenoma was higher in PH compared with SH as 48/49 and 3/26, respectively (P = 0.000). Parathyroid hyperplasia was found in 23/26 patients with SH and 1/49 patient with PH. In parathyroid tissue there were no difference between PH and SH for p53, Ki-67, caspase, EGFR expressions; while there were significantly difference for TGFα (P = 0.047) and borderline significant difference for p21 (P = 0.06) expressions. CONCLUSION: Adenoma was priority present in PH patients, hyperplasia was present in SH. There were no differences between primary and SH or adenoma and hyperplasia for expressions of cycline-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, p53, EGFR, Ki67, caspase; while TGFα expression was found to be different.

An unusual case of recurrent endometrial cancer presented with isolated cervical lymph node metastasis.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Lymph node involvement is one of the major prognostic factors. Therefore, pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes dissection is a part of the surgical management of these patients. Isolated peripheral lymph node metastasis has not been previously reported as a finding of recurrence in EC. We report a 67-year-old woman with recurrent EC presented with an isolated cervical lymph node metastasis (ICLM). Following the combination chemotherapy of doxorubicin, cisplatin and cyclophosphamide, her cervical lymph node was completely regressed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of recurrent EC presented with ICLM. We suggest that for women with EC who had isolated peripheral lymphadenopathies, peripheral lymph node metastasis should be considered as the finding of recurrence in patient with EC.