Mortality Rates and a Clinical Predictive Model for the Elderly on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Large Observational Cohort Study of 17,354 Asian Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality following hemodialysis initiation may influence the decision to initiate hemodialysis in elderly patients. Our objective is to demonstrate mortality following hemodialysis initiation in elderly patients (≥70 years) and to derive a prediction risk score based on clinical and laboratory indicators to determine risk of all-cause mortality in patients aged ≥80 years. METHODS: We identified elderly patients (≥70 years) who initiated maintenance hemodialysis between January 2005 and December 2016 using data from the Thai Renal Replacement Therapy (TRT) registry. The mortality rate was determined based on age categories. A predictive risk score for all-cause mortality was created for 4,451 patients aged ≥80 years by using demographics, laboratory values, and interview-based parameters. Using a flexible parametric survival analysis, we predicted mortality 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, and 10 years after hemodialysis initiation. RESULTS: 17,354 patients (≥70 years) were included, mean age 76.9 ± 5.1 years, 46.5% male, and 6,309 (36.4%) died. Patients aged <80 years had a median survival time of 110.6 months. A 9-point risk score was developed to predict mortality in patients aged ≥80 years: age >85 years, male, body mass index <18.5 kg/m2, hemoglobin <10.0 g/dL, albumin <3.5 g/dL, substantial assistance required in daily living (1 point each), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score <50 (3 points). C-statistic of 0.797 indicated high model discrimination. Internal validation demonstrated good agreement between observed and anticipated mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis is appropriate for patients aged 70-80 years. A risk score for mortality in patients aged ≥80 years has been developed. The score is based on seven readily obtainable and evaluable clinical characteristics.

Psychometric evaluation of the multidimensional Uraemic Pruritus in Dialysis patients (UP-Dial) scale: comparison of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic pruritus.

BACKGROUND: High-quality patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures for dialysis patients with chronic pruritus are urgently needed. However, no known, well-validated multidimensional tools have been investigated to measure pruritus symptoms in dialysis patients. OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychometric properties of a multidimensional tool of chronic pruritus, the Uraemic Pruritus in Dialysis patients (UP-Dial) 14-item scale, by comparing haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis modality. METHODS: This validation study used data from the Thai Renal Outcomes Research-Uraemic Pruritus, a prospective, multicentre, longitudinal study. Data for this study were collected from 1 February 2019 to 31 May 2022. The adult sample of 226 haemodialysis and 327 peritoneal dialysis patients fulfilled the criteria of chronic pruritus based on the International Forum for the Study of Itch. Psychometric properties of the UP-Dial included validity and reliability, as measured across haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. Patients completed a set of anchor-based measurement tools, including global itching, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), EuroQoL-5 dimension-5 level (EQ-5D-5L), Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), global fatigue, Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: From the patient's perspective, face validity was satisfactory for both dialysis samples. Psychometric analyses of the UP-Dial for each dialysis sample had good convergent validity. Spearman rho correlations indicate a positively strong correlation (0.73-0.74) with global itching, a positively moderate correlation (0.33-0.58) with DLQI, PSQI, global fatigue, SSS-8 and PHQ-9, and a negatively moderate correlation (-0.39 to -0.58) with EQ-5D-5L and KDQOL-36. The discriminant validity was satisfactory with a group of moderate and severe burden of pruritus for both dialysis samples. For scale reliability, the UP-Dial revealed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89 and McDonald's ω = 0.90) and reproducibility (intraclass correlation 0.84-0.85) for both dialysis samples. Regarding psychometric properties, no statistically significant differences between dialysis samples were observed (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings reaffirm good measurement properties of the UP-Dial 14-item scale in haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic pruritus. These suggest a transferability of the UP-Dial as a PRO measure in clinical trial and practice settings.

