Perioperative fosfomycin disodium prophylaxis against urinary tract infection in renal transplant recipients: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common infectious complication in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Fosfomycin (FOS) is an attractive alternative for prophylaxis because it does not interact with immunosuppressants; although 90% is excreted unchanged in the urine, it does not require adjustment for renal function for single dose prophylaxis. METHODS: RTRs were recruited into this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive one 4 g dose of FOS disodium intravenously 3 h (FOS group) or placebo (placebo group) before placement and removal of a urinary catheter and before removal of a double-J ureteral stent. All participants received prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The main outcome was a comparison of the mean number of symptomatic UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) episodes per patient during a 7-week follow-up period. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NTC03235947. RESULTS: Eighty-two participants were included (41 in the FOS group and 41 in placebo group). The mean number of AB or symptomatic UTI episodes per patient was lower in the FOS group [intention-to-treat (ITT) 0.29 versus 0.60, P = 0.04]. The incidence of symptomatic UTI was lower in the FOS group (ITT, 7.3% versus 36.6%, P = 0.001), and there was no difference in the incidence of AB between both groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: FOS addition is an effective and safe strategy to reduce the number of symptomatic UTIs during the first 7 weeks after renal transplant.

EVALUATION OF THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL CIRRHOSIS GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE FORMULA IN HISPANIC PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS: AN EXTERNAL VALIDATION.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is the ideal method for adequate evaluation of kidney function. However, it is invasive, costly, and not widely accessible. Moreover, GFR estimation in patients with cirrhosis has been inaccurate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and validate the recently described Royal Free Hospital (RFH) formula in a Hispanic cohort of patients with LC and compare it with other formulas, including the CKD-EPI cystatin C equation. METHODS: GFR was measured through the renal clearance of Tc-99m DTPA; it was cross-sectionally evaluated and compared with GFRs that were estimated utilizing the following formulas: RFH, Cockcroft-Gault, 6-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease-6, CKD-EPI cystatin C, CKD-EPI Creatinine, and CKD-EPI Cystatin C-Creatinine. RESULTS: We included 76 patients (53% women). The mean measured GFR in the entire cohort was 64 ml/min/1.73m2; 54% of the patients had a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the time of evaluation. The RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula showed the best performance, with a p30 of 62% and 59%, respectively. All formulas performed poorly when GFR was < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. CONCLUSIONS: The RFH formula showed a better performance than the other formulas based on serum creatinine in a Hispanic population with LC. There was no difference in performance between the RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula.

Cardiac surgery in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Clinical characteristics and outcomes. / Cirugía cardiaca en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico: características clínicas y desenlaces.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who underwent cardiac surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 30 SLE patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a single center. Demographics, comorbidities, clinical and serologic characteristics, cardiovascular risk scores and treatment were recorded. Type of surgery, postoperative complications, mortality and histology were analyzed. RESULTS: Disease duration at surgery was 2 years. Valve replacement was the procedure most frequently performed (53%), followed by pericardial window (37%). At least one postoperative complication developed in 63% (mainly infections). An aortic cross-clamp time≥76minutes was associated with at least one postoperative complication (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.1-35.4, p=.03). Early death occurred in 5 patients (17%) and late in 3 (10%); main causes were sepsis and heart failure. Disease activity was associated with pericardial window (OR 12.6, 95% CI 1.9-79, p=.007); lymphopenia≤1.200 (OR 10.1, 95% CI 1.05-97, p=.04); age≤30 years (OR 7.7, 95% CI 1.2-46.3, p=.02); and New York Heart Association class III (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.1-42, p=.03). Postoperative infection was associated with length of hospital stay≥2 weeks (OR 54.9, 95% CI 5.0-602.1, p=.001); intensive care unit stay≥10 days (OR 20, 95% CI 1.6-171.7, p=.01); duration of mechanical ventilation≥5 days (OR 16.9, 95% CI 1.5-171.7, p=.01); and pulmonary artery systolic pressure≥50mmHg (OR 7.8, 95% CI 1.4-41.2, p=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery in SLE confers high morbidity and mortality. SLE-specific preoperative risk scores should be designed to identify prognostic factors.

Biopsy-proven renal involvement and prognosis in 13 hispanic patients with primary Sjögren syndrome. / Afección renal confirmada mediante biopsia y pronóstico en 13 pacientes hispanos con síndrome de Sjögren primario.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe a case series of 13 Hispanic patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and biopsy-proven renal involvement. METHODS: We describe the clinical, serological and histological characteristics as well as the prognosis in a group of patients with pSS and biopsy-proven renal involvement, treated in 2 referral nephrology units in Mexico City. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with pSS underwent kidney biopsy (KB) over a period of 27 years. The median duration from pSS diagnosis to KB was 13.9 months. Seven patients (54%) had glomerulonephritis and 6 patients (46%) had tubulointerstitial nephritis. All patients were treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. Eight patients (62%) remained stable or their renal function improved after a median follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This case series reflects the broad spectrum of renal involvement in pSS. We observed that in our Hispanic population, glomerular involvement was the most frequent abnormality, mainly membranous glomerulopathy, followed by tubulointerstitial disease. Tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were also common biopsy findings. Treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents appear to slow renal disease progression.

Diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An update.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies leading to high mortality rates in the general population; in cirrhotic patients, it is the primary cause of death. The diagnosis is usually delayed in spite of at-risk population screening recommendations, i.e., patients infected with hepatitis B or C virus. Hepatocarcinogenesis hinges on a great number of genetic and molecular abnormalities that lead to tumor angiogenesis and foster their dissemination potential. The diagnosis is mainly based on imaging studies such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance, in which lesions present a characteristic classical pattern of early arterial enhancement followed by contrast medium "washout" in late venous phase. On occasion, when imaging studies are not conclusive, biopsy of the lesion must be performed to establish the diagnosis. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging method is the most frequently used worldwide and recommended by the international guidelines of HCC management. Currently available treatments include tumor resection, liver transplant, sorafenib and loco-regional therapies (alcoholization, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization). The prognosis of hepatocarcinoma is determined according to the lesion's stage and in cirrhotic patients, on residual liver function. Curative treatments, such as liver transplant, are sought in patients diagnosed in early stages; patients in more advanced stages, were not greatly benefitted by chemotherapy in terms of survival until the advent of target molecules such as sorafenib.

Evaluation of the royal free hospital cirrhosis glomerular filtration rate formula in hispanic patients with cirrhosis: an external validation

Abstract Background and Aims Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is the ideal method for adequate evaluation of kidney function. However, it is invasive, costly, and not widely accessible. Moreover, GFR estimation in patients with cirrhosis has been inaccurate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and validate the recently described Royal Free Hospital (RFH) formula in a Hispanic cohort of patients with LC and compare it with other formulas, including the CKD-EPI cystatin C equation. Methods GFR was measured through the renal clearance of Tc-99m DTPA; it was cross-sectionally evaluated and compared with GFRs that were estimated utilizing the following formulas: RFH, Cockcroft-Gault, 6-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease-6, CKD-EPI cystatin C, CKD-EPI Creatinine, and CKD-EPI Cystatin C-Creatinine. Results We included 76 patients (53% women). The mean measured GFR in the entire cohort was 64 ml/min/1.73m2; 54% of the patients had a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the time of evaluation. The RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula showed the best performance, with a p30 of 62% and 59%, respectively. All formulas performed poorly when GFR was < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Conclusions The RFH formula showed a better performance than the other formulas based on serum creatinine in a Hispanic population with LC. There was no difference in performance between the RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula.