Sarcopenia in hemodialysis patients from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that occurs with aging that can lead to greater morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis (HD) favors the development of sarcopenia. We studied the prevalence of sarcopenia and its components using European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Elderly People 2 proposed criteria and risk factors for its development in HD patients. METHODS: In 100 adult HD patients, we evaluated: hand grip strength (HGS), muscle mass by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and physical performance (gait-speed and sit-stand test). RESULTS: Sixty patients were male and 40 were female; mean age 55.6 years. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 16% (11.1% in males and 25% in females; P = 0.05); 7% had severe sarcopenia. Prevalence of low HGS was 33% in males and 28% in females; low muscle mass was 30% in males but 70% in females and low physical performance 23% in males and 45% in females. Falls were reported by 23 patients. Patients with lower HGS had a higher prevalence of falls in the last year (40% two or more falls; P = 0.03). Only females with sarcopenia had lower bone mineral content. Neither age, body mass index, time on dialysis, or prevalence of diabetes predicted sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of dialysis patients had sarcopenia, more frequent in females. Low HGS was associated with a higher prevalence of falls. Only females with sarcopenia had lower bone mineral content.

Calcifilaxis en enfermedad renal crónica estadio IIIa. Presentación de un caso clínico / Calciphylaxis in chronic renal disease stage IIIa. Clinical case presentation

Se presenta un caso clínico de una paciente de 23 años con enfermedad renal crónica estadio IIIa (ERC EIIIa), secundaria a glomerulopatía focal y segmentaria, que evoluciona con lesiones ulceradas de fondo necrótico dolorosas con biopsia compatible con calcifilaxis. Se suspende tratamiento inmunosupresor, bloqueante cálcicos y calcitriol e inicia tratamiento antibiótico, con buena evolución. La calcifilaxis es una enfermedad que afecta principalmente a pacientes con enfermedad renal terminal. Debido a su alta mortalidad, se deben aumentar los esfuerzos en la prevención de los factores de riesgo modificables y en el reconocimiento temprano. Reportamos el caso de una paciente con un Clearance de Creatinina de 53.8 ml/min. por CKD-EPI y factores predisponentes no convencionales para el desarrollo de la enfermedad demostrando que la calcifilaxis no es una entidad exclusiva de pacientes con enfermedad renal estadio V en terapia de sustitución

Calciphylaxis is a disease that affects mainly end-stage renal disease patients. Due to its high mortality, every effort should be taken to prevent modifiable risk factors and to make an early diagnosis. We report the case of a 23 year old patient with chronic renal disease stage IIIa (CKD IIIa) secondary to focal segmental glomerulopathy and 53.8 ml/min glomerular filtration rate calculated with the CKD-EPI formula, with non-conventional predisposing risk factors for disease development. Immunosuppressive treatment, calcium blockers, and calcitriol were stopped and antibiotic treatment was applied with good evolution. This case shows that calciphylaxis in not an exclusive entity seen in patients with stage V CKD on renal replacement therapy.

Weekly high-dose ergocalciferol to correct vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in hemodialysis patients: a pilot trial.

Controversy exists on which vitamin D (D2 or D3) and which dosage scheme is the best to obtain and maintain adequate 25 OH D levels in dialysis patients safely. We tried to determine whether high-dose vitamin D2 supplementation could obtain optimal vitamin D status without inducing hypercalcemia. We studied 82 patients on dialysis not taking active vitamin D therapy and supplemented them with oral vitamin D2 72,000 IU/week for 12 weeks followed by 24,000 IU/week as maintenance therapy during 36 weeks. By week 12, serum 25(OH)D increased from 15.2 ± 5.4 to 42.5 ± 13.2 ng/mL (P < 0.01) at week 12 and remained optimal (34.7 ± 12.0); 84.8% of the patients reached values ≥30 ng/mL. iPTH and alkaline phosphatase did not change at 48 weeks compared with baseline, but bone alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (54.3 ± 46.0 to 44.3 ± 25.0; P = 0.02). Uncorrected serum Ca increased significantly at the end of follow-up (9.03 ± 0.42 to 9.14 ± 0.62; P = 0.04); hypercalcemia was presented in two patients in the first control visit (week 12), in one patient in the second control (week 30), and in one patient in the third control (week 48). In 222 serum calcium determinations during follow-up, hypercalcemia was observed in only 1.8% of cases. This vitamin D2 oral regimen with initial high doses was safe and sufficient to obtain and maintain optimal serum 25(OH)D concentrations and prevent vitamin D insufficiency in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis.

Dialysis for acute kidney injury associated with influenza a (H1N1) infection.

In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared a novel influenza A, S-OIV (H1N1), pandemic. We observed 44 consecutive patients during the "first wave" of the pandemic. 70.5% of them showed co-morbidities (hypertension, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases, chronic renal disease, diabetes, pregnancy). Serious cases were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), particularly those with severe acute respiratory failure. Some of them developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and required renal replacement therapy (RRT). The average time between admission to the ICU and initiation of RRT was 3.16 ± 2.6 days. At initiation of RRT, most patients required mechanical ventilation. No relationship was found with creatinine-kinase levels. Seventy-five percent of the cases were observed during a 3-week period and mortality, related to respiratory failure, doubling of alanine amino transferase and use of inotropics was 81.8%. In conclusion, the H1N1-infected patients who developed RRT-requiring AKI, in the context of multi-organ failure, showed a high mortality rate. Thus, it is mandatory that elaborate strategies aimed at anticipating potential renal complications associated to future pandemics are implemented.

Evolución de pacientes con diálisis aguda asociada a infección por Influenza A (H1N1) pandémica en 2009 / Evolution of patients with acute dialysis associated to Influenza A pandemic infection (H1N1) in 2009

En junio de 2009 la OMS declaró la pandemia por un nuevo virus de la Influenza A, S-OIV (H1N1). Casos severos fueron hospitalizados en UTI con falla respiratoria aguda. Alguno de estos casos desarrollaron injuria renal aguda y requirieron terapias de reemplazo renal (TRR). Durante el período de mayor incidencia observamos 44 casos consecutivos. 70,5% de estos presentaron comorbilidades (hipertensión, obesidad, enfermedades respiratorias crónicas, enfermedad renal crónica, diabetes, embarazo, otras). El tiempo promedio desde el ingreso a UTI y el comienzo de la TRR fue 3.16 +- 2.6 días. Al inicio de la TRR la mayoría de los pacientes presentaban SOFA score > - 10, presentando fallas cardiovascular y respiratoria. No hubo correlación con los niveles de CK. El 75% de los casos se observaron en un período de tres semanas de pandemia y un porcentaje alto presentaban aumento de enzimas hepáticas, necesidad de inotrópicos, ventilación mecánica y la mortalidad fue superior al 80%. En resumen, los pacientes infectados con S-OIV (H1N1) que requirieron TRR en contexto de falla multiparenquimatosa, presentaron una alta tasa de mortalidad. La experiencia dejada puede ayudarnos a desarrollar estrategias para anticipar potenciales complicaciones renales en futuras pandemias.