Itch is a common symptom in chronic kidney disease, especially for people experiencing end-stage kidney disease and receiving dialysis. Itching among dialysis patients can present and affect any part of the body. Although there has been improvement in dialysis treatment over time, chronic itching (itching lasting more than 6 weeks) remains under-recognized in dialysis patients. In recent years, a specific clinical tool called the Uraemic Pruritus in Dialysis patients (UP-Dial) has been developed to assess the severity and burden of itching in dialysis patients. However, a comprehensive tool for evaluating itching symptoms has yet to be tested in a large dialysis population (haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis). We examined and validated the measurement properties of the UP-Dial scale in an adult sample of 226 haemodialysis and 327 peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic itching. Our study found that the UP-Dial had good measurement properties for evaluating the burden of itching symptoms among haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients with chronic itching. Our findings support the use of UP-Dial to compare treatments for chronic itching clinical trials and track treatment responses in daily practice.

Extracellular vesicles as potential diagnostic markers for kidney allograft rejection.

Kidney transplantation is a highly effective treatment for end-stage kidney disease. However, allograft rejection remains a significant clinical challenge in kidney transplant patients. Although kidney allograft biopsy is the gold-standard diagnostic method, it is an invasive procedure. Since the current monitoring methods, including screening of serum creatinine and urinary protein, are not of sufficient sensitivity, there is a need for effective post-transplant monitoring to detect allograft rejection at an early stage. Extracellular vesicles are vesicles with a lipid bilayer that originate from different cell types in pathological and physiological conditions. The content of extracellular vesicles reflects the status of cells at the time of their production. This review comprehensively summarizes clinical, in vivo, and in vitro reports that highlight the potential of extracellular vesicles as diagnostic biomarkers for kidney allograft rejection. Clarification would facilitate differentiation between rejection and non-rejection and identification of the mechanisms involved in the allograft rejection. Despite increasing evidence, further research is necessary to establish the clinical utility of extracellular vesicles in the diagnosis and monitoring of allograft rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Using extracellular vesicles as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis of kidney allograft rejection could have tremendous benefits in improving patient outcomes and reduce the need for invasive procedures.

Efficacy of the Cytokine Adsorption Therapy in Patients with Severe COVID-19-Associated Pneumonia: Lesson Learned from a Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Severe COVID-19 pneumonia can activate a cytokine storm. Hemoperfusion can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in sepsis but is still debated in the COVID-19 setting. Thus, we sought to investigate the benefits of HA-330 cytokine adsorption through clinical and laboratory outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a single-center prospective observational study in adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit at Chiang Mai University Hospital (Chiang Mai, Thailand). Those with cytokine storms indicated by organ injury, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and high inflammatory markers were included. Patients treated with the HA-330 device were classified as a hemoperfusion group, while those without cytokine adsorption were classified as a control group. We compared the outcomes on day 7 after treatment and evaluated the factors associated with 60-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were enrolled. Thirty-eight patients received hemoperfusion, while 74 patients did not. Baseline cytokine storm parameters were comparable. In univariate analysis, there was an improvement in clinical and laboratory effects from hemoperfusion therapy. In multivariate analysis, APACHE II score, SOFA score, PaO2/FiO2, the number of hemoperfusion sessions, the amount of blood purified, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and IL-6 were associated with mortality. Using at least 3 sessions of hemoperfusion could mitigate, the 60-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.33, p = 0.001). By categorizing the amount of blood treated into 3 groups of <1 L/kg, 1-2 L/kg, and ≥2 L/kg, there was a linear dose-response association with survival, which was better in the higher volume purified (mortality 60% vs. 33.3% vs. 0%, respectively, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The early initiation of HA-330 hemoperfusion could improve the severity score and laboratory outcomes of COVID-19 ARDS. The optimal dose of at least three sessions or the amount of blood purified greater than 1 L/kg was associated with a reduction in 60-day mortality.

Circulating mitochondrial dysfunction as an early biomarker for contrast media-induced acute kidney injury in chronic kidney disease patients.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is the common hospitalized acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the diagnosis by serum creatinine might not be early enough. Currently, the roles of circulating mitochondria in CI-AKI are still unclear. Since early detection is crucial for treatment, the association between circulating mitochondrial function and CI-AKI was tested as a potential biomarker for detection of CI-AKI. Twenty patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled. Blood and urine samples were obtained at the time of PCI, and 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after PCI. Plasma and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were measured. Oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial dynamics and cell death were determined from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Forty percent of patients developed AKI. Plasma NGAL levels increased after 24 h after receiving contrast media. Cellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased mitochondrial fusion occurred at 6 h following contrast media exposure. Subgroup of AKI had higher %necroptosis cells and TNF-α mRNA expression than subgroup without AKI. Collectively, circulating mitochondrial dysfunction could be an early predictive biomarker for CI-AKI in CKD patients receiving contrast media. These findings provide novel strategies to prevent CI-AKI according to its pathophysiology.

Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab in Patients With Lupus Nephritis: Subgroup Analyses of a Phase 3 Randomized Trial in the East Asian Population.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Belimumab improved kidney outcomes in patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) in BLISS-LN, leading to its approval in the United States and the European Union. As data on treatment of East Asian patients with LN are limited, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of belimumab in the BLISS-LN East Asian subgroup. STUDY DESIGN: Prespecified subgroup analysis of BLISS-LN, a phase 3, placebo-controlled, randomized 104-week trial. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Adults with biopsy-proven, active LN were randomized (1:1) to belimumab or placebo, plus standard therapy. INTERVENTION: Patients were administered intravenous belimumab 10mg/kg, or placebo, plus standard therapy (oral glucocorticoids and either cyclophosphamide for induction followed by azathioprine for maintenance, or mycophenolate mofetil for both induction and maintenance). At the investigator's discretion, 1-3 intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone, 500-1,000mg each, could be administered during induction. OUTCOMES: The primary end point was primary efficacy renal response (PERR; ie, urinary protein-creatinine ratio≤0.7g/g, estimated glomerular filtration rate no more than 20% below preflare value or≥60mL/min/1.73m2, and no treatment failure) at week 104. Key secondary end points included complete renal response (CRR; urinary protein-creatinine ratio<0.5g/g, estimated glomerular filtration rate no more than 10% below preflare value or≥90mL/min/1.73m2, and no treatment failure) at week 104; PERR at week 52; time to kidney-related event or death; and safety. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: PERR and CRR were analyzed using a logistic regression model, and time to a kidney-related event or death was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: 142 patients from mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan were included (belimumab, n=74; placebo, n=68). At week 104, more belimumab than placebo patients achieved PERR (53% vs 37%; OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 0.88-3.51]) and CRR (35% vs 25%; OR, 1.73 [95% CI, 0.80-3.74]). At week 52, more belimumab than placebo patients achieved PERR (62% vs 37%; OR, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.33-5.64]). Belimumab reduced the risk of a kidney-related event or death compared with placebo at any time (HR, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.15-0.91]). Safety was similar across treatment groups. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and lack of formal significance testing. CONCLUSIONS: Safety and efficacy profiles were consistent with BLISS-LN overall population, supporting benefits of belimumab treatment in the East Asian subgroup with LN. FUNDING: This study was funded by GSK (GSK study no. BEL114054). TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study number NCT01639339.

Effect of Fludrocortisone on Intradialytic Hypotension: An Open-Label, Randomized, Crossover Study.

INTRODUCTION: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is an important complication during chronic hemodialysis due to its adverse cardiovascular and hemodialysis outcomes. Case reports have demonstrated that administration of fludrocortisone before undergoing hemodialysis might increase intradialytic blood pressure. This study is a randomized crossover study aiming to evaluate the intradialytic hemodynamic effects of fludrocortisone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized, controlled two-period crossover trial was conducted at Lampang Hospital in stable chronic hemodialysis patients who experienced IDH >30% in their sessions during the past 3 months. All participants have randomly received a single dose of 0.2-mg fludrocortisone 30 min before each hemodialysis session, or had no treatment for 4 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, the participants were then switched to the other treatment for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean lowest intradialytic mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the hemodialysis session. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients were recruited with a mean age of 61.7 ± 14.8 years. By analysis of crossover design, the mean lowest intradialytic MAP was not different between receiving fludrocortisone or with no treatment (76.1 ± 12.5 vs. 73.9 ± 11.5 mm Hg, p for treatment effect = 0.331, p for period effect = 0.855, p for sequence effect = 0.870). There was no difference in the incidence of IDH between the two groups (34.4% in fludrocortisone vs. 42.7% in no treatment, p = 0.137). However, in diabetic patients and patients with residual kidney function, the incidence of IDH was significantly lower when receiving fludrocortisone (30.8 vs. 52.6%, p < 0.001, and 27.6 vs. 74.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In chronic hemodialysis patients who had IDH, fludrocortisone administration did not improve intradialytic hemodynamics and did not decrease the incidence of IDH.

Mycophenolic acid and cancer risk in solid organ transplant recipients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is an immunosuppressive drug commonly used for prophylaxis of graft rejection in solid organ transplant recipients. The main concern with the prolonged use of immunosuppressive drugs is the risk of developing cancer. However, it remains unclear whether the immunosuppressive regimens containing MPA confer an increased degree of cancer risk. The present study aimed to determine the association between MPA exposure and the incidence of cancer in solid organ transplant recipients. METHODS: A systematic search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Relevant articles that had findings on the incidence (or event) of cancer in cohorts with and without MPA exposure were retrieved for data extraction. A meta-analysis was conducted by means of the random-effects model, and the relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used as a summary effect measure. RESULTS: A total of 39 studies were eligible for inclusion, with 32 studies that enabled meta-analysis. MPA exposure was significantly associated with a lower risk of cancer when compared to azathioprine exposure (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53-0.81, P < .001) or no exposure to any additional treatments (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.73-0.99, P = .04). There was no significant difference in cancer risk for the comparison between MPA exposure and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor exposure (RR = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.96-2.46, P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: MPA exposure was not associated with an increased risk of cancer and may even be associated with a lower risk of cancer when compared to azathioprine or no treatment.

First Asian Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) and Estimated Post-Transplant Survival (EPTS) models, with validation against US models in Thai population.

INTRODUCTION: Differences in transplant characteristics limit the application of kidney donor profile index (KDPI) and estimated post-transplant survival (EPTS) models developed in Western countries to Asian populations. METHODS: We analyzed data of the Thai Transplant Registry and the Thai Red Cross Society on 2558 DDKTs performed between 2001 and 2014. Thai KDPI and EPTS models were developed using Cox regression, and validation against the US models. RESULTS: Thai KDPI was developed based on seven donor factors: age, height, best estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and adrenaline infusion. The Thai and US donor risk index had comparable predictive abilities for transplant survival (C-statistics .5871 vs. .5548; P = .429). KTs from donors with a US KDPI > 70% demonstrated significantly worse 5-year transplant survival. The Thai EPTS model was developed from four recipient factors: age, body weight, diabetes mellitus, and hepatitis C infection. The C-statistics of the Thai and US EPTS models were comparable (.5924 vs. .6039; P = .360). A US EPTS > 70% was revealed in only 2.5% of our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The first simplified KDPI and EPTS models for an Asian population were developed. Our models are available at www.thai-kdpi-epts.org.

Efficacy of Furosemide, Oral Sodium Chloride, and Fluid Restriction for Treatment of Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis (SIAD): An Open-label Randomized Controlled Study (The EFFUSE-FLUID Trial).

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: First-line therapy for syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) is fluid restriction. Additional treatment for patients who do not respond to fluid restriction are water restriction with furosemide or water restriction with furosemide and salt supplementation. However, the efficacy of these treatments has never been tested in a randomized controlled study. The objective of this study was to investigate whether, combined with fluid restriction, furosemide with or without sodium chloride (NaCl) supplementation was more effective than fluid restriction alone in the treatment of hyponatremia in SIAD. STUDY DESIGN: Open-label randomized controlled study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients with serum sodium concentrations ([Na+]) ≤ 130mmol/L due to SIAD. INTERVENTION(S): Random assignment to 1 of 3 groups: fluid restriction alone (FR), fluid restriction and furosemide (FR+FM), or fluid restriction, furosemide, and NaCl (FR+FM+NaCl). Strictness of fluid restriction (<1,000 or<500mL/d) was guided by the urine to serum electrolyte ratio. Furosemide dosage was 20 to 40mg/d. NaCl supplements were 3g/d. All treatments were continued for 28 days. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was change in [Na+] at days 4, 7, 14, and 28 after randomization. RESULTS: 92 patients were recruited (FR, n=31; FR+FM, n=30; FR+FM+NaCl, n=31). Baseline [Na+] was 125±4mmol/L, and there were no significant differences between groups. Mean [Na+] on day 4 in all treatment groups was significantly increased from baseline by 5mmol/L (P<0.001); however, the change in [Na+] was not significantly different across groups (P=0.7). There was no significant difference in percentage of patients or time to reach [Na+] ≥ 130 or≥135mmol/L across the 3 groups. Acute kidney injury and hypokalemia (potassium≤3.0mmol/L) were more common in patients receiving furosemide. LIMITATIONS: Open-label treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SIAD, furosemide with NaCl supplement in combination with fluid restriction did not show benefits in correction of [Na+] compared with treatment with fluid restriction alone. Incidences of acute kidney injury and hypokalemia were increased in patients receiving furosemide. FUNDING: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at the Thai Clinical Trial Registry with study number TCTR20170629004.

The association between proton pump inhibitor use and the risk of adverse kidney outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Existing epidemiological studies illustrate that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be related to adverse kidney outcomes. To date, no comprehensive meta-analysis has been conducted to evaluate and quantify this association. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to assess the association between PPI use and the risk of adverse kidney outcomes. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and grey literature with no language restrictions (through 31 October 2016). Adverse kidney outcomes were acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The risk ratios (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random effects model. The strength of evidence (SOE) for each outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommended Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Results: Of 2037 identified studies, four cohort and five case-control studies with ∼2.6 million patients were included. Of these, 534 003 (20.2%) were PPI users. Compared with non-PPI users, PPI users experienced a significantly higher risk of AKI [RR 1.44 (95% CI 1.08-1.91); P = 0.013; SOE, low] and CKD [RR 1.36 (95% CI 1.07-1.72); P = 0.012; SOE, low]. Moreover, PPIs increased the risk of AIN [RR 3.61 (95% CI 2.37-5.51); P < 0.001; SOE, insufficient] and ESRD [RR 1.42 (95% CI 1.28-1.58); P < 0.001; SOE, insufficient]. Conclusion: PPI usage was associated with adverse kidney outcomes; however, these findings were based on observational studies and low-quality evidence. Additional rigorous studies are needed for further clarification.

Depression in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Association With Functional Disabilities.

This study examined the prevalence, risk factors, and disability associated with depression. We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study in 217 consecutive kidney transplant (KT) recipients routinely followed-up at a Kidney Transplantation Clinic in Northern Thailand. Participants were assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the 12-item self-report of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale, Version 2.0 (WHODAS). Twenty-eight (12.9%) patients had depression (PHQ-9 score, ≥10). A binary logistic regression analysis found that the CCI score was significantly higher in KT recipients with depression (ß = 0.54, p < 0.01). After the adjustment of education and glomerular filter rates, an ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that the PHQ-9 scores were positively correlated with the WHODAS scores (ß = 0.39, p < 0.01). In KT recipients, physical comorbidity is associated with depression, and depression is correlated with functional disability.

A 25-year experience of kidney transplantation in Thailand: report from the Thai Transplant Registry.

AIM: To report the kidney transplant activity and survival data during the past 25 years from the Thai Transplant Registry. METHODS: By using the registry database that was collected and updated yearly by 26 transplant centres across the country, we have reported the donor, recipient, and transplant characteristics during the past 25 years from 1987 to 2012. The primary outcome was graft loss that was defined as return to dialysis, graft removal, retransplant, or patient death. RESULTS: 465 kidney transplants were performed in 2012, an 8.1% and 23.0% increase in living and deceased donor transplants compared to the previous year, respectively. Between 1987 and 2012 with the data of 3808 recipients, patient survival and graft survival improved significantly. Traffic accident was the most common cause of death in brain-dead donors. Additionally, the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease was glomerulonephritis. Infection has been among the most common causes of death in kidney transplant recipients. CONCLUSION: We have reported the total number, the graft and the patient survival data of kidney transplant recipients in Thailand for the period from 1987 to 2012. Although the number of patients is much lower than that in the developed countries, the patients and the graft survival rates are comparable.

Risk factors of worsening kidney function and mortality in patients with renal vein thrombosis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of renal vein thrombosis, in particular as for the long-term impact on kidney function, is not fully known. We aimed to study the natural course and outcomes of patients with renal vein thrombosis, in a large, single-center cohort. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study including patients who were diagnosed with renal vein thrombosis between January 2006 and September 2021 was analyzed. The main outcomes analyzed were worsening kidney function, defined as a decrease in eGFR of at least 40% from baseline, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included, 56.3% were female, median age was 57 years. Malignancy was the most common cause of renal vein thrombosis (60.9%), followed by post-surgery and trauma (16.1%) and nephrotic syndrome (12.6%). At initial presentation, 65.5% of the patients were asymptomatic; the main signs and symptoms were gross hematuria (20.7%), flank pain (18.4%), and flank tenderness (9.2%). During follow-up, 18 (21.4%) patients experienced worsening kidney function and 57 (65.5%) died. Multivariable analyses showed that the risk of worsening kidney function was higher in patients with nephrotic syndrome (hazard ratio [HR] 18.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-216.04), body weight ≥ 60 kg (HR 4.82; 95% CI 1.43-16.32), and malignancy (HR 9.10; 95% CI 1.05-78.63). Symptomatic acute renal vein thrombosis was associated with a lower risk of worsening kidney function compared to asymptomatic or symptomatic chronic renal vein thrombosis (HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.01-0.96). Malignancy (HR 5.45; 95% CI 2.58-11.54), age ≥ 75 years (HR 3.44; 95% CI 1.49-7.93), and serum albumin < 3.0 g/dL (HR 2.88; 95% CI 1.65-5.05) were associated with an increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Renal vein thrombosis is associated with a high rate of worsening kidney function and mortality. It is crucial to promptly identify patients at high risk and initiate early treatment to prevent negative outcomes.

Effect of Curcuminoids on Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury after Elective Coronary Angiography or Intervention: A Pilot Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: The role of curcuminoids, a striking antioxidant, in prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of curcuminoids in preventing CI-AKI in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We randomized 114 patients who were undergoing elective CAG and/or PCI to receive curcuminoids, 4 g/day (1 day before and 1 day after the procedure, n = 56), or placebo (n = 58). Serum creatinine was assessed at baseline, 12, 24, and 48 h after contrast exposure. The primary endpoint was development of CI-AKI defined as serum creatinine increase ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 h after contrast exposure. The secondary endpoint was the occurrence of kidney injury defined by >30% increase in urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Seven (12.7%) in curcuminoids group and eight (14.0%) in placebo group developed CI-AKI (p = 0.84). The incidence of increased urine NGAL was comparable in the placebo and curcuminoids group (39.6% vs. 50%, respectively; p = 0.34). None in both groups had drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: This is a pilot study to demonstrate the safety and tolerability of curcuminoids in patients undergoing elective CAG and/or PCI. Curcuminoids have no protective effects against kidney injury after elective CAG and/or PCI.

Predictive value of heart rate variability on long-term mortality in end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis.

Autonomic disturbance is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful tool to assess autonomic function. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of HRV on all-cause mortality and explore the proper timing of HRV assessment. This prospective cohort study enrolled 163 ESKD on hemodialysis patients from April-December 2018. HRV measurements were recorded ten minutes before hemodialysis, four hours during hemodialysis, and ten minutes after hemodialysis. Clinical parameters and all-cause mortality were recorded. Cox-proportional hazard regression was used for statistical analysis. After a median follow up of 40 months, 37 (22.7%) patients died. Post-dialysis HRV parameters including higher very low frequency (VLF) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.881; 95%confidence interval [CI], 0.828-0.937; p<0.001), higher normalized low frequency (nLF) (HR, 0.950; 95%CI, 0.917-0.984; p = 0.005) and higher LF/HF ratio (HR, 0.232; 95%CI, 0.087-0.619; p = 0.004) were the independent predictors associated with lower risk for all-cause mortality. Higher post-dialysis normalized high frequency (nHF) increased risk of mortality (HR, 1.051; 95%CI, 1.015-1.089; p = 0.005). HRV parameters at pre-dialysis and during dialysis were not predictive for all-cause mortality. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AuROC) of VLF for survival was highest compared to other HRV parameters at post-dialysis period (AuROC 0.71; 95% CI; 0.62-0.79; p<0.001). In conclusion, post-dialysis HRV parameters predicted all-cause mortaliy in ESKD. VLF measured at post-dialysis exhibited best predictive value for survival in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Impact of acute kidney injury and renal recovery status in deceased donor to kidney transplant outcome: results from the Thai national transplant registry.

The influence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal recovery in deceased donor (DD) on long-term kidney transplant (KT) outcome has not previously been elucidated in large registry study. Our retrospective cohort study included all DDKT performed in Thailand between 2001 and 2018. Donor data was reviewed case by case. AKI was diagnosed according to the KDIGO criteria. Renal recovery was defined if DD had an improvement in AKI to the normal or lower stage. All outcomes were determined until the end of 2020. This study enrolled 4234 KT recipients from 2198 DD. The KDIGO staging of AKI was as follows: stage 1 for 710 donors (32.3%), stage 2 for 490 donors (22.3%) and stage 3 for 342 donors (15.6%). AKI was partial and complete recovery in 265 (17.2%) and 287 (18.6%) before procurement, respectively. Persistent AKI was revealed in 1906 KT of 990 (45%) DD. The ongoing AKI in DD significantly increases the risk of DGF development in the adjusted model (HR 1.69; 95% CI 1.44-1.99; p < 0.001). KT from DD with AKI and partial/complete recovery was associated with a lower risk of transplant loss (log-rank P = 0.04) and recipient mortality (log-rank P = 0.042) than ongoing AKI. KT from a donor with ongoing stage 3 AKI was associated with a higher risk of all-cause graft loss (HR 1.8; 95% CI 1.12-2.88; p = 0.02) and mortality (HR 2.19; 95% CI 1.09-4.41; p = 0.03) than stage 3 AKI with renal recovery. Persistent AKI, but not recovered AKI, significantly increases the risk of DGF. Utilizing kidneys from donors with improving AKI is generally safe. KT from donors with persistent AKI stage 3 results in a higher risk of transplant failure and recipient mortality. Therefore, meticulous pretransplant evaluation of such kidneys and intensive surveillance after KT is recommended.

Randomized Trial on the Effects of Dialysate Potassium Concentration on Intradialytic Hypertension.

Introduction: Intradialytic hypertension is not an uncommon condition during chronic hemodialysis. It is associated with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes, including hospitalization and mortality. Several small studies have demonstrated the contradictory effects of different dialysate potassium concentrations on intradialytic blood pressure. This study is a randomized crossover trial aiming to evaluate the effects of different dialysate potassium concentrations on intradialytic hypertension. Methods: A 24-week, 2-treatment, 4-sequence, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, crossover study was conducted at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital and Lampang Hospital in Thailand among stable patients receiving chronic hemodialysis who experienced intradialytic hypertension >30% of their sessions over the past 3 months. Each participant was randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment sequences. During each intervention period, patients were dialyzed with dialysate potassium of either 2 mmol/l (D-K2) or 3 mmol/l (D-K3) for 4 weeks according to their preassigned sequence, separated by a 2-week washout period. The primary outcome was the incidence of intradialytic hypertension. Results: Forty eligible patients were recruited. The mean age was 61.4 ± 14.2 years and the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 146.6 ± 11.2 mm Hg. Of the 40 patients, 95.5% had hypertension and their average number of antihypertensive drugs was 2.8 ± 1.9. A total of 1380 dialysis sessions were included in the analysis (695 sessions for D-K2 and 685 sessions for D-K3). The incidence of intradialytic hypertension was not significantly different between different dialysate potassium concentrations (D-K2 54.7% vs. D-K3 53.1%, P = 0.788). The changes in SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were not different between the 2 dialysate potassium groups. Conclusion: Dialysate potassium concentration of 2 or 3 mmol/l did not affect the incidence of intradialytic hypertension in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis who frequently developed intradialytic hypertension.